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£264.99
Diferencias on an Old Spanish Song - Yasuhide Ito
I am immensely happy that my Gloriosa, symphonic poem for band (1990), has been performed by so many bands in the last thirty years.During this period, the growth of the internet has made it much easier to access information.When I composed Gloriosa, I only had limited information about the period when Christianity and Western music was first introduced to Japan, and had to rely a lot on my imagination.However, nowadays, it is easy to obtain various source materials and to read interesting studies on the music of the past.In recent years, the music of Luis de Narvez (born ca.1500 - died between 1555-1560), Spanish composer and vihuela player, has become increasingly known, and several CDs of his music are now available.Narvez composed the earliest-known set of diferencias, a forerunner of the variation form. One of his works is Seys diferencias sobre el himno "O gloriosa domina" [Six diferencias on the hymn "O gloriosa domina"] (1538), based on the Spanish Marian hymn, and it was this melody I used in the first movement of my Gloriosa.Western music has been my musical roots since childhood, and throughout my career as a composer, it has continued to fascinate me. One could say that this has provided the inspiration for Diferencias on an Old Spanish Song, my own take on the diferencias form.Actually, such music from the early sixteenth century could sound fresh to our modern ears. So I decided to quote the melody from Narvez's Sey diferencias at the beginning and end of the piece, in order that people can get the feel for the period.The main section (bars 42-390) is formed of 13 diferencias, similar to the first movement of the Gloriosa.In the middle section, which begins after the eighth diferencia(from bar 187), one should be totally absorbed in the tranquility and the beauty of the music. Although it's in the style of a sarabande, it should be taken slower and played as pianissimo as possible.This is followed by folk-style dance music. (As only standard percussion instruments are used, try to be creative with tonal colours and sense of rhythm).The structure of the work is simple, but be aware of the connection between the sections when constructing the whole.Also, think about the tonality. Overall, the work is in F minor. The main section is basically in D minor, but from bar 102, it modulates to A flat minor and G minor, and then in the middle section it suddenly switches to A flat major (which is the furthest key from D minor, and the relative major of F minor). From bar 219, it modulates to F minor and then to C minor, then back to F minor by way of A minor.N.B. The Oboe II part can be substituted by the English Horn (as indicated in the parts). One can choose according to the player's skills or preference.Recent new compositions for wind band are often full of rhythm, dynamism, and tonal colour, and compositional techniques and orchestration have also evolved greatly. Yet on the other hand, they tend to feature fewer melodic or expressive elements. Since this work is the test piece for WMC Kerkrade 2022, I had to think about what "tests" or "challenges" to set, and I decided to compose something that doesn't involve a lot of technical display, but requires beautiful sounds and harmonies, and above all, musical expressivity. I didn't put many expression markings in the score, because I wanted the performers to think about how best to express this music. If it is played merely as notated, it's not going to sound very interesting.Christianity was introduced to Japan in the mid-16th century, but it was subsequently banned and Japan entered a period of national isolation, which meant that there was hardly any international exchange for two hundred years. As a result, the Christian hymns that were introduced prior to the isolation became almost unrecognizable over the centuries. This was the theme I explored in my Gloriosa thirty years ago.Now, in 2021, the whole world has been forced to "isolate" due to the Covid-19 pandemic. In such times, it seems pertinent that I've written a work using this melody again. I sincerely hope that people will be able to gather in Kerkrade in 2022.(English Translation:Nahoko Gotoh)
Estimated dispatch 7-14 working days
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£209.99Machu Picchu - Satoshi Yagisawa
Commissioned for the Ensemble Liberte Wind Orchestra, Kawaguchi City, 30th Anniversary ConcertExplaining the significance of Machu Picchu begins with remembering the Incan empire at its zenith, and its tragic encounter with the Spanish conquistadors. The great 16th century empire that unified most of Andean South America had as its capital the golden city of Cuzco. Irresistible to Francisco Pizarro, while stripping the city of massive quantities of gold, in 1533 he also destroyed Cuzco's Sun Temple, shrine of the founding deity of the Incan civilization.While that act symbolized the end of the great empire, 378 years later an archeologist from Yale University, Hiram Bingham, rediscovered "Machu Picchu", a glorious mountaintop Incan city that had escaped the attention of the invaders. At the central high point of the city stands its most important shrine, the Intihuatana, or "hitching post of the sun", a column of stone rising from a block of granite the size of a grand piano, where a priest would "tie the sun to the stone" at winter solstice to insure its seasonal return. Finding the last remaining Sun Temple of a great city inspired the belief that perhaps the royal lineage stole away to this holy place during Pizarro's conquest.After considering these remarkable ideas I wished to musically describe that magnificent citadel and trace some of the mysteries sealed in Machu Picchu's past. Three principal ideas dominate the piece: 1) the shimmering golden city of Cuzco set in the dramatic scenery of the Andes, 2) the destructiveness of violent invasion, and 3) the re-emergence of Incan glory as the City in the Sky again reached for the sun.(Satoshi Yagisawa)
Estimated dispatch 7-14 working days
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£69.99
Sketches on a French Carol - Bryan Kidd
Like a fine crystal ornament, the delicate opening expresses the precious meaning of the song. Gradually, the music grows in strength to a full and rich proclamation of joy. Thrilling chimes lift the spirit even higher. In the last bars the music melts away once again, befitting the gentleness of the gift and the moment. This is a delightful contrast piece for the holiday concert that allows the musicians to be truly expressive.Meaningful!
Estimated dispatch 7-14 working days
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£37.50
Canto and Caprice - James Curnow
What an excellent way to lift your beginning band up to a higher level of musicianship! This outstanding new work for the beginning band is perfect for that first festival experience or for any concert venue. With accents, staccato, and lots of dynamic and stylistic contrasts there is much to teach in this piece, and yet it remains accessible to the last exciting note. Be sure to pay close attention to this significant new beginning band composition. An important addition to the repertoire
Estimated dispatch 7-14 working days
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£104.99Concertino for Trumpet - Kees Schoonenbeek
The first movement of this work, an Allegretto, begins with a fanfare-like opening. After a number of other melody lines, a reprise of the beginning follows, which ends in a cadenza for the soloist. Movement two, titled Rituel, is characterized by interplay between the soloist and the band within a stately melody. In the final movement, the theme of the first movement's opening returns. As the indication 'alla marcia' of the last movement suggests, this Allegro Giocoso contains march-like music that guarantees a lively conclusion.With Concertino, Kees Schoonenbeek has written an appealing work that is very suitable for a beginner soloist. It is also available for trumpet andpiano.
Estimated dispatch 7-14 working days
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£139.99
Cobra - Jan Bosveld
Shortly after the Second World War, a combative movement of Danish, Belgian and Dutch artists chose the cobra snake - extremely dangerous yet considered sacred - as a symbol of their resistance to strict guideliness of form. The name "Cobra" also happens to contain the first letters of the cities Copenhagen, Brussels ans Amsterdam, from where most of the movement's members came. The Cobra movement, which existed from November 1948 until November 1951, can with some justicication be called the last major avant-garde movement of the 20th century.The source of inspiration for the composition Cobra comes from four paintings: "Obhobning" by the Dane Egill Jacobsen; "La jeune fille et lamort" by the Belgian Pierre Alechinsky; "Orgeldraaier" and "Le rythme joyeux de la ville" by the Dutch artists Karel Appel and Corneille. Obhobning means "pile-up", which is represented musically in the first part by a melodic and harmonic pilling up of perfect fourth's. The first part is also characterized by a rhythmic feeling, which the painting gives through its use of numerous black stripes. In the painting La jeune fille et la mort, Pierre Alechinsky places a young girl opposite Death. The second part features the constantly pulsating motion of live while a creeping, dark, melodic line develops. The tension between life and death is tangible as a battle reveals itself. In part three, one hears the Orgeldraaier by Karel Appel, as cheerful and playful as an organ grinder's music. The painting Le rythme joyeux de la ville by Corneille is busy and extremely dynamic, a perfect source of inspiration for a powerful, rhythmic ending to this composition.
Estimated dispatch 7-14 working days
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£84.99Paso Bella - Peter Riedemann
Paso Bella is full of the typical fiery and melodic characteristics of the paso doble. The hot Spanish temperament can be heard from the opening themes in the minor key, as is usual in a paso doble, to the last bars of the trio. The trio is followed by an exuberant closing which will reverberate in the ears of both musicians and audience for a long time.
Estimated dispatch 7-14 working days
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£76.99Allein Gott in der Hh' sei Ehr
Jacob de Haan begins his arrangement of the well-known hymn Allein Gott in der Hh' sei Ehr (All Glory Be to God on High) with a quotation from his own Missa Katharina, a mass for choir, soprano, and band. To this melody he sets the Latin text from the last part of the Gloria. The chorale is then heard after an interlude and can, at the director's discretion, be accompanied by the choir singing in either German or English. A perfect work for church concerts.
Estimated dispatch 7-14 working days
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£149.99Musica Helvetica - Jan de Haan
Every year a competition for wind orchestras and brass bands takes place in Wallberg, Switzerland. Apart from a hymn and a solo piece, all orchestras also have a compulsory piece to play. The commission to create a compulsory piece for the 2012 competition fell to Jan de Haan. The composition is entitled Musica Helvetica. It takes the form of a three-part concert work, in which the last two parts flow directly from one to the other. The first part, Musica Prima, is a brisk virtuoso opening with jazz flavours woven in. The following section, Musica Sacra, offers a contrast with an extraordinarily colourful instrumentation for the gorgeous main theme. Thefinal part, Musica Alpina, is inspired by the great variety of scenery in Switzerland. With its witty humour it makes a worthy conclusion to this beautiful tryptich.
Estimated dispatch 7-14 working days
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£104.99Klezmeriana - Jan de Haan
Klezmer is actually a conglomeration of different musical styles, including sounds of the Balkans as well as oriental influences and 'gypsy music'. At the end of the last century, klezmer experienced a revival worldwide and is now extremely popular. For this varied concert band composition, Jan de Haan wrote a series of his own melodies in klezmer style.
Estimated dispatch 7-14 working days
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