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£30.00Abrazo - Lucy Pankhurst
Lucy Pankhurst wrote this piece in response to an open request from Jim Hayes, when he asked for new solos to perform. Abrazo was then selected to feature on his solo CD Dial M for Midnight.The title Abrazo translates as 'embrace', but is also the term given to the dancing frame of the Tango; where the partners change stance by pulling and pushing the frame, yet always remaining in physical contact with each other. This technique is suggested in the music by the soloist breaking away from the band with virtuoso interjections, before being 'embraced' again by the full band.When the cornet soloist eventually breaks completely free in the cadenza passage, the music becomes much more agitated and moves away from the original Tango, transforming briefly into a Flamenco to finish with a flourish.
In Stock: Estimated dispatch 3-5 working days
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£45.00Bathgate Hills Trilogy - Andrew Duncan
Composed by Andrew Duncan and written for the West Lothian Schools Band, A Bathgate Hills Trilogy is in three movements, each one dedicated to and representing a different hill.Comments from the composer:Movement 1 - Dechmont LawThe first movement describes the peculiar events which took place in November 1979 when a forestry worker, Bob Taylor, had a close encounter with an alien spacecraft in Dechmont Woods at the bottom of Dechmont Hill. Bob Taylor's account from the time describes a large sphere like object about twenty feet across which pulled him by the legs towards it, caustic smoke then caused him to pass out. He awoke a short time later in the same spot but the spaceship had gone leaving behind marks in the soil. His story caused a great deal of media interest and a great deal of excitement in the local community.Movement 2 - The Knock HillThe Term 'Knock' is Scottish Gaelic for 'hill' and the Knock Hill is the highest peak in the Bathgate Hills being 305 metres above Sea Level. On a clear day the Knock hill has excellent views of the Bass Rock to the East and the distant hills of Arran to the West as well as of the whole of West Lothian and across the Firth of Forth to Fife and beyond to the North.The second movement is a description of a leisurely walk to the summit of this hill and the enjoyment of a pleasant summer's day spent walking and taking in the beautiful panoramic views. However, as is the case with the Scottish Summer, a change in the weather finds a clear blue sky being replaced with dark rain clouds. The changed weather brings a sudden brief but unwelcome cold downpour of rain, drenching anyone out walking! Finally, the clouds pass and the more pleasant summer weather returns.Movement 3 - Cairnpapple HillCairnpapple Hill is a near neighbour of the Knock Hill. It is almost as high but interest in Cairnpapple Hill lies in the outstanding archaeological monument near the summit, an Iron Age burial chamber. The chamber dates back to 25 years BC and was built by a mysterious people known as the Beaker People (so called because they left behind a number of large earthenware beakers). The mysteries of Cairnpapple Hill have always been a source of fascination for me ever since first visiting the hill as a school child.The third movement describes the lives of the Beaker People. The landscape they would have looked out on would have been mostly dense forest which would have contained many perils including dangerous wolves and bears. Life was harsh and short for the Beaker People and they would always have been close to danger and to death. The average life expectancy for the Beaker People was only 31 years of age. The summit of the hill would have been clear of forest and would have afforded the Beaker People some protection as they could see all around the near countryside enabling them to keep a watchful lookout for their enemies - both animal and human!
In Stock: Estimated dispatch 3-5 working days
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£30.00Roots - Lucy Pankhurst
Commissioned by Katrina Marzella in 2008, this modern 'duet' for Baritone and Euphonium soloists with brass band accompaniment has been inspired by 'nature and environment' as its primary muse. The music takes the listener through 7 stages of environmental atmosphere, in its combination of sounds and effects. It is a very uplifting work and with the back-story in mind (see programme notes below), it makes for an incredibly effective concert feature.Programme notes from the composer, Lucy Pankhurst:There are 7 main sections in the piece :RainGerminationGrowthTransionSunshineRainstormRestThe work begins with Rain, symbolised by the rainstick and 'rain sounds' in the brass , which allows the themes to germinate. The 'roots' of the music themselves, are firmly established in the tonic (root Eb) and 5ths in the low brass, from which the solo lines eventually grow, using triads and 5ths.During Growth, the solo baritone and euphonium begin with separate melodies which begin to twist around each other (much like tree roots), interlocking to produce harmonies and counterpoint, complimenting one another and firmly keeping the music in Eb major. Muted cornets and trombones continue to play overlapping semiquavers, reflecting the raindrops as they fall from the trees and leaves.A brief interlude, featuring brass sextet drives the music back to its Germination stage - here, named Transion, as it grows once more, evolving into something new. The Sunshine section is a dance. Moving rapidly through different keys, the warm sunlight catches on the dewy foliage, creating dazzling moments of clarity and beauty.However, the change in conditions also lead to brief moments of uncertainty, as the various creatures tentatively reappear from their shelter to bask as the earth is warmed. Birdsong can be heard in the solo lines as the entire band join in the celebrations.The jollity does not last long, however, as a Rainstorm, more violent than the last , ensues - stopping the dance in its tracks. The tam-tam and bass drum signify thunder, crashing into the music abruptly. However, the music still survives and re-emerges from the storm, delicately but securely establishing itself into a new key (C major), before softly concluding with the two soloists in rhythmic unison as the rain subsides and the world is at Rest.
In Stock: Estimated dispatch 3-5 working days
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£30.00Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas - Hugh Martin/Richard Blane arr. Phillip Littlemore
The successful songwriting team of Hugh Martin and Ralph Blane wrote Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas for the 1944 MGM musical Meet Me in St. Louis, where it was introduced by Judy Garland.The original lyrics were too melancholic and Garland asked for something a little bit more upbeat instead. Blane substituted them to the now-familiar lyrics of those Garland sang in the movie, although Frank Sinatra asked for one further change so that the song could be included on his album The Joy Of Christmas. It is one of the most popular Christmas songs of all time and has been recorded by over 500 artists.This arrangement, for cornet with band accompaniment, captures the reflective style of the original song, although allows a little bit of magic to close.A video of this arrangement can be found here: Have Yourself A Merry Little ChristmasDuration: 3'20"Difficulty: Suitable for all (band accompaniment)
Estimated dispatch 5-7 working days
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£57.50Erin's Isle - Philip Sparke
Erin's Isle was commissioned by euphonium player Micah Parsons and premiered by him in June 2024. The idea was to write a slow melody with an Irish flavour and the title is a romantic, 19th century name often used to refer to the island of Ireland itself. The work opens with fluttering, muted cornets, under which a tentative theme appears. This leads to an accompanied cadenza for the soloist, out of which the main theme emerges. This is a long and expansive melody, which winds through several related phrases with a folk-like flavour. A change of key heralds snatches of the theme by the band with interjections from the soloist, leading to a second cadenza. Eventually the band takes up the main theme again, over which the euphonium weaves an elaborate counter melody. The fluttering cornets return to allow the soloist to close the work with a brief and flowery coda.
Estimated dispatch 5-14 working days
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£64.99Skin and Bones - Philip Sparke
Skin and Bones was commissioned by Brett Baker in memory of trombonist Julian Smith and to mark Garry Reed's 20 years as a member of Black Dyke Band, who gave the premiere in June 2023. After an introduction from the band, the trombones enter with the piece's main theme. A short bridge passage follows and the band then takes up this theme, with the soloists adding a countermelody. A change of key heralds a legato trio tune by the band, which is repeated by the trombones. After this, the drum kit takes centre stage to accompany the soloists in a virtuoso cadenza-like passage with interpolations from the band. This leads to a floridly decorated repeat of the opening theme which brings the work to a close.
Estimated dispatch 5-14 working days
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£53.50Heritage - Philip Sparke
Philip Sparke wrote Heritage as a grand concert march in the tradition of Elgar and Walton. After a brief introduction, the march's long main theme is presented: first in subdued tones, then taken up by the full band, adding a tenor counter melody. The following bridge passage leads to a change of key and the traditional trio section. A repeat of previous motifs leads to a return of the main theme, followed by a short closing coda.
Estimated dispatch 5-14 working days
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£69.99Highlights from Frozen 2
The highly anticipated follow-up to the original Frozen movie features an equally powerful collection of songs. This marvelous concert setting includes the haunting 'Vuelie' chant melody along with the songs 'All Is Found', 'Some Things Never Change', 'Into the Unknown', 'Lost in the Woods' and 'Show Yourself'.
Estimated dispatch 5-14 working days
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£159.99Other Lives - Oliver Waespi
Other Lives is works perfectly for a competition but can also be programmed as concert work. The dark chords at the beginning of the piece are derived from "Der Doppelganger", one of Franz Schubert's late songs. After a short development the music begins to accelerate and find its own shape, gradually moving away from the introduction. The entire first part, "Rage", has an intensely agitated character. The ensuing "Reflection" turns back to the initial chord progression, before a series of interspersing solos explore time and space at a slower pace. After another musical surge, the music is brought close to silence and then gives way to the third part, "Redemption".Here, a widely spaced sound field contains a remote allusion to another work by Schubert "Ruckblick". After this farewell, an abstract musical transformation triggers an emotional change, as the initial motifs are now presented in their inversed form in order to create a much brighter harmonic landscape. Moreover, in the last part of the piece, "Renewal", the grim, tense atmosphere of the first part is transformed into a great energy. Other Lives was commissioned by the Valaisia Brass Band.
Estimated dispatch 5-14 working days
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£179.50Sollicitus for Brass band and Percussion - Fredrick Schjelderup
The latin title Sollicitus means upset or uneasy is important in terms of the character and form of the work. This work contains several different pcarts, all of them based around a fanfare-like theme which is presented several times. This theme change it's character, form, tonality, rhytmic and tension throughout the piece which triggers the turbulence of the music. Sollicitus is a commission for Midtun Skoles Musikkorps and their conductor Christian Breistein for their participation in the Norwegian Championships for School Bands in 2017. The version for Brass Band was written to Laksevag Musikkforening for their participation at the Norwegian Brass Band Championships 2018.
Estimated dispatch 5-14 working days
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