Category: TEST PIECES (Major Works) Composer: Oliver Waespi
Grade 4 Duration 11:30 Set as the Third Section Test Piece for the 2015 National Finals of the British Brass Band Championships in Cheltenham in September.
The Graces of Love (Le Gratie d’Amore) is the title of a book published in 1602 by Cesare Negri, the famous dance master of the Milan court in the Renaissance. It contains numerous dance tunes and precise descriptions of courtly dances. It also includes the tune Il bianco fior (The White Flower) on which the first movement of the present piece is based. A vigorous dance in three-four, it leads to an acceleration and a sudden shift to an even meter towards the end. The second movement, calm and contemplative in character, features the tune Vaghe bellezze ... (Veiled Beauty …). Widely spaced melodic parts surround two solos during which the tune is varied and developed. Finally, the third movement contains a saltarello with a hypnotic rhythm, ending the work with flair and gusto.
Category: TEST PIECES (Major Works) Composer: Oliver Waespi
Grade 4 Duration 11:30
Set as the Third Section Test Piece for the 2015 National Finals of the British Brass Band Championships in Cheltenham in September.
The Graces of Love (Le Gratie d’Amore) is the title of a book published in 1602 by Cesare Negri, the famous dance master of the Milan court in the Renaissance. It contains numerous dance tunes and precise descriptions of courtly dances. It also includes the tune Il bianco fior (The White Flower) on which the first movement of the present piece is based. A vigorous dance in three-four, it leads to an acceleration and a sudden shift to an even meter towards the end. The second movement, calm and contemplative in character, features the tune Vaghe bellezze ... (Veiled Beauty …). Widely spaced melodic parts surround two solos during which the tune is varied and developed. Finally, the third movement contains a saltarello with a hypnotic rhythm, ending the work with flair and gusto.
Category: TEST PIECES (Major Works) Composer: Saskia Apon
Duration: 11:30
The composition the Lonesome Knight was based on a fairytale. The piece was written by Saskia Apon for the National Brass Band Championships 2001.
Once upon a time there was a knight who went to fight and defeat the dragon that had been killing the people of his town. There is a short but intense battle between the two and the knight is triumphant. However whilst persuing the dragon the knight has travelled far away from his home and now is lost. He roames around trying to find his way home, but exhausted and weary he falls to the ground. He awakens startled by a Giant and a group of Goblins who are celebrating the death of the dragon. The knight joins in the festivities but after a long evening is once more left alone. The sun rises the following morning and he sees a castle on the horizon. He enthousiastcally ventures towards the castle in the hope of meeting other people. However he becomes greatly disillusioned when there is none to be found. In his desperation the knight climbs the tower ready to jump off. Suddenly he hears a heavenly voice. Right before him is the most beautiful princess he has ever seen. She graciously thanks him for killing the dragon, a spark ingnites between them and they build a life together and.... live happily ever after!
Saskia Apon studied harp at Rotterdam School of music. With this instrument she rounded of her studies by passing with credit, however it was her love of composition that remained her focus. Self-taught, she began composing at the age of nine. Since then she has written pieces for The Dutch Brass Quintet, The Dutch Brass Ensemble, The Rotterdam Trombone Quartet and the brass band quintet Brass Ability. At present she is the in-house arranger for The Rotterdam Philarmonic Brass Ensemble. Besides the customary attention for the real splashworks she endeavours to add value to the melodic function of the brass wind instruments in her music. Her compositions and arrangements can be found on many diverse Cds.The composition the Lonesome Knight was based on a fairytale. The piece was written by Saskia Apon for the National Brass Band Championships 2001.
Once upon a time there was a knight who went to fight and defeat the dragon that had been killing the people of his town. There is a short but intense battle between the two and the knight is triumphant. However whilst persuing the dragon the knight has travelled far away from his home and now is lost. He roames around trying to find his way home, but exhausted and weary he falls to the ground. He awakens startled by a Giant and a group of Goblins who are celebrating the death of the dragon. The knight joins in the festivities but after a long evening is once more left alone. The sun rises the following morning and he sees a castle on the horizon. He enthousiastcally ventures towards the castle in the hope of meeting other people. However he becomes greatly disillusioned when there is none to be found. In his desperation the knight climbs the tower ready to jump off. Suddenly he hears a heavenly voice. Right before him is the most beautiful princess he has ever seen. She graciously thanks him for killing the dragon, a spark ingnites between them and they build a life together and.... live happily ever after!
Saskia Apon studied harp at Rotterdam School of music. With this instrument she rounded of her studies by passing with credit, however it was her love of composition that remained her focus. Self-taught, she began composing at the age of nine. Since then she has written pieces for The Dutch Brass Quintet, The Dutch Brass Ensemble, The Rotterdam Trombone Quartet and the brass band quintet Brass Ability. At present she is the in-house arranger for The Rotterdam Philarmonic Brass Ensemble. Besides the customary attention for the real splashworks she endeavours to add value to the melodic function of the brass wind instruments in her music. Her compositions and arrangements can be found on many diverse Cds.
Category: TEST PIECES (Major Works) Composer: Carl Wittrock
Grade 4 Duration 10:30
The word ‘tsunami’ is of Japanese origin. When you look it up in a dictionary, you will find that it means ‘a great sea wave produced by submarine earth movement or volcanic eruption’. A megatsunami is the superlative of this awesome expression of power that nature can create, and has catastrophic consequences.
When Carl Wittrock completed this composition not many such big earth movements had occurred, but since then we have become all too familiar with the disastrous consequences which a tsunami may have. On the 26th of December 2004 a heavy seaquake took place near the Indonesian island of Sumatra. Tidal waves 10 meters in height ravaged the coastal regions of many countries for miles around. The tsunami took the lives of thousands of people and destroyed many villages and towns.
There are more areas which run the risk of being struck by a tsunami, such as the island of La Palma, one of the Canary Islands. This island is based on oceanic crust at a fracture zone and as such is one of nature’s time bombs. The consequences of a natural calamity like a megatsunami are immense. In the case of La Palma, the tidal wave will move in the direction of South America, where it may reach 50 km inland, destroying everything on its way.
In his composition Wittrock describes an ordinary day which will have an unexpected ending. Right from the beginning there seems to be something in the air, the music creating an oppressive atmosphere of impending disaster. Themes are interrupted, broken off suddenly, followed by silence, suggesting the calm before the storm. Suddenly a short climax (glissandi in the trombone part) indicates the seaquake, and the megatsunami is a fact. Hereafter follows a turbulent passage symbolising the huge rolling waves. After nature’s force has spent itself, resignation sets in and the composition ends with a majestic ode to nature.
Category: TEST PIECES (Major Works) Composer: Oliver Waespi
Grade: 5
Duration:13:35
This piece tells the story of a conflict between the communities in the valleys around Sörenberg, a village in Entlebuch in the Swiss canton of Lucerne. An old legend from the 14th century tells of an attack on Sörenberg by marauding Obwaldners who stole the local cattle. It’s full of spectacular effects and impressive rhythmical and dynamic sequences. Ideal as a contest piece.
This piece tells the story of a conflict between the communities in the valleys around Sörenberg, a village in Entlebuch in the Swiss canton of Lucerne. An old legend from the 14th century tells of an attack on Sörenberg by marauding Obwaldners who stole the local cattle. It’s full of spectacular effects and impressive rhythmical and dynamic sequences. Ideal as a contest piece.
Category: TEST PIECES (Major Works) Composer: Carl Wittrock
Duration: 08:00
As he did before in the often played and commonly appreciated ‘Lord Tullamore’, in which he poetically depicted the landscape and the cultural elements of a small Irish village, in his composition ‘The Road to the West’ Carl Wittrock has sketched pioneer existence in America in a cinematic manner.
In ‘The Road to the West’ the composer has tried to capture images of pioneer life during the period dating from 1850 to 1890, the days of the so-called Wild West.
In those days, the Wild West used to be the territory west of civilization, the domain of cowboys, trappers, and other fortune hunters.
In short, ample ingredients for a captivating story.
In the firstscene a lonely adventurer struggles against nature and the elements.
After an exciting adventure he passes through ‘the Plains’, where majestic views alternated by colossal mountain ranges display an almost unimaginable beauty.
After weeks of isolation civilization is reached again.
‘The Saloon’ is the perfect meeting place here news is exchanged and hilarious scenes regularly take place.
Category: TEST PIECES (Major Works) Composer: Marc Jeanbourquin
Grade: 3.0 Duration: 08:55
The Three Towers is an attractive suite about three historical monuments that still adorn the old ramparts of the Suisse town of Fribourg. The three towers are depicted in as many contrasting movements, with solo passages featuring in the second movement. Together they form a concert piece, accessible for the lower divisions, which is interesting for the audience as well as the musicians.
Category: TEST PIECES (Major Works) Composer: Marc Jeanbourquin
Grade: 3.0
Duration: 08:55
The Three Towers is an attractive suite about three historical monuments that still adorn the old ramparts of the Suisse town of Fribourg. The three towers are depicted in as many contrasting movements, with solo passages featuring in the second movement. Together they form a concert piece, accessible for the lower divisions, which is interesting for the audience as well as the musicians.
Category: TEST PIECES (Major Works) Composer: Oliver Waespi
Grade: 3.0 Duration: 09:46
Theme and Variations is another brilliant test piece from the pen of Oliver Waespi, one of the most popular brass band composers of today. It is a challenging but rewarding piece which offers plenty of opportunity for several soloists to show off their skills. Theme and Variations is based on one theme that is explored throughout the piece, resulting in spectacular and colourful variations. A beautiful musical kaleidoscope!
Category: TEST PIECES (Major Works) Composer: R. Huw Cole Difficulty level: Third
Set as the 3rd. Section Test piece for the National Finals of the 2012 British Brass Band Championships.
Click on MORE DETAILS to view the Solo Cornet part.
To view 