Only Time: Concert Band: Score & Parts

Les souches de belles et obsédantes de cette chanson populaire par Enya sont capturés dans ce cadre merveilleux par Paul Murtha. Ecrit dans un tempo lent modérément et avec limitée aux demandes techniques, cela fait un joli changement de rythme pour tout concert. / Orchestre D'Harmonie

I wrote The Nonantum Bulgar in response to a request for a klezmer-style piece for middle school band. Since my local middle school (F. A. Day) is located in close proximity to Nonantum the oldest area of Newton MA I decided to imagine the dedication of the Adams St. Shul our city's oldest synagogue which took place around a hundred years ago (December 15 1912). According to the Yiddish and English poster announcing the dedication the event featured the a prominent Boston cantor and choir and a klezmer orchestra leading a 'Grand March' down Adams St. The piece tries to re-create what the klezmer band might have played on that occasion. A Bulgar is a Romanian Jewish Dance thatwas very popular among Jewish immigrants at the beginning of the twentieth century. The trumpet solo that opens the piece is a typical rubato prelude with the trumpet playing 'cantorial-style' Jewish ornaments and phrasing in the manner of Eastern-European Jewish prayer leaders. Once the dance starts the piece is underscored with a Romanian Jewish 'Bulgaresca' rhythm heard in the trombone snare drum and tympani. The 'bulgar' section of the piece begins with a typical klezmer band orchestration of the time featuring solo clarinet (played with a somewhat nasal tone) trumpet (or even more ideally cornet) trombone saxophone tuba and percussion. The percussion section is prominently featured in the third strain. In the final round of the opening melody the band slows down in the manner of a Russian 'Grand March ' bringing the piece to a proud and majestic conclusion. --Hankus Netsky

Only just a beginning musician but playing a 'grown-up' piece. This is possible with Prime Time because this is really cool!

Anton Bruckner (1824-1896). Par BRUCKNER ANTON. Anton Bruckner (b. 4.9.1824, Ansfelden, d. 11.10.1896, Vienna) didn’t have it easy. Throughout his life, the Austrian composer was plagued by self-doubt. Anton Bruckner came from a simple, rural background. After the death of his father, he was accepted as a choirboy at the monastery of Sankt Florian in 1837. After several years as a school assistant and his own organ and piano studies, he first worked as organist in St. Florian, then from 1855 as cathedral organist in Linz. Introduced to music theory and instrumentation by Simon Sechter and Otto Kitzler, he discovered Richard Wagner as an artistic role model, whom he admired throughout his life and also visited several times in Bayreuth. In 1868 Anton Bruckner became professor of basso continuo, counterpoint and organ at the Vienna Conservatory; ten years later court organist; and in 1891 finally honorary doctor of the University of Vienna. He was considered an important organ virtuoso of his era, but had to wait a long time for recognition as a composer. It was not until Symphony No.7 in E major, composed between 1881 and 1883, with the famous Adagio written under the effects of Wagner's death, that he achieved the recognition he had hoped for, even if he was reluctant to accept it given his inclination towards scepticism and self-criticism. Anton Bruckner was a loner who did not want to follow a particular school or doctrine. He composed numerous sacred vocal works, such as his three masses, the Missa Solemnis in B flat minor (1854), the Te Deum (1881-84) and numerous motets. As a symphonic composer, he wrote a total of nine symphonies and many symphonic studies from 1863 onwards, tending to revise completed versions several times over. Bruckner's orchestral works were long considered unplayable, but in fact were merely exceptionally bold for the tonal language of their time, uniting traditions from Beethoven through Wagner to folk music, on the threshold between late Romanticism and Modernism. Anton Bruckner composed about 40 motets during his lifetime, the earliest a setting of Pange lingua around 1835, and the last, Vexilla regis, in 1892. Thomas Doss has compiled some of these motets in this volume for symphonic wind orchestra. These motets show many characteristics of personal expression, especially Bruckner's colourful harmony in the earlier works, which is in places aligned with Franz Schubert (changes between major and minor; and movements in thirds). Later works are characterised by many components which, in addition to the expanded stature of the movements, include above all a sense of the instrumentation as an outward phenomenon and the harmony as a compositional feature that works more internally. Some aspects of Bruckner's work are the result of his long period of study, which familiarised him not only with the tradition of his craft, but also gave him insights into the 'modernity' of his time in such composers as Wagner, Liszt and Berlioz. From this developed his personal standpoint, which always pursues the connection between the old and the new. / Date parution : 2023-07-31/ Répertoire / Concert Band/Harmonie

Ray of light was composed for the 75th anniversary of the Royal Wind Band (De Heidegalm Berkenbos). The mining environment of Berkenbos (Heusden-Zolder, B) is a proof of what used to be one of the most flourishing industries inLimburg viz. the Mining Industry. Going down the shaft in the elevator for the first time was a sensational experience for every miner: the noise of the closing doors, the shock experienced when the lift cage started moving tofall down whizzingly into the deep at a speed of 30 km an hour. The opening theme of Ray of Light doesn?t only reflect the bravery of the descending miners but also their anxiety, their doubt and insecurity. In the solo passage,the anxiety during the long walk in the dark through the mine corridors with only headlamps and mine lamps is clearly audible. Working in the mines wasn?t without any danger. The very flammable and at times explosive mine gasesalways posed a hidden threat. Apart from that there was always the continuous danger of collapse. The beautiful choral movements are therefore an ode to the miners that left their lives in the mine. The eastern scale refers tothe multicultural character of the mining environment of Berkenbos with its many commercial shops and different types of housing inherent in mining architecture. The mining profession is still a very dangerous job, but at the endof the dark corridor the miners still see a beam of light as a sign of hope.

Par BRIDGE FRANK. Frank Bridge was one of the finest English composers of the first half of the 20th century. The Pageant of London is his only work for wind band, comprising of two marches, one scored from Bridge’s best known organ piece and including the chimes ofBig Ben, plus three short renaissance pastiche items, one arranged from Playford (later used by Peter Warlock in Capriol Suite). The music is tuneful, approachable and, in the words of wind band ‘legend’ Timothy Reynish makes a fine alternative toHolst’s two suites, which were composed around the same time. Reynish has introduced this work to concert bands right across the world. It has been performed in USA and the Far East, recorded by the celebrated Kosei Wind Orchestra of Japan and alsoby the BBC National Orchestra of Wales in the Chandos edition of Bridge Orchestral Music./ Répertoire / Orchestre D'Harmonie

Fantasy for Band-One can only imagine what it might be like if the animals ran the zoo! This and other questions will be considered in this programmatic original work for band incorporating all manner of animal and jungle noises.Young bands students will love the opportunity to use some of those carefully rehearsed vocal monkey and bird sounds they’ve been diligently working on for years. You can almost see an imaginary sci-fi movie as the music progresses. Your band will have an elephant good time playing this one! Don’t miss out!

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.