for flute and clarinet. Par CHOSTAKOVITCH DIMITRI. Dimitri Chostakovitch (1906-1975) fut un compositeur et pianiste russe. Sa personnalité novatrice s’affirma très tôt avec ses deux premières symphonies et son opéra Le Nez (1928). En 1936, il achève la composition de son second opéra, Lady Macbeth qui fut violemment critiqué dans la Pravda. Chostakovitch devint ainsi officiellement un 'ennemi du p…

Par SPARKE PHILIP. South Down Pictures was commissioned by Millenium Brass 2000, an organisation comprising three brass bands from the county of Sussex, England. The bands (Patcham Silver, Hangleton and Brighton Silver) had got together to organise many events to mark the new millennium and these culminated in a concert in Hove Town Hall on July 9th 2000 when all three bands combined to give the f…

Par JARRELL MICHAEL. Michael Jarrell définit la série abondante des Assonances comme un, 'cahier d'esquisses' où il pourrait exercer son 'droit de se concentrer sur une idée et de s'y sentir libre'. Assonance III pour clarinette basse, violoncelle et piano se situe essentiellement dans le registre grave pour lequel le compositeur ne cache pas une certaine prédilection - la pérennité des sons de la…

Par BARNES LARRY. Cloud Breathing by Larry Barnes, for Oboe and Piano. Cloud breathing is a technique in Chinese martial arts involving short, sharp inhaling breaths and a slow exhale to oxygenate the body in preparation for fighting, meditation and healing. In this work, the piano begins in the upper register with tones like wind chimes, with the oboe entering beneath. This meditative first secti…

Par SPARKE PHILIP. MASQUERADE was commissioned by Stadtmusik Willisau from Switzerland (Reto Güdel, conductor) to celebrate their 175th anniversary in 2003 and first performed by them in November that year. 1. OvertureThe first movement opens with a fanfare-like figure, featuring the brass, before the main them is introduced over staccato chords. After a short, syncopated interlude a legato theme …

for Cornet and Brass Band. Par SPARKE PHILIP. In this solo work - a commission for an 18th birthday present - the opening mood of a brooding modal blues gives way momentarily to a more optimistic central section. Following an emotional climax and reflective cadenza, the opening material returns, but now tying in with the central section, and the piece fi nally ends in a more positive mood. In this…