Light concert music from Bernaerts, Chandos, DeHaske, Faber, Gramercy, Howard Snell, Kirklees, Lake Music, Novello, Obrasso, R Smith, Salvation Army, Studio Music, Windwood Music, Wright & Round and many, many more.
Category: LIGHT CONCERT MUSIC Composer: Modest Mussorgsky Arranger: Philip Littlemore
Duration : 6.00
Modest Mussorgsky was a close friend of the young artist and architect Victor Hartmann, and his death in 1873 plunged Mossorgsky into a deep depression. The following year a memorial exhibition in St. Petersburg displayed Hartmann’s paintings, costumes, architectural designs and sketches. Mussorgsky’s visit to it, combined with his desire to write a piece in his friend’s memory, inspired him to compose his Pictures At An Exhibition for piano. A suite of ten movements, with a recurring Promenade theme, it is one of the composer’s most famous works and regarded as a showpiece for virtuoso pianists. It is perhaps the orchestral trasncription made by Maurice Ravel in 1922 that is now the most famous version of it. This arrangement opens with a brief excerpt from The Hut on Fowl’s Legs, which was based on a painting of an elaborately carved clock depicting Baba Yaga, a horrible tiny witch that feasts on human bones. The tenth, and final picture in Mussorgsky’s masterpiece is commonly referred to as The Great Gate of Kiev, although it’s literal translation is The Bogatyr Gates — a Bogatyr being a hero figure in medieval East Slavic legend. It features a grand main theme that is interspersed with a more solemn hymn-like secondary theme. The work closes with a grand final rendition of the Promenade theme that almost grinds to a halt at what must be the foot of what were to be magnificent ceremonial gates (although they were never actually built).
Categories: LIGHT CONCERT MUSIC, SALVATIONIST MUSIC Composer: James Curnow
Salvation Army Tone Poem
Comments by Lieut-Colonel Ray Bowes
This fine work has much that will be of interest to players and conductors and should bring a measure of musical satisfaction when played. The directives of the message contained therein should appeal to those who listen. It is thought that the comments of the composer should prove helpful and these are therefore given.
‘Inspired by reading Marching to glory, a history of The Salvation Anny written for the 1980 National Congress in the USA by Professor E.H. McKinley, who taught history at Asbury College in Kentucky, the composer has endeavoured to capture the spirit of early-day Salvationists as they gave themselves completely to ‘the great salvation war’. The phrase itself appeared in the Pacific Coast edition of The Salvation Army’s newspaper, The War Cry, on 1 January, 1888, and was often used by the pioneers to describe their daily struggle against Satan and his legions.
The songs employed in the tone poem represent, first, the strength and determination of the pioneer Salvationists and the power of the Holy Spirit to overcome all odds (‘Stand like the brave!); second, complete commitment to the Lord, to trust only in him for power and direction, even in the darkest and most trying times (‘In thee, 0 Lord, do I put my trust’); and last, the triumphant reaffirmation of the Army’s one great purpose (‘Rescue the perishing’).’
A short mp3 audio extract and an image of the Solo Cornet part are provided here to give you a sample of this work. Access it by clicking on the "MORE DETAILS" button. You can buy the full recording of this work on the CD section of our site.
The recording is The LIGHTER SIDE of ELGAR HOWARTH on Doyen DOY CD215
Category: LIGHT CONCERT MUSIC Composer: Otto Schwarz
Groove Machine by Otto M. Schwarz was commissioned by Brassband Oberösterreich. This bonus track has been recorded by the Brassband Oberösterreich under the musical direction of conductor Hannes Buchegger. A version for concert band is also available.
To view 
