Esprit de Corps

SKU: HL.4491221

UPC: 884088872649. 10.5x14 inches.

Performance time - ca. 4:30

Originally written for concert band (and commissioned by the U.S. Marine Band), Esprit de Corps is a fantasy-march that serves as a tribute to both the Marine Corps and the Marine Band. Composed immediately after the 1983 bombing of the Marine barracks in Beirut, Lebanon, the composer chose to forego an elegiac tribute in favor of a work that reflects the positive spirit of the Corps, full of energy and dynamism. Even the tempo marking, ?Tempo di Bourgeois,? reflects the dramatic and spirited conducting of Col. John R. Bourgeois, conductor of the Marine Band at the time of composition.

SKU: HL.7231

UPC: 884088141127. 9.0x12.0x0.074 inches.

SKU: CF.SPS85F

ISBN 9781491156438. UPC: 680160914975. 9 x 12 inches.

Blue Horizons is a spirited tribute to the musical heritage of the United States Air Force. The main theme is a variation of the U.S. Air Force Song (Off We Go), with a secondary theme based on A Toast to the Host (the bridge of The Air Force Song). Throughout the work, fragments of other Air Force-related songs appear: Lord, Guard and Guide (the Air Force Hymn), Air Force Blue, and Those Magnificent Men in Their Flying Machines. The original request for this work was a daunting task: I was asked to create an Air Force companion piece to Robert Jager's Esprit de Corps that would mirror the style and spirit of that landmark work. The goal was to use elements of our various Air Force tunes in the same way that Jager incorporated The Marine's Hymn into his work - that is, to weave a musical tapestry of the Air Force's musical heritage without ever becoming a mere arrangement of the original material. As a former student of Robert Jager at Tennessee Technological University, I discussed my plans for the piece with him, shared my progress along the way, and sought his guidance as I had done so many times in the past. He was delighted that I managed to incorporate a few Jager-isms into the music, including one direct quote from Esprit de Corps. Although Blue Horizons was conceived as a dedication to the Air Force's musical legacy, it is also a personal homage to my teacher and friend, Robert Jager. Performance Notes * If only two flutists are available, omit the piccolo part and have them play Flute 1 and 2; in this case, Flute 1 should switch over to piccolo (still playing from the Flute 1 part) at m. 81 and back to regular flute at m. 114. If only covering the Flute 1 and 2 parts, Flute 2 should ignore indications to switch to piccolo and just play the entire work on regular flute. * Oboe 1 and 2 parts should be covered before adding the English Horn part. * The clarinet in Eb part should not be covered unless there are a sufficient number of players on the clarinet in Bb parts. * The trumpet cues in mm. 77-80 are only necessary if the horns need assistance finishing their soli phrase with enough strength to be heard. If you can hear them without extra support, leave the trumpets out. * From mm. 89-95, be sure the wind players with static eighth notes do not cover up the players with moving lines. * There is a strong tendency to rush m. 121. * During the oboe solo from mm. 157-168, ensure that the suspension/resolution lines in the bassoon and clarinet parts are heard; emphasize the importance of growing into the suspension with a slight crescendo. * In the scherzo section that begins at m. 217, be sure that each player knows how his/her part fits into the overall sound. I recommend isolating different textural items so the players can hear those parts on their own. (The bass line from mm. 243-260, for example, or the moving inner-voice line from mm. 251-260.) * In this same scherzo section, care should be taken to not play too loud and save a little strength for the climax fanfare at m. 279. * If you have an abundance of tubas, I would recommend having one or two of them play up an octave from mm. 243-271 if the lower part seems too heavy.
Blue Horizons is a spirited tribute to the musical heritage of the United States Air Force. The main theme is a variation of the U.S. Air Force Song (Off We Go), with a secondary theme based on A Toast to the Host (the bridge of The Air Force Song). Throughout the work, fragments of other Air Force-related songs appear: Lord, Guard and Guide (the Air Force Hymn), Air Force Blue, and Those Magnificent Men in Their Flying Machines.The original request for this work was a daunting task: I was asked to create an Air Force “companion piece” to Robert Jager’s Esprit de Corps that would mirror the style and spirit of that landmark work. The goal was to use elements of our various Air Force tunes in the same way that Jager incorporated The Marine’s Hymn into his work – that is, to weave amusical tapestry of the Air Force’s musical heritage without ever becoming a mere arrangement of the original material. As a former student of Robert Jager at Tennessee Technological University, I discussed my plans for the piece with him, shared my progress along the way, and sought his guidance as I had done so many times in the past. He was delighted that I managed to incorporate a few “Jager-isms” into the music, including one direct quote from Esprit de Corps. Although Blue Horizons was conceived asa dedication to the Air Force’s musical legacy, it is also a personal homage to my teacher and friend, Robert Jager.Performance Notes• If only two flutists are available, omit the piccolo part and have them play Flute 1 and 2; in this case, Flute 1 should switch over to piccolo (still playing from the Flute 1 part) at m. 81 and back to regular flute at m. 114. If only covering the Flute 1 and 2 parts, Flute 2 should ignore indications to switch to piccolo and just play the entire work on regular flute.• Oboe 1 and 2 parts should be covered before adding the English Horn part.• The clarinet in Eb part should not be covered unless there are a sufficient number of players on the clarinet in Bb parts.• The trumpet cues in mm. 77-80 are only necessary if the horns need assistance finishing their soli phrase with enough strength to be heard. If you can hear them without extra support, leave the trumpets out.• From mm. 89-95, be sure the wind players with static eighth notes do not cover up the players with moving lines.• There is a strong tendency to rush m. 121.• During the oboe solo from mm. 157-168, ensure that the suspension/resolution lines in the bassoon and clarinet parts are heard; emphasize the importance of growing into the suspension with a slight crescendo.• In the scherzo section that begins at m. 217, be sure that each player knows how his/her part fits into the overall sound. I recommend isolating different textural items so the players can hear those parts on their own. (The bass line from mm. 243-260, for example, or the moving inner-voice linefrom mm. 251-260.)• In this same scherzo section, care should be taken to not play too loud and save a little strength for the climax fanfare at m. 279.• If you have an abundance of tubas, I would recommend having one or two of them play up an octave from mm. 243-271 if the lower part seems too heavy.

SKU: BT.DHP-1135496-070

9x12 inches. International.

The title Metamorphosis is on the one hand a metaphor for the development of the body and soul into a mature personality, and on the other hand it describes a musical transformation - a journey through musical styles and genres. Musiciansplaying this piece, which includes improvisational sections, also experience a transformation and development in themselves.

Metamorphosis kan ook worden beschouwd als een proces dat begint met onze oorsprong (Initium), dat verdergaat via de ontwikkeling van lichaam en geest (Corpus, Animus), en dat ons aan de hand van ervaringen in het leven (Virtus, Invidia) doetontplooien tot een volwassen persoonlijkheid (Estasi).
De muzikanten zullen tijdens het spelen een verandering in hun bewustzijn gewaarworden, waarbij ze een sterk besef ontwikkelen voor wat er is geweest en wat er zal zijn (het verleden en de toekomst). De improvisatiefragmenten zijn met opzet opengehouden (dus zonder notatie) om de speler de gelegenheid te geven zich vrij te bewegen binnen de betreffende muziekstijl – en zo zijn of haar fantasie vleugels te geven.

Der Titel Metamorphosis ist einerseits im übertragenen Sinn zu verstehen, als Symbol für die Entwicklung von Körper und Seele zu einer gereiften Persönlichkeit. Andererseits beschreibt der Titel auch eine musikalische Verwandlung - eineReise durch musikalische Stile und Genres. Auch die Musiker werden beim Spielen dieses Stückes, das improvisatorische Abschnitte enthält, eine Verwandlung und Entwicklung durchlaufen.

Le titre Metamorphosis décrit une transformation musicale - autrement dit, le processus qui commence avec nos origines (Initium), puis progresse travers l'évolution du corps et de l' me (Corpus, Animus) et enfin, gr ce l'expérience de la vie (Virtus, Invidia), se développe en une personnalité adulte (Estasi).
Les musiciens connaîtront des états d'esprit changeants, entretenant la conscience de ce qui a été et de ce qui sera (le présent et l’avenir) tout en jouant. Les passages d’improvisation ont été délibérément laissés vierges –sans notation – afin de permettre à l’instrumentiste d’évoluer sans contraintes dans ce style musical et de laisser libre cours à son imagination.

SKU: BT.DHP-1145577-030

English-German-French-Dutch.

The opening of this three-movement work features an initial appearance of the thematic material that returns in various guises later on in the work. The leitmotiv centres on a minor second.
A range of thematic variations is heard in the lively and energetic Metamorphosis One. This movement is interrupted by an atmospheric meno mosso, containing melodic passages that return to the opening theme.
Metamorhosis Two is characterised by various changes in tempo and musical character. Seven different soloists transform the thematic material each in their own way. This eventually culminates in a passionate tutti passage.
The source of inspiration for Metamorphosis Three is the so-called BACH-motif, a musical autograph consisting of the notes B flat, A, C and B. This distinctive motif arises from the leitmotiv (here a descending minor second), which continuesto evolve through various transpositions and transformations. For the composer, this spectacular last movement is an homage to one of the greatest and most influential composers in the history of music: Johann Sebastian Bach.

An impressive contest piece commissioned by Brass Band Schoonhoven, performed at the 2014 European Brass Band Championships.

In de opening van deze driedelige compositie wordt het thematische materiaal gepresenteerd dat verderop in het werk in allerlei transformaties voorkomt. De ‘kleine secunde’ dient daarbij als leidmotief.
In het levendige en flitsende Metamorphosis One wordt volop gevarieerd met de thematiek. Het deel wordt onderbroken door een sfeervol meno mosso met daarin melodische passages die teruggrijpen op het beginthema.
In Metamorhosis Two treden veel veranderingen op in het tempo en het muzikale karakter. Zeven verschillende solisten transformeren ieder op hun eigen wijze het thematische materiaal. Uiteindelijk resulteert dat in een gepassioneerd, tuttigespeeld gedeelte.
De inspiratiebron voor Metamorphosis Three is het zogenaamde BACH-motief, een muzikale handtekening met de noten Bes, A, C en B. Dit karakteristieke motief ontstaat vanuit het leidmotief (in dit geval een dalende kleine secunde) en verandert voortdurend van gedaante door allerlei transposities en omvormingen. De componist beschouwt dit spectaculaire laatste deel als een eerbetoon aan een van de grootste en invloedrijkste componisten uit de geschiedenis van de muziek: Johann SebastianBach.

In der Eröffnung dieses dreisätzigen Werkes wird zum ersten Mal das thematische Material präsentiert, das im weiteren Verlauf in diversen Gewändern wiederkehrt. Kern des Leitmotivs ist eine kleine Sekunde.
Eine Reihe von thematischen Variationen ist in der lebhaften und energiereichen Metamorphosis One zu hören. Der Satz wird von einem stimmungsvollen Meno mosso aus melodischen Passagen, die zum Eröffnungsthema zurückführen, unterbrochen.
Metamorphosis Two ist von mehreren Wechseln im Tempo und im musikalischen Charakter geprägt. Sieben verschiedene Solisten verwandeln das thematische Material jedes auf seine eigene Weise. Das Ganze steigert sich schließlich zu einemfulminanten Tutti.
Quelle der Inspiration für Metamorphosis Three ist das so genannte BACH-Motiv, eine musikalische Signatur aus den Tönen B, A, C und H. Dieses ausgeprägte Motiv geht aus dem Leitmotiv hervor (hier ist es eine absteigende kleine Sekunde),welches fortwährend durch verschiedene Transpositionen und Transformationen weiterentwickelt wird. Für den Komponisten ist dieser spektakuläre letzte Satz eine Hommage an einen der größten und einflussreichsten Komponisten der Musikgeschichte: JohannSebastian Bach.

Le titre Metamorphosis décrit une transformation musicale – autrement dit, le processus qui commence avec nos origines (Initium), puis progresse à travers l’évolution du corps et de l’ me (Corpus, Animus) et enfin, gr ceà l’expérience de la vie (Virtus, Invidia), se développe en une personnalité adulte (Estasi).
Les musiciens connaîtront des états d’esprit changeants, entretenant la conscience de ce qui a été et de ce qui sera (le présent et l’avenir) tout en jouant. Les passages d’improvisation ont été délibérément laissés vierges –sans notation – afin de permettre à l’instrumentiste d’évoluer sans contraintes dans ce style musical et de laisser libre cours à son imagination.