Band Today, Part 3

The Odyssee tells the story of Odysseus the undaunted hero. In times long ago the blind poet Homer wrote this famous epic. The 'Odyssey' follows the 'Iliad' the story of the bloody war between the Greek and the Trojans. This battle endsafter ten years thanks to the Odysseys famous trick. the Trojan Horse. The Odyssey is not a war epic but a story about perseverance loyalty adventure and the survival instinct of its ingenious hero. In The Odyssey Homer describes howOdysseus the king of Ithaca had to endure another ten years of affliction after the ten years of war in Troy before he could finally return to his home land. During those years his wife Penelope had to try and keep her many admirers away.These men not only wanted het hand but also the kingship. To prove her husbands worth she played a trick: 'As soon as I have finished weaving this shroud for my father-in-law Laertes I will choose one of you to become my husband' she promisedthem. But during the night she secretly loosened what she had woven during the day prolonging the time until Odysseus would finally return. After twenty long years when he finally stood at the door she wondered: Is this really my husband? Ishe an imposter? Cunningly she asked him to move the bed because only she and her husband know that the bed was immovable and was build around an old three trunk! Odysseus was deeply moved: this really was his wife his Penelope! Nearly threethousands years later the loyalty and strength of this character and all the dangerous adventures that Odysseus survived thanks to courage and intelligence still moves us today. Odyssee by Jan Bosveld is not just an adventure story butrather a characteristic piece in which memories of Homers story can be heard. The composition opens with a firm stirring theme describing our hero Odysseus in detail: This man is not to be taken lightly. The further development of thisshort introduction completes this character sketch: trustworthy perseverant and a genius. After that we can picture Odysseus on the lonely beach of Ogygia. Do the trumpets depict his memories of the war of Troy? Does he think of his wife as werecognise the weaving loom of Penelope in the murmuring eighth? In the solemn plaintive part that follows we can imagine Penelope feeling lonely sitting in the womens room with her servants.One of the girls plays the harp but that does notclear the sombre atmosphere. Then we can imagine seeing the sorceress Circe who changed Odysseus men into swine. After she gives a simple magic sign something follows that reminds us of the sound of pigs grunting. Then the Odysseus theme resounds:the hero comes to savi his comrades. Assisted by Hermes he forces Circe to lift the spell. The piece ends the same way as it began with an animated theme: Odysseus is still the same undefeated and not to be taken lighty!

Concert March-Dedicated to the brave men and women of the armed forces the stately tempo and moderate duration of this one keep it within reach of every Grade 1 band. Interesting harmonization and lots of attention to dynamics and articulations make it a good choice for the final piece at your young band’s first festival appearance. You may also wish to consider HONOR AND GLORY for an elementary or Jr. High massed band festival for many of these same reasons.It’s advisable to expose even your youngest students to the works of many different composers. Always creative the music of Carmine Pastore is welcome in the repertoire of bands at every level. Add Pastore to your youngband library today!

Book 5 of the Sing Out! series features wonderful new choral arrangements of five top pop tunes all arranged by renowned Vocal Coach and Choral Director extraordinaire Mark De-Lisser. Each song has been beautifully arranged for SAT chorus the unison harmonies totally reinvigorating these favourite pop songs. From the classic rock anthem of the 1980s in Toto's Africa to the modern pop heartbreaker All Of Me by John Legend these are great songs with even greater arrangements. The unabashed positivity of Nico & Vinz's Am I Wrong makes a fantastic counterpart to the optimism in the faceof pain represented by the arrangement of the traditional gospel song Take My Hand Precious Lord a tune used to wonderfully affecting effect in the recent film 'Selma'. Finally this fresh pop choral setlist is rounded off nicely with Ed Sheeran's Thinking Out Loud a beautiful love song in which the power and emotion of the words will enhance the performance.  Arranged for SAT (Soprano/Alto/Tenor) Choir these songs are designed to be sung to backing tracks but Piano accompaniments and Guitar chord boxes are included for rehearsal purposes or if you wish to perform with a live band. Aside from De-Lisser's incredible arrangements this pack includes an innovative and user-friendly download card with performance backing tracks full demonstrations and individual rehearsal tracks of each Vocal part recorded by members of ACM Gospel Choir. Helpful hints for performing each piece are also included in this book giving you everything you need to learn these well-loved songs. Mark De-Lisser is a celebrated Vocal Coach and Choral Director who has been featured on BBC1's 'Last Choir Standing'. His extensive introduction and notes within this songbook bring a personal touch as De-Lisser really is passionate about getting people singing improvising and most of all enjoying themselves.  The new

Wer nur den lieben Gott lässt walten-Wer nur den lieben Gott lässt walten was composed by Georg Neumark in about 1641 and was subtitled ?Trostlied? literally meaning consolation song. Songbooks at the time showed the popularity of this song and it is still well-known today partly due to Johann Sebastian Bach?s use of the melody for one of his own chorals. In Jan de Haan?s arrangement the choral is heard twice once alternating with the original motif from the introduction and a second time without interruption reflecting the composer?s original intention - a song of consolation.

MusicWorks ? Grade 5 Commissioned by the 2004 Jefferson County Honor Band Denver CO and drawing musical inspiration from the awe-inspiring surrounding mountain peaks this major work from Richard Saucedo exploresa wealth of colors and emotions possible with today's wind orchestra. At times sensitive and delicate with soloistic passages and alternately incessantly rhythmic and powerful this composition displays complete command of theidiom and a creative sense of harmony and form. The scoring includes an important part for piano as well as expanded parts for mallet percussion. (5:50)

A touching and intense memoriam piece the mechanics are on the easy side of Grade 4 but the demand for tone quality and control in tenuto passages and long slurred phrases calls for the best of musicianship from any group. The 'Adagio e Rubato' tempo indication invites the kind of wonderfully expressive ensemble playing that should probably make up a larger part of band literature than it does today. Over a quiet unifying heartbeat from the timpani the band explores the emotions felt after a tragic personal loss. A soaring F Horn solo (cued in Trumpet. and Alto Saxophone) leads poignantly toward a gentle Orchestra Bells and Wind Chime ending.

This book contains dazzling new Choral versions of five chart-topping pop songs. The arrangements are by Vocal coach and Choral director Mark De-Lisser and are recorded by ACM Gospel Choir. These crowd-pleasing songs have been selected for their positive lyrics and overall heart-warming feel, making them a joy to sing and listen to. Arranged for SAT Choir with the occasional solo part, this pack includes two CDs with performance backing tracks, full demonstrations and individual rehearsal tracks of each Vocal line recorded by members of ACM Gospel Choir. The scores feature Piano parts and chord symbols for band accompaniment. Helpful hints for performing each piece are also included in this book, giving you everything you need to learn these well-loved songs. / Choeur SAT Et Piano

From the iTunes hit list to the dance floor here is a tuneful and upbeat medley of some of the hottest dance hits today. Includes: Moves Like Jagger Good Time and Party Rock Anthem.

Meditation on 'O come O come Immanuel'-The Advent hymn we all know today as O Come O Come Immanuel was arranged in its modern form by Thomas Helmore and published in Hymnal Noted in 1856. Both the words and melody however predate this version by centuries.The tune Veni Immanuel is taken from a 15th century processional of French Franciscan nuns part of the setting for the funeral hymn Libera Me. This arrangement aims to expand on the power and mystery of the original tune and will be most effective if the solo trumpet at the start and end of the piece can be placed away from the band maybe at the back of the auditorium.

The music of James Horner continues to play an intergral part of today's hit movies. The Mask of Zorro soundtrack features soaring adventure themes driving Spanish rhythms and swashbuckling musical effects for the screen. JohnMoss brings us this superb and dramatic medley for concert band.

This impressive work by Samuel Hazo begins and ends with a unifying dramatic and powerful fanfare theme. In contrast the middle section is built around faster and modern-sounding rhythms and harmonies while incorporating traditional melodies (including a hint of Bach's Jesu Joy of Man's Desiring) lending a unique and timeless quality to the music.Commissioned as a tribute from one band director to his predecessor this is a rewarding and effective work for today's bands.

St. Petersburg is today considered the cultural heart of modern day Russia. This original march from Johnnie Vinson is evocative of this city's rich and exciting history of intrigue revolution and mystery. Expertly scored foryoung bands this unique and fresh-sounding work paints a musical picture of frigid winters magnificent castles and imposing cathedrals. A wonderful addition to the march repertoire for band. Dur: 2:20

Wer nur den lieben Gott lässt walten-Wer nur den lieben Gott lässt walten was composed by Georg Neumark in about 1641 and was subtitled ?Trostlied? literally meaning consolation song. Songbooks at the time showed the popularity of this song and it is still well-known today partly due to Johann Sebastian Bach?s use of the melody for one of his own chorals. In Jan de Haan?s arrangement the choral is heard twice once alternating with the original motif from the introduction and a second time without interruption reflecting the composer?s original intention - a song of consolation.

Praise to Thee Jesus Christ-Gelobet seist du Jesu Christ (We Praise You Jesus Christ) is an old Christmas hymn dating from the 16th century which can still be found in many hymnbooks today. John Blanken has created a varied and imaginative arrangement on four verses of the hymn. After the introduction derived from the opening notes the hymn is first accompanied by an agile harmonisation. Next we hear the chorale in a four-part setting with a percussion accompaniment. Then follows a short prologue to the third verse and finally its time for fireworks as the arrangement takes a stylistic leap in time with the festive prelude to the fourth and last verse.