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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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£25.00The Garland Waltz (Tchaikovsky arr. Dan Price)
The Garland Waltz comes from 'The Sleeping Beauty', the second of three ballets by Pyotr Tchaikovsky. Sleeping Beauty's theme is simplistic and focuses on the conflicting forces of good and evil through the characters the Lilac Fairy (good) and Carabosse (evil). The ballet's premiere in 1890 received more favourable accolades than 'Swan Lake' but Tchaikovsky never witnessed the work's true success outside of Russia as he died in 1893. By 1903, 'The Sleeping Beauty' was the second most popular ballet in the repertoire of the Imperial Ballet, having been performed 200 times in only 10 years. The waltz and other music from the ballet has been used extensively in film and television, most notably in Disney's animated version of 'Sleeping Beauty' and the recently released 'Maleficent'. Here, Dan Price faithfully transcribes Tchaikovsky's original score for Brass Band. Duration : 00:04:45 Grade : 3.5 / 4
Estimated dispatch 5-7 working days
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£42.95When You Believe (Euphonium Solo with Brass Band - Score and Parts) - Schwartz, Stephen - Phillips, Richard
Originally performed by Michelle Pfeiffer and Sally Dworsky in the DreamWorks movie, The Prince of Egypt, the more famous pop single version of this work was performed by Mariah Carey and the late great Whitney Houston.In this version arranged for Soloist and Brass Band, you can showcase your star Euphonium player.Duration: 4.30
Estimated dispatch 7-14 working days
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£36.95Wake-Up Call (Brass Band - Score and Parts) - Wiffin, Rob
This exciting concert opener describes a day in a life.Propelled out of bed at 6 am. by the raucous wake-up call, we are immediately caught up in the manic impetus of the day. The music progresses through several changes of mood linked by the 7/8 theme but the high energy never drops. There are moments of hustle and bustle, high points and darker moods but, above all, there is an exuberant zest for life. There are rhythmic challenges in this vivacious concert opener and everyone gets something to play, but the technical challenges are not extreme.Duration: 4.45
Estimated dispatch 7-14 working days
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£26.95Paseo (Cornet Solo with Brass Band - Score and Parts) - Wiffin, Rob
A gentle solo for cornet with band accompaniment.Paseo is a Spanish word for a leisurely walk or stroll. The soloist takes the musical line for a walk with no great sense of hurry. There is one moment where the pleasantness of the stroll is threatened but it quickly passes and the good mood is resumed. Technically this needs a good sense of cantabile and control over the range from low D to D two octaves higher. In order to allow the soloist to sing through without fighting the accompaniment, cornets and percussion are omitted.Duration: 4.15
Estimated dispatch 7-14 working days
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£28.95Hopak (Brass Band - Score and Parts) - Wiffin, Rob
An extended fanfare/opener, A New Beginning is a joyous and exuberant outburst, an affirmation of the eternal hope of the human spirit. It starts and ends with the drama and splendour of a simple fanfare and the sections in between are full of energy, drive and purpose.The musical language is typically American in style with its typical feel of openness, space and grandeur. There are plenty of big moments but players and conductors are asked to pay careful attention to the various layers to prevent it all being performed at full volume.Duration: 4.30
Estimated dispatch 7-14 working days
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£26.95Golden Lullaby (Brass Band - Score and Parts) - Wiffin, Rob
This is a song-setting giving an opportunity for some lyrical expression. It started life as a song on the subject of gold but ended up by standing alone as an instrumental piece. The gentle lilt of the 5/4 melody suggests a lullaby although the texture of the piece builds in an un-lullaby-like fashion towards the end. There is a little white-note dissonance but it is basically traditional in its language.Duration: 3.45
Estimated dispatch 7-14 working days
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£32.95Finale from Leading Edge (Brass Band - Score and Parts) - Wiffin, Rob
This finale from the suite Leading Edge is particularly well-suited to brass band. The drums lead into the energetic, dance-like theme that announces the Finale. Although the use of minor keys persists in this movement, the atmosphere is energetic and vivacious. A number of themes are considered before the flugelhorn introduces the theme that will go through a number of guises before emerging later in triumphant form in the whole band. The foregoing tension is banished and the music ends in a spirit of positive affirmation.Duration: 4.15
Estimated dispatch 7-14 working days
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£28.95A New Beginning (Brass Band - Score and Parts) - Wiffin, Rob
An extended fanfare/opener, A New Beginning is a joyous and exuberant outburst, an affirmation of the eternal hope of the human spirit. It starts and ends with the drama and splendour of a simple fanfare and the sections in between are full of energy, drive and purpose.The musical language is typically American in style with its typical feel of openness, space and grandeur. There are plenty of big moments but players and conductors are asked to pay careful attention to the various layers to prevent it all being performed at full volume.Duration: 4.30
Estimated dispatch 7-14 working days
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£44.95Hymn for Bram (Brass Band - Score and Parts) - Graham, Peter
Hymn for Bram serves as homage to Bramwell Tovey (1953 - 2022) the internationally renowned, Grammy-winning orchestral conductor.The hymn is the central section from my large scale work Metropolis 1927, commissioned by Bram in 2014 for the National Youth Brass Band of Great Britain during his tenure as the bands' Music Director.Duration: 4.00
Estimated dispatch 7-14 working days
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