Results
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£49.95A Life Well Lived (Concert Band - Score and Parts) - Wiffin, Rob
A Life well lived was commissioned by the Morrish family in 2023 on the death of Ian Morrish. It is dedicated to them with the inscription in loving memory of Ian.I knew Ian from early days at Southall Citadel Salvation Army Corps and then our paths crossed again briefly when I joined the Central Band of the Royal Air Force. Ian had been a euphonium player in the band for many years and was about to leave to take up a teaching post in Surrey. He was always very involved in choral music, conducting choirs throughout his life. I therefore wanted to keep this piece song-like and actually started with the song which appears from letter D to the end, which can always be performed on its own. From there I used the rising octaves that introduce the song to form the beginning of the work, with the feeling in the back of my head of a river starting to flow. There is nothing referential in the more dramatic sections towards the beginning, but every life has its dramas and I wanted something to give some balance to the tranquil nature of much of the piece. In the middle of the work I use a little motif taken from a song I remember Ian singing in his floating tenor voice. I develop the motif a little as an accompaniment to a new line which has, for me, a sense of purpose and directness and has an oblique reference to the RAF March Past. This builds to the aforementioned song and from there the music flows with its highs and lows to its peaceful conclusion.- Rob WiffinDuration: 3.30
Estimated dispatch 7-14 working days
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£167.00Passacaglia and Fugue in C minor BWV 852 (Concert Band - Score and Parts) - Bach, Johann Sebastian - Cesarini, Franco
The Passacaglia is a set of instrumental variations based on an ostinato bass. Bach's Passacaglia and Fugue in C-minor for organ represents the pinnacle of what had been achieved in this compositional form at that time. In Franco Cesarini's arrangement for large wind orchestra, the particularly careful interpretation of the original piece enables him to exploit all the sound colors at his disposal, and in this sumptuous guise Bach's work also takes on a grandiose dimension, albeit tinged with late-Romanticism. The exposition of the beautiful theme begins in the bass part, immediately creating a solemn and serious atmosphere which is accentuated by the intensely pathetic character of the first variations. Up to the tenth variation it remains confined to the bass, but in subsequent ones it also passes to the soprano and alto register. The integrity of the theme is also embellished with elegant arpeggios, in whose lower and higher extensions the theme can be distinguished. Towards the end it returns to the bass in an impressive thickening of the polyphonic texture that swiftly re-establishes the key of C-minor. The "Thema fugatum" which follows immediately does not constitute a Fugue in its own right, rather it is nothing but the twenty-first and most extensive variation of the Passacaglia. This time Bach uses only the first half of the theme, superimposing a rhythmic countersubject that considerably enlivens the entire development of the composition. The polyphonic discourse becomes increasingly dense, until the building tension peaks in a powerful "Neapolitan sixth" chord, followed by a sudden pause. This culminating moment then leads to the coda and final cadence on a bright C-major chord. Duration: 12.45
Estimated dispatch 7-14 working days
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£48.95More Cowbell (Cowbell Feature with Concert Band - Score and Parts) - Williams, Mark
More Cowbell was inspired by the famous television skit featuring a rock band, a record producer, and an over-zealous cowbell player. If the cowbell player is good at hamming it up (and rocking out!), you could try the following staging suggestions: Cowbell player plays with intensity and lots of movement, and starts moving in measure 17 toward the front of the band, ending up next to the conductor in measure 24, bowing to the audience on beat 4. Conductor gives a stern look and gestures to student to get back in the percussion section (possibilities: "slit throat" gesture with side of first finger followed by pointing forcefully to the back, or similar gestures). Student slinks back, starts playing cowbell again, but quietly this time. Playing gradually picks up intensity, and player starts again toward the front in measure 41, reaching the front by measure 48. In measure 48, either A) Conductor waves hands violently for student to stop, or B) have a couple of students place a large blanket over the cowbell player. This works, but only for one measure (player quits and doesn't move in bar 49). Cowbell player resumes playing with a vengeance in measure 50 (either in spite of the teacher or under the blanket!). Make sure your new "rock star" takes another bow at the end of the piece. Have fun, and may your life always have more cowbell! Duration: 2.00
Estimated dispatch 7-14 working days
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£124.95SWORD AND THE CROWN, The (Prestige Concert Band - Score and Parts) - Gregson, Edward
In 1988 I was commissioned by the Royal Shakespeare Company to write the music for The Plantagenets trilogy, directed by Adrian Noble in Stratford-upon-Avon. These plays take us from the death of Henry V to the death of Richard III. Later, in 1991, I wrote the music for Henry IV parts 1 and 2, again in Stratford. All of these plays are concerned with the struggle for power (the crown) through the use of force (the sword) and they portray one of the most turbulent periods in the history of the British monarchy.This work quickly became established in the mainstream repertoire and has received performances worldwide as well as five commercial recordings and many broadcasts. In 2002 I was approached by the Parc and Dare Band regarding their summer festival and commissioned to do a version for brass band. This was given its first performance in Treorchy Hall by the combined bands of Black Dyke and Parc and Dare conducted by Nicholas Childs.When the Royal Air Force Music Services commissioned me to write a work especially for their British tour in 1991 I immediately thought of turning to this music and transforming some of it into a three-movement suite for symphonic band.The first movement opens with a brief fanfare for two antiphonal trumpets (off-stage), but this only acts as a preface to a Requiem aeternam (the death of Henry V) before changing mood to the English army on the march to France; this subsides into a French victory march, but the English army music returns in counterpoint. Finally, a brief reminder of the Requiem music leads to the triumphal music for Richard Plantagenet, Duke of York, father of Edward IV and Richard III (the opening fanfare transformed).The second movement takes music from the Welsh Court in Henry IV (part 1) which is tranquil in mood; distant fanfares foreboding battles to come are heard, but the folktune is heard three times in different variations and the movement ends as it began with alto flute and gentle percussion.The final movement starts with two sets of antiphonally placed timpani, drums and tam-tam, portraying the 'war machine' and savagery of battle. Trumpet fanfares and horn calls herald an heroic battle theme which, by the end of the movement, transforms itself into a triumphant hymn for Henry IV's defeat of the rebellious forces.- Edward GregsonPerformance time 13'54"Recorded on QPRM117D FESTIVAL OF MUSIC 1991, Massed Bands of the Royal Air ForceRecorded on QPRM120D THE SWORD AND THE CROWN, Central Band of the Royal Air Force'Finale' recorded on QPRM142D FESTIVAL OF MUSIC 2002, Massed Bands of the Royal Air Force)
Estimated dispatch 7-14 working days
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£171.00Passacaglia and Fugue in C-minor BWV 582 - Johann Sebastian Bach
The Passacaglia is a set of instrumental variations based on an ostinato bass. Bach's Passacaglia and Fugue in C-minor for organ represents the pinnacle of what had been achieved in this compositional form at that time. In Franco Cesarini's arrangement for large wind orchestra, the particularly careful interpretation of the original piece enables him to exploit all the sound colors at his disposal, and in this sumptuous guise Bach's work also takes on a grandiose dimension, albeit tinged with late-Romanticism. The exposition of the beautiful theme begins in the bass part, immediately creating a solemn and serious atmosphere which is accentuated by the intensely pathetic character of the first variations. Up to the tenth variation it remains confined to the bass, but in subsequent ones it also passes to the soprano and alto register. The integrity of the theme is also embellished with elegant arpeggios, in whose lower and higher extensions the theme can be distinguished. Towards the end it returns to the bass in an impressive thickening of the polyphonic texture that swiftly re-establishes the key of C-minor. The "Thema fugatum" which follows immediately does not constitute a Fugue in its own right, rather it is nothing but the twenty-first and most extensive variation of the Passacaglia. This time Bach uses only the first half of the theme, superimposing a rhythmic countersubject that considerably enlivens the entire development of the composition. The polyphonic discourse becomes increasingly dense, until the building tension peaks in a powerful "Neapolitan sixth" chord, followed by a sudden pause. This culminating moment then leads to the coda and final cadence on a bright C-major chord.
Estimated dispatch 7-14 working days
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£149.99
Jello, The Colours Of My Soul - Ben Haemhouts
Jello...The Colours of my Soul is an assignment that was written to be a lasting memory of the untimely, dramatic death of a young child. The work came about due to various conversations between the father and the composer whereby the final resultmust be seen as an attempt by the composer to musically translate the feelings of the parents.The first part of the title, "Jello", is a combination of the names of the two children of the commissioner, namely Jelle and Lobcke, and "the Colours of mySoul" are the colours of the soul of the parents who despite the loss of one of their children, continue to cherish their two children. The introduction provides the atmosphere of grieving for the loss, whereby use is made of pure fifths in order toportray the solidarity with nature, as we are familiar with in symphonies by Bruckner. A little later a bit of the first theme is suggested, which develops into a real funeral march.The Dies Irae, as this occurs in Berlioz's Fantastic Symphony (F, E,F, D, E, C, D), forms a leitmotiv through the entire work in order to symbolise the constant battle between life and death.Shortly before the storm-passage, (where a wind machine is used) which announces disaster, fragments from children's songs areplayed to the accompaniment of a rising choir piece from behind the stage, which strengthens the imminent confrontation with death.After the introduction of the two themes in the long introduction, a quick passage follows in which all kinds ofbeautiful memories are recalled. There is story telling, laughing, and dancing. One of the previous children's songs is also cited. The Dies Irea is heard once again, this time short and fast.Bit by bit happy elements are steadily distorted untilseriousness breaks through again, like an unavoidable and unstoppable evil. The entire piece becomes evermore stirring, as if a big climax will follow. At this moment a very long fermata makes a sudden end to the hysterical allegro. The crucialmoment in the work follows...How does one deal with something as tragic as the death of one's own child? Does one mourn for what no longer is and what never will be? Or does one try to cherish the beautiful moments and continue to live with thesecolourful memories?A subdued, dignified choir piece captures the beautiful memories and ends in a positive, hopeful tone.
Estimated dispatch 7-14 working days
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£118.99Cats (Songs from the musical) (Concert Band - Score and Parts) - Lloyd Webber, Andrew - De Meij, Johan
The musical Cats, with music by Andrew Lloyd Webber is based on the 1939 poetry collection Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats by T.S. Eliot. It became Lloyd Webber's third great success, after the musicals Jesus Christ Superstar and Evita. He began setting Eliot's poems to music in 1977, and the compositions were first presented as a song cycle in 1980. Producer Cameron Mackintosh then recruited director Trevor Nunn and choreographer Gillian Lynne to turn the songs into a complete musical. Cats became one of the longest-running shows in West End and Broadway history. It received its world premiere at the New London Theatre in 1981, where it played for 21 record-breaking years and almost 9,000 performances. The following year, Cats opened at New York's Winter Garden Theatre, its home for the next 18 years, garnering seven 1983 Tony Awards, including Best Musical. The show returned to Broadway in 2016, where it had a successful pre-tour run at the Neil Simon Theatre. Cats has been presented in over 30 countries, translated into 16 languages, and seen by more than 73 million people worldwide. Lloyd Webber's magnificent musical score includes the poignant hit song Memory, which has been recorded by over 150 artists, from Barbra Streisand to Liberace to Barry Manilow. It took 7,486 chandelier crashes for Lloyd Webber's The Phantom of the Opera to take over from Cats as the longest-running show in Broadway history in January 2006.Duration: 8.15
Estimated dispatch 7-14 working days
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£122.20Stjernen og Rosa (The Star and a Rose) (Concert Band - Score and Parts) - Hannevik, John Philip
The Star and a Rose is a big-scale Christmas piece for band, featuring four seasonal chorales.The first is a Gregorian-like chant Hodie Christus natus est.In this section of the piece, a soloist can be placed away from the band, maybe on a gallery. The soloist can be a tenor instrument, maybe trombone, or you can feature a vocal soloist. After this, the music leads us on to the old German Christmas chorale Lo, how a rose e'er blooming. This song is given a fairly rhythmical treatment, but make sure that the melody is presented in a cantabile style. An interlude follows, before the piece presents one of the most used and loved Scandinavian Christmas chorales, Mitt hjerte alltid vanker (My Heart will always wander), composed by the Danish bishop Hans Adolph Brorson around 1732. This song is building towards a climax, before the solo horn brings it all down to the Stable view described in the lyrics. Then comes a transition that brings us in to the final section of the piece, which presents the international Christmas Carol Adeste Fideles. As many will notice, I have borrowed a section from David Wilcocks majestic harmonization towards the end.The title of the piece has its background form the lyrics in My heart will always wander, where the text speaks about the stars in the sky. But also in the Latin text for Adeste Fideles: Stella duce, Magi, Christum adorantes. The Rose is of course from the lyrics in the chorale Lo, how a Rose.Duration: 10.30
Estimated dispatch 7-14 working days
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£79.99Troja (Troy) (Concert Band - Score and Parts) - Schwarz, Otto M.
The Greek poet Homer wrote about Troy and the Trojan War, which probably took place in what is now Asia Minor, in his Iliad in the 8th century B.C. Nowadays, the term Trojan generally refers to a malware program that is used to gain unauthorised access to computers. This use comes from the legendary Trojan Horse, which saw the turning point in the battle between Greeks and Trojans through the cunning of Odysseus. Let us return to the beginning of the story: Paris, son of the king of Troy, is tasked by Zeus with judging the beauty of the three goddesses Aphrodite, Pallas Athena, and Hera. Aphrodite, the goddess of love, flatters Paris by promising him the most beautiful woman in the world. Soon afterwards, on a journey to Greece, Paris meets the beautiful Helen, who immediately falls in love with him. Since however she is the wife of Spartan king Menelaus, she eventually lets herself be kidnapped by Paris voluntarily. The Greeks then form a large army and go to war against Troy to retrieve Helen, leading to a ten-year siege of the city. The city is eventually conquered not through combat, however, but through Odysseus' cunning ploy. He has the idea of building an enormous wooden horse with warriors hidden inside. The horse is placed at the gates of the city. Thus, the Trojans are tricked into giving up the siege when, despite various warnings, they bring the horse into the city to dedicate it to the goddess Athena. At night, the soldiers climb out of the horse and open the gate for the Greek army. The troops storm the city and burn it to the ground. The royal family and all the Trojan warriors are killed, only Aeneas, the son of Aphrodite, escapes. Later, following many years' wanderings he and his acolytes will become known as the founders of the Roman people. There are various accounts of the fate of the beautiful Helen. She is said to have returned to Sparta with Menelaus and to have ruled there until the end of her life. Or maybe not...Duration: 6.00
Estimated dispatch 7-14 working days
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£139.00Psyche et Eros (Concert Band - Score and Parts) - Franck, Cesar - Cesarini, Franco
Cesar Franck, composer, pianist, organist and music teacher, completed Cupid and Psyche, his sixth and last symphonic poem in 1887. It was first performed in Paris in 1888 and was a complete success, but the piece later fell completely into oblivion, and it was only thanks to some meticulous research that it has returned to concert halls. The intricate love affair between Psyche and Cupid is an original story of the Metamorphoses, written in the 2nd century AD by Apuleius. The tale is about overcoming obstacles in love and their final union. The symphonic poem is divided into three parts and calls for a choir. The movement that is the subject of this arrangement, Psyche et Eros, is positioned at the end of the second part. Franco Cesarini's version for wind orchestra carefully illustrates the nuances of the instrumental colours, and represents a real test aimed at demonstrating the musicality and interpretative skills of orchestras and their conductors. Duration: 10.30
Estimated dispatch 7-14 working days
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