SKU: HL.49008171
ISBN 9790001123228. 9.0x11.75x0.087 inches.
These 15 short pieces form an easy and musically pleasing suite. Offering a wide selection of traditional dance forms, frequent changes from major to minor keys and a variety of expressive devices they are particularly suited for young students.
SKU: HL.44010597
UPC: 884088495312. 9x12 inches.
A descriptive delight! Let's all go to the amusement park! Clowns, bumper cars and fun, fun, fun! Young musicians love to interpret music that conveys a visual image. Each delightful section lets your band do exactly that. And, if necessary, the movements can be performed as stand-alone pieces. Directors of young bands will understand the confidence this provides as you program your concert. Better than cotton candy!
SKU: ST.C320
ISBN 9790570813209.
Composer’s Note:I composed The Planets to be performed during my tenure as Composer in Residence at Chetham’s International Piano Summer School, Manchester, in August 2018. Drawing inspiration from Holst’s Suite of the same name – a work of unstoppable importance – my composition nevertheless contrasts conspicuously, both in its overall scheme (nine movements instead of seven) and orientation (my work takes the Sun as its point of orientation, whereas Holst places the Earth at the centre point and hence leaves it out of the musical scheme). There is, as a consequence, a sense of increasing serenity to my music following the effervescence of Jupiter, though there are reverberations of earlier themes and moods in the concluding movement, Pluto, which nevertheless ends enigmatically as befits its distant, ‘cold’ designation. Pluto was left out of Holst’s work for good reason – it had yet to be discovered – though Colin Matthews redressed the situation admirably in 2000. Whether one chooses to go along with Pluto’s unresolved status, or indeed to promote it to the position of ‘full’ planet (amusingly, Pluto became demoted to dwarf- planet in 1992) is perhaps less important than its potential to evince a musical spirit entirely to itself.Performanc e Note:Movements may be performed separately as desired, though the connections between musical characters will of course be lost in doing so. In Neptune and Pluto (which are best performed attacca) I include infrequent use of a bell, pitched at B4. This denotes the intangibility of time; it adds a welcome new colour, as well as an additional element for the audience to ponder on. A standard hotel receptionist’s bell was used in the inaugural performance – surprisingly resonant, even in a sizeable auditorium – though if this is unavailable the cellist can play the same note (or harmonic, if preferred).World Premiere given at Stoller Hall, Chetham’s School of Music, Manchester, August 2018: Gillian Poznansky (flute), Sebastian Poznansky (cello) and Mark Tanner (piano).Duration: 30 minutesGrade 8(+)Former Spartan Press Cat. No.: SP1419.
