Results
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£75.00Cantata - Andrew Duncan
A major work composed for brass band by Andrew Duncan. The piece was commissioned by (and dedicated to) The Foden's Band, and selected as the set work at the 2014 Scottish Open Brass Band Championships, offering an exciting addition to the contesting repertoire.A challenging piece for the players, but one which reaps huge rewards through its rich scoring and imaginative development. A work of three movements, Cantata presents a new dynamic level of its composer's musical mastery.Listen In - Movement 1 (digital sound sample):https://www.themusiccompanyshop.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/Cantata-1st-Movement.mp3Listen In - Movement 2 (digital sound sample):https://www.themusiccompanyshop.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/Cantata-2nd-Movement.mp3Listen In - Movement 3 (digital sound sample):https://www.themusiccompanyshop.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/Cantata-3rd-Movement.mp3
In Stock: Estimated dispatch 3-5 working days
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£25.95Heed the Word - Lucy Pankhurst
Lucy Pankhurst created this impressive work in support of a charitable project, known in 2005 as Brass Band Aid. The organisation called for original compositions to be included in a follow-up CD release - Into Africa to help raise funds for projects in Adet, Africa, and to build awareness of the Make Poverty History campaign.Lucy's creativity and imagination are very prevalent in this work - a complete mix of powerful energy and poignant emotions flow from the score. A strong use of pulsating drums are balanced with sheer tranquility and rich chords. It exudes hope and positivity and perhaps, through its title, offers a gentle warning to listen carefully to the concerns that are aired around us - not least in recognition of the challenges facing the very communities the CD was aiming to help.The work was recorded by the Prairie Brass Band, US and featured on the Brass Band Aid CD - Into Africa.
In Stock: Estimated dispatch 3-5 working days
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£35.00In Pitch Black - Lucy Pankhurst
An extremely emotional and poignant work for brass band composed by Lucy Pankhurst, in memory and tribute to those affected by the Pretoria Pit disaster in Lancashire on 21st December 1910. The piece is chilling in its depiction of the tragic story, sensitively conveying the atmosphere and emotions as perceived before, during and after the event. Through its use of playing techniques, effects, sound combinations and even silences, In Pitch Black offers a powerfully reflective piece.Pritoria Pit DisasterLancashire's worst pit disaster and Britain's third largest loss of life from a single mining accident happened at the No. 3 Bank Pit belonging to the Hulton Colliery Company, just 4 days before Christmas 1910. The pit known as the 'Pretoria Pit' was situated on Hulton Parkland on the border of Atherton and Westhoughton. An explosion occurred at 7.50 am on Wednesday, 21 December 1910, resulting in the death of 344 men and boys, including many members of The Wingates Band.The Writing ExperienceDuring Lucy's research for this work, she acknowledges that she found the harsh reality from the shocking images and historical accounts of the event most disturbing, and is not embarrassed to disclose that it was wholly a very emotional experience in creating the composition. Consequently, she chose to create something to illustrate the true emotion of the situation. She wanted to pay tribute to the lives lost and the devastation which remained in their absence, by creating a piece of music which begins in darkness; desolate and claustrophobic, whilst still leaving the audience feeling uplifted and thoughtful in the final bars.The significance and musical appreciation for the creation of In Pitch Black was formally recognised by BASCA in 2011, when Lucy Pankhurst won the internationally acclaimed British Composer Award (the first time a brass band work had received the award, and the first time a female composer had won the category).Full programme notes are included in the product images.Look and Listen (performance courtesy of Manchester University Brass Band):
In Stock: Estimated dispatch 3-5 working days
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£45.00The Pilgrim - Josiah Walters
Josiah describes his composition'The Pilgrim' as a journey of development and emotion, encompassing three key stages of emotional state: from the opening sounds which are full of anticipation and uncertainty, through to a passage of disillusionment and frustration, then moving on to a concluding stage which reintroduces the positive elements of the opening optimism, yet closing quietly, symbolizing an inner peace and contentment at the end of the musical journey.The composer's emotive approach to the creation of the work embraces a wealth of passion, anguish and enlightenment. Through his use of imaginative melody, themes and harmonic texture, Josiah has represented a collection of powerful emotions. Essentially non-programmatic, the piece opens in a contemplative manner, building with enthusiasm, and first introducing the use of bells and bell effects as a musical metaphor which is used throughout the piece to signify the journey's destination.As the sentiment continues, the music evolves in to an Allegro Furioso section, opening up a strong sense of frustration. At this section's climax, the symbolic use of the bells is reintroduced to create an over-tone of hope and purpose, although this does not last long as they fade into the Misterioso Molto Rubato section.As the melodies and harmonies develop onwards, 'The Pilgrim' evolves into a more reflective phase, reintroducing the sounds and motifs of the more strident opening.This closing section symbolizes the realisation that everything needed was already available to The Pilgrim, but travelling the journey, confronting and overcoming all of the challenges was the only route of discovery - peacefulness prevails, bringing the work to a close with a sense of contentment and enlightenment.'The Pilgrim', highly emotive in its creation, offers a wealth of musical imagery.Even to the uninformed listener, this fascinating, powerful and beautiful work stirs and stimulates a variety of emotional reactions - offering each listener an opportunity to apply the music to their own journey, their own personal pilgrimage.
In Stock: Estimated dispatch 3-5 working days
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Diamonds - Jerry Lordan - Len Jenkins
In November 1962, ex-Shadows members Jet Harris and Tony Meehan decided to work as a duo and went to No 1 with a Jerry Lordan composition, "Diamonds". Harris, a bass player, took an ordinary Fender guitar and detuned every string a whole tone to enable him to hit notes which were lower than an ordinary guitar. However, it was apparently difficult to work with on stage since once the strings were slackened they would go out of tune very easily. The duo went on to have a second Top 10 hit with "Scarlett O'Hara" which is also available from Wobbleco Music in an arrangement for brass band. Both arrangements seek to capture the characteristic style of 60's rock music and retain the signature drum solos for which they are rightly remembered. But in addition, both pieces also appeal to a younger generation who may not have heard the originals. Our young kit drummer in Woburn Sands 'A' Band commented "...the (drum) part has the slightest shuffle feel to it, which improves the groove of the song, and to replicate the vintage snare-drum sound, I have heard that you can place a towel or a cloth over the head of the drum. I think it would work well...(otherwise) the drum part stays relatively simple and repetitive"...Chance to re-create the sound of the 60's.....Go for it!
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£60.00Montage (Score only) - Peter Graham
Each of the movements of the symphony take as their starting point forms originating in music of the 16th and 17th centuries. The first, an intrada, introduces the main thematic material (based on the interval of a minor third) in its embryonic state. As the piece progresses, this material is developed and manipulated in a variety of ways. The interval of the third remains central to the overall scheme of the work, even unifying the three movements on a tonal plane (I: F (minor); II: A flat (major); III: C flat (minor). The internal structure of the intrada is an arch form: ABCBA, roughly modelled on the first movement of Concerto for Orchestra by Witold Lutoslawski, to whose memory the movement is dedicated. A chaconne follows - the basic material now transformed into expansive solo lines underpinned by a recurring sequence of five chords (again, a third apart). The movement's structure combines both ternary form and golden section principles and the chaconne's continuous cycle of chords may be visualised as circles. The final movement, a rondo, bears the dramatic weight of the entire work, as the underlying tonal tensions surface. A musical journey ensues, making diversions through lyrical territories as well as through more spiky, jazz-flavoured ones. The aural (and visual) montage is perhaps most apparent towards the climax of the piece, where three keys and polyrhythms sound simultaneously in the upper brass, xylophone, horns, and timpani. The climax itself combines the lyrical music heard earlier with the rondo theme, now presented by cornets and trombones in canon. The teleological thrust of the movement (if not the entire work) can be symbolized by the flight of an arrow, as it steers a predetermined course towards its target. Duration: 16:00
Estimated dispatch 7-9 working days
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£72.00Montage (Parts only) - Peter Graham
Each of the movements of the symphony take as their starting point forms originating in music of the 16th and 17th centuries. The first, an intrada, introduces the main thematic material (based on the interval of a minor third) in its embryonic state. As the piece progresses, this material is developed and manipulated in a variety of ways. The interval of the third remains central to the overall scheme of the work, even unifying the three movements on a tonal plane (I: F (minor); II: A flat (major); III: C flat (minor). The internal structure of the intrada is an arch form: ABCBA, roughly modelled on the first movement of Concerto for Orchestra by Witold Lutoslawski, to whose memory the movement is dedicated. A chaconne follows - the basic material now transformed into expansive solo lines underpinned by a recurring sequence of five chords (again, a third apart). The movement's structure combines both ternary form and golden section principles and the chaconne's continuous cycle of chords may be visualised as circles. The final movement, a rondo, bears the dramatic weight of the entire work, as the underlying tonal tensions surface. A musical journey ensues, making diversions through lyrical territories as well as through more spiky, jazz-flavoured ones. The aural (and visual) montage is perhaps most apparent towards the climax of the piece, where three keys and polyrhythms sound simultaneously in the upper brass, xylophone, horns, and timpani. The climax itself combines the lyrical music heard earlier with the rondo theme, now presented by cornets and trombones in canon. The teleological thrust of the movement (if not the entire work) can be symbolized by the flight of an arrow, as it steers a predetermined course towards its target. Duration: 16:00
Estimated dispatch 7-9 working days
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£40.00Trittico (Score only) - James Curnow
Trittico was commissioned by the Swiss Brass Band Association for their national championships in 1988. A trittico is a tripych or group of three paintings or musical compositions based on a common theme and presented or performed together. The present work is a set of three extended variations on the American shaped-note hymn Consolation. The work opens in grand style with motives based on intervals of the hymn tune. The opening motif, and smaller fragments of it reappear throughout the piece and serve as an underlying element alongside the theme itself. The first variation is essentially a scherzo which echoes the minor mood of the theme. The hemiolic opposition of compound and duple time is used to good effect and, again, the main motif is never far away. This is music with energy and forward movement. The second variation gives the soloists a chance to shine. The mood is tranquil, yet there is always some activity and the musical material pre-echoes the third variation. The third variation is another scherzo-like section, the main theme accompanied by a rhythmic ostinato. Toward the conclusion there is a short aeleatoric passage - a variation within a variation allowing half the band to make their own variaitions in a cachophony of sound. An energetic coda draws together several elements to round off a work brim full of drive, energy, and self-propelled enthusiasm. Duration: 13:30
Estimated dispatch 7-9 working days
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£50.00Trittico (Parts only) - James Curnow
Trittico was commissioned by the Swiss Brass Band Association for their national championships in 1988. A trittico is a tripych or group of three paintings or musical compositions based on a common theme and presented or performed together. The present work is a set of three extended variations on the American shaped-note hymn Consolation. The work opens in grand style with motives based on intervals of the hymn tune. The opening motif, and smaller fragments of it reappear throughout the piece and serve as an underlying element alongside the theme itself. The first variation is essentially a scherzo which echoes the minor mood of the theme. The hemiolic opposition of compound and duple time is used to good effect and, again, the main motif is never far away. This is music with energy and forward movement. The second variation gives the soloists a chance to shine. The mood is tranquil, yet there is always some activity and the musical material pre-echoes the third variation. The third variation is another scherzo-like section, the main theme accompanied by a rhythmic ostinato. Toward the conclusion there is a short aeleatoric passage - a variation within a variation allowing half the band to make their own variaitions in a cachophony of sound. An energetic coda draws together several elements to round off a work brim full of drive, energy, and self-propelled enthusiasm. Duration: 13:30
Estimated dispatch 7-9 working days
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£38.95Unity Series Band Journal - Numbers 530 - 533, June 2024
530: Carol Arrangement - God rest you merry, gentlemen (Noel Jones)This swing arrangement of the traditional English carol also features references to O come, all ye faithful (C.C. 61) and Jingle Bells (C.C. 121). Play with imagination and a sense of style!531: Go, tell it on the mountain! (Nathanael Watchorn)Historically, the passion of enslaved people in America for singing about the Gospel of Jesus is well documented, but it was men of three generations, each named John Wesley Work, who enabled spirituals to become more widely known. John Wesley Work Sr, a church choir director in Nashville, Tennessee, wrote and arranged music for the pioneering Fisk Jubilee Singers whose early repertoire consisted largely of spirituals. This passion and knowledge of spirituals was passed down through the generations. John Work III travelled hundreds of miles to collect songs by attending church services in remote areas. In 1940, he published a collection of 230 songs which included a setting of Go, tell it on the mountain! that is still performed today.Nathanael Watchorn, a Bandsman at Regent Hall Corps in London, is a new contributor to the journals. He originally wrote this as a vocal arrangement for the group FourHymn, subsequently transcribing it for the corps' Young People's Band, while he was Band Leader.532: Carol Arrangement - They all were looking for a king (Stephen Hull)At the North American Composers Forum, Major Len Ballantine challenged participants to find an unfamiliar song in the Salvation Army Song Book and try to write an arrangement of the listed tune. Stephen Hull happened across They all were looking for a king (S.A.S.B. 128) and the tune Childhood (T.B. 421) which lead to this arrangement.533: March - Washed and healed (Eiliv Herikstad)The Christian experience of many people will have been positively impacted by the life of the late Bandmaster Eiliv Herikstad, either personally or through his musical leadership and compositions. This march is the second publication from this well-known Salvation Army composer since his Promotion to Glory last year. This march is more traditional in style that many of his compositions but contains a strong Christian message and demonstrates his compositional expertise.
Estimated dispatch 7-14 working days
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