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Category: LIGHT CONCERT MUSIC Composer: Rossini Arranger: Julian Blakeston
Rossini’s Overtures are very distinct in their style, fanfares, heavy scoring and more memorably, the themes which he creates. For years, the Brass Band movement has enjoyed his well known “William Tell” & “Barber Of Seville” Overtures, yet the Overture to Cinderella has seemingly gone unnoticed. Now comes an arrangement by Julian Blakeston of this work, which has all the magic and excitement of his more “famous” overtures, although sadly until now has not been at the forefront of the Brass Band program.
The work is important for me because it was my first piece to be performed outside Norway. Black Dyke Band/David King performed it and did a recording of it in 1991.
In the original score I quote a Swedish bishop (Olaus Mangnus) who lived in the 15th century. He travelled around Scandinavia and drew maps - very important historic material.
When he came to the north of Norway (where I come from) he decribed the wind from the north as Ciricus: (something like) Worst of all winds is Circius, that revolves (?= turn upside down) heaven and earth.» (Well, not a good translation I´m afraid).
The fast sections reflects the mighty winds from the north. In the middle section, I borrowed a folksong-like tune (by C. Elling, a Norwegian composer). The text (by Kristoffer Janson) tells about old times when the fishermen used open boats: they had to put their lives in the hands of God.
Categories: TEST PIECES (Major Works), LIGHT CONCERT MUSIC Composer / arranger: Torstein Aagaard-Nilsen
"Wind of the North". duration 8.02 Written in 1989 by the young Norwegian composer, it evokes the wind of the north "Circius" which according to the 18th. century writings "devastated heaven & earth". The calmer middle section of the work is based on the Norwegian folk song " Fiskarens tale til son sin" - the text of which links directly with the legend of Circius - a fathers plea that his son always respect and never challenge the forces of nature.
Category: LIGHT CONCERT MUSIC Composer: Claude Debussy Arranger: Andrew Duncan
This arrangement offers a perfect interlude for concert programmes. Bringing the classical style of Debussy to life through a delicate setting of this familiar melody.
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