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£168.50Music of the Spheres - Philip Sparke
Music of the Spheres was commissioned by the Yorkshire Building Society Band and first performed by them at the European Brass Band Championships in Glasgow, May 2004.The piece reflects the composers fascination with the origins of the universe and deep space in general. The title comes from a theory, formulated by Pythagoras, that the cosmos was ruled by the same laws he had discovered that govern the ratios of note frequencies of the musical scale. ('Harmonia' in Ancient Greek, which means scale or tuning rather than harmony - Greek music was monophonic). He also believed that these ratios corresponded to the distances of the sixknown planets from the sun and thatthe planets each produced a musical note which combined to weave a continuous heavenly melody (which, unfortunately, we humans cannot hear). In this work, these six notes form the basis of the sections Music of the Spheres and Harmonia.The pieces opens with a horn solo called t = 0, a name given by some scientists to the moment of the Big Bangwhen time and space were created, and this is followed by a depiction of the Big Bangitself, as the entire universe bursts out from a single point. A slower section follows called The Lonely Planet which is a meditation on the incredible and unlikely set of circumstances which led to the creation of the Earth as a planet that can support life, and the constant search for other civilizations elsewhere in the universe. Asteroids and Shooting Stars depicts both the benign and dangerous objects that are flying through space and which constantly threaten our planet, and the piece ends with The Unknown, leaving in question whether our continually expanding exploration of the universe will eventually lead to enlightenment or destruction.
Estimated dispatch 5-14 working days
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£72.99Letter from Home - Philip Sparke
In Letter from Home Philip Sparke portrays the many feelings and emotions that a letter from home can evoke. This intimate works opens with a gentle melody, which gradually becomes more confused as new emotions are introduced. Finally resignation sets in, but a sense of peace and balance is restored with the fi nal chorale. In this emotional work Philip Sparke truly captures the highs and lows of being away from home.
Estimated dispatch 5-14 working days
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£91.99Three Klezmer Miniatures - Philip Sparke
Three Klezmer Miniatures is Philip Sparke's third work based on traditional Jewish klezmer melodies, after Shalom! and A Klezmer Karnival. Klezmer music originated in the 'shtetl' (villages) and the ghettos of Eastern Europe, where itinerant Jewish troubadours, known as 'klezmorim', had performed at celebrations, particularly weddings, since the early Middle Ages. In Three Klezmer Miniatures Philip Sparke used the traditional tunes Sham Harei Golan Nigun Shel Yossi, Tumbalalaika, and Hava Nagila.
Estimated dispatch 5-14 working days
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£57.50Jubiloso - Philip Sparke
Jubiloso was commissioned by Utsunomiya Brass Society, a talented and versatile group of brass players whom Philip Sparke has conducted on many occasions.When they asked him to compose a 'signature' march to celebrate their 30th anniversary, they asked for a bright and breezy march which they could use to open concerts.Jubiloso is in the same 'Broadway' style as Sparke's Slipstream and The Bandwagon with heavily syncopated melodies and the conventional cantabile trio section but also contains sudden bars with unusual time signatures which trip up the march rhythm.
Estimated dispatch 5-14 working days
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£183.99Perihelion: Closer to the Sun - Philip Sparke
Perihelion was commissioned by the Cory Band as their own-choice piece for the 2013 European Brass Band Championships, held in Oslo, Norway. Winning the set piece section of the contest and coming second to Eikanger-Bjorsvik Musikklag with their own choice selection, Cory went on to become European Champions for the fifth time.Cory MD Philip Harper had asked for a 'Concerto for Band' to fully exploit his outstanding band of virtuosi, and composer Philip Sparke created a one-movement work with contiguous sections, first featuring horns and flugel, then trombones followed by cornets and a slower central section for percussion and baritones, euphonium andbasses.The piece is abstract in nature, without a specific programme, and the title merely reflects the fact that the piece was begun on January 2nd 2013, the day of Earth's perihelion - the point in its orbit when it is closest to the sun. It could also be argued that the piece weaves between moments of brilliant optimism and dark shadow, both of which can be the result of bright sunshine.
Estimated dispatch 5-14 working days
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£57.50Saying Goodbye - Philip Sparke
Saying Goodbye is one of a series of original works in pop, rock and swing styles Philip Sparke has composed to try and give Brass Bands their own popular vocabulary and identity. It could be described as happy-sad in mood, a feature of much of Sparke's slower music. A perfect light addition for your concert.
Estimated dispatch 5-14 working days
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£72.99Cantilena Brass - Philip Sparke
Philip Sparke was commissioned to compose a gentle chorale, a style typical of Philip's writing, and Cantilena was the result. Enthuse your dedicated performers hunger for great music with this new masterpiece.
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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£104.99Lakeland Variations - Philip Sparke
Composer Philip Sparke used the region of Seeland, located in the north-west part of Switzerland, with its three lakes (Morat, Neuchatel and Bienne) as the starting point for his Lakeland Variations. The work comprises an introduction and five variations based on motifs contained in the opening bars. The three lakes are represented by the three notes of the opening timpani solo, the intervals of which, a quarter and a second (together with a cornet figure), form the basis of all the following variations.
Estimated dispatch 5-14 working days
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£68.99The Green Hills of Tyrol - Philip Sparke
The Green Hills of Tyrol was commissioned by Jrena and Beat Knusel for their son, Swiss euphonium player Joel Knusel, to celebrate his 20th birthday in 2019. The request was for a piece suitable for use in a solo competition, possibly using a Scottish or Irish melody, and composer Philip Sparke suggested an 'old-fashioned' air varie might be a suitable idea. The piece follows the well-established formula of a theme followed by four variations. The history of the original melody is fascinating and, although it is now well-known as a bagpipe tune, its background is Austrian or Italian, rather than Scottish. The tune appears as a chorus of Swiss soldiers in Rossini's 1829 opera William Tell but was possibly an existing Tyrolean folk tune. In 1854, during the Crimean War, Pipe Major John MacLeod of the 93rd Highlanders heard a band of the Sardinian contingent playing selections from the opera in camp before the Siege of Sebastopol. He was struck by the melody and arranged it for his pipers, calling it The Green Hills of Tyrol, referring to Tell's visit to that corner of Austria in the opera. It has since become universally popular among pipe bands who usually refer to it as A Scottish Soldier, following the addition of new lyrics in a 1961 hit by Andy Stewart.
Estimated dispatch 5-14 working days
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