SKU: BT.DHP-1196115-120

English-German-French-Dutch.

Hora Est! (Latin for ‘it is time!’) was composed to bid adieu to Sjoerd de Boer’s following forty years as conductor of the Chr. Fanfare Band, based in the town of Wjelsryp in the Netherlands. In the Netherlands, this small phrase, hora est, is traditionally said upon awarding a university doctorate at graduation ceremonies. The composition was written with Sjoerd de Boer firmly in mind, mirroring various aspects of his life. The main motif of the work consists of three notes, forming his initials: S (Eb) D B. At a certain point, the music is interrupted by a thunderstorm and heavy rain (forever a bad omen: the debut for this work took place a day after such a deluge, but fortunately their open-air concert was met with clear blue skies.) The fanfare then plays an Italianesque march, with the motif of de Boer’s initials interwoven throughout. The work re-uses this motif twice towards the end of the piece as one might expect, by the saxophones to create a festive, driven and virtuosic atmosphere. Finally, the work comes to an end with the initials motif played across the ensemble in complete unison. The powerful closing chords symbolise a fond farewell to de Boer: a driven and extremely capable conductor whose musical mark on Concordia will be felt for years to come. Hora Est! is suitable as a contest piece and would be a definite highlight for any upcoming concert.

Hora Est! is gecomponeerd ter gelegenheid van het afscheid van Sjoerd de Boer als dirigent van Chr. Fanfarekorps Concordia uit Wjelsryp (Friesland), na maar liefst veertig jaar. Hora Est! is Latijn voor ‘Het is tijd!’. Het zinnetje wordt traditioneel uitgesproken bij een promotie tot doctor op de universiteit, op het moment dat de vastgestelde tijd voor verdediging van het proefschrift om is. De pedel komt dan binnen en stampt met zijn staf op de grond terwijl hij deze woorden roept. In dat opzicht verwijst de titel naar de voormalige universiteitsstad Franeker, de woonplaats van Sjoerd en de stad waar hij jaren lang leraar muziek was aan de christelijke scholengemeenschap. Anderzijds verwijst de titel naar zijn afscheid van Concordia: ‘Het is tijd!’.

SKU: BT.AMP-226-020

9x12 inches. English-German-French-Dutch.

Philip Sparke wrote this march for the famous brass band contest held ever year on Whit Friday in Oldham and Saddleworth. Given the competition’s long history (over 120 years), he consciously composed this piece in a very traditional march form. The title, The Conqueror, refers to Alexander the Great’s nickname as well as being something every band aspires to be!

Philip Sparke schrieb diesen Marsch für die Teilnahme am berühmten Pfingstfreitag-Marschwettbewerb in England. So weist The Conqueror auch weitgehend die Form eines Wettbewerbsmarsches auf. Ganz im Sinne des passenden Titels Der Eroberer“ sollte es für jedes Blasorchester ein Leichtes sein, Juroren und/oder Publikum mit dieser Musik zu überzeugen!

Durante la stagione musicale delle brass band inglesi, c’è un appuntamento al quale gli appassionati non possono mancare: il celebre Whit Friday March Contest, un concorso all’aperto che ha luogo il venerdì dopo l’Ascensione. Si tratta di un evento cui partecipano anche formazioni straniere, tra cui la Brass Band Alexander di Stavanger in Norvegia, per la quale Philip Sparke ha composto questa marcia. The Conqueror fa parte delle marce da concerto tradizionali. Il titolo si riallaccia ad Alessandro Magno.

SKU: BT.DHP-0900226-120

This major concert work cosists o five movements.1st movement: La Laguna del ShimbeSituated high up in the Andes mountains in Northern Peru are the Huaringas, a group of lagoons in isolated and mysterious surroundings. The water has healing powersand for centuries traditional healers have settled there in small villages. From far the sick come to the Huaringas to be treated in nightly rituals, in which the hallucinating juice of the San Pedro cactus gives the prophet a look inside hispatient. The biggest lagoon is the “Laguna del Shimbe”, one of the countless wells of the immense Amazon stream.2nd movement: Los AguarunasFurther downstream in Northern Peru we come across the rain tribe of Los Aguarunas. It’s a proud, beautiful andindependent race, which has never succumbed to domination, not even from the Incas. They live from everything the forest has to offer: fish, fruit, plants, ... . They also grow some crops and live as semi-nomads. They take their fate into their ownhands and after having made contact with modern civilisation, they have integrated new elements into their lives without betraying their own ways.3rd movement: MekaronMekaron is an Indian word meaning “picture”, “soul”, “essence”. The Indians are theorigina inhabitants of the Amazon region. They either live in one place as a group or move around a large region. They all have their own political system, their own language and an intense social life. At the same time they are master of music andmedicine. “Everywhere the white man goes, he leaves a wilderness behind him”, wrote the North American Indian leader Seatl in 1885. As a result of these contacts with the whites, the disruption of most Indian societies began. (In this century alone,80 tribes have vanished completely).4th movement: KêêtuajêThis is the name of the initiating ceremony of the Krahô tribe in the Brazilian state of Goias, in which young boys and girls enter adult life. They are cleansed with water, painted with redpaint and covered with feathers, after which the ritual dance holds the entire tribe spell-bound.5th movement: Paulino FaiakanIn 1988 the Indian chiefs Faiakan and Raoni Kaiapo came to Europe to protest against the building of the Altamira dam inBrazil. As a result of the dam the Indians would be driven from their traditional land and enormous artificial would be created. The project was supported financially by, amongst others, the European Community. In February 1989 the Indian tribesaround Altamira held a protest march for the first time in their history together. Amongst other things they paid tribute tot Chico Mendez, who, murdered in 1988, was the leader of the rubber syndicate and a fierce opponent of the destruction of theBrazilian rain forest. Brazilian and world opinion was awakened. The building of the dam was -albeit temporarily - stopped.

SKU: BT.AMP-440-020

English-German-French-Dutch.

Salute to the Victor is in traditional march form and contains, as a tribute to Victor Grieve who was a devotee of English music (in particular that of Sir Edward Elgar), a short quote from Elgar’s Sea Pictures in the trio. Salute to the Victor was commissioned by Helen, Alex and James Grieve for the Golden Kangaroos (Hornsby Concert Band) from Sydney, Australia, in memory of their parents, Louise and Victor Grieve, Founder and Director.

Salute to the Victor is een werk in traditionele marsvorm. Als eerbetoon aan Victor Grieve, een liefhebber van Engelse muziek (met name die van Sir Edward Elgar), bevat het in het trio een kort citaat uit Sea Pictures van die componist. Salute to the Victor is gecomponeerd in opdracht van Helen, Alex en James Grieve, voor de Golden Kangaroos (Hornsby Concert Band) uit Sydney, Australië, ter herinnering aan hun ouders, Louise en Victor Grieve de oprichtster en dirigent.

Salute to the Victor ist in einer traditionellen Marschform komponiert. Das Stück enthält im Trio ein kurzes Zitat aus Elgars Sea Pictures als Tribut an Victor Grieve, der ein Verehrer der englischen Musik (insbesondere der Musik von Sir Edward Elgar), war. Salute to the Victor wurde von Helen, Alex und James Grieve für die Golden Kangaroos (Hornsby Concert Band) aus Sydney/Australien in Erinnerung an ihre Eltern Louise und Victor Grieve, den Gründer und ehemaliger Leiter der Golden Kangaroos, in Auftrag gegeben.

Salute to the Victor est en forme traditionnelle de marche et, en hommage Victor Grieve, un passionné de la musique anglaise (en particulier celle de Sir Edward Elgar), contient une courte citation de Sea Pictures de ce dernier dans le trio. Salute to the Victor fut commandé par Helen, Alex et James Grieve pour les Golden Kangaroos (Hornsby Concert Band) de Sydney, Australie, en mémoire de leurs parents, Louise et Victor Grieve, fondateur et directeur.

SKU: BT.AMP-134-120

9x12 inches. English-German-French-Dutch.

The Ukrainian Bell Carol is part of a large choral work entitled Shchedryk by the Ukrainian composer Mykola Dmytrovich Leontovych (1877-1921). It was first performed by students of Kiev University in December 1916. The tune is an adaptation of an old ‘shchedrivka’, a song traditionally sung on Ukrainian New Year’s Eve (January 13th) which hopes for good fortune in the year to come. In Shchedryk, Leontovych added his own the lyrics which concern the legend claiming that when Jesus was born, all the bells on earth started ringing in his honour.The tune has since been the inspiration of at least four different Christmas carols, but Philip Sparke has sourced the originalUkrainian melody to create this stirring arrangement.

De Ukrainian Bell Carol is onderdeel van het grote koorwerk Shchedryk van de Oekra ense componist Mykola Dmytrovich Leontovych (1877-1921). De melodie is gebaseerd op een ‘shchedrivka’, een lied dat van oudsher werdgezongen op de Oekra ense oudejaarsavond (13 januari). In Shchedryk voegde Leontovych de tekst toe over de legende die vertelt dat bij de geboorte van Jezus alle klokken op aarde begonnen te luiden. Sindsdien is deze melodiede inspiratiebron geweest voor ten minste vier verschillende Christmas carols, waarvan Carol of the Bells de beroemdste is. Voor dit meeslepende arrangement heeft Philip Sparke echter de oorspronkelijke Oekra ense melodiegebruikt.

Das Ukrainian Bell Carol ist Teil eines großen Chorwerkes namens Shchedryk vom ukrainischen Komponisten Mykola Dmytrovich Leontovych. Leontovych ergänzte ein traditionelles ukrainisches Neujahrslied um eine alte Legende, die besagt, dass zu Ehren von Jesu Geburt alle Glocken läuteten. Die Melodie diente inzwischen als Grundlage für mindestens vier verschiedene Weihnachtslieder. Philip Sparke griff für seine bewegende Bearbeitung jedoch auf die originale ukrainische Melodie zurück.

Ukrainian Bell Carol constitue une des parties de l’œuvre chorale Shchedryk du compositeur ukrainien Mykola Dmytrovich Leontovich (1877-1921). La mélodie s’inspire d’un vieux chant traditionnel ukrainien (shchedrivka) chanté le Jour de l’An (célébré le 13 janvier, conformément au calendrier julien) dans l’espoir que l’année venir se présente sous de bons hospices. l’écriture de Shchedryk, Mykola Leontovich a choisi de changer les paroles. Il opte pour la légende selon laquelle, toutes les cloches des églises se sont mises carillonner joyeusement pour annoncer la naissance de Jésus. La mélodie du chant a inspiré au moins quatre noëlsdifférents. Carol of the Bells en est la version la plus célèbre. Elle a été adaptée en 1936 (texte et mélodie) par Peter J. Wilhousky (1902-1978) d’après la version originale de Mykola Leontovich. Philip Sparke s’est basé sur la mélodie du chant traditionnel ukrainien pour réaliser cet arrangement brillant et pétillant.

Ukrainian Bell Carol costituisce una delle parti dell’opera corale Shchedryk del compositore ucraino Mykola Dmytrovich Leontovich (1877-1921). Il testo narra una leggenda secondo la quale le campane delle chiese si sono messe a suonare per annunciare la nascita di Gesù. La melodia di Leontovich ha ispirato almeno quattro canti natalizi diversi. Carol of the Bells di Peter J.Wilhousky è la versione più celebre. Philip Sparke ha scelto di ispirarsi alla melodia originale del canto tradizionale ucraino (shchedrivka) per realizzare questo brillante arrangiamento.

SKU: BT.AMP-124-020

9x12 inches. English-German-French-Dutch.

Klezmer music originated in the ‘shtetl’ (villages) and the ghettos of Eastern Europe, where itinerant Jewish troubadours, known as ‘klezmorim’, had performed at celebrations, particularly weddings, since the early Middle Ages. Since the 16th century, lyrics had been added to klezmer music, due to the ‘badkhn’ (the master of ceremony at weddings), to the ‘Purimshpil’ (the play of Esther at Purim) and to traditions of the Yiddish theatre, but the term gradually became synonymous with instrumental music, particularly featuring the violin and clarinet. In recent years it has again become very popular and in A Klezmer Karnival Philip Sparke has used three contrasting traditionaltunes to form a suite that will bring a true karnival atmosphere to any concert.

De wortels van de klezmerstijl liggen in wereldlijke melodieën, populaire dansen, het joodse ‘hazanut’ (cantorijmuziek) en de ‘nigunim’, de melodieën die worden gereciteerd door de ‘hasidim’ (orthodoxe joden). De term werd in de loopder tijden synoniem aan instrumentale muziek, waarin met name de viool en klarinet de hoofdrol spelen. Voor A Klezmer Karnival zijn drie traditionele melodieën gebruikt: Choson kale mazel tov, een bruiloftsdans,Freylekh, een joodse kringdans, en Sherele, een Duitse herdersdans.

Philip Sparke verarbeitete in seinem Werk drei unterschiedliche traditionelle Klezmermelodien: einen Hochzeitstanz mit Glückwünschen für Braut und Bräutigam, einen Rundtanz und einen so genannten Scherentanz. Daraus entstand A Klezmer Karnival, das die dem Klezmer eigene Mischung aus Fröhlichkeit und Melancholie ausgezeichnet wiedergibt. Ein ebenso abwechslungsreiches wie stimmungsvolles Konzertwerk, mit dem Ihr Blasorchester überzeugen wird!

Jouée depuis le Moyen ge par des musiciens juifs itinérants (klezmorim), la musique klezmer est une musique joyeuse colportée de fête en mariage, qui trouve ses origines dans les “shtetl” (villages) et les ghettos d’Europe de l’Est. A Klezmer Karnival (“Festival klezmer”) de Philip Sparke rassemble trois airs traditionnels : Choson Kale Mazel Tov - une danse nuptiale, Freylekh - une danse juive en cercle et Sherele - littéralement « petits ciseaux » - une danse de bergers, d’origine allemande.

Suonata a partire dal Medioevo da giovani musicisti ebrei (klezmorim), la musica klezmer è una musica gioiosa che ha origine nei villaggi (“shtetl”) e nei ghetti dell’Europa dell’est. A Klezmer Karnival di Philip Sparke raccoglie tre arie tradizionali: Choson Kale Mazel Tov, una danza nuziale, Freylekh, una tipica danza ebraica in cerchio e Sherele (letteralmente piccole forbici), una danza di pastori di origine tedesca.