Results
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£20.00atrium phase
Descriptionatrium phase was inspired by listening to works performed at the 2013 Huddersfield Contemporary Music Festival in the atrium of the Huddersfield University Creative Arts Building. The atrium, despite being a functional area incorporating meeting areas and a cafe, has almost coincidentally evolved into a fantastic (if somewhat resonant) performance space. Performers can be positioned on three different sides and three different levels, making the atrium ideally suited to spatially separated performances of a variety of music from Gabrieli to Christian Wolff.In atrium phase the band is separated into four groups - ideally these should be positioned around the audience as follows: group A to the left of the audience, group B in front of the audience, group C to the right of the audience and group D (the four basses) behind the audience. The music "phases" between the groups in the manner of contemporary electroacoustic music, with the bass group acting as a kind of "subwoofer". Starting very slowly, the music accelerates using metrical modulations to finish at considerable speed.The music is intended to be performed without a conductor wherever possible - the three percussionists should set and control the tempo, and there are clear points of overlap for percussionists to allow synchronisation between groups.atrium phase won the inaugural Foden's Band Composition Competition in 2014 and the first performance was given on 24 January 2015 at the RNCM Festival of Brass by Foden's Band.Performance Notes:The band is separated into four groups - ideally these should be positioned around the audience as follows: group A to the left of the audience, group B in front of the audience, group C to the right of the audience and group D (the four basses) behind the audience. The music "phases" between the groups in the manner of contemporary electroacoustic music, with the bass group acting as a kind of "subwoofer". Starting very slowly, the music accelerates using metrical modulations to finish at considerable speed.Instruments in group A require cup mutes (soprano, 2 x cornets, horn, baritone, trombone, euph), group B harmon mutes (4 x cornets, baritone and trombone - the baritone should use a trombone mute) and group C require fibre straight mutes (3 x cornets, flugel, 2 x horns, euph., bass trom - NOT metal mutes if possible).Percussion instruments required are claves, wood block and 2 x temple blocks. The music is intended to be performed without a conductor wherever possible - the three percussionists should set and control the tempo, and there are clear points of overlap for percussionists to allow synchronisation between groups.Approximate duration 6'17"
Estimated dispatch 7-14 working days
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Sursum Corda - Edward Elgar - Matt Kingston
An epic Elgar melody - noble, dignified and very, very British. Playable by most standards of bands, although a great detail of control and sustain is needed to pull it off effectively.
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£34.95The Battle for Pride Rock - Jonathan Bates
DURATION: 4'00". DIFFICULTY: 1st+. 'The Battle for Pride Rock' was composed for Skelmanthorpe Band's programme of music celebrating the 30th anniversary of Walt Disney's 'The Lion King' at the 2024 Red Admiral Entertainment Championships. As the finale to the band's programme, the music depicts the fierce final battle between Scar and Simba as the latter aims to overthrow his wicked uncle and retaks control of the pride lands.
In Stock: Estimated dispatch 1-3 working days
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£29.95Tireless Flame, The - Jonathan Bates
DIFFICULTY: 1st+. DURATION: 6'00". Commissioned by the Reg Vardy Brass Band for their 2019 appearance at the Brass in Concert Championships, held at The Sage in. Gateshead, 'The Tireless Flame' is an energetic and driven concert finisher inspired by the idea of a fire burning at different velocities. but never truly going out. The outer 2 sections are the work are in a minimalist style using effects typical of the style such as phasing. and development throughout, whilst the central section is almost hymn like in nature, showcasing the band's ability to control the . extremes of dynamics. .
In Stock: Estimated dispatch 1-3 working days
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£29.95Ignition Sequence - Jonathan Bates
DURATION: 3'00". DIFFICULTY: 1st+. 'Ignition Sequence' was composed for Phoebe Mallinson and Tom Walgate with BD1 Brass for their appearance at the 2021 Wychavon Festival of Brass. The band's programme was inspired by the first British ESA Astronaut Time Peake and this work encapsulates the excitement and tension of a shuttle launch, accompanied by the sound of the countdown from the control centre. The solo parts are virtuosic in nature and show off the players' stylistic and technical abilities in this pseudo-jazz/funk-based short concert work.
In Stock: Estimated dispatch 1-3 working days
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£82.00Defying Gravity - Steven Reineke/Erik Rozendom
This is a programmatic work by Steven Reineke that illustrates the wonders of modern aviation. The opening represents take-off and the powerful feeling of the climb to the heavens. But after reaching cruising altitude and calm flying above the clouds, the plane has to descend due to a strong turbulent storm. Everything will be fine if the pilot gets the plane back under control and manages to bring the orchestra and public safely to the ground. A beautiful work for every festival or concert.
Estimated dispatch 10-14 working days
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£35.00strange geometry
Descriptionstrange geometrywas commissioned by Morgan Griffiths and the Hammonds Saltaire Band for their performance at the Brass in Concert Championships of 2015.As a bit of a space/sci-fi geek, as well as a musician, two events during the summer of 2015 had a particular effect on me. The first was the tragic early death in a plane crash of the famous film composer James Horner. Horner's music, particularly in films like 'Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan', 'Avatar', 'Apollo 13' and even his debut in Roger Corman's 1980 budget film 'Battle Beyond the Stars', defined for a generation the sound of sci-fi at the cinema. Along with John Williams he created the vocabulary for those who wish to express other-worldly wonder in music and his inventive talent will be much missed in an industry where originality has become something of a dirty word in recent years.The second event was the epic flyby of Pluto by the NASA New Horizons spacecraft. There are many reasons to find this mission inspiring - for example, the scientists and engineers behind it created a craft that has travelled at 37,000 mph for nine years and three billion miles to arrive within seventy-two seconds of the predicted time for the flyby. That they achieved this with such accuracy is an outstanding tribute to humanity's ingenuity and insatiable curiosity. However, the most exciting aspect of the mission was the clear, high resolution pictures of this unthinkably remote and inhospitable world beamed back to mission control. The best previous image of Pluto was an indistinct fuzzy blob - suddenly we could see mountains made of ice, glaciers of methane and carbon monoxide and nitrogen fog - features previously unimagined on a world thought to be a slightly dull ball of cold rock. The BBC's venerable astronomy programme 'The Sky at Night' waxed lyrical about these newly discovered features, referring to "the surprising discoveries of mountains and strange geometry on the surface of this cold distant world".I like to think that Horner would have been as inspired as I have been by this real-life science story, and this piece uses some of the vocabulary of the sci-fi movie soundtrack in a tribute to the memory of a great musician and to the inspirational geeks at NASA who have boldly taken us where no-one has gone before.Note: This work comes with a B4 portrait score. Listen to a preview and follow the music below!
Estimated dispatch 7-14 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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£115.60Isolation - Suite in 5 Movements - Øystein Sjøvaag Heimdal
This suite in 5 movements was written during the Corona pandemic and is inspired by experiences and feelings during this period. Feelings like insecurity, frustration, happiness, sorrow, hope, and optimism are the underlying themes, and this can be heard through the music. This is not, however, program music, so the audience may have their own perception of what the music is about.This piece provides the opportunity to focus on the different elements of music, such as dynamics, articulation, expression, tone control and timbre.The five movements can be performed separately.
Estimated dispatch 5-14 working days
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£76.99Crazy Crowd - David Well
A fascinating parade of people passing by. 1. A drum major who cannot control his platoon. 2. An unhandy clown who has known better times. 3. A robot that comes to life and dances of pleasure. 4. A charming princess displays her exceptional charms. 5. A funky guy who goes berserk, literally and figuratively. 6. A priest conducts a service and clearly enthrals his audience. 7. The old acrobat tries it one more time, however, not always with success. 8. A spy, who is shy, but a master of his profession. 9. And who are you? That is the big question.
Estimated dispatch 5-14 working days
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