Par SPARKE PHILIP. « La plupart des traditions de Noël en Angleterre sont relativement récentes. Montée sur le trône en 1837, la reine Victoria (née de Hanovre) régnera jusqu’à sa mort en 1901. En 1840, elle épousa son cousin, le prince Albert de Saxe-Cobourg-Gotha. Leprince consort, originaire d’Allemagne, importa bon nombre de traditions de Noël allemandes au Royaume-Uni. Ainsi, il fit découvrir aux Anglais la coutume du sapin et les cartes de Noël, entre autres, contribuant largement au Noël typiquement anglaistel que nous le connaissons aujourd’hui. Bien que les chants de Noël font l’objet d’une longue tradition en Angleterre, de nombreuses mélodies que nous chantons proviennent ducontinent européen ou des États-Unis. Je savais bien que le célébrissime Silent Night (Douce nuit) était d’origine autrichienne et que Hark, the Herald Angels Sing (Écoutez le chant des Anges) était d’origine allemande. Pourtant, quelle ne fut pas ma surprise d’apprendre qu’ Away in a Manger (Sur la paillefraîche) ou encore We Three Kings nous venaient des États-Unis et que Ding, Dong Merrily on High était un noël d’origine française. Quoiqu’il en soit, j’ai réussi à constituer un canevas de mélodies anglaises pour réaliser cefestival de chants de Noël. »Philip SparkeRemarques sur l’interprétation : Cet arrangement est adapté pour une interprétation avec ou sans Choeur. S’il est joué par un Orchestre d’Harmonie seul, les parties vocales seront doublées par des partiesinstrumentales. Les tempi indiqués correspondent à une interprétation par un Orchestre d’Harmonie seul. Si l’oeuvre est donnée avec un Choeur, il est sans doute nécessaire de baisser le tempo en fonction du nombre de choristes et del’acoustique du lieu de concert. Les parties de Choeur (en anglais) sont disponibles séparément (Réf. : AMP 227-050). / Niveau : 3 / Pièce de concert / Répertoire / Concert Band ou Harmonie

In this composition William Vean takes you on a journey through the fascinating and exciting world of animals. Apart from it being a composition filled with 'special effects' Animal Kingdom contains many educational elements such as playing inswing (triplets feeling) chromatics flutter tonguing gypsy tuning varying keys and of course dynamics and articulation. The melodic lines occur in all four voices as well as in all percussion parts providing each musician with theopportunity to play a solo or to accompany. Highly recommended for your youth band! William Vean is an educational composer. He knows how to musically shape the special elements from our daily lives. His music is therefore veryexpressive containing creative solutions to possible problems. Special ways of playing make his music particularly interesting for the winds but the percussion section is also featured in his special effects. The world of the animalsalways plays on ones imagination. In Animal Kingdom William Vean has portrayed a number of animals in a special manner: Kevin Kangaroo - The jumping character of this animal can be heard in different voices. The swing style alsoemphasizes the characteristic movements of the kangaroo. Playing in swing style can be practised by using scales. Eddy Elephant - For some of his smaller fellow fauna friends this can be quite an ordeal but for Eduard (Eddy for friendsand intimates) it is his daily walk. Baldrick Bat - Baldrick the Bat is a mysterious character. This can be heard in the fast moving valves and keys accompanied by special effects in the percussion section. Curtis Camel - Curtisthe Camel trudges across the desert feeling bored. The idea that the horizon will never change does not affect him anymore. He has accepted his fate. The distinctive tones from the gypsy scale provide the suitable oriental sounds. BettyButterfly - Butterfly Betty elegantly and without worries flutters from flower to flower in the garden. Her motto: Carpe Diem (Seize the Day). Betty is a one-day butterfly. Marvin Monkey - A 'swing' monkey stirs up the feelings. Evenmembers of the orchestra will look like real monkeys. How about your audience? Each part has its own difficulties and challenges. Important in the first part is playing 'in swing' (triplets feeling). This can be practised usingscales. In the second part ensemble playing and balance are important. In Baldrick additional information on the effects that have to be played might be useful. 'New' sounds are of course welcome. Curtis the Camel introduces thegypsy scale. Additional explanation of the use of the scale might be useful. Key changes are interesting in this part. A slight accent on the first beat of the bar will add to the charm of this part. Marvin the Monkey brings back the swingrhythm that was introduced in the first part altern

Durkle Bandrydge is the name of the composers imaginary world but it could very well be anyones invisible dream world with a different name. In this very versatile suite by Bruce Fraser 8 characters are featured each with its ownpeculiarities making Durkle Bandrydge such a colourful place. Do these characters differ that much from us? That is for you to find out! In the last part all characters come together in a special way.Durkle Bandrydge exists at the end ofyour street. It is invisible to humans but Durkle Bandrygators can watch us with great interest. The music will introduce you to some of the characters who live in this unusual place. The parts: Somnanbulyss who is a giant trollguarding the entrance to Durkle Bandryde. At least he is supposed to but he tends to sleep most of the time. His music is therefore very slow moving and sleepy. Long Gwysteen is a tall mysterious and somehow sophisticated character who walls around with a shell on his back. His music glides along rather gracefully. Squelfitch is a rather unpleasant and smelly character who lives in a bog which is why his music sounds rather slimy and a bit like trying to walkthrough quicksand. Perfydlia is a meddling old woman who gossips about everybody and squeals with sudden delight at the small exciting bits of tittletattle about others in the village. In the music you can hear her sudden little squealsof delight. Maryann Lovely is a beautiful young lady graceful gorgeous absolutely devine and her music is obviously just the same. Thistledoo Nicely is a lively character who spends and spends and spends with her credit card buying the latest fashion and never worries about having to pay the bills. Her music reflects her excitement when shopping and het ‘happy go lucky’ approach to life. Marsyn Edginton is the Lord of the manor the richest man in town the‘big cheese’ the man with all the power and of course the biggest house. He is very grand and his music like he could be a king. Jimmy McScotsmyn is a red haired scotsman wearing tartan cap. He misses his home country terribly and eatslots of shortbread oatcakes scotch eggs porridge and drinks an enormous amount of Scotch Wisky which helps him to have fond memories of the kind of music he would like to dance to when he was a younger man. His favourite dance is a Jig andthis is the music he remembers. Grand March of the Durkle Bandrydgators. We hope that you have enjoyed meeting these characters from Drukle Bandrydge and would invite you to listen to all the villagers now march along in a grand parade -it is a pity that you can not see them what is a wonderful sight. If you listen carefully you will hear the melodies which belong to the characters as they march past. Oh what a grand spectacle!

Les Anges dans nos campagnes. The title of this clever arrangement reveals the Christmas song it is based on. The melody can be traced back to a French folksong from the 18th century which is now known around the world. In France it is called Les anges dans nos campagnes, in Germany it is most widely known as Engel auf den Feldern singen and in England it was originally called Angels From the Realms of Glory but it often known as Angels We Have Heard on High. Everyone will rejoice upon hearing the ‘Gloria in excelsis Deo’ refrain! / Niveau : 3 / Pièce de concert / Répertoire / Concert Band ou Harmonie

Arr. Philip Sparke. Par HENRY VIII. The English king, Henry VIII (1491-1547), is mainly remembered for disposing of his wives on a regular basis and breaking with the Catholic Church when the Pope Clement VII refused to grant him a divorce so he could marry Anne Boleyn. As a young man he was a gifted athlete, dancer and composer, writing many songs, poems and consort pieces (though not Greensleeves, as is often believed). Pastime with Good Company is undoubtedly the best-known of these, written in the first years of the 16th century while he was still a handsome prince, newly married to Catherine of Aragon and the envy of Europe. The lyrics tell of the joys of hunting, dancing and singing and would have been sungas part of the court entertainment. This arrangement features a quartet of soloists and two solo drummers. / Niveau : 3 / Répertoire / Concert Band ou Harmonie

Lasst uns erfreuen. La mélodie du cantique Lasst uns erfreuen est connue par toutes les communautés chrétiennes. Elle fut publiée pour la première fois dans le recueil Geistliche Kirchengesäng imprimé à Cologne, en 1623. La mélodie est attribuée à un compositeur anonyme. Dans les pays anglophones, cette mélodie est chantée sur le texte All creatures of our God and King (Vous, créatures du Seigneur) inspiré du chant de louange Cantico di fratre sole (Cantique du frère Soleil ou Cantique des créatures) de Saint François d’Assise. Rédigé en 1226, au terme de sa vie, il faudra attendre quatre cents ans pour que le cantique de Saint François d’Assise soit publié. Latraduction anglaise a été réalisée par William Henry Draper (1855-1933) à l’occasion d’un grand rassemblement de jeunes pour la Pentecôte à Leeds. L’hymne fut ensuite intégrée dans la seconde édition du recueil Public School Hymn Book (1919). Cet arrangement de Philip Sparke développe trois strophes contrastantes. Let Us Rejoice! est une oeuvre de concert à part entière, mais peut également servir d’interlude dans le cadre d’une célébration de Pâques ou de Pentecôte. / Niveau : 2.5 / Hymnes et chorals / Recueil / Concert Band ou Harmonie

Sound Innovations: Ensemble Development for Young Concert Band is a complete curriculum for beginning band students to help them grow as ensemble musicians. The series complements any band method and supplements any performance music. It contains 167 exercises, including more than 100 chorales by some of today's most renowned young band composers. Various exercises at the grade 1/2, 1, and 1 1/2 levels are grouped by key, including: * Long Tones* Passing the Tonic* Pitch Matching* Scale Builders* Interval Builders* Expanding Intervals* Chord Builders* Moving Chord Tones* Diatonic Harmony* Rhythmic Subdivision* 5-Note Scales* Scale Canons (5-, 6-, or 8-Note Scales)* Scale Chorales (5-, 6-, and 8-Note Scales) * ChoralesThe compositions were written by Roland Barrett, Chris Bernotas, Jodie Blackshaw, Matt Conaway, Ralph Ford, Tyler S. Grant, Rob Grice, John O'Reilly, Robert Sheldon, Todd Stalter, Randall Standridge, Michael Story, and Scott Watson. Whether your students are progressing through exercises to better their technical facility, or improving their musicianship with beautiful chorales, we are confident your performers will be excited, motivated, and inspired by using Sound Innovations: Ensemble Development for Young Concert Band. / Concert Band

Par SPARKE PHILIP. Comme beaucoup d’autres pays, l’Angleterre jouit d’une longue tradition de chansons traditionnelles transmises oralement au _x001C_fil des siècles. Three English Folk Song Miniatures rassemble trois airs populaires ( Dance to you Daddy, O Waly, Waly et Bobby Shafto ), prodigieusement arrangés pour orchestre junior ou formation incomplète. Comme dans toutes les publications de degré de diffi_x001F_culté 1 à 1 ½ des éditions Anglo Music, les parties des registres ténor et basse peuvent être jouées par diff_x001B_érents instruments, ce qui permettra aux orchestres incomplets de toujours produire un son ample et généreux. / Niveau : 1.5 / Pièce de concert / Répertoire / Concert Band ou Harmonie

Whereas ‘Auld Lang Syne’ may be considered the best-known Scottish song ever yet at the same time it is an obscure one for there are but few people who know the complete text by heart. After the familiar ‘Should auld acquaintance be forgot .....‘ many people take their refuge to lyrics like ‘rum tee dum ta dee ..... lah lah lah ........... for auld lang syne’. Even in Scotland only a handful of persons know the entire text and are able to give a correct rendering of it. The current lyrics have been attributed to the Scottish poet Robert Burns. Burns however he did not write the whole poem : after he had heard an old man sing the centuries-old Scotchballad he wrote it down and added a number of stanzas (1788). Historical research teaches us that the ballad served many purposes both political and religious. Nowadays ‘Auld Lang Syne’ is sung as a Christmas Carol and it is also sung on New Year’s Eve at the turning of the year. Apart from that though the song is also sung on many other occasions – sometimes with different lyrics which usually have Love Friendship and/or Parting as their themes as these go well with the fascinating melody. In this arrangement a low-sounding solo instrument is central. The harmonization in the accompaniment fits in perfectly with the sentiments this song will evoke. Should auld acquaintance be forgot And never brought to mind? Should auld acquintance be forgot. And days of auld lang syne? For auld lang syne my dear For auld lang syne We’ll take a cup of kindness yet For auld lang syne.

Par SPARKE PHILIP. Song of Friendship est une commande de l’orchestre d’harmonie de l’Université de Jumonji, Saitama, Japon, et de leur chef Yutaka Nishida. La commande marque aussi la 50e année de l’engagement de Yutaka Nishida avec des bands, que ce soit comme joueur, chef d’orchestre ou présentateur radio. Le cérémonial Song of Friendship commence par une longue fanfare, mettant en scène en particulier les cuivres. Ceci nous mène au thème principal qui se développe ensuite graduellement jusqu’à une interprétation par l’ensemble entier. Une modulation signale le début de la section centrale contrastante. Elle se caractérise par un choral calme pour les bois qui se développeensuite jusqu’au retour du triomphant thème principal. Des éléments de la fanfare du début finissent alors l’oeuvre. / Niveau : 3.5 / Marche de concert / Répertoire / Concert Band ou Harmonie

In English-speaking countries ‘Away in a Manger’ is one of the first Christmas songs to be taught to little children. It is a moving song with simple words which makes it easy to understand. The song is also known as ‘Luther’s Cradle Hymn’. This suggests that Martin Luther was the author of the lyrics. According to researchers however this is a misconception – the author is unknown. In England ‘Away in a Manger’ is sung to a different melody than in the USA for example. The ‘English’ melody was composed by W.J. Kirkpatrick. Andrew Mackereth made a touching arrangement of the ‘English’ melody which suits the tender lyrics perfectly.

Par SPARKE PHILIP. The Harbour:Sunday Morningwas commissioned by the Jersey Instrumental Service for the Jersey Youth Wind Band. The history of the Channel Islands is inextricably linked to the sea and this determined the theme for this composition. The composer is intrigued by man?s fascination with elements of nature (such as the sea, mountains, deserts and deep space), which are both beautiful and dangerous. Bring the power of the sea to your concert with this truly descriptive piece. / Niveau : 3 / Pièce de concert / Répertoire / Concert Band ou Harmonie