Par SPARKE PHILIP. The birth of Philip Sparke’s second son, Benjamin, was the inspiration for composing Ballad for Benny. A short calm introduction leads to the main ballad theme, a gentle waltz melody. Following the work’s climax in which the complete band plays the main theme the sound fades and the piece ends in calm and serenity. / Niveau : 2.5 / Musique pour célébration / Répertoire / Bras…

Par FERNANDEZ MICHELE. Having written this for her son in 1998, composer Michele Fernández brings us this highly emotional and rewarding work for jazz ensemble. The nostalgic opening solo section (which is optional) leads to a sizzling salsa groove which gradually intensifies throughout. The distinctive melody is complemented with lushly scored countermelodies, and all rhythm section parts are car…

Par REGISTER P. BRENT. Cigány Könnyek (Gypsy Tears) by P. Brent Register is a work in two parts for violin and piano. The opening section, free and almost improvisatory, leads to a rhythmically charged and vibrant dance in 5/8 time./ Répertoire / Violon et Piano

Arrangeur: Robert Rainford. Par BRUCH MAZ. 7 short, melodic pieces with chances for both soloists to shine. Max Bruch (1838-1920) was a German Romantic composer, conductor and teacher. A child prodigy, he composed his first pieces at the age of nine, and went on to hold musical posts in Mannheim, Berlin and Bonn. He also spent three seasons as conductor of the Liverpool Philharmonic Society. In hi…

Par SPARKE PHILIP. A Bandsman’s Overture was commissioned by British Bandsman magazine to celebrate its 125th anniversary in 2012. It was premiered by Black Dyke Band, conducted by Dr Nicholas Childs, at a special anniversary concert held in Symphony Hall, Birmingham, on July 1st. British Bandsman was for a period known as British Bandsman and Contest Field, following an amalgamation of two magazi…

Par LEWIS GEORGE. Although his Signifying Riffs (1998) for percussion and strings is halfway there, String Quartet 1.5: Experiments in Living (2016) is the first proper string quartet by composer George Lewis. Borrowing its title from the writings of John Stuart Mill, Experiments in Living leads the performers through a series of idiosyncratic episodes featuring extremes of gesture and extended te…

Par ANDRE MARC. The most distant is more familiar to us then the nearest. Primeval man, furthest in the past, is also the essential man. Anticipation, pointing furthest into the future, leads us in its way to the essential man. Thus the distant is connected with the most inner [Edgar Morin, Le vif du sujet, Paris 1968, S. 68]./ Répertoire / Clarinette Basse, Trombone, Alto, Violoncelle, Con

Par SPARKE PHILIP. The Hanover Wind Symphony, New Jersey, USA was founded in 1984 by its conductor Peter Boor. He commissioned HANOVER FESTIVAL to celebrate the band’s 15th Birthday and the first performance took place on October 27th 1999. The piece starts with a solemn brass fanfare. Woodwinds join in and the music subsides into an expressive chorale. A climax is reached and the fanfare returns.…

3 Nocturnes and 2 Interludes For Cello and Guitar. Par HEINIO MIKKO. Mikko Heiniö's Mot natten (Towards night), three nocturnes and two interludes for cello and guitar was composed in 2018. This suite found its inspiration and name in Finnish poet Bo Carpelan's (1926-2011) posthumous poetry collection Mot natten (2013), though the movements are not tied to specific poems. The first nocturne, Obscu…

Par PART ARVO. This piece is Pärt's tribute to Benjamin Britten who died in 1976. Arvo Pärt: In the past years we have had many losses in the world of music to mourn. Why did the date of Benjamin Britten's death - 4 December 1976 - touch such a chord in me? During this time I was obviously at the point where I could recognize the magnitude of such a loss. Inexplicable feelings of guilt, more than …