Letter from Sado is an exciting new piece for young band based on a Japanese haiku of the same name. Sado refers to Sado Island in Japan in which various artists religious and military leaders were sent in exile many years ago. The island has historically had a strong community of taiko drummers and as such the piece incorporates optional homemade taiko drums. Blackshaw writes: To capture the idea of interpretation and the concept of reading between the lines the students are invited to become decision makers about particular sections in the music. For example the opening and closing sections of the piece use the same material which is a selection of repeated melodic figures.The students themselves decide how to play these figures as individuals in small teams and then as a whole band. Their decisions include ideas regarding tempo (how fast') dynamics (how loud') and articulation (smooth short or hard'). To inspire them we use the haiku poem; i.e. the opening section invites the students to play the material as if it were a 'stormy wild sea' and the closing section invites the students to play the same melodic figures but this time draw their inspiration from 'Heaven's River ' or as we know it the Milky Way. In-between there is an elaborate heavily textured section that becomes increasingly powerful. The music doesn't rest harmonically until the whole band plays in unison. These multiple layers of sound represent the many thoughts and ideas that would have surrounded those individuals sent to Sado Island in exile the final unison is representative of their own breakthrough experience sending them on a pathway to inner peace and acceptance. Embrace your players' creativity offer them your trust and see how far Letter from Sado can take your band!

Three Interludes For Orchestra by Benet Casablancas was commissioned by Fundación Autor and the Spanish Association of Symphonic Orchestras (AEOS) for its World Premiere in the 2012-2013 season.The score consists of three movements – Pastorale (Tranquillo) Scherzo (Con moto) and Memento e Corale (Lentissimo Ampio e tenuto) – and has an approximate duration of 14 minutes. The spaciousness and transparency of its textures the clearness of its harmony and a general calm and quiet tone of the first and final parts set a contrast with the vigour and rhythmical vividness of its central scherzo.During the course of the piece the shape of chamber writing coexists with the greatness of orchestral peaks. The last section embraces a lower and expressive tone which ends with a great chorale that will lead to a more contemplative coda which fades into silence. Sadness for the devastating tsunami that struck Japan on those same days was present in the mind of the author at the time of writing this movement.“It shows the accused dramatic quality (especially in the third piece) which dominate the orchestral writing of the composer from Sabadell enriched by a pitch atmosphere of neo-impressionistic quality and a healthy rhythmical energy. The concert version contributed with intensity and performance depth which we hope to deepen in future performances and which motivated the greeting of Casablancas.” - Germán Gan Audio Clásica