A delightful Christmas cantata for children’s voices (and ensemble/electronic backing tracks) with or without narrator: reggae jazz rock ballad and pop numbers to witty text by Richard and Thomas Allain. Caesar has called a census in the Holy Land. So everyone is crowding back into Bethlehem a town where they read Shalom! Magazine where suddenly there are donkey traffic gridlocks and hotels where you can't get a room for love or shekels. Tom works doing odd jobs at the Fun Big Inn which isn't much fun at all. This busy night he decides to leave the landlord in the lurch and head for the bright lights of Jerusalem. But he doesn't get far running first into reggae singing shepherds and then three groovy wise dudes following a star. Tom can hardly ignore the remarkable things they have to tell him. So what does he do next? What would any of us do? Richard and Thomas Allain retell the story of the Nativity in a new and individual way with immediacy and wit in a string of unforgettable tuneful songs and sharply clever words in an idiom accessible to everyone. Manger Tom can be performed with unison voices someone to narrate highly effective with just Piano or Keyboard accompaniment. But there are parts available too for instruments you might want to add. Included with the score of Manger Tom is a CD which comprises of a full performance of the musical numbers by professional singers and players as well as just the accompaniments for everyone to sing along to if they prefer. Additionally lyric sheets and a script are available as free downloads - visit www.hybridpublications.com to access the bonus material. Lyric sheets enable easy rehearsals and the script allows Manger Tom to be performed as a full nativity play. Review from Andrew Stewart of Classroom Music says: 'Manger Tom manages to squeeze within the space of eight numbers everything from big-band and rock numbers to reggae and in ‘Star of the

A delightful Christmas cantata for children’s voices (and ensemble/electronic backing tracks) with or without narrator: reggae jazz rock ballad and pop numbers to witty text by Richard and Thomas Allain.Caesar has called a census in the Holy Land. So everyone is crowding back into Bethlehem a town where they read Shalom! Magazine where suddenly there are donkey traffic gridlocks and hotels where you can't get a room for love or shekels.Tom works doing odd jobs at the Fun Big Inn which isn't much fun at all. This busy night he decides to leave the landlord in the lurch and head for the bright lights of Jerusalem. But he doesn't get far runningfirst into reggae singing shepherds and then three groovy wise dudes following a star. Tom can hardly ignore the remarkable things they have to tell him. So what does he do next? What would any of us do?Richard and Thomas Allain retell the story of the Nativity in a new and individual way with immediacy and wit in a string of unforgettable tuneful songs and sharply clever words in an idiom accessible to everyone.Manger Tom can be performed with unison voices someone to narrate highly effective with just Piano or Keyboard accompaniment. But there are parts available too for instruments you might want to add. Included with the score of Manger Tom is a CD which comprises of a full performance of the musical numbers by professional singers and players as well as just the accompaniments for everyone to sing along to if they prefer.Additionally lyric sheets and a script are available as free downloads - visit www.hybridpublications.com to access the bonus material. Lyric sheets enable easy rehearsals and the script allows Manger Tom to be performed as a full nativity play.Contains parts for Eb Bb and C instruments.Review from Andrew Stewart of Classroom Music says: 'Manger Tom manages to squeeze within the space of eight numbers everything from big-band and rock

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.

The word ‘tsunami’ is of Japanese origin. When you look it up in a dictionary you will find that it means ‘a great sea wave produced by submarine earth movement or volcanic eruption’. A megatsunami is the superlative of this awesome expressionof power that nature can create and has catastrophic consequences. When Carl Wittrock completed this composition not many such big earth movements had occurred but since then we have become all too familiar with the disastrousconsequences which a tsunami may have. On the 26th of December 2004 a heavy seaquake took place near the Indonesian island of Sumatra. Tidal waves 10 meters in height ravaged the coastal regions of many countries for miles around. The tsunamitook the lives of thousands of people and destroyed many villages and towns. There are more areas which run the risk of being struck by a tsunami such as the island of La Palma one of the Canary Islands. This island is based on oceaniccrust at a fracture zone and as such is one of nature’s time bombs. The consequences of a natural calamity like a megatsunami are immense. In the case of La Palma the tidal wave will move in the direction of South America where it may reach 50km inland destroying everything on its way. In his composition Wittrock describes an ordinary day which will have an unexpected ending. Right from the beginning there seems to be something in the air the music creating an oppressiveatmosphere of impending disaster. Themes are interrupted broken off suddenly followed by silence suggesting the calm before the storm. Suddenly a short climax (glissandi in the trombone part) indicates the seaquake and the megatsunami isa fact. Hereafter follows a turbulent passage symbolising the huge rolling waves. After nature’s force has spent itself resignation sets in and the composition ends with a majestic ode to nature.

The word ‘tsunami’ is of Japanese origin. When you look it up in a dictionary you will find that it means ‘a great sea wave produced by submarine earth movement or volcanic eruption’. A megatsunami is the superlative of this awesome expressionof power that nature can create and has catastrophic consequences. When Carl Wittrock completed this composition not many such big earth movements had occurred but since then we have become all too familiar with the disastrousconsequences which a tsunami may have. On the 26th of December 2004 a heavy seaquake took place near the Indonesian island of Sumatra. Tidal waves 10 meters in height ravaged the coastal regions of many countries for miles around. The tsunamitook the lives of thousands of people and destroyed many villages and towns. There are more areas which run the risk of being struck by a tsunami such as the island of La Palma one of the Canary Islands. This island is based on oceaniccrust at a fracture zone and as such is one of nature’s time bombs. The consequences of a natural calamity like a megatsunami are immense. In the case of La Palma the tidal wave will move in the direction of South America where it may reach 50km inland destroying everything on its way. In his composition Wittrock describes an ordinary day which will have an unexpected ending. Right from the beginning there seems to be something in the air the music creating an oppressiveatmosphere of impending disaster. Themes are interrupted broken off suddenly followed by silence suggesting the calm before the storm. Suddenly a short climax (glissandi in the trombone part) indicates the seaquake and the megatsunami isa fact. Hereafter follows a turbulent passage symbolising the huge rolling waves. After nature’s force has spent itself resignation sets in and the composition ends with a majestic ode to nature.

The word ‘tsunami’ is of Japanese origin. When you look it up in a dictionary you will find that it means ‘a great sea wave produced by submarine earth movement or volcanic eruption’. A megatsunami is the superlative of this awesome expression of power that nature can create and has catastrophic consequences. When Carl Wittrock completed this composition not many such big earth movements had occurred but since then we have become all too familiar with the disastrous consequences which a tsunami may have. On the 26th of December 2004 a heavy seaquake took place near the Indonesian island of Sumatra. Tidal waves 10 meters in height ravaged the coastal regions ofmany countries for miles around. The tsunami took the lives of thousands of people and destroyed many villages and towns. There are more areas which run the risk of being struck by a tsunami such as the island of La Palma one of the Canary Islands. This island is based on oceanic crust at a fracture zone and as such is one of nature’s time bombs. The consequences of a natural calamity like a megatsunami are immense. In the case of La Palma the tidal wave will move in the direction of South America where it may reach 50 km inland destroying everything on its way. In his composition Wittrock describes an ordinary day which will have an unexpected ending. Right from the beginning there seems to be something in the air the music creating an oppressive atmosphere of impending disaster. Themes are interrupted broken off suddenly followed by silence suggesting the calm before the storm. Suddenly a short climax (glissandi in the trombone part) indicates the seaquake and the megatsunami is a fact. Hereafter follows a turbulent passage symbolising the huge rolling waves. After nature’s force has spent itself resignation sets in and the composition ends with a majestic ode to nature.

The composition the Lonesome Knight was based on a fairytale. The piece was written by Saskia Apon for the National Brass Band Championships 2001. Once upon a time there was a knight who went to fight and defeat the dragon that had beenkilling the people of his town. There is a short but intense battle between the two and the knight is triumphant. However whilst persuing the dragon the knight has travelled far away from his home and now is lost. He roames around trying to findhis way home but exhausted and weary he falls to the ground. He awakens startled by a Giant and a group of Goblins who are celebrating the death of the dragon. The knight joins in the festivities but after a long evening is once more leftalone. The sun rises the following morning and he sees a castle on the horizon. He enthousiastcally ventures towards the castle in the hope of meeting other people. However he becomes greatly disillusioned when there is none to be found. Inhis desperation the knight climbs the tower ready to jump off. Suddenly he hears a heavenly voice. Right before him is the most beautiful princess he has ever seen. She graciously thanks him for killing the dragon a spark ingnites between themand they build a life together and.... live happily ever after! Saskia Apon studied harp at Rotterdam School of music. With this instrument she rounded of her studies by passing with credit however it was her love of composition thatremained her focus. Self-taught she began composing at the age of nine. Since then she has written pieces for The Dutch Brass Quintet The Dutch Brass Ensemble The Rotterdam Trombone Quartet and the brass band quintet Brass Ability. Atpresent she is the in-house arranger for The Rotterdam Philarmonic Brass Ensemble. Besides the customary attention for the real splashworks she endeavours to add value to the melodic function of the brass wind instruments in her music. Hercompositions and arrangements can be found on many diverse Cds.The composition the Lonesome Knight was based on a fairytale. The piece was written by Saskia Apon for the National Brass Band Championships 2001. Once upon a time there was aknight who went to fight and defeat the dragon that had been killing the people of his town. There is a short but intense battle between the two and the knight is triumphant. However whilst persuing the dragon the knight has travelled far awayfrom his home and now is lost. He roames around trying to find his way home but exhausted and weary he falls to the ground. He awakens startled by a Giant and a group of Goblins who are celebrating the death of the dragon. The knight joins inthe festivities but after a long evening is once more left alone. The sun rises the following morning and he sees a castle on the horizon. He enthousiastcally ventures towards the castle in the hope of meeting other people. However he becomesgreatly disillusioned when there is n

Par VAN NUETEN GUY. Light the fire, James. We'll take our digestive by the crackling of the hearth. Such were the thoughts that came to mind as I started listening to Guy Van Nueten's new record. Because, yes, there is a certain aristocracy to this music. There's the feeling of autumn and you immediately long to warm yourself on the sounds that issue from Van Nueten's bony fingers. But it could just as well be a car ride through soft rain at nightfall, where trees become freakish phantoms, and here and there a villa looms like a light beacon. Pacman is a record that makes you hunt for images, films you have seen before, feelings you have known and wish to relive, like a somewhat forbidden fruit, asecret pleasure. Melancholy? Absolutely. A vague sadness to make a person purr like a contented cat? Certainly. Yet at the same time, Van Nueten is cunning. While ensuring that his music pleases you, at the end of some compositions he'll suddenly come up with a theme that he'll stop abruptly, so that the notes remain hanging like snapshots of aerial acrobats in action. It is also investigative music as if Guy himself does not wish to know just where he will finish up. There is a stubbornness to it, an elegant fight perhaps between composer and pianist. It pursues you - exactly like a Pacman, in fact, chomping away at digital pieces of your heart. Yet it never seems to dissolve into thin air: time and again, right from the first listen, he makes you long to hear more. It is music that should protect a person like a secret, like an illegal fire in a forest that warms your hands and fills your head with dreams. It smells like cedar, this piano music. Or like a nice cigar offered to you by the imaginary James, who whispers: 'The fire is crackling, sir. Just as you like it.' At which point the enchantment begins all over again./ Répertoire / Piano

This ?Suite' is not one of my 'epic' instrumental concertos such as the concertos for cello, violin or oboe, but a substantially smaller-structured series of dance forms arranged into a suite. Sunken worlds suddenly emerge here, only to reach the surface, hover in dangerously distorted fashion and then sink back to the bottom.Almost every individual movement allots the solo flute a specific tonal colouring and an instrumental group from the orchestra: in the opening Allemande, the flutes of the orchestra (including alto and bass flute and later also piccolo to include the entire flute family) - the string section in the Sarabande - in both chorales (extremely muted in the first and brutalist in the second), the brass etc. - and it is only in the concluding Badinerie that all orchestral groups are combined, although they are terraced in the Baroque style, one following another, seldom all playing simultaneously.This permits the flute to remain the provider of all impulses - it attaches itself to the wide variety of instrumental colours, becomes suffused with these colours and thereby shines in different lights - acerbic, pale and radiant. This first performance marks the conclusion of my two-year residence with the Cleveland Orchestra. The immense versatility of this fine body of sound (which is indeed treated as such with the sum of its parts) and the exciting dark timbre of its principal flautist Joshua Smith have to a great extent determined the form and tonal character of my Flûte en suite. Jörg Widmann / Flûte Et Orchestre

For Clarinet solo with wind quartet and string quartet. Score OnlyFirst performed by Michael Collins Clarinet London Winds and the Endellion String Quartet on 27th January 2011 at the Wigmore Hall London.Scoring:Solo ClarinetFluteOboeBassoonFrench Horn2 ViolinsViolaCelloDuration:circa 13 minutes'During a visit to the exhibition of Francis Bacon at the Tate Gallery in December 2008my eye fell on Figure in a Landscape 1945 which resonated in me powerfully. It is a sceneof devastation and despair and also it seemed to me of latent anger and hostility... butabove it all a serene blue sky beckons. So perhaps even in the darkest moments there is aglimmer of hope - the possibility of change.This idea became the starting point for this work - Towards the Blue - a mini concerto forclarinet who eventually becomes the leader of the group.The work starts without the clarinet and all is desolate yet fiercely argumentative discordant and uncomfortable. Suddenly the offstage clarinet is heard and the players insurprise are quietened. However when the clarinet enters and approaches with a lyricalmusical motif some of the players respond others resist. Gradually the clarinetpersuades the dissident voices to join him in a spirit of co-operation and harmony.A brief memory of the opening desolation casts a momentary shadow which is quicklydispelled by the coda marked Gioioso.'Thea Musgrave (May 13th 2010)Parts available for hire separately

Commissioned in 1994 by the Royal Air Force 'Scramble!' is a concert overture for symphonic wind band inspired by images of the RAF's airfields during the Battle of Britain immortalised for ever in such films as 'Reach for the Sky'. The pastoral opening depicts the lull before the storm: the young pilots sitting in wicker chairs outside their barracks on a sunlit morning. The peace is of course deceptive suddenly amid siren sounds there is a shout of 'Scramble!' and a rush to the waiting planes. In no time at all the squadron is airborne heading for a skirmish over the English Channel and beyond. A lyrical central section featuring a solo cornet depicts the stillness manypilots described as they flew to engage the enemy before the battle breaks out once more. For those who returned it would be only a short while before once again they would hear the familiar shout of 'Scramble!'

Piano Concerto No. 4 In C Minor (concerto pour Piano en ut mineur) Op. 44 by Camille Saint-Saëns is the composer's most structurally innovative Piano concerto. In one sense it is like a four-movement symphony but these are grouped in pairs. That is the piece is divided into two parts each of which combines two main movements (Part 1: I. Moderatetempo Theme and Variations in C Minor; II. Slower Theme and Variations in A-flat Major; Part 2: III. Scherzo in C Minor; IV. Finale in C Major). However in each part there is a bridge-like transitional section between the two main 'movements' for example a fugal Andante in part II functions as aninterlude between the two main sections. The concerto begins with a gently mischievous chromatic subject heard in dialogue between the strings and piano soloist and continues in a creative thematic development similar to Saint-Saëns' Third Symphony. The composer demonstrates brilliant skill in employing the piano and orchestra almost equally. In the Andante he moves to A-flat major with a chorale-like theme in the woodwinds (also strikingly similar to the tune of the Third Symphony's final section) and uses this as a platform on which to build a series of variations before bringing the movement to a quiet close. The Allegro vivace begins again in C minor as a high-spirited scherzo using material foreshadowed in the first movement. 2/4 and 6/8 are playfully juxtaposed throughout. At one point the Piano boldly leads the orchestra in an energetic 6/8 theme in Eflat major. Eventually the orchestra moves to a lush Andante recapitulating the Andante section from the first movement. Rather suddenly the piano climbs up to a flurry of double octave trills and a climactic trumpet fanfare leads to the jubilant finale based on a hymn-like theme in triple time. The concerto concludes with the piano in glittering cascades guiding the orchestra to a fortissimo close.The piano concerto was premièred in 1875 with the