Results
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£30.00Humming Chorus - Giacomo Puccini arr. Phillip Littlemore
In Puccini's opera, Madam Butterfly, the Coro a bocca chiusa (Humming Chorus) is performed by an off-stage chorus which hums a wordless, melancholy tune, whilst Butterfly, her maid Suzuki, and her child begin the long wait for husband Pinkerton to return after many years away. As night falls, Suzuki and the child are soon asleep, but Butterfly keeps her vigil. This arrangement features four flugel horns, each of which plays into the bell of a bass whilst the bass player moves the valves - creating a unique humming sound.Puccini actually wrote five versions of the opera, Madam Butterfly. After a disastrous premiere in early 1904, Puccini withdrew the opera and substantially rewrote it creating a very successful second version. However, he continued to tinker with the orchestration, not being satisfied until the fifth, and now standard, version dating from 1907.Duration: c.2'40"Difficulty: suitable for all grades
Estimated dispatch 5-7 working days
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£35.00Pomp & Circumstance March No.2 - Edward Elgar arr. Phillip Littlemore
Following the spectacular success of his Pomp & Circumstance March No. 1, which received over 100 performances in its first year, it was almost inevitable that Elgar would write a second. However, what is not commonly known is that the initial sketches for what was to become the Pomp & Circumstance March No. 2 were written first!Due to the successes of the first march, not least because it now features at every Prom concert, it is forgotten that not only did Elgar submit the manuscript for both marches to his publisher at the same time, but both marches were premiered at the same concert and both performed a few days later at the same Promenade Concert.Duration: 5'00"Difficulty: Suitable for all grades
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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£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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Deadwood Stage - Sammy Fain - Len Jenkins
This very well-known piece forms a large part of the musical backdrop to the film 'Calamity Jane', and is offered here in a relatively uncomplicated arrangement which features three trombones as soloists and as a trio. There is a cadenza involving all three near the close. This is another good choice for that Entertainment Contest...
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Christmas Dream - Andrew Lloyd Webber & Tim Rice - Len Jenkins
The music playing in the background at the start of the 1974 Columbia film 'The Odessa File' Christmas Dream is a song written by Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice. This arrangement has a seasonal flavour, with typical Germanic 'bounce', and features an optional finish at about 3 minutes 25 seconds, or the full version at 4 minutes 15 seconds. Extra percussion parts are included (see Score).
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Walking in Greendale - Bryan Daly - Len Jenkins
The composer Bryan Daly was responsible for the music in the original Postman Pat series, including its well-known signature tune. Tucked away in only one episode, (not the one about Pat learning to play a tuba), is the delightful piece "Walking in Greendale", which features a jolly tuba part. Bryan kindly gave permission for its arrangement for Tuba and Brass Band, and this was originally played by Graham Cooper in The Woburn Sands 'B' Band at Whaddon Church Fete (one branch of Graham's family comes from Whaddon, in Buckinghamshire). The piece is ideal for fetes, concerts and similar engagements. Sadly, Bryan Daly died in January 2012, but with the agreement of his son, Robert, this revised arrangement is dedicated to his memory.
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Sharpe's Theme - John Tams & Dominic Muldowney - Len Jenkins
"Sharpe" is a popular British series of television dramas starring Sean Bean as Richard Sharpe, a fictional British soldier in the Napoleonic Wars, principally in Spain, Portugal and France. His activities and adventures are based on a number of novels by Bernard Cornwell, which reflect the military campaigns of the Duke of Wellington (as he became) and were filmed mainly in Turkey and Crimea, although some filming was also done in England, Spain and Portugal. This music, composed by John Tams and Dominic Muldowney, contains two aspects of the series; the iconic introductory signature tune and the equally familiar 'Over the Hills and Far Away' originally sung by John Tams (who also acted in the series) which features in the closing scenes of each episode. This arrangement is within the capabilities of a good 4th section brass band.
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Left Bank Two - Wayne Hill - Len Jenkins
In the 1960's, a group of session musicians had some studio time left over and asked if anyone had something they wanted to try. The young vibes player, Wayne Hill came up with this tune, which they recorded on the spot, almost as a 'throwaway' piece. To viewers in the UK, it is best known as the music used in "The Gallery" sequence of 'Vision On', which was a British children's television programme, shown on BBC1 from 1964 to 1976. Tony Hart, artist and co-presenter of the programme, made pictures in a variety of sizes and media, and encouraged children to submit their own paintings to "The Gallery" for display on TV. They did so in their thousands. The piece has been used in a number of adverts including those for Volkswagen, Castrol Oil and Waitrose, and TV programmes such as NBC's America's Got Talent, The X Factor (U.S) and the BBC panel show QI. Left Bank Two features a Vibraphone solo with Brass Band accompaniment. For those bands that do not have a Vibraphone, an alternative solo for a B flat instrument is included.
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Runaway - Max Crook & Del Shannon - Len Jenkins
"Runaway" was made famous by Del Shannon in 1961 when it was released in the February of that year and quickly became an international hit. At its height it was said to be selling at the rate of 80,000 singles per day and in the June made number one in the UK. It was written with Max Crook who had invented his own clavioline-based electric keyboard called a Musitron which features in the original recording. The song was originally recorded in A minor, but the producer sped up the finished recording to just below B-flat minor. The iconic synthesiser sound in this arrangement is reproduced as a solo on Soprano cornet, and should be within the capabilities of most players provided attention is paid to the breathing regime.