Par VAN DER ROOST JAN. A spectacular dive via an extended chromatic scale immediately submerges us in a charged and somewhat archaic-feeling atmosphere. Trumpets, horns and trombones resound in rhythmic patterns, buttressed by restless motifs in the percussion. A second theme, in the woodwinds, begins much calmer but is quickly pushed aside by that same brass offensive. This introduction is the mu…

Threshold of Night (a setting one of Kathleen Raine's Three Poems of Incarnation) was commissioned by St John's College, Cambridge and was premièred under the direction of David Hill in the College chapel on 25th November 2006. Written for Advent, the work aims to highlight the yearning that all societies have, in their time of need, for guidance from beyond their community. By coincidence, howeve…

PIANO SONATA NO. 4 from the years 1962?1964 is dedicated to the memory of Fiser?s friend, the pianist Antonín Jemelík, who died tragically. As a tribute to their friendship the composer incorporated into the introduction a quotation from their favourite work, Piano Sonata No. 10, Op. 70,by Alexander Scriabin. The tragedy of the death of the composer?s friend pervades the emotionally intense passag…

Par BROWN CHRISTINE. Score and Parts Standard: Elementary Christine Brown is a highly respected teacher and composer for young people, and in her Chandos Suite for violin, cello and piano she marries her wealth of practical experience in coaching elementary players in the art of chamber music with her distinctively tuneful way of writing for the three instruments. A wistful Prelude precedes a myst…

Par CURNOW JAMES. Contrasting colors and varied orchestration techniques make this majestic setting of OH LITTLE TOWN OF BETHLEHEM come alive for Christmas. Of the three different tunes that are commonly associated with the original carol text, this arrangement uses the melody that?s best known in England. ENGLISH CAROL FANTASY remains entirely accessible to bands at this level and plenty of cuein…

Three letters (F-U-N) are all you need to describe this hip new work from the pen of Vince Gassi. But if you need more, you might use words like cool, interesting, energetic. Not enough? Then how about expressive, bluesy, heroic! Oh, and with a title like 'Bang Zoom!!,' it's a safe bet there are opportunities for your percussionists to shine. (3:15) / Concert Band

New edition with completion by Christian Alexander of the young composer's first extended work- only the instrumental prelude was performed during Finzi's lifetime. The other three movements are settings of poems by John Masefield, Thomas Hardy and Wilfrid Wilson Gibson.Scored for baritone solo, small chorus (or SATB soli) and chamber orchestra, the wellspring of the Requiem's composition was the …

Par BURTON KEN. British composer Ken Burton uses the writing of Paul Laurence Dunbar (1872–1906), the black American son of emancipated slaves, in his 3-minute work A Prayer. The text of the three verses is bitter-sweet, filled with hope and sadness, and the music combines with this to make a rhythmically simple reflective evening hymn. Burton draws on Spiritual, Gospel and Blues to write a piece …

Par BRITTEN BENJAMIN. 2013 marks the centenary of Benjamin Britten's birth and major celebrations are planned across the world, making this the widest ever global celebration of a British composer. The previously unpublished Two Pieces were written in late 1929, after Britten composed the Rhapsody For String Quartet (March 1929). The new publication will be edited by David Matt hews, who spent thr…