Results
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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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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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£89.95Partita (Score and Parts)
Partita was written in 1989 to a commission from Eikanger/Bjrsvik Musikklag (Norway) who were European Champions at the time.There are three movements.1 The first movement is almost a miniature concerto for band. It opens with a relentless quaver passage in the basses, which builds until the whole band is involved. Horns and baritones are first to take centre-stage in close harmony and the euphoniums and basses follow them. These forces combine to introduce the cornets that have a 10-part fanfare to themselves before the trombones interrupt. The opening quaver figure returns, somewhat ominously, and, after the full band recalls previous material, brings the movement to a close.2. Starts with a cornet solo over a pulsating accompaniment after which the band builds to a noble tune on the trombones. The full band takes over and brings back the opening cornet tune with which the soloist, with the aid of a euphonium counter-melody, quietly ends the movement, leading directly into:3. A sparkling vivo, which opens with the fanfare-like figures throughout the band until a solo cornet, emerges with an acrobatic tune. The whole band takes this up until horns; baritones and trombones introduce an energetic second subject, which leads to a full band climax in the form of a jubilant chorale. This died away to reintroduce the opening fanfare against a new theme from the trombones, which eventually leads back to a recapitulation. We are then thrown headlong into a 12/8 presto, which hurtles to a coda, which recalls the opening themes.
Estimated dispatch 7-14 working days
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£44.95Partita (Score Only)
Partita was written in 1989 to a commission from Eikanger/Bjrsvik Musikklag (Norway) who were European Champions at the time.There are three movements.1 The first movement is almost a miniature concerto for band. It opens with a relentless quaver passage in the basses, which builds until the whole band is involved. Horns and baritones are first to take centre-stage in close harmony and the euphoniums and basses follow them. These forces combine to introduce the cornets that have a 10-part fanfare to themselves before the trombones interrupt. The opening quaver figure returns, somewhat ominously, and, after the full band recalls previous material, brings the movement to a close.2. Starts with a cornet solo over a pulsating accompaniment after which the band builds to a noble tune on the trombones. The full band takes over and brings back the opening cornet tune with which the soloist, with the aid of a euphonium counter-melody, quietly ends the movement, leading directly into:3. A sparkling vivo, which opens with the fanfare-like figures throughout the band until a solo cornet, emerges with an acrobatic tune. The whole band takes this up until horns; baritones and trombones introduce an energetic second subject, which leads to a full band climax in the form of a jubilant chorale. This died away to reintroduce the opening fanfare against a new theme from the trombones, which eventually leads back to a recapitulation. We are then thrown headlong into a 12/8 presto, which hurtles to a coda, which recalls the opening themes.
Estimated dispatch 7-14 working days
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£34.95Funk Engine (Score and Parts)
'Funk Engine' was commissioned by Brass Bands England for the 2016 National Youth Brass Band Championships of Great Britain. What Ryan says about the piece:"When I was commissioned to write a piece for the Championships I decided that I wanted to create something a bit different to standard brass band repertoire. I decided that the best way to do this was to go a bit out of my comfort zone and explore some styles of music that I have yet to experiment with. I have always been a great lover of jazz, funk and big band music and the sounds associated with them. In 'Funk Engine' I have tried to capture some of these sounds, however I am a brass-bander at heart and as such I've tried to create a fusion of styles that hopefully combines the best of brass band and jazz into one piece.'Funk Engine' runs continuously, but is divided into three broad sections - fast, slow, fast. The opening is in driving big band style, which segues into a smoother lyrical section; the pace then picks up into a jazz inspired scherzo. After a delicate transition from the basses and trombones the euphonium plays a soaring scale - bringing us into the central movement - which begins with a series of languid solos before descending into a darker interlude. A flugel solo lightens the mood and the music gains momentum leading into a brief cornet chorale before a euphonium solo leads into a percussive climactic passage for full band. As this section winds down to settle on an open fifth, the Hi-hat and Bass section punctuate the texture with the first notes of the final section."The final section of the piece is in similar big band style to the opening and develops material from the first two movements. The percussion feature heavily at this stage and the tension builds towards a final statement, with the piece concluding with a bang!"
Estimated dispatch 7-14 working days
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£14.95Funk Engine (Score Only)
'Funk Engine' was commissioned by Brass Bands England for the 2016 National Youth Brass Band Championships of Great Britain. What Ryan says about the piece:"When I was commissioned to write a piece for the Championships I decided that I wanted to create something a bit different to standard brass band repertoire. I decided that the best way to do this was to go a bit out of my comfort zone and explore some styles of music that I have yet to experiment with. I have always been a great lover of jazz, funk and big band music and the sounds associated with them. In 'Funk Engine' I have tried to capture some of these sounds, however I am a brass-bander at heart and as such I've tried to create a fusion of styles that hopefully combines the best of brass band and jazz into one piece.'Funk Engine' runs continuously, but is divided into three broad sections - fast, slow, fast. The opening is in driving big band style, which segues into a smoother lyrical section; the pace then picks up into a jazz inspired scherzo. After a delicate transition from the basses and trombones the euphonium plays a soaring scale - bringing us into the central movement - which begins with a series of languid solos before descending into a darker interlude. A flugel solo lightens the mood and the music gains momentum leading into a brief cornet chorale before a euphonium solo leads into a percussive climactic passage for full band. As this section winds down to settle on an open fifth, the Hi-hat and Bass section punctuate the texture with the first notes of the final section."The final section of the piece is in similar big band style to the opening and develops material from the first two movements. The percussion feature heavily at this stage and the tension builds towards a final statement, with the piece concluding with a bang!"
Estimated dispatch 7-14 working days
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£44.95
Harmony Music (Score Only)
Harmony Music was written for the Championship Section Finals of the National Brass Band Championships of Great Britain held at the Royal Albert Hall, London, in October 1987.It opens quietly with a long unison crescendo, interrupted by the basses, which in turn introduces a cornet fanfare, leading to a chorale-like episode, building from the lower half of the band to a huge tutti. There is a brief hint of faster music to come which fails to dispel a high, haunting euphonium solo before the main molto vivace arrives. This is a fast and furious gallop with a certain French flavour. This reaches a climax and subsides gradually into the slower central section (a homage to Maurice Ravel) which incorporates accompanied cadenzas for cornet and horn. The opening of the piece returns and leads back to an abbreviated recapitulation of the vivace. When it appears to be hurtling to a close, the trombones and sopranos introduce a brief moment of chaos before a presto coda asserts itself.
Estimated dispatch 7-14 working days
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£29.95
The Land of the Long White Cloud (Score Only)
Dating from 1979, The Land of the Long White Cloud (Aotearoa) was Philip Sparke's first test-piece. It was commissioned by the New Zealand Brass Band Association for their 1980 National Championships (their centenary year) and set for the European Brass Band Championships, the same year, at the Royal Albert Hall in London. Aotearoa was the name given to New Zealand by its Polynesian settlers whose first sight of the islands was a long, flat cloud lying low over the land. The work has no specific programme although many have seen pictures of the surging ocean in the opening bars. A faster dance-like section leads to a slow, haunting solo for soprano cornet; this is taken up by the whole band before earlier material returns. The dance-like tune is, this time, given a fugal treatment and the opening bars return to close the work.Philip Sparke was born in London and studied composition, trumpet and piano at the Royal College of Music, where he gained an ARCM. It was at the College that his interest in bands arose. He played in the College wind orchestra and also formed a brass band among the students, writing several works for both ensembles.At that time, his first published works appeared - Concert Prelude (brass band) and Gaudium (wind band). A growing interest in his music led to several commissions, his first major one being this featured piece for the Centennial Brass Band Championships in New Zealand - The Land of the Long White Cloud. He has written for brass band championships in New Zealand, Switzerland, Holland, Australia and the UK, including three times for the National Finals at the Royal Albert Hall.In September 2000, he was awarded the Iles Medal of the Worshipful Company of Musicians for his services to brass bands and in 2005 Music of the Spheres won the National Band Association/William D. Revelli Memorial Band Composition Contest. In 2011, he received the BUMA International Brass Award for his contribution to brass music.His conducting and adjudicating activities have taken him to most European countries, Scandinavia, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, Taiwan, South Korea, Canada and the USA. In May 2000, he took the major step of becoming a full-time composer by founding his own publishing company, Anglo Music Press. The company is devoted to publishing his brass band, concert band, fanfare band and instrumental publications as well as recordings dedicated to his latest works.
Estimated dispatch 7-14 working days
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£9.99Dreamsong (Score Only)
Dreamsong was commissioned by Geir Ulseth and the Nidaros Brass Band from Trondheim, Norway. After a short introduction, the soloist introduces a rather nostalgic melody, accompanied by the lower brass parts. A fast central section is then played by the band, which leads to a climax. Eventually, the main melody played by the solo cornet and flugel horn returns, overlaid with an ornamented counter-melody from the soloist, who then closes the piece with a short cadenza.
Estimated dispatch 7-14 working days
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£24.95Judd: Prayer of Childhood
Leslie Condon originally wrote this alternative tune for the Charles Wesley hymn, 'Gentle Jesus, meek and mild' in 1963. He later scored it for cornet solo and it appears here with brass band accompaniment.
Estimated dispatch 7-14 working days
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