Par SPARKE PHILIP. The Four Noble Truths are the most basic expression of the teaching of Buddha and therefore still form the guidelines for Buddhists to this day. The four truths are Dukkha, which describes times of major stress in our lives - birth, aging, desire and death; Samudaya which describes those parts of our life that induce stress, feeling, craving, desire; Nirodha which tells us how t…

Passionskantate. Par HOMILIUS GOTTFRIED AUGUST. He was without argument our greatest church composer, wrote the lexicographer E. L. Gerber a few years after Homilius's death in 1785. As a result of the destruction of the Kreuzkirche during the Seven Years War, the longtime Kreuzkantor, a pupil of Bach, performed his professional musical duties primarily at the Frauenkirche in Dresden. The Passions…

Brentwood-Benson Music Publications presents Vol. 4 in its Instrumental Worship Series with I Could Sing of Your Love Forever: 12 instrumental duets for piano and cello. These tasteful, worship-centric arrangements by Christopher Phillips, Music Director at Christ Church Nashville, are perfect for offertories, postludes, or as intimate, stand-alone performances. With a focus on flexibility, these …

Overture. Par MOZART WOLFGANG AMADEUS. In 1786, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart composed his wonderful opera Le Nozzi di Figaro. In the opera Count Almaviva tries to seduce the fiancée of Figaro, his valet. Eventually, through four acts full of complicated intrigue, he is outwitted. In his music, Mozart, at times in a humorous way, reflects the numerous social and erotic intrigues with both empathy and in…

Par VAN DER ROOST JAN. Jan Van der Roost composed Dances of Innocence to commemorate a girl who passed away at the tender age of 14. In contrast to the sombre, joyless tone such a memory usually invokes, it is a rather cheerful work that reflects the innocence and light heartedness of a child. It does open in a serious mood, but quickly becomes more energetic and turns into a dance. Dances of Inno…

Par VAN DER ROOST JAN. This work consists of two movements. The first part is rather quiet and pastoral in character, written in a gently rocking 12/8 time and expressing the tranquillity of the area around the medieval town of Oudenburg in Belgium. After a beautiful orchestral climax the second section, inspired by the Roman past of Oudenburg, begins. A somewhat oppressive and impending introduct…

Elegy For Band. Par SPARKE PHILIP. The initial idea was for a millennium piece, which it is, but rather than add to the many celebratory pieces that have understandably been written to salute the 3rd millennium, Philip Sparke thought it would perhaps be appropriate to think about the aspects of life that are constantly with us (such as faith and philosophy) rather than the exciting changes that th…

Overture. Par MOZART WOLFGANG AMADEUS. In 1786 Mozart composed his wonderful opera Le Nozze di Figaro (KV 492). The Italian libretto, based on the play Le mariage de Figaro by Beaumarchais, was written by Lorenzo da Ponte who also made the libretti of Mozart’s opera’s Don Giovanni and Così fan tutte. In the opera Le Nozze di Figaro, Count Almaviva tries to seduce the fiancée of Figaro, his valet. …

In 1922 Maurice Ravel heard the young Hungarian violin virtuoso and niece of Joseph Joachim, Jelly D'Aranyi, in concert in London. Following the performance, Ravel spent the remainder of the evening requesting D'Aranyi to play numerous gypsy tunes on her violin, probing her on the technical limits of the instrument. The result of this encounter is Ravel's virtuoso classic 'Tzigane?. Written origin…

Suite of Israeli Folk Songs. Par SPARKE PHILIP. The long history of Jewish folk song has resulted in a rich and varied repertoire of songs which deal with religion, history, festival and celebration. The melodies featured in Shalom! reflect this panoply of subjects and range widely in mood, from lament to rejoicing. / Niveau : 2.5 / Pièce de concert / Répertoire / Brass Band