Results
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£37.95Variations on an Enigma (Score Only)
Variations on an Enigma was commissioned by Howard Snell for the Desford Colliery Band and first performed by them in Gillingham, Dorset, England in September 1986.The 'Enigma' is a short snatch of a phrase taken from a well-known brass band test piece - a phrase which caught the imagination of the composer who took it as the basis of a sort of concerto for band with each section featured in turn. First the cornets have their turn, with a 'moto perpetuo', and they are followed by the horns and flugel whose variation is delicate and decorative. Trombones follow, each having there own tune in turn and then combining them together. Euphoniums and baritones have an expressive funeral march which is interrupted by percussion and basses who share a rhythmic, syncopated variation. A climax is reached and this is followed by a fugue (based on the theme) against which snatches of the preceding variations appear. The fugue heralds what turns out to be the theme on which all the variations are based, appearing in full at last, whose first five notes are derived from the 'enigma' theme. The piece ends with an emphatic final statement by the timpani.
Estimated dispatch 7-14 working days
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£9.95First Quartet (Brass Quartet - Score and Parts)
My first Brass Quartet was written in 1968, immediately after I finished my studies at the Royal Academy of Music, and was in response to a request from my then publisher, R Smith & Co, to write some chamber music for brass band instruments. It is scored for two cornets, horn and euphonium. In the same year I also wrote another quartet (No. 2) which is scored for the more unusual combination of two horns, baritone, and tuba. The First Quartet is really a miniature in terms of length, lasting less than six minutes. However, it packs a lot of punch in its two connected movements, a Prelude and a Capriccio. The Prelude is lyrical in style and opens with a rising figure (covering a major seventh) on euphonium answered by muted cornets. These ideas form the material for the movement which is arch shape in structure. The opening returns, immediately followed by a transition passage which leads directly into the turbulent Capriccio. This is rather Bartokian in style (I was very influenced by Bartok in my student days and had closely studied his six string quartets), in the manner of a Hungarian dance in 5/8 time. The constantly changing metric patterns give the music a rather disruptive quality, but also an opportunity for the players to show their virtuoso abilities. - Edward Gregson
Estimated dispatch 7-14 working days
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£35.62E lucevan le stelle (Cornet/Euphonium Duet with Brass Band) Puccini arr.Bushnell
Tosca is an opera in three acts by the Italian composer Giacomo Puccini. The opera is set in June 1800 in Rome, and tells the story of the Kingdom of Naples and the threat to its control of Rome by Napoleon's invasion of Italy. Some of Puccini's best-known arias can be found in Tosca. The opera is based on Victorien Sardou's dramatic play of the same name (La Tosca). Puccini saw the play at least twice in 1889 and begged his publisher, Giulio Ricordi, to obtain the rights to turn it into an opera, which were secured in 1891 - although Puccini relinquished the rights to Alberto Franchetti before being recommissioned in 1895. Puccini wrote "I see in this Tosca the opera I need, with no overblown proportions, no elaborate spectacle, nor will it call for the usual excessive amount of music." It took four years to write, with Puccini arguing with his librettists (Luigi Illica and Giuseppe Giacosa) and his publisher. Although the first performance was delayed by a day due to the unrest in Rome at the time, the opera was premiered on 14 January 1900 at the Teatro Costanzi in Rome. The critics reviews were indifferent, but it was an immediate success with the public. The opera is through-composed, with the different musical elements weaved from piece to piece. Puccini used the Wagner's leitmotif concept to identity different parts of the opera. Taken from Act 3, E lucevan le stelle is sung by Cavaradossi, a painter, who has fallen for the singer Tosca. The corrupt Chief of Police, Baron Scarpia, longs for Tosca himself and, upon suspecting Cavaradossi of helping a political prisoner escape, he takes the opportunity to get rid of Cavaradossi and blackmail Tosca into being with him. The guards lead Cavaradossi to the roof of Castel Sant'Angelo, where he is told he has 1 hour to live before being executed. He asks to write a letter to Tosca, overcome by memories, he sings E lucevan le stelle (And the stars shone). It was selected by the tenor Wynne Evans as one of the most romantic songs for his top ten arias for Classic FM. He described it as "another tenor classic, both tragic and beautiful." This arrangement (for cornet and euphonium duet with brass band) includes alternative parts for horns in F and lower brass in bass clef. A recording of the original song can be found here: www.youtube.com/watch?v=EAqHQMX7GHY
In Stock: Estimated dispatch 1-3 working days
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£39.58A Fugal Overture (Brass Band) Gustav Holst arr. Rob Bushnell
A Fugal Overture was written in 1922 by Gustav Holst. It was first performed at the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden on 14 May 1923 and was used as an opening work to Holst's one-act opera The Perfect Fool. It received its concert premiere on 11 October 1923 at one of Henry Wood's Queen's Hall Promenade Concerts. It is an early example of neoclassicism and was influenced by the counterpoint of J. S. Bach, despite its unconventional use of the fugal process. Holst began writing the piece in the summer of 1922, having hoped to develop it into a ballet. It is divided into three sections, the fugal subject with its distinct 3+3+2 pattern, a slower section with solos at the end, and a third section where the subject returns. Although reviews of the piece were mixed at the time of its premiere, the likes of Adrian Boult have said it was "an invigorating work that could effectively start any [...] concert". In more recent years, it has been compared to John Adam's A Short Ride in a Fast Machine. This arrangement is for the British-style brass band, with alternative parts for horns in F and bass-clef lower brass. A recording of the original composition can be found here: www.youtube.com/watch?v=a8xfwJyFq2E. Duration: Approx. 5.40 minutes Difficulty Level: 1st Section + PDF download includes parts and score. Sheet music available from www.brassband.co.uk Instrumentation: Soprano Cornet Eb Solo Cornet Bb Repiano Cornet Bb 2nd Cornet Bb 3rd Cornet Bb Flugel Horn Bb Solo Horn Eb 1st Horn Eb 2nd Horn Eb 1st Baritone Bb 2nd Baritone Bb 1st Trombone Bb 2nd Trombone Bb Bass Trombone Euphonium Bb Bass Eb Bass BbTimpani Percussion 1-2
In Stock: Estimated dispatch 1-3 working days
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£39.58Nicaea - Band Warm-up (Brass Band) John Bacchus Dykes arr. Steve Kellner
This warm-up is designed to help players and conductors hear and improve section, group, and full band intonation, rhythmic precision, and balance in an efficient and musically satisfying way. The tune Nicaea was selected because of its easy-to-hear triads and intervals, and the harmonisation used throughout is purposely simple and consistent, so that the players can become very familiar with potential intonation trouble spots. Likewise, discrepancies in precision and balance will easily be heard. Keys have been carefully selected to expose specific intonation problems within the sections and groups, like the overlap between Eb and Bb instruments in the horns/baritones and later in euphoniums/basses, and 5th position tuning in the trombones. The format in sections 2 through 5 is consistent, beginning with a single section of the band playing in unison, then expanding into two-part and four-part harmony. After eight bars that section is joined by another section or sections to form a common multi-section group used in brass band scoring, such as the 'mellow choir', 'low brass', 'tuba-euphonium choir', and 'bright choir'. Section 6 features the two largest groupings, the 'all but cornets' and 'high brass'. Section 7 brings the whole band together for a majestic and powerful finish. To view a rolling score video please visit https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RR3zQhsNTuc Duration: Approx. 5.10 minutes Difficulty Level: 4th Section + Sheet music available from www.brassband.co.uk Instrumentation: Soprano Cornet Eb Solo Cornet Bb Repiano Cornet Bb 2nd Cornet Bb 3rd Cornet Bb Flugel Horn Bb Solo Horn Eb 1st Horn Eb 2nd Horn Eb 1st Baritone Bb 2nd Baritone Bb 1st Trombone Bb 2nd Trombone Bb Bass Trombone Euphonium Bb Bass Eb Bass Bb Percussion 1-2
In Stock: Estimated dispatch 1-3 working days
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£35.62Coronation March from 'Le ProphAte' (Brass Band) Meyerbeer arr. Rob Bushnell
The Coronation March by the German composer Giacomo Meyerbeer comes from Act 4, Scene 2 of his grand opera, Le Prophete (The Prophet). Set in the 16th century, it is based on the life of John of Leiden, Anabaptist leader and "King of Munster", with the libretto influenced by the works of Voltaire. The 5-act opera deals with love, revenge and tragedy. It was premiered by the Paris Opera at the Salle Le Peletier on 16 April 1849, with audience members including Chopin, Verdi, Delacroix, Charles Dickens and Berlioz.During his life, Meyerbeer was a dominant figure in the world of opera, with Hector Berlioz saying of him 'he has not only the luck to be talented, but the talent to be lucky.' To view a rolling score video of the work please visit www.youtube.com/watch?v=_M4DtUdQzhA Duration: Approx. 3.40 minutes Difficulty Level: 3rd Section + PDF download includes parts and score. Also includes alternative parts for horns in F and lower brass in bass clef. Sheet music available from www.brassband.co.uk Instrumentation: Soprano Cornet Eb Solo Cornet Bb Repiano Cornet Bb 2nd Cornet Bb 3rd Cornet Bb Flugel Horn Bb Solo Horn Eb 1st Horn Eb 2nd Horn Eb 1st Baritone Bb 2nd Baritone Bb 1st Trombone Bb 2nd Trombone Bb Bass Trombone Euphonium Bb Bass Eb Bass BbTimpani Percussion
In Stock: Estimated dispatch 1-3 working days
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£35.62Polka from 'The Bartered Bride' (Brass Band) Smetana arr. Rob Bushnell
Considered a major contribution to the develop of Czech music, The Bartered Bride by Bedrich Smetana is a comic opera in three acts that premiered, in its final version, in 1870; having not been a great success when the original two-act version premiered at the Provisional Theatre, Prague on 30 May 1866. The opera was part of Smetana's aim to create a native Czech music after the conductor Johann von Herbeck commented that Czechs were incapable of making music of their own. Whilst he avoided the direct use of folksongs, Smetana did use numerous traditional Bohemian dance forms, such as the furiant and the polka, leading to music that was Czech in spirit. 'Sold Bride', a more accurate translation of the original Czech title (Prodana nevesta), tells the story of two lovers (Marenka and Jenik) who want to marry despite Marenka's father's obligations for his daughter to marry the son of a wealthy landowner, Micha. Scheming, condition proposals and secret identities leads to a happy ending. The polka was not in the original 1866 version. A revision in October 1866 saw the addition of a gypsy dance near the start of act 2. But by the next performance in January 1869, this had been replaced by a polka. In June 1869, a new polka replaced the January version's (as well as being moved to the end of act 1) and this is the one that we know and love today. This arrangement is for British-style brass band, with *alternative parts for horns in F and bass-clef lower brass. Instrumentation: Soprano Cornet Eb Solo Cornet Bb Repiano Cornet Bb 2nd Cornet Bb 3rd Cornet Bb Flugel Horn Bb Solo Horn Eb* 1st Horn Eb* 2nd Horn Eb* 1st Baritone Bb* 2nd Baritone Bb* 1st Trombone Bb* 2nd Trombone Bb* Bass Trombone Euphonium Bb* Bass Eb* Bass Bb* Timpani Percussion (Triangle, Cymbal(s) & Bass Drum)
In Stock: Estimated dispatch 1-3 working days
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£35.62Fanfare Prelude - Now thank we all our God (Brass Band & Organ) arr. Downie
This rousing fanfare prelude for Brass Band and optional Organ by Kenneth Downie is based on the monumental hymn Now thank we all our God, which dates from 17th century Germany. The arrangement is featured on the CD Classic Hymns for Orchestra - The Symphonic Music of Kenneth Downie (available here) as a symphonic brass setting. The arranger writes: 'The depth of the words is underpinned by the grandeur of the music, so I have tried to reflect the same regal approach in my setting for brass band.' This arrangement will be an ideal opener or prelude for concerts or church services. To view a rolling score video of the work please visit www.youtube.com/watch?v=olrdFskDfac PDF download includes score and parts. Additional parts for Horns in F, and Baritone, Trombone, Euphonium and Tuba in bass clef are available here. Sheet music available from: UK - www.brassband.co.uk USA - www.cimarronmusic.com Difficulty Level: 2nd Section + Length: 3.15 minutes Instrumentation: Soprano Cornet Eb Solo Cornet Bb 1st Cornet Bb 2nd Cornet Bb Flugel Horn Bb Solo Horn Eb 1st Horn Eb 2nd Horn Eb 1st Baritone Bb 2nd Baritone Bb 1st Trombone Bb 2nd Trombone Bb Bass Trombone Euphonium Bb Bass Eb Bass Bb Timpani Percussion 1-3 Organ (optional)
In Stock: Estimated dispatch 1-3 working days
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£35.62March - Helping Hands (Rob Bushnell) Brass Band
Helping Hands was written for the British Bandsman March Composition Contest, entered into category 2 (marches for 3rd/4th section bands). The piece is loosely programmatic in nature: The introductio is fanfare-like, announcing the date of the next Whit Friday Contests and the bands' anticipation of and preparation for the event. The first section is the march of the volunteers, as they descend upon the many venues, ready to run the contests. The second section (bars 35 to 52) sees the contests start. The bands strike up, march, finish and go from place to place, whilst the volunteers manage them, the audiences, and all manner of issues and problems thrown at them. The third section (bars 53 to 69) represents the bad weather which has, at times, presented itself on that particular Friday. But everyone carries on (possibly the sun comes out) and we enjoy the day. The trio uses the hymn St. Vincent by Sigismund Neukomm: St. Vincent de Paul is the patron saint of charities and volunteering, hence its use here. The piece is influenced by marches that are commonly heard during the Whit Friday March Contests, using motifs, rhythms and harmonic progressions (sparingly) throughout the piece. March-card sized parts included, with alternatives for horns in F and lower brass in bass clef. To view a rolling score video of the piece please visit www.youtube.com/watch?v=diqDoe0XpcA PDF download includes score and parts. Sheet music available from: UK - www.brassband.co.uk USA - www.cimarronmusic.com Difficulty Level: 3rd Section + Length: 3.50 minutes Instrumentation: Soprano Cornet Eb Solo Cornet Bb Repiano Cornet Bb 2nd Cornet Bb 3rd Cornet Bb Flugel Horn Bb Solo Horn Eb 1st Horn Eb 2nd Horn Eb 1st Baritone Bb 2nd Baritone Bb 1st Trombone Bb 2nd Trombone Bb Bass Trombone Euphonium Bb Bass Eb Bass Bb Drums
In Stock: Estimated dispatch 1-3 working days
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£39.58I was glad (Brass Band with optional Organ) Hubert Parry trs. Andrew Wainwright
I was glad was originally a choral introit which is a popular piece in the musical repertoire of the Anglican church. It is traditionally sung in the Church of England as an anthem at the coronation of the British monarch, most recently that of King Charles III in May 2023. This transcription for brass band combines the choral and accompaniment parts meaning it is playable as a standalone arrangement. An optional organ part is included to augment the brass. The cornet section is divided into two choirs to create an antiphonal effect. The 'Vivats' are included in this transcription but an optional cut is provided for that section. To view a follow-the-score video please visit https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vx95uSp1yU8 PDF download includes score and parts. Sheet music available from: UK - www.brassband.co.uk USA - www.solidbrassmusic.com Difficulty Level: 2nd Section + *Instrumentation: Soprano Cornet Eb Cornets 1-5 Bb (9 players required as a minimum) Flugel Horn Bb Solo Horn Eb 1st Horn Eb 2nd Horn Eb 1st Baritone Bb 2nd Baritone Bb 1st Trombone Bb 2nd Trombone Bb Bass Trombone Euphonium Bb Bass Eb Bass Bb Timpani Percussion *Additional transposed parts are available here for Horns in F, and Baritones, Trombones, Euphoniums and Tubas in Bass Clef.
In Stock: Estimated dispatch 1-3 working days