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£113.30Moderate Dances - Angelo Sormani
This piece is a tribute to dance music, especially passionate, intense and meditative dance music. "Moderate Dances" is divided into three movements: a "Tango", a "Slow Waltz" and a "Bossa Nova". Each movement and each dance has its own particular characteristics but, when combined, these different rhythmic beats and times give the piece a feeling of completeness and uniformity. The Tango started to flourish in the suburbs of Buenos Aires in around 1880. There is still some doubt as to its origins, which may be Cuban (Habanera) but are probably African. It was most popular in Argentina and Brazil: here the male protagonist was originally the "gaucho" with his inseparable guitar, later to be replaced by the proud, elegant "compadre". By around 1910 the Tango had spread to Italy and France. New clubs opened, where the upper classes could watch and dance the Tango. Here the dance also underwent some rapid transformations. The exaggerated and extravagant gestures and body movements disappeared. Slow, gliding steps replaced the old rotational movements. The women's red ankle-boots and the partners "staring into each other's eyes" accentuated the erotic nature and sensuality of this dance. So much so that, in 1913, the German government banned soldiers from dancing the Tango. Those who broke the law were immediately discharged from the army. From a strictly musical perspective, the basic instruments were a flute, a harp (the diatonic harp typically played by the Indians of Paraguay) and a violin, or flute, guitar and violin or even clarinet, guitar and violin. These instruments were easy to transport, ideal for playing at parties, in the streets and in courtyards. The musicians played by ear, frequently improvising: there were no scores, no records, which is the main reason why it is impossible to trace the Tango back to its exact origins. However, the Tango's evolution (and growing popularity) was once again fostered by its fundamental ability to absorb "other" cultures, languages and sounds. And it was the arrival of the "bandoneon" (an accordion-like instrument that was invented in Germany and brought to Rio de la Plata by some immigrant), which replaced the flute, that marked the beginning of the Tango's huge success outside Argentina. A number of talented composers, above all the great Astor Piazzola (1921-1992), transformed the bandoneon from a simple accompanying instrument to a solo instrument that was to become the distinguishing feature of the 20th century Tango. The Slow Waltz originated from the Waltz, the typical dance of the Bavarian and Tyrolese peasants in the 1700s. It was composers like Johann Strauss, father and son, who carried the Waltz to its zenith in the 1800s, creating the sensual and melancholy yet joyful and charming dance we are all familiar with. When the Waltz first became popular in Germany, the members of respectable society were shocked at the closeness of the dancing partners, who had always previously danced apart. The main difference between the Waltz and Slow Waltz is that the latter has a slower, more expressive rhythm: the men wear tails and the women wear ball gowns decorated with beads and feathers and couples dance in graceful rotational movements. "Bossa Nova" is the title of the last movement in the piece. Jobim, the great Brazilian musician, described this musical genre as a combination of modern Jazz and Samba. Bossa Nova means "new wave". This was the name of the artistic and musical movement that evolved in Brazil in the late Fifties and was extremely popular throughout the Sixties. The songs are usually about love or social matters, drawing inspiration from the slums of Rio De Janeiro and the lives of their inhabitants. Bossa Nova, with its original compositions and the artistic talent of its musicians, also became hugely popular in the United States and Europe, and top Jazz musicians (Ella Fitzgerald, Stan Getz, Bob Cooper, Charlie Bird, Sonny Rollins, Dexter Gordon, Dizzy Gillespie) started to include Bossa in their repertoires.
Estimated dispatch 7-14 working days
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£149.99Aladdin Suite - Carl Nielsen
The large creative output of the Danish composer Carl Nielsen (1865 - 1931) contains six symphonies, chamber music, vocal works and music for the theatre: two operas (Saul & David and Maskerade) and stage music for sixteen different plays. The stage music for Aladdin was written at the request of Johannes Nielsen, the director of the Royal Theatre in Copenhagen. This production was based on the drama Aladdin (1805) by the Danish author Adam Oehlenschlger. Already before the premiere at the Royal Theatre, Carl Nielsen had adapted some of the music for the concert hall: he conducted the first performance of six of the seven movements of the concert suite on February6th, 1919. Johan de Meij's transcription for symphonic band contains the following movements: I Oriental Festival March II Aladdin's Dream / Dance of the Morning Mist III African Negro Dance
Estimated dispatch 7-14 working days
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£107.50Brazil : Ceremony, Song and Samba - Robert W. Smith
At long last, Robert W. Smith continues his musical journey that began in western Africa years ago and now takes us to Brazil. Based upon authentic Afro-Brazilian percussion grooves, "Brazil: Ceremony, Song and Samba" is comprised of three musical sections illustrating the impact of the African experience on music of this part of the world. Beginning in northern Brazil with the Ceremony, the piece transitions to Rio di Janiero and the smooth sounds of the bossa nova that has become so popular throughout the world. The piece concludes with the exciting sounds of Carnaval and the Samba Schools that fill the streets during the annual celebration. Exciting, musically rewarding and extremely effective in any concert setting!
Estimated dispatch 7-14 working days
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£118.99Medusa - Robert Finn
Medusa is the name of the North African snake queen who was worshipped around 1400 BC and became the symbol of female wisdom and mystery. As the legend goes, nobody was allowed to lift her veil because if you looked into her eyes you would be able to see your own death...This composition, which includes elements from movie scores and light music, is the musical translation of this mysterious and fatalistic tale.
Estimated dispatch 7-14 working days
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£275.99Performance Favorites, Volume 1
by Michael Sweeney, Paul Lavender, John Higgins, John Moss and James Curnow Song contents: African Sketches Barrier Reef Do You Hear What I Hear Elves' Dance Firebird Gaelic Dances Irish Legends On Broadway Regimental Honor Spinning Wheel The Streets of Madrid Summon the Heroes You're a Grand Old Flag Kit contents: 1 Conductor Book 1 Full Performance CD 6 Flute 1 Oboe 1 Bassoon 3 Clarinet 1 3 Clarinet 2 1 Bass Clarinet 2 Alto Saxophone 1 2 Alto Saxophone 2 1 Tenor Saxophone 1 Baritone Saxophone 3 Trumpet 1 3 Trumpet 2 2 F Horn 2 Trombone 1 Baritone B.C. 1 Baritone T.C. 1 Tuba 2 Percussion 1/2 1 Keyboard Perc/Timpani
Estimated dispatch 7-14 working days
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£57.50Hambone - Libby Larsen
Libby Larsen used three inspirations from her life to write Hambone. First, she was inspired by early rock 'n roll rhythms, particularly those written by Bo Diddley, from her high school days when she had her own rock band. The second inspiration is the African-American tradition of hamboning - clapping and slapping to create fun, new rhythms, and finally the melodies of the traditional cakewalk, reminiscent of Debussy's Golliwog's Cakewalk. The curriculum explores all three of these inspirations with various musical and visual examples, and explains African American oral traditions, linking this piece to places all over the world, from Ghana and the Ivory Coast to Paris, France. A free downloadable interdisciplinary curriculum for teaching Hambone is available at www.BandQuest.org. Learn more on YouTube! BandQuest, an exciting series of new music and accompanying curricula for band, is a program published by the American Composers Forum. The series was started as a response to feedback from music educators that there is a pressing need for new, fresh band music. The heart of this program is new works written by a diverse group of leading American composers who have created challenging pieces that are a true departure from standard middle school repertoire. Every BandQuest project includes a residency component in which the composer works collaboratively with a middle school as they create their new piece. Many BandQuest pieces are accompanied by an interdisciplinary curriculum designed to assist students as they learn the music and to integrate each piece with non-music studies. Visit www.bandquest.org to learn more about this innovative series, and email [email protected] to request a free downloadable audio catalog.
Estimated dispatch 7-14 working days
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£53.50Jerusalema - Nomcebo Zikode
Recorded by South African DJ and record producer Master KG and featuring Nomcebo Zikode this song has become an internet sensation along with the many dance challenges from around the globe. The uplifting melody and infectious rhythmic groove help make this one immediately appealing.
Estimated dispatch 7-14 working days
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£69.99Hippo Hop - Kevin Houben
Hippo Hop is a fun piece for young and old alike. Hippo the hippopotamus is in the mood for a dance, but can he actually do it? "The proof of the pudding is in the eating!" he says to himself as he strides over the African plains.The other animals look on admiringly as Hippo tries a little jump: hip, hop... It's going so well! A stirring melody line is played throughout the entire concert band, with every part playable yet challenging.
Estimated dispatch 7-14 working days
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£79.99Rockin' Trumpets - Philip Sparke
The history of rock and roll can be traced back as far as the musical influence of the first African slaves to arrive in North America. The style borrows heavily from rhythm and blues and early rock stars such as Ike Turner, Bill Haley, Chuck Berry, Buddy Holly and Elvis Presley had a huge influence through the newly-invented juke box and liberated the youth of the day by giving them a music of their own. Rockin? Tumpets gives the young band a chance to rock and roll with the trumpets taking the lead. Treat your trumpets to this lively solosection feature.
Estimated dispatch 7-14 working days
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£67.50
Kum Ba Yah - James L. Hosay
Kum Ba Yah is one of the most popular and loved of all American folk songs. It is sung in places of worship, around campfires and at social gatherings all over the world. This bright and happy arrangement makes use of African percussion and rhythm underneath velvety-smooth chords and flowing lines. It can also be enhanced by the use of an optional electric bass part.
Estimated dispatch 7-14 working days
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