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£137.99La Viuda Negra - Carl Wittrock
Carl Wittrock composed La Viuda Negra (The Black Widow) for the Dutch Brass Band Championships (2010). A Spanish tinged composition filled with drama and emotion. La Viuda Negra is a Spanish widow, dressed in black clothes. Her face is marked by traces of sorrow, but her speaking eyes and sanguineous appearance attracts the attention of everyone. Many man's heart should beat faster! What is the story of this mysterious woman? The black widow (Latrodectus Mactan) is also the nickname of a spider. This spider is well known for the distinctive black and red coloring of the female of the species and for the fact that she will occasionally eat her mateafter reproduction.
Estimated dispatch 5-14 working days
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£80.00St. Magnus - Kenneth Downie
Dedicated to Alastair Massey, an inspirational music teacher. Commissioned by the Scottish Brass Band Association for the 2004 European Brass Band Championships in Glasgow. This music is a set of variations on the tune known as St Magnus, which is attributed to Jeremiah Clarke. Most people will associate it with Thomas Kelly's hymn which begins: "The Head that once was crowned with thorns is crowned with glory now". The tune is very simple, consisting of just two, four-bar phrases. Neither is there much in the way of rhythmic variety, every note being a crotchet with the exception of two quavers, and the last note in each phrase. Within such a simple structure, however, lies considerable strength. THEME The listener is given the opportunity of hearing it twice, in full, at the beginning, starting with one player but soon taken up by the full ensemble. It returns in the middle of the music and is stated again near the end. This has been done quite deliberately in the hope that there will be an appreciation of what material is being developed, by the listener as well as by those with access to the score, who are able to see the visual connections. VARIATION 1 This takes the rhythm of the last part of the theme and also uses the shape of the opening as a recurring figure. The mood is whimsical and skittish, with short, teasing rhythmic figures tossed around the band, and quick interplay with percussion, at a fast tempo. An energetic flourish finishes this variation before the Andante espress. VARIATION 2 This commences with chords related to the opening of Variation 1. The cantabile on solo comets establishes a new, lyrical mood and there is scope for expressive playing in a series of short solo passages. The theme works its way unobtrusively into the texture before a reprise of the solo cornet melody and some more lyrical interchanges between Eb bass, euphonium, flugel horn and comets. The variation ends serenely with clear references to the last phrase of the theme. VARIATION 3 The first idea to dominate is clearly linked to the shape of the theme's first phrase. There is a frenetic feel to much of this variation, with considerable energy and instability created by extensive use of cross-rhythms. A thinning-out of the score marks a clear change to development of the start of the second phrase of the theme. This proves to be short-lived however, and the opening material returns leading to a restatement of the theme, "Maestoso," after which a euphonium cadenza links to Variation 4. VARIATION 4 Here we have some solos for euphonium, cornet, trombone and Eb bass set against a background of horns and baritones presenting a pensive statement of the theme's opening. VARIATION 5 This commences Allegro, with lively work for cornet and euphonium spreading to the whole band before attention focuses on the beginning of the second phrase of the theme which is initially presented in diminution, then in regular rhythm, then in inversion. An increase in tempo coupled with a decrease in volume, requires dexterity and control, with several metrical challenges thrown in for good measure. The same fragment of phrase becomes an ostinato which generates a frenzied climax, punctuated by short, dramatic silence, before the opening figure returns and the music gradually winds down. The tubular bells herald the final return of the theme, in augmentation, marking the start of the Finale. FINALE This features the running semiquavers of the previous variation sounding in counterpoint. A fast, furious coda speeds the work to a conclusion while references to the opening of the theme are still trying to break into the texture of the music. Kenneth Downie
Estimated dispatch 5-14 working days
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£69.95A Cambrian Suite - Michael Ball
Set as the THIRD SECTION REST PIECE for the 2016 Brass Band Regional Championships of Great Britain.Thre three movements are :1. Gwyr Harlech, 2. Suo Gan, 3. Codiad Yr Hedydd.
Estimated dispatch 5-14 working days
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£59.95Music from Kantara - Kenneth Downie
Despite the exotic sounding title, the origins of Kenneth Downies fine composition are somewhat more prosaic. When the composer and his wife moved into a new home they were intrigued to find it called Kantara. Not wanting to upset the outgoing owners, and wishing to find out more, they decided to keep the name.Some judicious research found that Kantara was a ruined castle in Northern Cyprus which the previous owners had once visited. A picture of it was left hanging on the wall of the house for the new owners to enjoy.Written in 1993 for the National School Band Association Composer Competition, it has subsequently been used at youth and senior level - from the National Youth Band Championships of Great Britain to the Pontins Championship.The three-movement work is in no way descriptive, but each has individual character - from a light hearted spiritoso followed by a short lyrical middle section to an animated presto finale.
Estimated dispatch 5-14 working days
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£127.30Vinter og sne - Næss
"Winter and Snow" was written by Sigurd Jansen and Alfred Naess and were recorded and released on single by Norwegian singer Wenche Myhre in 1966. The single was released in connection with the Nordic World Championships held in Oslo that year. The well-known song was also recorded in new version in 2011 by Wenche Myhre and included on her album "66".
Estimated dispatch 5-14 working days
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£154.60Kobolt - John Brakstad
"Cobalt" was commisioned by Modum Janitsjar as own choice piece for the Norwegian Wind Band Championships, third section in 2009. The Royal Cobalt Works of Modum were established in 1773 to extract cobalt ore from the local mines. The works were in operation until 1893. The cobalt was used in the production of cobalt blue pigment for the worlds porcelain and glass industry. To day it is a museum showing us how people at that time worked and lived. Most of the work was done by hand. There were also bad accidents with many fatalites. But in their free time there were dancing and drinking, and the entire piece ends with a dance-episode including a local tune.
Estimated dispatch 5-14 working days
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£332.70Banderole - Håkon Berge
Hakon Berge (born 22 April 1954 in Stavanger) is a Norwegian composer, conductor, arranger and music administrator, resident in Oslo. He studied at the Rogaland Conservatoire and at the Norwegian State Academy of Music. Berge has composed music for theatrical productions in venues such as the Rogaland Theatre, The National Theater in Bergen and the National Theatre in Oslo. He is also experienced in television production and was responsible for televised opera Gagarin - A Space Travel Opera(1991). He has composed a considerable number of commissions, including the music for the opening of the Alexandria Library, music for the opening of the Nobel Peace Centre in Oslo, and the testpiece Brass Blot (for the European Brass Band Championships in Stavanger in 2008, in which Cory Band from South Wales won the first prize. Berge has also written the music to the documentary musical Byterminalen, also described as a rock opera, which was premiered in May 2008 in connection with the celebration of Stavanger as European City of Culture. Hakon Berge has held a number of offices in the musical life of Norway: he has been chairman both of the Norwegian Society of Composers and of TONO, the Norwegian performing rights organization.
Estimated dispatch 5-14 working days
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£54.95
Northern Landscapes - Peter Graham
The four movements of Northern Landscapes provide musical mood pictures of various aspects of Northern working life. 1) Industry opens the suite with the bustle of factory machinery, followed attacca by 2) Seascapes which evokes the calmness of local waters during a fishing expedition. 3) Earth Dance references the mining industry where the blackness of the environment is mirrored by the darkness of the music while 4) Flight evokes the path of an aircraft on its maiden journey in this tribute to the aircraft industry. Northern Landscapes has its origins in music written for the Ulster Orchestra Brass Quintet. This revised and updated version for brass band was commissioned by the Boarshurst (Greenfield) Silver Band, with National Lottery funds, supported by the Arts Council of England. It was set as the 2003 National Brass Band Championships Area Third Section Test-Piece.
Estimated dispatch 5-14 working days
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£59.95Blitz - Derek Bourgeois
The dictionary definition of Blitz is any sudden, overwhelming attack, particularly from the air. It is shortened form of the German word Blitzkrieg, literally meaning a lightning war. The piece is a test of skill, nerve and stamina, culminating in an aural 'Blitz' of great ferocity. The tempo markings in this piece are intended merely as a guide to performers. The composer is particularly anxious that they should not be considered inviolate. Commissioned with funds provided by the Arts Council of Great Britain for the finals of National Brass Band Championships held in the Royal Albert Hall, London, on the 3rd October, 1981.
Estimated dispatch 5-14 working days
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£74.99Olympus - Philip Harper
Selected as the test-piece for the 3rd Section Regional contests of the National Brass Band Championships 2012The music begins with a depiction of the exciting Opening Ceremony where noisy fanfares and sudden swells add to the cosmopolitan flag-waving clamour. Without a break the music leads to The Chariot Race, a fast compound-time gallop withthundering hooves in the basses and percussion, and a heroic melody introduced by the tenor horns. Chariot racing was the main equestrian event in the Ancient Greek Games, which were founded in memory of King Oenomaus. In the Greek legend he suffereddefeat in a chariot race to his son-in-law and Zeus' grandson, Pelops, but much of the music is bitter-sweet to symbolise the fact that Pelops had to cheat to win drawing parallels with some of the issues still facing modern-day athletics. A slow, mystical passage follows, describing The Temple of Zeus at Olympia. The statue of Zeus, who was honoured throughout the Ancient Games' history, was housed inside the temple and was one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. Themusic depicts this period of the dawn of one of mankind's most ancient civilisations and there is a series of solo passages above a drone. The next section is called The Olympic Flame and a broad and lyrical anthem-like melody develops slowly in the euphoniums, which gradually ascends until the horns can take it over before passing upwards again to the cornets (Higher). The musicbursts into bright life at the lighting of the flame and the regular rhythmic pattern which has been established goes through an accelerando (Faster). The final section is called The Olympic Truce and aims to capture the cooperative spirit of the ancient practice of ending wars for the duration of the games. The anthem-like melody makes an affirmatory return (Stronger) and the work ends asit began with a blaze of colour and a real sense of optimism and global celebration. "Citius, Altius, Fortius" (Faster, Higher, Stonger)NOTES ON PERFORMANCEPercussion requirements: 1 to 3 players (3 Timpani, Snare Drum, Tenor Drum, Cymbals, Glockenspiel, Triangle)
Estimated dispatch 5-14 working days
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