‘Four Easy Dances’ is a four-part suite from Gobelin’s ’Flexy Band Collection’. This series is meant for starter ensembles i.e. youth orchestras which may not have the full range of instruments available yet. Therefore it is possible to combine various instruments. ‘Four Easy Dances’ comes from the ‘Flexy 3 Series’ and can in principle be played by only three instruments completed with three percussion instruments. ‘Four Easy Dances’ consists of: 1. Hop Skip and Jump 2. Little Polka 3. Spanish Dance (castanets are obligatory) and finally 4. Tango.

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!

From the composer: High Flyers are regarded as people with promise and potential.They are winners. This is music for winners.The title as well as being a play-on-words implies the nature of the work. It is a bright optimistic and upbeat piece attempting to depict an exhilarating ride on flying carpet. The opening rising chords immediately suggest the gentle elevation of the carpets' ascent towards unknown heights leading to a hint of a first theme in the horns at Fig. B. The first four notes provide the thematic material for the whole work: C F G A.A perpetual sense of movement is achieved through accented quaver chords punctuating the melodicmaterial of the first main theme. Fig. E sees the music of the opening bars fully realised with flourishes from the euphonium and baritones representing swirling clouds shooting stars or passing birds in flight.The same subject is developed into a lyrical second theme with a new lush harmonic treatment evocative of gliding over an expanse of sparse countryside.This section ends with a note of serenity but is shattered by the urgent insistence of the percussion rhythms.The third section introduces a new idea with a slightly distorted fanfare in the cornets and trombones. This figure suggests for the first time that there may be trouble ahead. In fact there is no need to fear and the journey can continue without aggravation. This fanfare returns near the end to signal a final note of triumph.A new rhythmic variant of the cell motif emerges as the third theme now transformed by the addition of a triplet figure. The music steadily gains momentum before moving inexorably towards the climactic return of the music and tonality of the opening bars of the piece.

Hymnus was commissioned by the Wilhelmina Easterein Fanfare Orchestra in the Autumn of 1999 for their performance at the World Music Contest Kerkrade. The commission was the result of a collaboration between the composer and the thenmusical director Marten van der Wal. The exact meaning of the word Hymnus is not known but it is taken in this presentation to mean hymn or hymn-like. The melodic material is organic and grows from an initial unison tone. Thisinterval is gradually expanded to form the cell F E C F a semitone third fifth. The only other melodic motif is the ascending three-note pattern spanning a major third. This is the second of his compositions to use this ascending motif theother being Fanfare for a Bright New Age for Brass Band and Organ also of 2000. These characteristic intervals appear in many contrasting moods and guises throughout the piece. The opening unison notes are intended to convey as sense ofpower and magnificence like the first sounds at the dawning of the universe. After the immense power a period of stunned silence and reverence. The evolution of the hymn melody incorporates a variety of moods and atmospheres sometimes expressing much joy and celebration whilst also suggesting periods of intense savagery or prayerful contemplation. The hymn builds as the piece progresses and is finally stated in its complete form at letter W. The official worldpremiere of the work was given by Wilhelmina Easterein at the World Music Contest 2001. Whilst the composer was unable to attend in person he was able to enjoy the premier simultaneously transmitted via a mobile phone from the audience! Conductors Note The tempo indications are to be viewed as a guide rather than a literal instruction. Within the music there is an innate sense of pulse and metre lending itself to considerable rubato. Melody is king and all else is mere support and decoration careful attention must therefore be given to balance.

In imitation of the huge ‘House rage’ (at the end of the eighties) John Emerson Blackstone composed ‘House of Dance’ for youth orchestra. It proved to be a success. House owes its name to the place where this music was ‘developed’ i.e. an old night club called ‘The Warehouse’ in Chicago. Many subcultures followed. Whether you like the style or not one thing is certain: House music (also called Dance music) for many provides the basis for hours of fun on the dance floor.

In imitation of the huge ‘House rage’ (at the end of the eighties) John Emerson Blackstone composed ‘House of Dance’ for youth orchestra. It proved to be a success. House owes its name to the place where this music was ‘developed’ i.e. an old night club called ‘The Warehouse’ in Chicago. Many subcultures followed. Whether you like the style or not one thing is certain: House music (also called Dance music) for many provides the basis for hours of fun on the dance floor.

In imitation of the huge ‘House rage’ (at the end of the eighties) John Emerson Blackstone composed ‘House of Dance’ for youth orchestra. It proved to be a success. House owes its name to the place where this music was ‘developed’ i.e. an old night club called ‘The Warehouse’ in Chicago. Many subcultures followed. Whether you like the style or not one thing is certain: House music (also called Dance music) for many provides the basis for hours of fun on the dance floor.

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

Today's society means to many people: bustle hurry quick and more ... No wonder that many are looking for (inner) tranquility and balance in their overloaded existence. Listen to music or active music is a way to relax and also to draw new energy. The repetitive motifs in Innerspace provide a relaxing effect. Enjoy and use the strength of your own 'innerspace'.

Today's society means to many people: bustle hurry quick and more ... No wonder that many are looking for (inner) tranquility and balance in their overloaded existence. Listen to music or active music is a way to relax and also to draw new energy. The repetitive motifs in Innerspace provide a relaxing effect. Enjoy and use the strength of your own 'innerspace'.

Today's society means to many people: bustle hurry quick and more ... No wonder that many are looking for (inner) tranquility and balance in their overloaded existence. Listen to music or active music is a way to relax and also to draw new energy. The repetitive motifs in Innerspace provide a relaxing effect. Enjoy and use the strength of your own 'innerspace'.

Today's society means to many people: bustle hurry quick and more ... No wonder that many are looking for (inner) tranquility and balance in their overloaded existence. Listen to music or active music is a way to relax and also to draw new energy. The repetitive motifs in Innerspace provide a relaxing effect. Enjoy and use the strength of your own 'innerspace'.

Commissioned by Manger School Band and their conductor (at that time) Bj?rn Sagstad in 1990. He wanted a calm slow piece of music. Nocturne means 'night music'. It does not reflect a particular dream but the feeling you get when you¬?re day-dreaming: you are in the middle of beeing awake and asleep. Geschreven in opdracht van Manger School Band en hun dirigent (op dat moment) Bj?rn Sagstad in 1990. Hij wilde een rustig langzaam stuk muziek. Nocturne betekent 'nacht muziek'. Het gaat dus niet een bepaalde droom maar het gevoel dat je krijgt wanneer je aan het dagdromen bent: je bent in het midden van wakker zijn en slapen.

The atmosphere of the Wild West is caught in a striking and most imaginative way by young composer Andreas Schulte in this work. A caravan of gold- and fortuneseekers launch themselves into a big adventure and begin their rush westward. The first movement desciribes these first days of buoyancy and optimism in a crisp march. Near the campfire the pioneers rest themselves and the music expresses feelings of romance nostalgia for the past and hopes for the future. A wistful melody very characteristically communicates these feelings. Relaxation takes place in the third movement which is a musical characterization of a rodeo and its attendant festivities.It is obvious that sometimes something goes wrong and this aspect can also be heard. Nevertheless the valiant rider wins in the end. With a flashback to the beginning the journey is completed musically thus giving the composition a dignified finale. Let the mystic Wild West entrance you. (Wagons ho ....!!) De sfeer van het Wilde Westen wordt door de jonge componist Andreas Ludwig Schulte op een uiterst treffende en beeldende wijze geschetst. Een karavaan van goud- en gelukzoekers stort zich in het grote avontuur en begint de grote reis naar het westen. Het eerste gedeelte beschrijft de eerste dagen van opgewektheid en optimisme in een vlotte mars. Bij het kampvuur komen de pioniers tot rust en worden gevoelens van romantiek heimwee (verleden) en hoop (toekomst) muzikaal weergegeven. Een weemoedige melodie verwoordt die gevoelens op een zeer kenmerkende wijze. De ontspanning vindt plaats in het derde deel waarin een rodeofeest muzikaal wordt verklankt. Met een flashback van het begin wordt de tocht voltooid en de compositie waardig afgesloten. Raak in de ban van het wilde westen!