Category: TEST PIECES (Major Works) Composer: Simon Dobson
Set as the CHAMPIONSHIP SECTION test piece for the 2016 Finals of the British Brass Band Championships.
Journey of the Lone Wolf by Simon Dobson is available on the CD 'Journey of the Lone Wolf' by the Black Dyke Band, conducted by Professor Nicholas J. Childs & Elgar Howarth.
First published 2014 by Faber Music Ltd. Revised edition 2016.- This purchase is the 2016 Revised Edition.
Percussion requirements The percussion requirements for this work were amended in 2016 at the request of Kapitol Promotions Music Panel, which has selected the work as the test-piece for the 2016 Championship Section finals of the National Brass Band Championships, 8 October 2016. With the co-operation of the composer, Percussion 3 material has been re-assigned, where possible, to Percussion 1 and Percussion 2, either as a re-write or cue. The reduced Percussion 3 part now becomes an option and is not to be performed on 8 October. Percussion 4 (for tuned instruments) is unchanged.
Performance notes During the second movement, Night Music, Percussion 2 is instructed to play a backing track (manipulated samples of bowed crotales and nature sounds) from a CD player linked to speakers. This is to add atmosphere and a sense of physical space during the flugel horn solo. The CD is provided with the performing material. Minor revisions have also been undertaken to the cornet, horn and baritone parts in the last four bars of the work. Any band that has purchased the 2014 publication should contact Kapitol Promotions Music Panel Secretary, Alan Hope, and alternative material including percussion parts will be supplied by the publisher.
Category: TEST PIECES (Major Works) Composer: Simon Dobson
Set as the CHAMPIONSHIP SECTION test piece for the 2016 Finals of the British Brass Band Championships.
Please note that this Score purchase is an A4 size score - not the large A3 size score shown in the illustration.
Journey of the Lone Wolf by Simon Dobson is available on the CD 'Journey of the Lone Wolf' by the Black Dyke Band, conducted by Professor Nicholas J. Childs & Elgar Howarth.
Category: TEST PIECES (Major Works) Composer: Peter Graham
Set as the Championship Section Testpiece for the 2006 Regionals
You can both listen to an extract of this work and view an image of the Solo Cornet part on your computer, by clicking on the "MORE DETAILS" button on the right - this will reveal the audio extract and the PDF image for you to sample.
2005 marked the 100th anniversary of the death of Jules Verne, and the event inspired Peter Graham to write a musical tribute to the author described as the "father of science fiction." Journey to the Centre of the Earth is one of Verne's best known works. The novel takes the form of a sequence of diary entries by Axel, nephew of Professor Otto Lidenbrock. The pair follow coded instructions in a old document guiding them to Iceland where, together with their guide Hans, they enter the open crater of an extinct volcano Snæfells and pursue a trail to the centre of the earth. There follows “hair-breadth ‘scapes and ventures perilous” as the intrepid explorers encounter a vast interior world. Peter Graham has taken some of the key scenes from the book and set them as a sequence of symphonic extracts. The subtitles are; (I) Snæfells, (II) Descent, (III) The Wonders of the Terrestrial Depths, (IV) The Day of Rest, (V) Lost in the Labyrinth, (VI) The Whispering Gallery, (VII) Rescue from the Abyss, (VIII) Battle of the Antediluvian Creatures and Ascent, (IX) Homecoming.
You can listen to an extract of this work on your computer, by clicking on the "MORE DETAILS" button on the right - this will reveal the audio extract(s) for you to sample.
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 REGIONALS 2006 , - CD is DOY CD206
Categories: NEW & RECENT Publications, TEST PIECES (Major Works) Composer: Ty Watson
Duration = 09.25
Degree of difficulty = C/D
JUNO 1944
This concert work for Brass Band by Ty Watson, is a musical tribute to Canada's contribution during the D-Day invasion. It is in four movements:
I. Call To Duty
II. The Battle
III. Fallen Friends
IV. The Road To Victory
Juno or Juno Beach was one of five beaches of the Allied invasion of German-occupied France in the Normandy landings on 6 June 1944 during the Second World War. The beach spanned from Courseulles, a village just east of the British beach Gold, to Saint-Aubin-sur-Mer, and just west of the British beach Sword. Taking Juno was the responsibility of the Canadian Army, with sea transport, mine sweeping, and a naval bombardment force provided by the Royal Canadian Navy and the British Royal Navy as well as elements from the Free French, Norwegian, and other Allied navies. The objectives of the 3rd Canadian Infantry Division on D-Day were to cut the Caen-Bayeux road, seize the Carpiquet airport west of Caen, and form a link between the two British beaches on either flank.
The beach was defended by two battalions of the German 716th Infantry Division, with elements of the 21st Panzer Division held in reserve near Caen.
The invasion plan called for two brigades of the 3rd Canadian Division to land on two beach sectors—Mike and Nan—focusing on Courseulles, Bernières and Saint-Aubin. It was hoped that the preliminary naval and air bombardments would soften up the beach defences and destroy coastal strong points. Close support on the beaches was to be provided by amphibious tanks of the 2nd Canadian Armoured Brigade and specialized armoured vehicles of the 79th Armoured Division (United Kingdom). Once the landing zones were secured, the plan called for the 9th Canadian Infantry Brigade to land reserve battalions and deploy inland, the Royal Marine commandos to establish contact with the British 3rd Infantry Division on Sword and the 7th Canadian Infantry Brigade to link up with the British 50th Infantry Division on Gold. The 3rd Canadian Division's D-Day objectives were to capture Carpiquet Airfield and reach the Caen–Bayeux railway line by nightfall.
The landings initially encountered heavy resistance from the German 716th Division; the preliminary bombardment proved less effective than had been hoped, and rough weather forced the first wave to be delayed until 07:35. Several assault companies—notably those of the Royal Winnipeg Rifles and The Queen's Own Rifles of Canada—took heavy casualties in the opening minutes of the first wave. Strength of numbers, coordinated fire support from artillery and armoured squadrons, cleared most of the coastal defences within two hours of landing. The reserves of the 7th and 8th brigades began deploying at 08:30 (along with the Royal Marines), while the 9th Brigade began its deployment at 11:40.
The subsequent push inland towards Carpiquet and the Caen–Bayeux railway line achieved mixed results. The sheer numbers of men and vehicles on the beaches created lengthy delays between the landing of the 9th Brigade and the beginning of substantive attacks to the south. The 7th Brigade encountered heavy initial opposition before pushing south and making contact with the British 50th Division at Creully. The 8th Brigade encountered heavy resistance from a battalion of the 716th at Tailleville, while the 9th Brigade deployed towards Carpiquet early in the evening. Resistance in Saint-Aubin prevented the Royal Marines from establishing contact with the British 3rd Division on Sword. By the time all operations on the Anglo-Canadian front were ordered to halt at 21:00, The Queen's Own Rifles of Canada had reached its D-Day objective and the 3rd Canadian Infantry Division had succeeded in pushing farther inland than any other landing force on D-Day.
Kaleidoscope is a set of five variations of on the ‘Brugger Lied’ (Brugg Song) which is the traditional song of the town of Brugg. The lyrics tell of the geography, people and traditions of this charming and historic town, which is situated in the north of Switzerland, near to the German border, about halfway between Basel and Zurich.Each variation is based on tiny extracts of the theme, the whole piece therefore resembling the effect of a kaleidoscope, which juxtaposes small fragments of colour in a constantly changing pattern.
If you enjoyed listening to this audio extract, you can buy the full performance CD on this website. The CD is "KALEIDOSCOPE" with Foden's Richardson Band conducted by Richard Evans.
Category: TEST PIECES (Major Works) Composer: Philip Sparke
Set as the Third Section Test Piece for the 2020 National Brass Band Championships of Great Britain.
Previously set as the Second Section Testpiece for the 2007 Butlin's Contest
Kaleidoscope was commissioned by the Aargau and Waadtland Music Associations (Switzerland) with financial support from the town of Brugg and the City Pharmacy, Brugg (Dr. M & B Kuhn) as the test piece the Aargau and Waadtland Cantonal Music Festivals held in May and June 2003.
It is a set of five variations of on the ‘Brugger Lied’ (Brugg Song) which is the traditional song of the town of Brugg. The lyrics tell of the geography, people and traditions of this charming and historic town, which is situated in the north of Switzerland, near to the German border, about halfway between Basel and Zurich.
The variations are based on tiny extracts of the theme, the whole piece therefore resembling the effect of a kaleidoscope, which juxtaposes small fragments of colour in a constantly changing pattern.
The introduction is inspired by the many rising intervals which start phrases within the song, and the main theme is then introduced.
Variation 1 is based on the dotted rhythm which permeates the song.
The short interlude which is Variation 2 plays on the interval of a seventh midway through the song.
Variation 3 uses a waltz-like theme with a central theme derived from the rising third figure.
Variation 4, a slow ballad, is once again based on the opening bar.
The finale, Variation 5, starts with a moto perpetuo. Later, a contrasting theme briefly interrupts, but the moto perpetuo returns, eventually acting as a descant to the reintroduction of the ‘Brugg Song’ in its entirety. A short coda recalls material from Variation 1 before bringing the piece to a close.
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