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£317.99Music of the Spheres (Concert Band - Score and Parts) - Sparke, Philip
The piece reflects the composer's 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 six known planets from the sun and that the 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 Bang when time and space were created, and this is followed by a depiction of the BIG BANG itself, 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 civilisations 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.Duration: 15:30
Estimated dispatch 7-14 working days
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£79.99The Painted Desert (Concert Band - Score and Parts) - Sparke, Philip
The south-western US state of Arizona has more than its fair share of stunning landscapes, natural phenomena and National Monuments. Best known is the Grand Canyon, but there are also numerous deserts, a petrified forest, extinct volcanoes and the huge Sunset Crater. Not surprisingly, it has featured as the backdrop to many Western movies. The Painted Desert is a narrow, crescent-shaped arc about 160 miles long which begins near the Grand Canyon and varies in width from 10 to 35 miles. It is largely void of vegetation and years of erosion by wind and rain have exposed sedimentary layers of rock up to 250 million years old. Chemical differences in the various layers result in an effect not unlike a multicoloured layer cake with contrasting hues of red, orange and pink, blue, grey and lavender creating a silent and barren landscape which looks like it has been hand-painted. As with much of the planet's stunning landscapes all the observer can do is stand and stare.Duration: 3:45
Estimated dispatch 7-14 working days
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£421.99The Book of Urizen (Movements I: The Vision and II: The Creation) (Soprano, Narrator and Concert Band - Score and Parts) - De Haan, Jacob
The Book of Urizen is a work for concert band, solo soprano, and a male narrator in which sound collages of religious expressions are used. The piece is inspired by the compelling visionary poem of the same name (which the poet illustrated himself) by the Englishman William Blake (1757-1827), who occupies a unique position in western literature and the visual arts. He was not just a poet and a writer, but he was also a graphic artist, a painter, an illustrator, a spiritualist, a religious visionary, and a mystic philosopher. For the performance of this work, a professional sound system, including two microphones and a CD player, is needed. The three sound collages are three separate tracks on the enclosed CD and can be played easily at the right moment.The Book of Urizen bears resemblance to Genesis and Exodus, of which the contents form the basis of the Christian, Jewish, and Islamic faith. Blake adhered to the principle that all religions are in fact one, and that deities reside in human beings. In The Book of Urizen this is represented in "The Net of Religion," which is spanned over the earth by Urizen. The sound collages, compiled by Jacob de Haan in the studio, find their origin in Jerusalem, the Holy City, where the afore-mentioned faiths come together.In the first movement of this composition, The Vision, Urizen prepares his vision of the world, and he presents this to the "Eternals." His vision is rejected, and Urizen locks himself up in his own abstract world. When he does emerge again, he is confronted with rage by the gathered Eternals. Urizen flees the wrath of the Eternals, "the flames of eternal fury," and enwombs himself in his own world. When the Eternals see Urizen in his "stony sleep," they wonder if this is death. The blacksmith Los is torn by grief because of the isolation of Urizen. It brings him to rouse his fires, prepare his forge, and to give Urizen's world concrete form.In the second movement, The Creation, Urizen's world, but also man, woman, and child are created. Los is horrified with the appearance of Urizen's body. He mourns and pities Urizen, and from his blood a female form comes into being, with the name Enitharmon. The Eternals, fearful of the female form, decide to erect a tent to obstruct their view to eternity. Enitharmon and Los beget a son, called Orc. Los baptizes him as a child of the "fallen world." Orc is fed at Enitharmon's breast, which makes a girdle of jealousy restrict Los' chest. He takes the child to the top of the mountain and chains him down. The cries of Orc awaken Urizen, who explores his world creating instruments of scientific measurement to do so. Los encircles the face of Enitharmon from the sight of Urizen and Orc. She then populates the earth by giving birth to an enormous race.The Web, the third movement of The Book of Urizen, is available in a separate set.
Estimated dispatch 7-14 working days
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£250.00The Wind in the Willows (Concert Band - Score and Parts) - De Meij, Johan
A book for those who keep the spirit of youth alive in them; of life, sunshine, running water, woodlands, dusty roads, winter firesides, said author Kenneth Grahame (1859-1932) about his children's book The Wind in the Willows. Initially, he wrote the stories about Ratty, Mole, Badger and Toad to read to his visually handicapped son Alistair, but after the publication in book form in 1908, it became a worldwide success. It was later also turned into a film and a television series. What appealed ti the composer most is the friendly, very cosy atmosphere that Grahame has managed to create with his optimistic narrative style full of high spirits, an atmosphere that reminds thecomposer of his own carefree youth. It was therefore a great pleasure to set this book to music! The four movements successively describe: I) The River- The river, which flows through the habitat of the animals like a lifeline, regularly is the scene of pleasant boat trips and picnics. The animals lead their untroubled lives here. The four-tone main motif [A-C-D-C] is extensively presented by the brass section, and returns in the following movements as a countermelody. II) Ratty and Mole -The bright, energetic Rat and the melancholy doubter Mole are inseparable friends and have many adventures. Their opposite characters are illustrated by separate musical themes. III) Mister Toad - The wilful, haughty Mister Toad is indeed a unique case: time after time, he runs into tricky situations, and with his indomitable passion for fast, preferably stolen, cars he causes quite a lot of damage... IV) The Return of Ulysses - After Toad Hall, the majestic residence of Mister Toad, is recovered from the weasels and stoats of the Wild Wood, who had captured the estate in a cowardly way, our friends get ready for a banquet. They celebrate the victory with a triumphant parade, and so both the book and the music conclude with a happy ending. Duration: 17.00
Estimated dispatch 7-14 working days
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£174.99Et in terra Pax (Concert Band - Score and Parts) - Van der Roost, Jan
This piece was commissioned by the Concert Band Vlamertinge and is a plea for peace: the title translates as Peace on Earth. This is expressed by means of the vocal contribution expected from the performers. In various places of the piece you can recognize, the words Et In Terra Pax, an appeal for peace, at first jumbled together but later more rhythmically structured, developing into synchronized massed voices. The work starts with a pentatonic theme based on the notes D, E, G, A and C (taken from 'ConCErtbAnD VlAmErtinGE' and the name of the conductor, NiCk VAnDEnDriessChe). A somewhat sad melody is developed during an orchestral climax which leads to the first explosion of sound (measure 62 onwards). Suddenly the opening measures are recaptured, albeit with a differently coloured sound: the words Et in Terra Pax bring the first movement to a close. A restless Allegro follows which abruptly stops and is replaced by a calming chorale-like passage. A narrator reads aloud the poem 'Sonnet' by the young poet Charles Hamilton Sorley, who was killed during World War I. This poem fittingly puts into words the cruelty and senselessness of war. After the expanded recapitulation of the allegro, the broad, almost infinite atmosphere of the beginning returns. Clarinet and English horn play the pentatonic opening theme once more, this time broadly, while the words Et in Terra Pax are repeated again and again by the rest of the ensemble. The composer has purposely avoided all forms of aggression and bombastic sounds regularly used in works about war. Fear of violence and destruction can be heard and felt during the allegro passages. The charged opening makes way in the end for hope: May peacefulness replace cruelty in everyday life, too.Duration: 13:45
Estimated dispatch 7-14 working days
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£164.95Euphonium Concerto (Concert Band - Score and Parts) - Ellerby, Martin
This Euphonium Concerto was written between late 1994 and early 1995 in response to a commission from Steven Mead to whom the work is dedicated. It is cast in four movements and lasts a little over 22 mins:I. Fantasy: After the briefest of introductions, the solo euphonium enters with the key melodic phrase of the movement in a fast 'Tempo I'. This idea is developed up to the point where a slower 'Tempo II' breaks the argument - here the mood is reflective but it is only to be a brief interruption as 'Tempo I' returns very quickly. The opening material is then subjected to further transformation with 'Tempo II' making occasional returns en route, the distances between the contrasting tempi becoming ever closer, and the movement closes in a rather soft though definite manner.II. Capriccio: This relatively short presto movement forms a bridge between the first movement and the work's slow movement. The majority of the band parts are bright and muted with the percussion players enhancing the texture with contributions from xylophone, glockenspiel and vibraphone. Again the initial solo euphonium phrase provides the basis for almost all the movement's material. This is extremely virtuosic for the soloist and band alike and makes great play of the rhythmic possibilities of combining simple and compound music either in close proximity or together.III. Rhapsody (for Luis): A Lento movement, sitting between two different but essentially rapid ones, this provides the work's emotional core exploiting the soloist's cantabile qualities in an almost seamless fashion. Again, as will all the work's movements, the initial idea paves the way for subsequent development, eventually culminating in a passionate climax; thereafter it winds down with an affectionate backward glance towards the close of the the slow movement of the Euphonium Concerto of Joseph Horovitz, whose mark had been made indelibly on the euphonium repertoire. This movement is dedicated to Luis Maldonado who set the full score of the brass version before his untimely death.IV. Diversions: The work's variation finale is cast in 3/4 throughout though the barline is often a guideline and was seen by the composer as a challenge of metrical restraint! There is an obvious jazz feel to this movement (both rhythmically and harmonically) with a swaggering ritornello theme first announced by the solo euphonium. Thereafter follows a series of interludes and 'adjusted' returns of the main theme. A lyrical idea is allowed to enter but the underlying momentum is ever present. The band also contributes to the interludes and eventually the tempo increases towards a 'wild' and absolute conclusion.Duration: 22.30Recorded on QPRM143D Dreamscapes, Royal Northern College of Music Wind Orchestra
Estimated dispatch 7-14 working days
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£189.99Godzilla Eats Las Vegas (Concert Band - Score and Parts) - Whitacre, Eric
Note from Composer:It took me seven years to get my bachelor's degree from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. By the time I graduated I was ready to eat Las Vegas.Tom Leslie asked me to write another piece for the group as I was leaving, and I thought it would be a blast to do something completely ridiculous. The players are called upon to scream in terror, dress like Elvises (Elvi), and play in about thirty different styles from mambo to cheesy lounge music. The audience follows a script that I wrote simulating a campy, over the top Godzilla movie (is there any other kind?).I wrote the bulk of the piece while in my first year at Juilliard, and no kidding, I used to act out the script every morning devouring animal crackers, wreaking havoc all over the breakfast table. The script was originally twice as long, and had an entire subplot devoted to a young scientist and his love interest. As I started to finish the piece, however, it didn't seem that funny and that story (along with an extended Elvis tribute) ended up on the cutting room floor.The idea that this piece is being played all over the world in such serious concert venues is the single funniest thing I have ever heard. It has been played on the steps of the Capitol by the United States Marine Band, by the Scottish National Wind Symphony (they play in kilts, so help me God), and I have a video of a Japanese audience visibly confused and shaken by the whole experience. Can you imagine? I'm laughing my head off even as I write this!Godzilla Eats Las Vegas! was commissioned by the University of Nevada Las Vegas, Thomas G. Leslie, conductor, and received its premiere November 28th, 1996.The performers are encouraged to go crazy: wear showgirl costumes, Elvis costumes, act out scenes on stage, use video and lighting - anything to get a laugh.
Estimated dispatch 7-14 working days
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£344.00T-Bone Concerto (Trombone Solo with Concert Band - Score and Parts) - De Meij, Johan
The T-Bone Concerto was Johan de Meij's first composition for solo instrument and symphonic band. It consists of three movements called respectively 'Rare', 'Medium' and 'Well Done'. In addition to the solo trombone, an important role has been allotted to a kind of chamber music ensemble within the band. This group introduces new thematic material and accompanies the soloist, thus creating a delightful transparant accompaniment. The ensemble consists of a double wind quintet (2 flutes, 2 oboes, 2 clarinets, 2 french horns and 2 bassoons) plus a cor anglais and a double bass. Parts I and II are written in the A-B-A form and allow the soloist to display both the technical and the lyrical characteristics of the instrument. Part III at first develops into a kind of neo-baroque style using the thematic material of the first and second movement, and finally leads to a triumphant finale and a virtuoso conclusion. Duration: 25.00
Estimated dispatch 7-14 working days
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£111.00
Well Done (Movement III from T-Bone Concerto) (Trombone Solo with Concert Band - Score and Parts) - De Meij, Johan
The T-Bone Concerto was Johan de Meij's first composition for solo instrument and symphonic band. It consists of three movements called respectively 'Rare', 'Medium' and 'Well Done'. In addition to the solo trombone, an important role has been allotted to a kind of chamber music ensemble within the band. This group introduces new thematic material and accompanies the soloist, thus creating a delightful transparant accompaniment. The ensemble consists of a double wind quintet (2 flutes, 2 oboes, 2 clarinets, 2 french horns and 2 bassoons) plus a cor anglais and a double bass. Parts I and II are written in the A-B-A form and allow the soloist to display both the technical and the lyrical characteristics of the instrument. Part III at first develops into a kind of neo-baroque style using the thematic material of the first and second movement, and finally leads to a triumphant finale and a virtuoso conclusion. Duration: 6.15
Estimated dispatch 7-14 working days
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£111.00
Medium (Movement II from T-Bone Concerto) (Trombone Solo with Concert Band - Score and Parts) - De Meij, Johan
The T-Bone Concerto was Johan de Meij's first composition for solo instrument and symphonic band. It consists of three movements called respectively 'Rare', 'Medium' and 'Well Done'. In addition to the solo trombone, an important role has been allotted to a kind of chamber music ensemble within the band. This group introduces new thematic material and accompanies the soloist, thus creating a delightful transparant accompaniment. The ensemble consists of a double wind quintet (2 flutes, 2 oboes, 2 clarinets, 2 french horns and 2 bassoons) plus a cor anglais and a double bass. Parts I and II are written in the A-B-A form and allow the soloist to display both the technical and the lyrical characteristics of the instrument. Part III at first develops into a kind of neo-baroque style using the thematic material of the first and second movement, and finally leads to a triumphant finale and a virtuoso conclusion. Duration: 8.30
Estimated dispatch 7-14 working days
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