Results
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£39.99Evolution (Five States of Change) (Brass Band - Score only) - Sparke, Philip
Evolution was commissioned by Kunstfactor for the 4th section of the Dutch National Brass Band Championships (NBK) 2011. It is dedicated to Jappie Dijkstra and the Music Information Centre (MUI), Arnhem, Holland, in acknowledgement of their outstanding work in developing brass band repertoire.The composer writes:The idea for the piece came when I was reading an article about a branch of Chinese philosophy which is abbreviated as Wu Xing, which has no exact translation but can mean, for example, five elements, five phases or five states of change. It is central to all elements of Chinese thought, including science, philosophy, medicine and astrology, and in simple terms tries to create various cyclic relationships between five elements in all walks of life. An example is: Earth - Metal - Water - Wood - Fire - (Earth) etc. where (in one cycle) earth bears metal, metal changes to liquid (water) when heated, water helps trees grow, wood burns to create fire, fire produces ash (earth) and the cycle continues. I was particularly interested in the cycle of emotions: Meditation - Sorrow - Fear - Anger - Joy - (Meditation) etc. and thought this cyclic principle would provide an effective emotional journey for a piece of music. So Evolution has five equal sections which loosely characterise this emotional cycle. I have tried to make the music grow organically, with minimal repetition, and each movement evolves from the musical elements at the end of the previous one, with the opening material appearing, transformed, at the end of the piece to complete the cycle.- Philip SparkeDuration: 11:15
Estimated dispatch 7-14 working days
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£29.99Olympus (Brass Band - Score only) - Harper, Philip
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 with thundering 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 suffered defeat 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. The music 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 music bursts 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 as it began - with a blaze of colour and a real sense of optimism and global celebration.Citius, Altius, Fortius (Faster, Higher, Stonger)Duration: 11:30
Estimated dispatch 7-14 working days
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£42.50A Tale as Yet Untold (Brass Band - Score only) - Sparke, Philip
2013 Butlins Championship Section.A Tale as Yet Untold was commissioned by the Cory Band for the European Brass Band Championships in Linz, Austria, 2010, and their winning performance gave them a hattrick of victories at the competition. The theme of this impressive work, which is set in three movements, is one that recurs again and again throughout the music of Philip Sparke, the power of the human spirit to overcome adversity and how the beauty of music can help in this respect.Duration 14:00
Estimated dispatch 7-14 working days
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£29.95Kingdom of Dragons (Brass Band - Score only) - Harper, Philip
The 'Kingdom of Dragons' is Gwent in South Wales, known in ancient times as the Kingdom of Gwent, and more recently home to the Newport Gwent Dragons Rugby Union team.This piece was commissioned by the Gwent Music Service with additional funding from Ty Cerdd - Music Centre Wales to celebrate the 50th anniversary in 2010 of the formation of the Gwent Youth Brass Band.Although the music is continuous, it is divided into four distinct sections, each one representing one of the unitary authorities which make up the County of Gwent.Monmouthshire, which has a large number of ancient castlesBlaenau Gwent, an historic area of iron and coal miningTorfaen, where Pontypool Park is a notable landmarkNewport, the largest city in the regionThe music begins with a two-bar fanfare, which sets out all the thematic material of the piece. The mood of pageantry that follows describes some of the ancient castles in Monmouthshire, with rolling tenor drums and fanfaring cornets. After a majestic climax the music subsides and quite literally descends into the coal mines of Blaenau Gwent. The percussion provides effects that suggest industrial machinery clanking into life, and the music accelerates to become a perilous white-knuckle ride on the underground railroad. There is a brief respite as a miner's work-song is introduced and, after a protracted build-up, this is restated at fortissimo before the music comes crashing to an inglorious close, much like the UK's mining industry itself. The middle sonorities of the band portray the tranquillity of Pontypool Park, a place of great natural beauty. Brief cadenzas for cornet and euphonium lead to a full band reprise of the pastoral mood. At the end of this section we find ourselves at the top of the park's 'Folly Tower' from which the distant castle turrets of Monmouthshire are visible. Pontypool RFC was one of eleven clubs in the first Welsh league in 1881 and a brief but bruising musical portrayal of the formidable Pontypool front-row, the 'Viet Gwent' leads into the work's final section. This portrays Newport, a symbol for progress and optimism for the future, ideals shared by the Gwent Youth Band itself. The music is a vigorous fugue which advances through various keys and episodes before the final triumphant augmented entry which brings the work to a magnificent conclusion.Duration: 12:00
Estimated dispatch 7-14 working days
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£12.50Abide With Me - Trombone Solo (Brass Band - Score Only) - Downie, Kenneth
The very evocative tune to this hymn is called 'Eventide' and was written by William Henry Monk. He was an important figure in 19th century English church music and became organist and choirmaster at a variety of London churches in the course of his lifetime. In 1857, he was appointed the first editor of Hymns, Ancient and Modern, a publication that would eventually sell sixty million copies! It was for this hymnbook that he wrote the tune 'Eventide' to the words, 'Abide with Me' by Henry Francis Lyte. This version, for trombone solo and brass band, was commissioned by Brett Baker.
Estimated dispatch 7-14 working days
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£9.95Ave Maria (Brass Band - Score Only) - Bruckner, Anton - Downie, Kenneth
The great 19th century Austrian composer, Anton Bruckner is most famous for his nine published symphonies and his sacred music (for organ and for voices). This motet, for unaccompanied voices, was written for Linz Cathedral where Bruckner became organist in 1855. Although this arrangement for brass band is far removed from the original, it is felt that the beauty of the music will come over in a new way.
Estimated dispatch 7-14 working days
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£29.95Festival Suite (Brass Band - Score Only) - Downie, Kenneth
This three movement suite for brass band was commissioned by the Solothurnischer Blasmusikverband (SOBV) in Switzerland for their 2009 Festival. The first movement, Energy, is appropriately lively in character. It is dominated by an agitated theme on trombones and cornets, driven by a percussion accompaniment, and complemented by pulsating counterpoint from the rest of the band. The second movement is called Repose and its opening melodious theme on cornets provides a welcome respite from the restlessness and verve of the opening movement. The lyrical nature of the music is sustained throughout. The finale, Suspense, opens with a theme containing more than a hint of foreboding which recurs several times. There are numerous abrupt changes of dynamics, and also a brightening of mood, before everything finishes in a blaze of sound.
Estimated dispatch 7-14 working days
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£12.50My Love Is Like A Red, Red Rose - Euphonium Solo (Brass Band - Score Only) - Downie, Kenneth
An arrangement for Euphonium solo with brass band accompaniment of surely one of the world's greatest melodies. Its wide-ranging intervals and exquisitely shaped climax near the end give it a natural line that is truly memorable.
Estimated dispatch 7-14 working days
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£9.95Myfanwy (Brass Band - Score Only) - Downie, Kenneth
This is a setting for brass band of one of the loveliest melodies to come from Wales. The composer was Joseph Parry while the original lyrics were written by Richard Davies and tell a poignant story of unrequited love. Nowadays the tune is often associated with other, sacred words.
Estimated dispatch 7-14 working days
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£44.95St Magnus (Brass Band - Score only) - Downie, Kenneth
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.
Estimated dispatch 7-14 working days
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