Results
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£74.95Eden (Score and Parts)
This work was commissioned by the Brass Band Heritage Trust as the test piece for the final of the 2005 Besson National Brass Band Championship, held at the Royal Albert Hall, London.The score is prefaced by the final lines from Milton's epic poem Paradise Lost (completed in 1663), in which Adam and Eve, expelled from Paradise, make their uncertain way into the outside world:"...The world was all before them, where to chooseTheir place of rest, and providence their guide:They hand in hand with wandering steps and slow,Through Eden took their solitary way."My work is in three linked sections. In the first, the characters of Adam, Eve and the serpent guarding the Tree of Knowledge are respectively represented by solo euphonium, cornet and trombone. The music opens in an idyllic and tranquil mood and leads into a duet between euphonium and cornet. Throughout this passage the prevailing mood darkens, though the soloists seem to remain oblivious to the increasingly fraught atmosphere. A whip-crack announces the malevolent appearance of the solo trombone who proceeds to engage the solo cornet in a sinister dialogue.The second section interprets the Eden story as a modern metaphor for the havoc mankind has inflicted upon the world, exploiting and abusing its resources in the pursuit of wealth. Though certainly intended here as a comment on the present-day, it is by no means a new idea: Milton himself had an almost prescient awareness of it in Book I of his poem, where men, led on by Mammon:"...Ransacked the centre and with impious handsRifled the bowels of their mother earthFor treasures better hid. Soon had his crewOpened into the hill a spacious woundAnd digged out ribs of gold."So this section is fast and violent, at times almost manic in its destructive energy. At length a furious climax subsides and a tolling bell ushers in the third and final section.This final part is slow, beginning with an intense lament featuring solos for tenor-horn, flgel-horn and repiano cornet and joined later by solo baritone, soprano cornet, Eb-bass and Bb-bass.At one stage in the planning of the work it seemed likely that the music would end here - in despair. Then, mid-way through writing it, I visited the extraordinary Eden Project in Cornwall. Here, in a disused quarry - a huge man-made wound in the earth - immense biomes, containing an abundance of plant species from every region of the globe, together with an inspirational education programme, perhaps offer a small ray of hope for the future. This is the image behind the work's conclusion and the optimism it aims to express is real enough, though it is hard-won and challenged to the last.John Pickard 2005
Estimated dispatch 7-14 working days
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£29.50Eden (Score Only)
This work was commissioned by the Brass Band Heritage Trust as the test piece for the final of the 2005 Besson National Brass Band Championship, held at the Royal Albert Hall, London.The score is prefaced by the final lines from Milton's epic poem Paradise Lost (completed in 1663), in which Adam and Eve, expelled from Paradise, make their uncertain way into the outside world:"...The world was all before them, where to chooseTheir place of rest, and providence their guide:They hand in hand with wandering steps and slow,Through Eden took their solitary way."My work is in three linked sections. In the first, the characters of Adam, Eve and the serpent guarding the Tree of Knowledge are respectively represented by solo euphonium, cornet and trombone. The music opens in an idyllic and tranquil mood and leads into a duet between euphonium and cornet. Throughout this passage the prevailing mood darkens, though the soloists seem to remain oblivious to the increasingly fraught atmosphere. A whip-crack announces the malevolent appearance of the solo trombone who proceeds to engage the solo cornet in a sinister dialogue.The second section interprets the Eden story as a modern metaphor for the havoc mankind has inflicted upon the world, exploiting and abusing its resources in the pursuit of wealth. Though certainly intended here as a comment on the present-day, it is by no means a new idea: Milton himself had an almost prescient awareness of it in Book I of his poem, where men, led on by Mammon:"...Ransacked the centre and with impious handsRifled the bowels of their mother earthFor treasures better hid. Soon had his crewOpened into the hill a spacious woundAnd digged out ribs of gold."So this section is fast and violent, at times almost manic in its destructive energy. At length a furious climax subsides and a tolling bell ushers in the third and final section.This final part is slow, beginning with an intense lament featuring solos for tenor-horn, flgel-horn and repiano cornet and joined later by solo baritone, soprano cornet, Eb-bass and Bb-bass.At one stage in the planning of the work it seemed likely that the music would end here - in despair. Then, mid-way through writing it, I visited the extraordinary Eden Project in Cornwall. Here, in a disused quarry - a huge man-made wound in the earth - immense biomes, containing an abundance of plant species from every region of the globe, together with an inspirational education programme, perhaps offer a small ray of hope for the future. This is the image behind the work's conclusion and the optimism it aims to express is real enough, though it is hard-won and challenged to the last.John Pickard 2005
Estimated dispatch 7-14 working days
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£37.95The Year of the Dragon (Score Only)
The highlight of Cory's centenary celebrations throughout 1984 was a concert held in St. David's Hall, Cardiff, in March. The band, with the aid of funds provided by the Welsh Arts Council, commissioned Philip Sparke to write a work for first performance at this concert. The result was "The Year of the Dragon" of which the composer writes:"At the time I wrote The Year of the Dragon, Cory had won two successive National Finals and I set out to write a virtuoso piece to display the talents of this remarkable band to the full."The work is in three movements:TOCCATA opens with an arresting side drum figure and snatches of themes from various sections of the band, which try to develop until a broad and powerful theme from the middle of the band asserts itself. A central dance-like section soon gives way to the return of this theme, which subsides until faint echoes of the opening material fade to a close.INTERLUDE takes the form of a sad and languid solo for trombone. A chorale for the whole band introduces a brief spell of optimism but the trombone solo returns to close the movement quietly.FINALE is a real tour-de-force for the band with a stream of rapid semi-quavers running throughout the movement. The main theme is heroic and march-like but this is interspersed with lighter, more playful episodes. A distant fanfare to the sound of bells is introduced and this eventually returns to bring the work to a stirring close.
Estimated dispatch 7-14 working days
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Blue | Gansch arr. John Doyle
A truly stunning piece of music written by the world famous Thomas Gansch of Mnozil Brass, and artfully arranged for Brass Band. The stage performance of this piece includes a Solo septet of three trumpets,tenor horn, two trombones and a tuba. The main band fills in the accompaniment. Trumpet 1 has a tricky part to play, but all other parts are straightforward. First performed by the Leyland Band at Music in Concert 2014, this is a real favourite, and a stunning show piece. Instrumentation: Solo Septet: Trumpets 1, 2 and 3 Solo Tenor Horn Trombones 1 & 2 Bb Tuba Main Band: Soprano, Solo, Repiano, 2nd and 3rd Cornets Flugelhorn 1st and 2nd Tenor Horns 1st and 2nd Baritone 1st, 2nd and Bass Trombone Euphonium Eb and Bb Basses Drum Kit Tambourine Bongos ISMN: 979-0-708127-94-9
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Christmas Eve | David Stowell
The scene is set one very cold, very snowy Christmas Eve. In the market square a Brass Band plays a traditional Christmas melody, when in the distance, a second melody can be heard from another village nearby, and the magic of Christmas is created.This magical true life experience was what prompted David to write Christmas Eve, but in this piece, he has also woven in a third melody.Instrumentation: Solo Quartet: Solo Cornet, Repiano Cornet, Solo Tenor horn, Solo Euphonium Main Band: Soprano, Solo, 2nd and 3rd Cornets Flugelhorn 1st and 2nd Tenor Horns 1st and 2nd Baritone 1st, 2nd and Bass Trombone Euphonium Eb and Bb Basses Percussion: Glockenspiel, Tubular BellsISMN: 979-0-708127-39-0
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Dardanella | Bernard & Black arr. Dario Salvi
'Oh Sweet Dardanella, I love your harem eyes. I'm a lucky fellow, to capture such a prize'Dardanella was written in 1919 and became one of the most popular songs of the 1920's selling 13 million copies, going on to become a huge jazz standard covered by the likes of Louis Armstrong and Bing Crosby amongst others.This arrangement for Brass Band by Dario Salvi takes us back to the most famous version of 1920 sung by Vernon Dalhart and Gladys Rice, where the opening calls to mind the sounds of a fairground.Dario's arrangement moves between styles with an almost clockwork sound at one point changing to laid back swing beat at another, all supporting this cheerful melody. An excellent programme filler.Instrumentation:Soprano, Solo, Repiano, 2nd and 3rd CornetsFlugelhornSolo, 1st and 2nd Tenor Horns1st and 2nd Baritone1st, 2nd and Bass TromboneSolo and 2nd EuphoniumEb and Bb BassesPercussion parts:Drum KitXylophoneISMN: 979-0-708127-87-1
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La Calinda | Delius arr. Leigh Sharpe
Taken from the opera 'Koanga' by Frederick Delius. Koanga is the hero of the opera, an African prince and voodoo priest stolen away and now working as a slave on a Mississippi plantation who falls in love with a fellow slave; Palmyra.This piece is a faithful arrangement of Delius's masterpiece for Brass Band, and features a well loved and catchy lyrical theme. La Calinda is not a simple piece to play, but well worth investing in.An excellent concert piece.Instrumentation:Soprano, Solo, Repiano, 2nd and 3rd CornetsFlugelhornSolo, 1st and 2nd Tenor Horns1st and 2nd Baritone1st, 2nd and Bass TromboneSolo and 2nd EuphoniumEb and Bb BassesTimpaniPercussion:1.Tambourine, Floor Tom2.Glockenspiel3.VibraphoneISMN: 979-0-708127-91-8
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The Sorcerer's Apprentice | Dukas arr. Alwyn Green
Most of us are familiar with the symphonic poem written by 19th century composer, Paul Dukas, which was inspired by an 18th century poem by Goethe in which the sorcerer's apprentice, desiring to save himself some work attempts to try his hand at his masters craft when things go terribly wrong!This version, arranged by Alwyn Green for Brass Band, captures the spirit of the original masterpiece in a complex and challenging score for Brass Band. It has all the drama, and vibrant energy of the Dukas masterpiece, brilliantly orchestrated for Brass Band.Listen to the piece played by Foresters Brass 2000, from their CD : 'Heritage' which can be obtained from the band.Instrumentation: Soprano, Solo, Repiano, 2nd and 3rd CornetsFlugelhornSolo, 1st and 2nd Tenor Horns1st and 2nd Baritone1st, 2nd and Bass TromboneEuphoniumEb and Bb BassesPercussion parts (4):1: Timpani2: Cymbal3: Glockenspiel4: VibraphoneISMN: 979-0-708127-01-7
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£29.95Island Whirl
Island Whirl was commissioned by Margaret Milligan who wanted a brand new piece of music composed as a present for Ian, her husband for his 70th birthday. Ian Milligan is a keen and dedicated musician and he is the musical director of Callendar Brass, based in Callendar near Stirling in Scotland.Margaret contacted me about the possibility of composing a short lively piece which had a Scottish theme that would be ideal for Callendar Brass Band and any other ensemble to get their teeth into. This piece takes its inspiration from the traditional Scottish folk song 'An Eriskay Love Lilt' which is a particular favourite of both Margaret and Ian.With thunderous Celtic drums the piece opens in a whirlwind of sound with fanfare brass and an off-stage soloist that can perform using either the cornet or trumpet. After the exciting opening, the brass and drums die away to allow the off-stage soloist to air the traditional tune 'An Eriskay Love Lilt'.The beautiful haunting melody, keeping its originality throughout undergoes a series of changes in the accompanying harmonic material before dying away to allow the Celtic drums to return. The percussion whip the band into a frenzy as the piece gets faster and faster. Just prior to the final notes the band diminuendo to allow one last closing statement from the Eriskay Love Lilt lead by the off-stage soloist before the ensemble charge to a dramatic close.When performing this piece I would recommend the off-stage soloist taking a position somewhere in the audience, so they can almost feel part of the performance. In addition, with the two tom-tom parts that represent the Celtic drums, bands should make the most of showcasing them by getting the two drummers out to the front of the band to perform. The ideal stage position would be with the players set up in stereo with one player in front of the soprano cornet and the other in front of the solo trombone.With the various choreographed movements from both the off-stage soloist and the percussionists. This piece is a great addition to any concert repertoire and is an ideal showcase for bands who want to try something a little different.I wish Ian at 70 years young, all the very best with his music making in the many years to come and I hope this piece, composed especially for him and Callender Brass brings them many years of musical enjoyment.Paul Lovatt-Cooper
Estimated dispatch 7-14 working days
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£32.95
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