Par CURNOW JAMES. If there is one set of music any beginner band should own this is it. It is made up of 24 short contrasting pieces which are a mixture of folk songs, well-known classics, Christmas items and original works, each of which is aimed to reinforce an aspect of learning. A must for all beginner bands. / Niveau : 0.5 / Répertoire / Concert Band ou Harmonie

Par ZIEGELBACK ANDREAS. Bleak Forest is a piece for smaller concert bands and offers the musicians above all space to improve their sound and their effect playing. The technical requirements are therefore deliberately kept low. With this piece, the composer won the VLAMO International Composition Contest 2022. Thematically, the work is influenced by the composer's childhood memories. In his hometown there was a dark and mysterious forest, that seemed to the children in the small village to be magical. Without a reasonable explanation, every trip into the woods was exciting and somewhat terrifying. There were tales of dangerous animals, which can be heard at the beginning of the piece, as well as magical beasts. The magic of the forest is depicted musically from bar 70 in the andante section. The snapping of the fingers represents single raindrops. From bar 99 onwards, we hear the trek home, with the occasional moments of trepidation as the children spook each other with their fanciful tales. In the end, though, we arrive safely at home because after all, magical beasts only exist in fairy tales… don’t they? Andreas Ziegelbäck studied music education at the Mozarteum University in Salzburg, and history at the Paris Lodron Universität, Salzburg. In addition to his studies, he trained in ensemble conducting for wind orchestra with conductor and composer Thomas Doss. It was Doss who sparked Ziegelbäck’s interest in composing. In 2021, Andreas Ziegelbäck completed his composition studies with Johannes Maria Staud. In 2020, he took part in a brass band composition masterclass in Bern with Oliver Waespi, followed by a premiere by the Swiss Army Brass Band. / Date parution : 2023-10-31/ Répertoire / Concert Band / Harmonie

Par VILHELMSEN INGEBJORG. Diplodocus is said to be one of the largest dinosaus to ever have lived. This plant munching beast weighted approximately 20 tons, and could measure up to 30 metres from head to tail. The dinosaur lived in North America during the Jurassic period. This piece describes the carefree nature of a Diplodocus. A life with no natural enemies, and with an exceptionally small brain. To the conductor: The drum set part (Perc. 1) can be played as written, or ad lib. There is also a simplified drum set part that can replace Perc 1. if needed. Perc 2. is optional, and can be omitted. / Date parution : 2023-07-31/ Répertoire / Concert Band/Harmonie

Par . We're not sure boy bands ever really went out of style, but their music is certainly here to stay! This fun medley features a mix of older classics as well as newer chartbusters. Includes: Dynamite (BTS), Everybody (Backstreet Boys), I Want It That Way (Backstreet Boys), What Makes You Beautiful (One Direction), and I'll Be There (Jackson 5). / Date parution : 2023-10-31/ Répertoire / Concert Band/Harmonie

Par DE HAAN JACOB. This musical fantasy depicts the history of the Dutch fortified town of Elburg. The work begins with an atmospheric medieval picture of the Convent of St Agnes, the nunnery that was built in the first half of the 15th century. We hear the sound of the convent bells together with an upward motif, which will reappear later in the work. Next, the rest of Elburg is featured, including the fortress - from which the bells of the Sint-Nicolaaskerk (Saint Nicholas Church) are ringing. Then, cheerful sounds can be heard at the Vischpoort (Fish Gate), where a dancing group is performing a 16th century French folk dance (a branle des chevaux). We also hear old wagons rumbling over the town’scobble stones. Trade made this Hanseatic town a lively place. The repetitive upward motif first heard in the introduction now develops into a more distinct feature, reflecting the mercantile spirit of the town residents. Then follows the slow middle movement, in which the clock has been turned back to the time when Elburg was still lying on the Zuiderzee (which was a bay of the North Sea), and was struggling with floods. After the second St. Marcellus Flood (1362) and the water flood of 1367 it was decided that the town would be relocated. We now hear the theme of branle des chevaux in a minor key, followed by a death bell sounding in remembrance of the drowned citizens of the former town. Back in our own time, a slow, expressive theme in Baroque style mirrors Elburg’s tranquil places, such as the Feithenhof (Feithen Court) and the Weduwenhofje (Widow Court). Then the bustle returns with motifs from the introduction, followed by an attractive theme in which present-day Elburg is portrayed with its many tourists. Now, suddenly, there is an echo from the past, depicting the dramatic floods and wars that once plagued the town. This leads to the grand closing theme: branle des chevaux is heard for a final time from the perspective of the historic town centre. / Niveau : 4 / Pièce de concert / Répertoire / Fanfare

Par VAN DER ROOST JAN. A spectacular dive via an extended chromatic scale immediately submerges us in a charged and somewhat archaic-feeling atmosphere. Trumpets, horns and trombones resound in rhythmic patterns, buttressed by restless motifs in the percussion. A second theme, in the woodwinds, begins much calmer but is quickly pushed aside by that same brass offensive. This introduction is the musical expression of the sometimes tumultuous early history of the town of Peer in Belgium. It closes with a D scale played over two octaves and repeated three times, symbolizing the church steeples that dominate the townscape. Peer has the credentials of a town, and people should know about it. There followsa rhythmic, turbulent passage: in the course of history, Peer has not been spared the ravages of war, arson, occupation, epidemic and other evils. In contrast, a slow, pastoral, lyrical part expresses the periods of peace and prosperity the town has known, as well as the serene geographic setting that still characterizes the place. Various instruments in groups are developed in solo style while the accompaniment displays vast, painterly images of sound. Now and then an exotic intonation is heard: a variety of peoples and cultures have left their mark on the town. This episode of tranquility and peacefulness comes to a sudden end when, via a surprising, almost chaotic transitional passage, we are in effect transported back to our own time. A hopeful, festive march expresses the confidence in the future that the Royal Concert Band of Peer exudes. This confidence is wholly justified: under the direction of conductor Willy Fransen, the 95 members of the concert band have experienced an extended period of good fortune, and the 75 musicians of the youth band - and the 45 little musicians of the mini-band - are involved in thriving operations. / Niveau : 6 / Pièce de concert / Répertoire / Concert Band ou Harmonie

Die Entführung aus dem Serail. Par MOZART WOLFGANG AMADEUS. “Wonderful! But, aren’t there too many notes?” asked the emperor Joseph II. “No, all notes are necessary. This is new music, ” replied Mozart. This is a famous anecdote about the premiere of the opera Die Entführung aus dem Serail (The Abduction from the Seraglio), which took place on July 16, 1782 at the Burgtheater Wien (Vienna). It illustrates Mozart’s ambition and self-confidence. Throughout Mozart’s lifetime, Die Entführung aus dem Serail was his most successful work outside of Vienna. It is still a much-performed opera. Tohru Takahashi has made a lively arrangement of the overture in its original key, C major. It will sound even better if your band has Turkish percussioninstruments at its disposal. / Niveau : 5 / Répertoire / Concert Band ou Harmonie

Par HANNICKEL MIKE. This one is just right for the 'encore march' at your next young band concert, or anywhere a bright march is appropriate. Some carefully chosen accidentals keep things interesting, but there are no more than one or two for any given instrument, keeping the technical demands easily within the abilities of a Grade 1 band. If your school mascot happens to be the Eagle, you may wish to keep this 'spirit' march in the folders year around for use at assemblies and rallies as a peppy 'mascot' tune. / Niveau : 1 / Marche / Répertoire / Concert Band

Par DVORAK ANTONIN. This arrangement was written for Norwegian School Band Madlamark Skolekorps to their participation at the Norwegian Championships 2023. The arrangement will work excellent also for a wind ensemble (one player to each part), but the clarinet parts should always be doubled. Euphonium II is optional, but it’s recommended to use also this when there are two players or more on this instrument. Concerning percussion, timpani is the most important part, but it’s recommended to also cover cymbals and mallet percussion. The articulation and dynamics are kept as close as possible to the original version by Dvorak. However, some changes has been made to make it more suitable for a wind instrumentation. The timpani part is identical to the original version except for some places when the trumpet signals are doubled in the timpani part. Staccato notation should not be played short here, but rather separated. At faster passages, the music should be played endurant or legato if possible. This arrangement is a good opportunity to perform music of highest quality where musicality, phrasing, balance and intonation are very important, and, where each musician and part are deeply involved in the music making. / Date parution : 2023-07-31/ Répertoire / Concert Band/Harmonie

To General George Washington. Par CURNOW JAMES. The grand and energetic opening, contrasting styles, careful attention to articulations, and rich harmonies make this one sound more advanced than it actually is. Consider using Heroic Tribute as the opening piece for your young band festival performance. The easy but bright and colorful Percussion, along with excellent use of the Woodwind and Brass sections, make this an ideal contest piece. There are plenty of teaching opportunities packed into this majestic new mini-overture for young bands. In fact, even if your band usually plays higher grade level music you should still give this one serious consideration. Occasionally it’s good idea to rehearse a high-quality easiercomposition, where your entire ensemble can concentrate fully on ensemble playing, phrasing, tone quality, etc. and not worry about just chasing notes. This piece provides great cross-curricular teaching opportunities with history. A great teaching piece as well as a gem in performance! / Niveau : 1.5 / Pièce de concert / Répertoire / Concert Band

Par JOHNSON TIMOTHY. With a name like Yankee Doodle how could you help but be a little bit of your rocker? This arrangement explores the wacky side of Yankee Doodle, even throwing in a few other well-known songs along the way. Every part of the band gets to play the melody, even if only a few notes here and there. / Niveau : 1 / Musique légère originale / Répertoire / Concert Band

Par VAN DER ROOST JAN. 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. / Niveau : 6 / Pièce de concert / Répertoire / Concert Band ou Harmonie

Torstein Aagaard-Nilsen’s (1964) way of composing can be described as: uncompromising wilful and contemporary. It is not surprising therefore that this occasionally causes a stir. In the middle of the Seventies a trend arose in youth culture which was characterized by provocation distrust of the great ideologies and the autonomy of the individual. Punk is playful aggressive often humorous and anti-everything which inevitably leads to self-irony. The first part of Aagaard-Nielsen’s composition (Introduction) is a texture based mainly on one short theme. This pompous theme breathes a spirit of cold empty plains where icy winds sigh around yourhead. In the vehement Punk (Presto barbaro!) there is no longer any question of a theme. The basis for this part is formed by a repetitive motif (a descending minor third). This motif is alternated with very powerful percussion beats and later on shrill harmonies.

Par CURNOW JAMES. What an excellent way to lift your beginning band up to a higher level of musicianship! This outstanding new work for the beginning band is perfect for that first festival experience or for any concert venue. With accents, staccato, and lots of dynamic and stylistic contrasts there is much to teach in this piece, and yet it remains accessible to the last exciting note. Be sure to pay close attention to this significant new beginning band composition. An important addition to the repertoire / Niveau : 0.5 / Pièce de concert / Répertoire / Concert Band

Par BOSVELD JAN. Since the Middle Ages there have been many stories about a mysterious swan knight. He is called Lohengrin but he is not allowed to tell anyone his name. However, after telling his wife his name he disappears forever. As in many stories from this age, trust and love are the main issues. The Zwaanriddersage (Swan Knight Saga) was commissioned by the NIB (Dutch Institute for Wind Music). A magnificent epic for your band! / Niveau : 2.5 / Pièce de concert / Répertoire / Fanfare