Category: TEST PIECES (Major Works) Composer: Philip Sparke
Set as the Third Section Test Piece for the 2014 Butlins Mineworkers Contest.
Click on MORE DETAILS to either hear the three audio extracts or view the images (PDF) of the solo cornet part.
This work was written as a commission by Boosey & Hawkes Band Festivals for the Youth Section of the National Brass Band Championships of great Britain 1985. 12.50 In one continuous movement, it has three distinct sections : mp3 example 1. An opening extended fanfare which reappears at various points throughout the work. This leads to the syncopated, jazzy main theme, played in turn by various sections of the band. After several contrasting interludes, the main theme returns, gradually calming to introduce mp3 example 2. - a slower central section which is characterised by intimate quartet writing and a powerful climax for the whole band. mp3 example 3. This final section explodes percussively out of the quiet section and is a headlong gallop, interrupted briefly by a more tranquil mood, which leads back to the opening fanfare in an exciting close.
Category: TEST PIECES (Major Works) Composer: Philip Sparke
Championship Section testpiece for the National Finals in the Royal Albert Hall, London in October 2007.
For all brass band enthusiasts attending the National Finals event in October, this is the study score ( not so miniature, almost, but not quite full A4 size ) - buy it now and have it in advance to follow and listen to the winning performance !
Just Music think that this is one of the best quality "study scores" produced by any publisher for a contest. Nicely bound in a glossy cover, and very clearly printed and presented, we think that it is good value for money.
Category: TEST PIECES (Major Works) Composer: Philip Sparke
Championship Section testpiece for the National Finals in the Royal Albert Hall, London in October 2007.
Music for Battle Creek was commissioned by the Brass Band of Battle Creek, Michigan, USA, with funds provided by the W. K. Kellogg Foundation. It is dedicated to Russ and Lou Ann Mawby — Russ was a former CEO and President of the W K. Kellogg Foundation. The Brass Band of Battle Creek gave the American premiere in December 2007, conducted by Mark Gould. It was also chosen as the test piece for the Championship Finals of the British National Brass Band Championships held in the Royal Albert Hall, London, on 20°, October 2007,where it received its first performance.
The Brass Band of Battle Creek is a professional ensemble which was formed in 1989 by brothers Jim and Bill Gray, themselves both amateur brass players. The members are hand-picked from some of the best brass players in the world, taken from orchestras, US service bands and specialists from the British brass band scene; they meet 2 or 3 times a year for rehearsals, recordings and concerts and have built up a huge following and spectacular reputation. Philip Sparke first met the BBBC in 1992 on a visit to Michigan and has been a fan of the band ever since. A chance to write a substantial piece for such a stunning ensemble was too good to miss.
The composer’s aim was to write an ‘American’ piece, one full of excitement, bravado and virtuosity and saluting the ‘can do’ attitude which he so admires in the Gray brothers.
The work is in 3 joined movements:-
1) Prelude and Toccata
The work opens with a quasi-fanfare based on intervals of the third (and the compound chords these can produce) and this serves as an introduction to an extended cadenza passage for solo cornet and euphonium,which ends calmly. The following Toccata is again built around figures based on the third until the whole band joins in a concerted climax. Various themes and moods follow until the trombones intone a chorale which later becomes an important feature of both the first and last movements. This brings a feeling of optimism which is interrupted by a return of the Toccata. However the chorale theme is triumphant and the movement ends in a positive vein. A short Interlude leads to:
2) Elegy: In memoriam, John and Marguerite Gray The second movement is a tribute to Bill and Jim’s parents and starts in fairly sombre mood until a euphonium introduces a mood of tranquil serenity. The melody becomes more and more passionate as more instruments take the lead until the whole band plays a hushed hymn of thanksgiving; this again builds to an emotional climax before the movement ends calmly.
3) Rondo Finale The last movement is in fact two rondos in one; the contrasting themes that keep on trying to return and dominate the musical argument are a chromatic and jazzily syncopated fugue and a powerful Bach-like chorale. After they have both appeared, trombone and solo horn try to establish their own presence but are swept away by a strong unison passage accompanied but undulating comets. This in turn is usurped by the fugue theme which seems to be taking a strong hold until the chorale reappears. This is then chaotically combined with the fugue until order is restored by a return of the trombone figure from the first movement. This leads to an emphatic close in up-beat mood, but not before the fugue tries a last attempt to steal the limelight.
Categories: SUMMER 2020 SALE TITLES, TEST PIECES (Major Works) Composer: Kenneth Downie
The First Section Testpiece for the National Brass Band Regional Championships 2000 - and First Section Testpiece for the 2007 Butlin's Contest.
Normally £55.00 - only £35.00 in our Spring Sale
MUSIC FOR THE COMMON MAN
(In memory of Theodore Cooney)
Commissioned by the Swiss Brass Band Association and the Music Association of Norway for their National Brass Band Championships.
The theme, stated at the outset, is largely reflective in mood, albeit with underlying moments of tension. Fragments of it re-emerge between the fast section which all derive from the
opening material. The theme returns triumphantly near the end, and after a series of changing moods, serenity and repose are re-established.
The title has a three-way aptness. it indicates the unpretentious nature of music, it alludes to a universally known fanfare and symphony, and it makes a fitting tribute to my uncle who died while I was writing the music, and who did much to encourage me as a composer.
Category: TEST PIECES (Major Works) Composer / arranger: Philip Wilby
THREE SONATAS FOR BRASS BAND
Commissioned for the World Brass Band Championships held in Kerkrade, Holland, July 2005
1. - Street-scene and Deluge 2. - Moon-rise: P rather C/I 3. - River-run: Sempre con brio
‘Music for the Moving Image” consists of three character pieces which take their style and content from music for the cinema. Unlike conventional pictures, these ‘moving images’ are designed to change and develop through time and my music mirrors this progress close/y. Each of the three movements has a narrative progress which ends transformed by its Journey. In my mind’s eye, the ear/y days of cinema, with its rich background of the Ca4fornian Sierras and Goldrush Country are part of the background to this music. The first sonata begins in a live/y manner with a number of disjointed musical portraits: as the music progresses these become united and overwhelmed a torrential downpour and flash flood. The last image, conjoured enigmaticaly by a distant ‘corps of drums’ remains elusive and unresolved.
The second starts at twilight as bird songs echo from distant mountains. As it transforms and changes, we hear a number of exchanges, some domestic, some passionate, and the music final/y blossoms into a nocturnal Adagio as the moon rises.
The third ,River-run, pictures a gurgling mountain stream, full of brisk energy. As it descends and gathers strength and mass, distantly revisits some of the music from the second sonata, and grows inexorably into a mighty river rushing and roaring to the ocean.
Category: TEST PIECES (Major Works) Arranger: Elgar Howarth
A four movement suite - duration c 10.00 The movements are :
1. Earl of Oxford's March - 3.00 ( William Byrd ) 2. Pavane - 2.35 ) John Bull ) 3. Galliard - (John Bull ) 4. King's Hunting Jig - 1.50 ( John Bull )
If you enjoyed listening to this extract, you can buy the full recording of this work on the CD section of our site. If you want to perform this work with your band, you can of course purchase the score and parts here right now, by clicking on "BUY NOW".
The recording is ESSENTIAL DYKE Vol.5, Celebrate Rotary - CD is DOY CD193
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