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£40.00
Little Christmas - Elaine Agnew
An atmospheric, contemporary piece for brass band by prolific composer Elaine Agnew. The work was originally commissioned by the North of Ireland Bands' Association as the 'B Section' test piece for the 2006 European Brass Band Championships, with funds from the Arts Council of Northern Ireland Lottery Unit and Belfast City Council.Programme notes:The night of Sunday the sixth of January 1839 was a night of madness. On this night, Ireland was hit by a devastating storm. Little Christmas focuses on the events of that day, leading to the arrival of the storm itself.The piece opens with a blast, which is quickly hushed by a motionless phrase whose silence suggests something not quite right. A solo euphonium mimics the local seer who prophesizes the coming of the storm but who is ignored by the locals, who are well used to his rantings and ravings.A brief percussion improvisation hints at an uncertainty in the air but this is quickly ignored by the following fast section with the bustle and excitement of the day's preparations.Quiet solo chromatic lines swoosh over harmonic pillars of sound before the final "dizzy" section where the band lets rip at the arrival of the storm!
In Stock: Estimated dispatch 3-5 working days
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£154.60
Three Gentle Giants - Svein H. Giske
Three Gentle Giantswas commissioned by Grenland International Brass Festival as a test piece for the 2nd division in 2008.Three Gentle Giants. The three giants each have their own monologue which leads into a conversation. They gather recognition and respect from each others views as the dialogue evolves. Eventually they find a more nutual and singular expression to their conversation.The giants are old with a long life behind them. This can be heard through a slow, melancholic waltz. A waltz is dance commonly linked to festiveoccasions, such as weddings, but for the giants it holds much more significance. It gives room to think about people they have met, placesthey have been, and all that life has given them.Quietly it ends, more or less like it began. We hear echoes of the past, before it all fades out.The giants wander off into a new beginning.Svein H. Giske- January 2023 -In Memoriam Thorvald, Finn and Thor Louis
Estimated dispatch 5-14 working days
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£134.99
Alpina Brass - Jan Van der Roost
Alpina Brass was the test piece for the first division of the Fetes Cantonales on 8 and 9 June 2019 in Naters, Switzerland. It consists of three movements, and features a variety of aspects, as is common for a competitionwork. However, as a whole, it has been written in such a way that it can perfectly serve as a concert work as well. It is a challenging piece for every section and offers colourful and melodic as well as spectacular rhythmicsequences and a most impressive ending!
Estimated dispatch 5-14 working days
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£87.99
30 Original Chorales and Warm-ups - Philip Sparke
These 30 Original Chorales and Warm-Ups have been designed to develop the most important aspects of band playing, by providing material that can be used at the start of a rehearsal to test balance, dynamics, tuning, flexibility and articulation. Band directors are encouraged to adapt them to address the specific needs and challenges of their ensembles. Dynamics and tempo indications are not given and should be chosen by the director as required. All the chorales are strictly four-part. This multi-purpose collection is an essential purchase for every ambitious band!
Estimated dispatch 5-14 working days
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£109.99
Frontier Vision - Stephen Bulla
Frontier Vision is a concert or contest piece based on three elements: the commemoration of the 500th anniversary of Reformation Day, the Martin Luther melody, A Mighty Fortress Is Our God (Ein Feste Burg ist unser Gott) on whichthis composition is based, and thirdly the spreading of the evangelical movement in the late 19th century, of which the analogous storyline forms the structural basis of this work. Multi-cultural ethnic influences, along with the driving rhythms thatreflect the perseverance and hard work of those mission-minded pioneers, are both important components that make Frontier Vision an outstanding choice for your concert or contest. Frontier Vision was the test piece for the seconddivision in the Dutch National Brass Band Championships 2017.
Estimated dispatch 5-14 working days
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£134.99
Samson - Rodolphe Schacher
Samson takes inspiration from a well-known biblical character from the Old Testament. In its form, it refers to the style of the great 19thCentury symphonic poems. The piece expresses different aspects of the main character, resulting in atechnical, expressive, colourful and impressive test piece, composed for the European Brass Band Championships.
Estimated dispatch 5-14 working days
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£154.99
Fraternity - Thierry Deleruyelle
This piece by Thierry Deleruyelle is based on one of the most significant events in the history of coal mining; the catastrophe at Courrieres, Northern France. It took place on 10th March 1906 and is considered the most momentous mining accident in Europe and the second most significant in the world. This work is both emotional and spectacular and tells in 7 contrasting sections the catastrophe that occurred. Fraternity was the test piece in the "Champion" category at the European Brass Band Competition 2016 in Lille, thus commemorating 110 years since the disaster at Courrieres.
Estimated dispatch 5-14 working days
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£94.95
Of Men and Mountains - Edward Gregson
Of Men and Mountains was commissioned by the Netherlands Brass Band Championships for their tenth anniversary contest in Drachten in December 1990. In July the previous year, Edward Gregson and his wife took the Trans Canadian Railway from Toronto to Vancouver. The journey through the Rocky Mountains was the starting point for Of Men and Mountains. Gregson writes that: 'its high peaks and shafts of sunlight breaking through the clouds, its canyons and ferocious rapids made me understand a little more about the majesty of nature and the fragility of humanity. The eternal struggle between man and nature was personified in the building of this incredible railway... hence my title (after Blake).' The work is dedicated to the memory of Eric Ball, who died shortly before the writing of the work was commenced. Of Men and Mountains is in one continuous movement with a duration of approximately 17 minutes. Its form is difficult to describe because of its motivic and accumulative nature, but it is essentially a symphonic tone poem in search of a theme, which eventually comes in its final and complete state in the majestic ending after an ever-increasing paced scherzo. Of Men and Mountains has been selected as the test pieces for the 2023 National Brass Championships of Great Britain at the Albert Hall.
Estimated dispatch 5-14 working days
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£118.99
Sinfonietta no. 1 - Johan de Meij
Sinfonietta No. 1, written for brass band, was commissioned by the Dutch National Championships 2011 in Groningen. It also served as the test piece for the Swiss National Championships 2011 in Montreux, Switzerland. Unlike most of Johan de Meij's compositions, Sinfonietta No. 1 is an abstract, non-programmatic work. It consists of three movements, in which the thematic material of the opening measures - an upward fifth jump - returns in various shapes and forms throughout the piece. The slow middle section features solo passages by cello, English horn and bassoon, all starting with the same fifth jump. The final movement presents an Elgar-like march theme,interspersed with quotes from the second movement, and ending with the opening theme of movement I.
Estimated dispatch 5-14 working days
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£137.70
Selection Robert Le Diable - Giacomo Meyerbeer
This Selection from Giacomo Meyerbeers opera Robert le Diable was arranged by James Smyth. Enderby Jackson commissioned the arrangement which was used as the test piece for the third National Brass Band Contest held at the Crystal Palace, London in 1862.The purpose of this scholarly edition is to produce a performing version, clearing ambiguities and errors, that can be enjoyed by today's performers and listeners, bearing in mind the original function and context. At the same time the edition is an analytical, musicological study of one of the rare treasures of the brass band repertory.
Estimated dispatch 5-14 working days