Anglo-Music

Flamenco for Band-Flamenco is a style of music usually played on the guitar to accompany dancing and singing that has its home in Andalusia in southern Spain. It has its roots in the years of Moorish rule of the region (711-1492) although the modern flamenco style dates only from the 18th century. La Caracola (which is the Spanish name for the triton sea shell) is an annual festival of flamenco that takes place around the region’s capital Seville annually in May. This piece does not contain any traditional flamenco melodies but does capture wonderfully the colour passion and energy of this seductive music in a ‘must-have’ work for Beginner Bands.

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. Trumpets introduce an explosive vivo section characterised by an energetic theme from the horns and low clarinets. A bridge passage with strong brass chords leads to a playful section that introduces a legato central theme under woodwind figures. This is taken up by the full band the playfulmusic returns and the original horn tune is reintroduced. Finally the opening fanfare returns this time accompanied by music from the vivo section until a fast and furious coda closes the work.

Kentish Dances (?Danses du Kent?) est une commande du Bromley Youth Music Trust pour le Bromley Youth Concert Band (Orchestre d?Harmonie Junior de Bromley) placé sous la direction de Michael Purton. L?œuvre a été donnée en création par la formation dédicataire le 16 mars 2008 au St John?s Smith Square à Londres.La ville de Bromley est située dans le comté du Kent à l?extrémité sud-est de l?Angletrerre. Le Kent possède un riche patrimoine culturel traditionnel et notamment de nombreux airs de danses comme beaucoup d?autres régions anglaises. Connue en Angleterre sous le nom de country dancing la contredanse fut plébiscitée par les classes moyenne et aiséeanglaises à la période élisabéthaine supplantant les formelles gaillardes et pavanes en vigueur à la cour royale. La contredanse connut une telle notoriété que de nombreux ouvrages lui furent consacrés tels que l?English Dancing Master de Thomas Playford publié en 1651 qui constitue la plus importante source de mélodies de danses traditionnelles léguée à la postérité.Michael Purton Directeur du Bromley Youth Music Trust suggèra l?idée d?une œuvre basée sur des airs de danses typiques du Kent. Philip Sparke accepta et composa cette suite de danses en trois mouvements. Le premier mouvement est construit sur un moto perpetuo qui développe deux mélodies pétillantes en 6/8 : Dover Castle et The Fair Maid of Wickham. Le mouvement central s?articule autour de l?air Blackheath dont la sombre mélodie contraste de façon charmante et opportune avec la mélodie Bromley Bells. Le finale expose les sémillants We Are All Right at Canterbury et Ramsgate Pier. La valse cadencée Northdown Waltz offre un délicieux contraste expressif.

Par SPARKE PHILIP. Elegy: Echoes of Lives Past (Élégie : Échos de vies d?antan) est l?une des deux pièces commandées par Koninklijke Fanfare Kempenbloei Achel (dirigée par Ivan Meylemans) dans le cadre de son programme pour le Concours « World Music Contest 2022», qui s?est tenu à Kerkrade, aux Pays-Bas. L?orchestre a gagné le premier prix de la division « Fanfare Concert Division ». Cette ?uvre s?ouvre avec un choral sombre pour quintette de saxophones (pouvant être situé ailleurs que sur scène) agrémenté de solos expressifs par le bugle et le baryton. Un court interlude par les cuivres mène à un second choral plus optimiste, accompagné par des arpèges, par l?ensemble des saxophones. Ce passage est repris par les cuivres sous les figures fleuries des saxophones, pour aboutir à un dramatique climax qui est interrompu par un brusque changement d?ambiance rappelant les solos de bugle et de baryton du début. Vous avez le choix de deux conclusions possibles, selon la position du quintette de saxophones du début ? sur scène ou non. Cette pièce peut être interprétée immédiatement après sa partenaire, Not Before Time (AMP 505-020), dont les éléments du choral sont identiques. / Date parution : 2023-06-01/ Répertoire / Fanfare Band

Born in Jarrow northeast England in 1949 John Miles was something of a child prodigy learning the Piano from the age of five. In the early '60s he persuaded his father to buy him a Guitar and by the end of the decade he had joined a semi-professional band The Influence. The group soon disbanded and by 1969 Miles was recording with his own group The John Miles Band releasing a dozen singles in the early '70s. In 1975 Miles decided to move to London and secured a deal with Decca Records. By October that year a newly formed band John Miles and Co had released their debut single Highfly but their greatest hit which stormed the British charts in March 1976 was Music.

Born in Jarrow northeast England in 1949 John Miles was something of a child prodigy learning the piano from the age of five. In the early ’60s he persuaded his father to buy him a guitar and by the end of the decade he had joined a semi-professional band The Influence. The group soon disbanded and by 1969 Miles was recording with his own group The John Miles Band releasing a dozen singles in the early ’70s. In 1975 Miles decided to move to London and secured a deal with Decca Records. By October that year a newly formed band John Miles and Co had released their debut single Highfly but their greatest hit which stormed the British charts in March 1976 was Music.

Born in Jarrow northeast England in 1949 John Miles was something of a child prodigy learning the piano from the age of five. In the early ’60s he persuaded his father to buy him a guitar and by the end of the decade he had joined a semi-professional band The Influence. The group soon disbanded and by 1969 Miles was recording with his own group The John Miles Band releasing a dozen singles in the early ’70s. In 1975 Miles decided to move to London and secured a deal with Decca Records. By October that year a newly formed band John Miles and Co had released their debut single Highfly but their greatest hit which stormed the British charts in March 1976 was Music.

Born in Jarrow northeast England in 1949 John Miles was something of a child prodigy learning the piano from the age of five. In the early ’60s he persuaded his father to buy him a guitar and by the end of the decade he had joined a semi-professional band The Influence. The group soon disbanded and by 1969 Miles was recording with his own group The John Miles Band releasing a dozen singles in the early ’70s. In 1975 Miles decided to move to London and secured a deal with Decca Records. By October that year a newly formed band John Miles and Co had released their debut single Highfly but their greatest hit which stormed the British charts in March 1976 was Music.

La fresque Music of the Spheres (?La musique des sphères?) souligne la fascination qu?éprouve le compositeur pour les origines de l?univers. L?orchestration est proche de la musique de film. Le climat musical est ample sonore et contrasté.

Written for the 100th Anniversary Celebration of-John Williams has written ceremonial music for many major events and ceremonies but of all these occasional pieces Summon the Heroes is the most elaborate and musically complex. It was composed for the Atlanta Olympic Games in 1996 and performed at the opening ceremony. As with all of John Williams’ ceremonial compositions this work makes an ideal Brass Band work that will bring the house down as a concert opener.

Over a period of four decades Jimmy Webb (b. 1946) has written hits for a number of singers including Glen Campbell Art Garfunkel Frank Sinatra Willie Nelson Johnny Cash and Linda Ronstadt. His songs are often epic in character and include By the Time I Get to Phoenix; Up Up and Away; Didn’t We; Wichita Lineman and Galveston. MacArthur Park (1968) was unlike anything that had gone before it. Running at over 7 minutes it is 2 or 3 times the length of most pop songs and has an extended orchestral interlude. Richard Harris’ seminal recording topped the music charts in Europe while peaking at number two on the U.S. charts. Philip Sparkehas made this excellent arrangement for Concert Band which is sure to become a regular feature on your concert program.