Brassband
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Veil of Secrets€103.50
Many different stories are circulating about Mata Hari (or Margaretha Geertruida Zelle). It is difficult to say what is true and what is not. What is certain is that her life is full of mystery, temptation, deception and drama. She works her way up into the elite circles in a unique way, seduces men with her exotic dance and she even seems to work as a double agent. She is enchanting and has a veil around her, both literally and figuratively. Moreover, she has a great sense of drama.
Part 1 - “Creating Mata Hari” Margaretha, originally Frisian, hides behind the name Mata Hari, as an exotic dancer after her introduction to Indian culture. In this movement we hear the main melody of the work, reminiscent of Javanese and Balinese gamelan music.
Part 2 - “Facade” For years, Mata Hari has stood her ground thanks to her charismatic appearance, her strong will and self-confidence. She's a master of illusion — perhaps even believing her own story in the end...
Part 3 - “Dancing Kisses” Her dance is her weapon, her mask, her identity. Even when she is arrested and sentenced to death for espionage, she continues to play her role. She calmly and theatrically blows kisses to the people around her, until the very last moment.
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New Beginnings€92.50
New Beginnings was commissioned by the National Youth Brass Band of Great Britain and was first performed by The National Children’s Brass Band of Great Britain in August 2021.
It describes in sonic terms the effect that energy can create, both musically and emotionally. Here, in a burst of vibrant rhythmic patterning, and dedicated to the young players of this famous brass band, New Beginnings is born.
There are three sections.
From the start, it is driven by the percussion section, who push the energy through a sequence of mysterious and joyous moments.
After a sonorous climax, the music subsides to a slower, romantic middle section where the earlier rhythmic energy is transformed into melodic playing from the brass.
As the Finale begins, earlier themes are combined, first with a fugato which passes the melodies around the band and then unites in a recapitulation that brings the whole composition to a rousing finish as the romantic hymn makes a final appearance.
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Escapades€132.50
The work comprises three related parts and opens with a heroic theme representing the ‘battle’. The second movement is calm and serene and reflects ‘peace’. The work concludes with a joyful, cantabile dance (gigue). The strengths of this composition lie in its simple execution and the compact, variable instrumentation.
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Glorifico Aeternum€46.90
This piece has a central theme that is paramount to the Christian: the opportunity to offer glory and thanksgiving to God, in return for his great love to us that will last throughout eternity. His presence in the life of the Christian can mean many things, but a thankful heart is the basis for all he requires from us. So close is the love and care of God, that not only does he reveal himself through his word, but through the lives of other people. It is at that stage we recognise the gift of being nurtured and prayed for by those around us who love him too. These thoughts, emotions and gifts are portrayed in the music which seeks to bless, move and excite both player and listener
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Rococo Variations...€59.50
Rococo Variations was commissioned by the British Open Championships for their 2008 contest in Symphony Hall, Birmingham, and co-commissioned by the Norwegian Band Federation, for their National Championship in Bergen in 2009.
The title of the work has been used before, of course, most notably by Tchaikovsky in his work for cello and orchestra. My set of variations follows the Tchaikovskian model in that it is based on a quasi-Baroque original theme, and has certain ‘dance-like’ characteristics in the variations, but beyond that all comparisons end.
There are six variations: Toccata, Siciliana, Waltz, Moto Perpetuo, Lament, and Fugal Scherzo, followed by a triumphant re-statement of the theme. Throughout, there is considerable contrast in the music, with the fast variations being rather virtuoso in character, sometimes with constantly changing time patterns, whilst the two slow variations (Siciliana and Lament) are in turn lyrical and pensive in mood with prominent solos and duets for a number of instruments.
Although the work overall is dedicated by my brother, each of the six variations pays tribute to a different composer whose contribution to the brass band repertoire during the second half of the twentieth century has been of great significance. To this end, all six composers have their own ‘musical signature’ embraced within the particular variation, a process which reaches its zenith, contrapuntally speaking, during the final variation and reprise of the theme.
- Edward Gregson
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She Moved Through the...€32.45
With an enchanting simplicity and melancholic beauty, She Moved Through the Fair is one of the most beloved traditional Irish songs. The melody, ethereal and timeless, exudes an atmosphere of longing and mystery. In this new, expressive flugelhorn arrangement by Alma Muller, the song takes on a tranquil glow that invites the listener to reflect.
The warm, round sound of the flugelhorn emphasizes the intimate character of the melody and fully expresses the emotional depth of the piece. The result is a solo rendition that is as fragile as it is powerful, a tribute to a song that resonates through generations.
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Melt (for Brass Band)€77.95
Melt is a flashy opening work by Tjeerd Nijhof that lives up to its name—a musical flow in which timbres and melodies merge into an immersive experience.
With this new version for Brass Band, Nijhof's composition gets a fresh interpretation, in which the energy and interplay of the Brass Band provide a unique character. Let yourself be carried away and experience the transformation of Melt in its latest form.
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