Results
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£40.00Finale from Symphony No. 5 - Pyotr Tchaikovsky arr. Phillip Littlemore
Tchaikovsky composed his Fifth Symphony in the summer of 1888. He suggested that the opening-and recurrent-theme of the symphony represented "a complete resignation before Fate." The finale begins with a slow introduction of the 'fate' theme which segues into an Allegro Vivace of drive and energy, during which a majestic version of the fate theme periodically emerges. Finally, after a notorious "false" ending, the music courses ahead to a dramatic climax.Duration: c.7'30"Diffculty: 3rd Section and above
Estimated dispatch 5-7 working days
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£65.00Ancient Airs and Dances - Ottorino Respighi arr. Phillip Littlemore
Ancient Airs and Dances is a set of three orchestral suites written in 1917, 1924 and 1932 respectively. In each, Respighi borrows melodic material from the 16th and 17th centuries, and then applies his own distinct voice to create something at once new and old. This arrangement takes four separate movements from two of the three sets. Balletto detto "Il Conte Orlando" by Simone Molinaro, was a popular piece from the beginning of the 17th century. Its noble rhythmic gestures in the opening and closing sections are answered by a more reflective mood in the middle. Gagliarda, by Vincenzo Galilei (father of the famous astronomer) was originally called Polymnia, after one of the muses of song. Arie di Corte (Courtly Airs), is based on a set of songs by Jean-Baptiste Besard, where sprightlier dances are enveloped by a stately dance. The finale is a clever alternation of two anonymous dances of the late 16th century. There are several variations on a passa-mezzo with interjections of a mascherada. The suite arrives at a brilliant finish with the mascherada's fanfare theme.A recording of this work can be found here: Ancient Airs and Dances.Duration: c. 9'30"Grade: 4th Section and above
Estimated dispatch 5-7 working days
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£40.00Carmen Suite - Georges Bizet arr. Phillip Littlemore
Incredible as it seems today, Bizet's opera Carmen was met with a lukewarm reception at its premiere at the Paris Opera-Comique in 1875; critics condemned its subject matter as lurid and its music overly Wagnerian, and it ran for a mere 37 performances. Bizet died with a few days of it opening at the tragically early age of just thirty-six. Now hailed as the composer's supreme achievement, this colourful, passionate work continues to delight listeners around the world with its emotional, atmospheric music and the originality of its conception. Two orchestral suites were created in the latter part of the 19th Century each containing six pieces.This brass band arrangement brings together three of these pieces, the Aragonaise , the Habanera and Les Toreadors .Duration: c.7'00"Difficulty: 3rd Section and above
Estimated dispatch 5-7 working days
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£55.00First Suite in E flat - Gustav Holst arr. Phillip Littlemore
Although completed in 1909, Gustav Holst's First Suite in E flat received its official premiere 11 years later at the Royal Military School of Music at Kneller Hall, on 23rd June 1920. There are three movements in the suite: Chaconne, Intermezzo and March. Holst himself said "As each movement is founded on the same phrase, the suite be played right through without a break." The Chaconne begins with a ground bass, repeated throughout the ensemble sixteen times as varying instrumental textures and variations of the theme are layered within it. The Intermezzo is light and brisk and features many soloistic passages. The March consists of two themes, the opening is a light march contrasted with a longer, more lyrical second theme. The movement concludes with both themes superimposed on one an another.This brass band arrangement includes the section omitted from the first movement of the Sydney Herbert transcription. Duration: 10'Difficulty: 2nd Section and above
Estimated dispatch 5-7 working days
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£55.00Perfect Fool, The - Gustav Holst arr. Phillip Littlemore
The music for The Perfect Fool is taken from the comic opera by Gustav Holst, written between 1918 and 1922. The opera received its premiere at Covent Garden, London on 14th May 1923. This arrangement consists of the three dances from the ballet which starts the work: Dance of Spirits of Earth, Dance of Spirits of Water and Dance of Spirits of Fire.Duration: 9'30"Difficulty: 1st Section and above
Estimated dispatch 5-7 working days
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£55.00Second Suite in F - Gustav Holst arr. Phillip Littlemore
Gustav Holst's Second Suite in F was composed in 1911, two years after the first suite, yet like his first suite it didn't receive its premiere until many years later, on 30th June 1922, at Royal Albert Hall in London and performed by band of The Military School of Music.The Suite uses English folk songs and folk dance tunes throughout. The opening march movement uses three tunes: a lively Morris Dance called Glorishears, the folk song Swansea Town and finally Cloudy Banks. The first two tunes are repeated to conclude the first movement. The second movement is a setting of I'll Love My Love, a sad story of a young maiden driven into Bedlam by grief over her lover being sent to sea by his parents to prevent their marriage. The Song of the Blacksmith follows with a lively hammer rhythms and the score actually asks for a blacksmith's anvil. The final movement is a fantasia based on the 16th Century English country-dance, The Dargason, with the Elizabethan love-song Greensleeves intertwined. This is a new brass band arrangement that has a lighter texture to that made by Sydney Herbert, restoring it to the original key of F and including sectioned omitted from the 1923 arrangement.Duration: c. 12 minutesDifficulty: 2nd Section and above
Estimated dispatch 5-7 working days
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£35.00And The Glory Of The Lord - Messiah
Handel's Messiah was composed in 1741, receiving it's premiere in Dublin a year later. And The Glory, The Glory Of The Lord is the fourth movement of the oratorio, and the first in which the choir sings. This arrangement, for chorus and brass band, works with all the major editions of the vocal score.Duration: 3'30"Difficulty: 3rd Section and above
Estimated dispatch 5-7 working days
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£35.00Hallelujah Chorus - Messiah
Handel's Messiah was composed in 1741, receiving it's premiere in Dublin a year later. Written in three parts, the Hallelujah Chorus concludes the second part, and is often performed separately from the main oratorio, and especially around Christmas. This arrangement, for chorus and brass band, works with all the major editions of vocal score.Duration: 3'30"Difficulty: 3rd Section and above
Estimated dispatch 5-7 working days
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£30.00Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairies - Pyotr Tchaikovsky arr. Phillip Littlemore
Dance of the he Sugar Plum Fairy needs no introduction as it is one of the most recognisable pieces of music. Tchaikovsky began writing his ballet The Nutcracker in 1891. It received its premiere in St. Petersburg, the following year. The Sugar Plum Fairy is the ruler of the Land of Sweets although she only dances in Act 2 of the work.This arrangement, retitled The Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairies, has the slightest of twists in that it features the four members of the bass section. There is no need for the players to dress as ballet dancers, but it does add to the spectacle!Duration: 3'00"Difficulty: 3rd Section and above
Estimated dispatch 5-7 working days
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£30.00Skin Deep - Louis Bellson arr. Phillip Littlemore
Louie Bellson was an American jazz drummer, composer, arranger, bandleader, and jazz educator. He was credited with pioneering the use of two bass drums and worked with Benny Goodman, Tommy Dorsey, Harry James and Duke Ellington. Skin Deep was the title track of his 1954 solo album, and is a great swing number. There are several drum solo passages, with the last one being as long as the drummer likes, although band directors might want to consider curtailing the more exuberant kit players!Duration: 4'00"Difficulty: 2nd Section and above (band accompaniment)
Estimated dispatch 5-7 working days