Spheres

SKU: BT.AMP-028-140

English-German-French-Dutch.

The piece reflects the composer's fascination with the origins of the universe and deep space in general. The title comes from a theory, formulated by Pythagoras, that the cosmos was ruled by the same laws he had discovered that govern the ratios of note frequencies of the musical scale. (‘Harmonia’ in Ancient Greek, which means scale or tuning rather than harmony - Greek music was monophonic). He also believed that these ratios corresponded to the distances of the six known planets from the sun and that the planets each produced a musical note which combined to weave a continuous heavenly melody (which, unfortunately, we humans cannot hear). In this work, these six notesform the basis of the sections MUSIC OF THE SPHERES and HARMONIA. The pieces opens with a horn solo called t = 0, a name given by some scientists to the moment of the Big Bang when time and space were created, and this is followed by a depiction of the BIG BANG itself, as the entire universe bursts out from a single point. A slower section follows called THE LONELY PLANET which is a meditation on the incredible and unlikely set of circumstances which led to the creation of the Earth as a planet that can support life, and the constant search for other civilisations elsewhere in the universe. ASTEROIDS AND SHOOTING STARS depicts both the benign and dangerous objects that are flying through space and which constantly threaten our planet, and the piece ends with THE UNKNOWN, leaving in question whether our continually expanding exploration of the universe will eventually lead to enlightenment or destruction.

Dit werk weerspiegelt de fascinatie van de componist voor het heelal. Het begint met een hoornsolo met de naam t = 0, waarmee sommige wetenschappers de oerknal aanduiden. Dan volgt een weergave van de oerknal zelf. Het volgendegedeelte, The Lonely Planet, is een meditatie over het ongelooflijke samenspel van omstandigheden dat leidde tot het ontstaan van de Aarde. Asteroids and Shooting Stars beschrijft objecten in de ruimte. Het werkeindigt met The Unknown, waarmee we in het ongewisse blijven over de gevolgen van onze verdere verkenning van het universum. In 2005 won Philip Sparke met Music of the Spheres de National Band Association/William D.Revelli Memorial Band Composition Contest.

Dieses Werk handelt vom Weltall und unserem Platz im Universum, auf dem Weltbild von Pythagoras basierend. Am einfachsten lässt sich diese außergewöhnliche Komposition wohl als Filmmusik ähnliches Stück beschreiben ? Musik zu einem Science-Fiction-Film eines Ripley Scott oder Steven Spielberg oder auch Musik, wie sie ein John Williams oder Danny Elfman schreiben würde: absolut stimmungsvoll, brillant instrumentiert mit Klangfarben, Strukturen, Effekten und Timbres, gemischt mit fließenden musikalischen Linien, die die Substanz des Themas auf den Punkt treffen. Dieses atemberaubende neue Stück hebt Ihr Blasorchester auf ein höheres Niveau, sowohl im technischen als auchmusikalischen Sinn.

La fresque Music of the Spheres (“La musique des sphères”) souligne la fascination qu’éprouve le compositeur pour les origines de l’univers. L’orchestration est proche de la musique de film. Le climat musical est ample, sonore et contrasté.

Music of the Spheres evidenza il fascino che le origini dell’universo esercitano su Philip Sparke. Il titolo proviene da una teoria del matematico greco Pitagora, secondo la quale il cosmo è retto dalle stesse leggi che governano i rapporti di frequenza tra le note della scala musicale. Questa composizione inizia con un assolo di corno chiamato t = 0, nozione che definisce il momento del big-bang. The Lonely Planet (Il pianeta solitario) è una meditazione sulle circostanze che hanno portato alla creazione della terra. Asteroids and Shooting Stars (Asteroidi e Stelle cadenti) descrive i molteplici oggetti che si muovono nello spazio e che rappresentano unrischio per il nostro pianeta. Le battute finali portano verso l’ignoto (The Unknown) sollevando una domanda la cui risposta resta in sospeso: la nostra continua avanzata nell’esplorazione dell’Universo porter un giorno alla scoperta o alla distruzione?

SKU: PE.TSGB026S

UPC: 038081585109.

The Sacred Spheres by Tyler S. Grant is written in two contrasting movements. The title of the first movement, From Harmony, from heav'nly harmony..., comes directly from the first line of John Dryden's poem, A Song for St. Cecilia's Day. The first few notes musically depict the beginning of the universal framework described in the text through delicate textures and orchestrations that develop as the movement progresses. The second stanza of the poem highlights the capacity for musical elements to inspire passion, which is represented at the climax of the first movement.

The second movement, Cries, hark the foe comes, picks up the poem from the third stanza, highlighting the spectrum of emotions that can be summoned by various instruments. The beginning of the movement highlights the trumpet's loud clangor along with drums that inspire war and conflict. The movement transitions to a section of mourning through the sound of a warbling flute. The ending of the movement combines the final stanzas along with the Grand Chorus to recapitulate earlier material and create a celebratory and impactful finale.

Commissioned by a consortium of bands in honor of Randall O. Coleman; Recorded by the Kennesaw State University Wind Ensemble.

SKU: CF.CPS250

ISBN 9781491159576. UPC: 680160918164.

Kaleidoscope Sky is inspired by the breathtaking pastime of hot-air ballooning and the glorious festivals around the world that honor the practice. A sky full of colorful spheres elegantly floating at the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta, International Balloon Festival of Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu, Bristol International Balloon Fiesta, Mondial Air Ballons and more draw thousands of people to witness awe-inspiring scenes full of passionate balloonists. Traditional hot-air balloons mix with creatively designed balloons to thrill the tens of thousands of spectators below. While I personally am not a person who dreams of taking my own flight--heights are not my thing--I have to marvel at how gently and easily these vessels float among the clouds. It truly is an image of exquisite freedom. This piece reflects the view and experience of the onlooker taking in an elegantly shifting scene reminiscent of kaleidoscope patterns. Spectators like me can appreciate the beauty and vibrancy associated with a horizon full of adventurous balloonists and their wondrous aircrafts. Kaleidoscope Sky starts in a triumphant and celebratory fashion and continues to conjure images reminiscent of the wide variety of soaring colors on display at a hot-air balloon event. Ultimately, the piece appropriately concludes with a suspenseful, yet graceful, run to the finish line. Melodic lines should soar with attention being paid to phrase markings and assigned articulations. Encourage musicians to allow room for the melodic material to be heard in thicker textures where supporting harmonies are often rhythmic in nature. These harmonies should support, and not cloud the melodies. The meter changes should sound effortless, and the continuous figures in the percussion will help to achieve this effect. The snare drum, in particular, should bring accented notes to the foreground while maintaining a steady textural effect with non-accented notes as a rhythmic background. This will go a long way in finding a cohesive subdivision and ensemble pulse.
Kaleidoscope Sky is inspired by the breathtaking pastime of hot-air ballooning and the glorious festivals around the world that honor the practice. A sky full of colorful spheres elegantly floating at the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta, International Balloon Festival of Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu, Bristol International Balloon Fiesta, Mondial Air Ballons and more draw thousands of people to witness awe-inspiring scenes full of passionate balloonists. Traditional hot-air balloons mix with creatively designed balloons to thrill the tens of thousands of spectators below. While I personally am not a person who dreams of taking my own flight—heights are not my thing—I have to marvel at how gently and easily these vessels float among the clouds. It truly is an image of exquisite freedom. This piece reflects the view and experience of the onlooker taking in an elegantly shifting scene reminiscent of kaleidoscope patterns. Spectators like me can appreciate the beauty and vibrancy associated with a horizon full of adventurous balloonists and their wondrous aircrafts. Kaleidoscope Sky starts in a triumphant and celebratory fashion and continues to conjure images reminiscent of the wide variety of soaring colors on display at a hot-air balloon event. Ultimately, the piece appropriately concludes with a suspenseful, yet graceful, run to the finish line.Melodic lines should “soar” with attention being paid to phrase markings and assigned articulations. Encourage musicians to allow room for the melodic material to be heard in thicker textures where supporting harmonies are often rhythmic in nature. These harmonies should support, and not “cloud” the melodies. The meter changes should sound effortless, and the continuous figures in the percussion will help to achieve this effect. The snare drum, in particular, should bring accented notes to the foreground while maintaining a steady textural effect with non-accented notes as a rhythmic background. This will go a long way in finding a cohesive subdivision and ensemble pulse.

SKU: CF.BAS82

ISBN 9781491157619. UPC: 680160916191. 9 x 12 inches.

First-year players can reach for the stars with this easy concert piece. An ethereal theme reflecting the mysterious celestial spheres is created with simple rhythms in first position. All sections of the orchestra have interesting parts and melodic lines, supported by doubling of Violin 2/Viola and Cello/Bass. The energetic piano part is recommended and will help students hear the subdivision of the beat.
First-year players can “reach for the stars” with this easy concert piece. An ethereal theme reflecting the mysterious celestial spheres is created with simple rhythms in first position. All sections of the orchestra have interesting parts and melodic lines, supported by doubling of Violin 2/Viola and Cello/Bass. The energetic piano part is recommended and will help students hear the subdivision of the beat.

About Carl Fischer Beginning String Orchestra Series

This series of Grade 1 pieces is designed for first year string groups. The pieces in this series are characterized by:

• Limited parts (often 2nd violin and viola are the same part, cello and bass are same part)
• Limited keys and rhythms - only simple 8th note patterns
• Limited independence of parts
• Playable after limited study time
• First position and natural bowings
• Piano for rehearsal and reinforcement

SKU: BR.EB-9258

ISBN 9790004185582. 9 x 12 inches.

Spherical: What a wonderful word. Spherical, magical, shimmering, kaleidoscopic, spectral. These were my associations. Only when researching this piece did I notice that sphere derives from the Greek hull or ball. It was used in antiquity to designate the firmament, imagined as a hollow sphere. Pythagoras assumed that the movements of the spheres or heavenly bodies created tones with pitches depending on their distances and velocities. Then I came across a text by Stefan Zweig, which, besides the idea of the firmament in constant motion, is perfectly consistent with Canto sferico (song of the spheres). Art knows no more beautiful moment than when it may show the excessive in its symmetry, in those spherically sounding seconds, when at the blink of an eye dissonance dissolves into primal blissful harmony: the more ghastly the rupture, so much the more powerful this collapse, so much the more effervescent the consonance of the plunging streams. (Manuela Kerer, 2017).

SKU: AP.45871S

UPC: 038081529608. English.

This multi-cultural piece explores world music using a unique and exciting format. Two side-by-side orchestras share one conductor, with one group performing traditional American songs and the other playing folk songs from the Middle East. A total of eight songs are presented as each section from the two orchestras is featured. As the piece unfolds, what emerges is not only a tapestry of beautiful music, but an intense commentary on the power of music to unite diverse cultures. Whether you split your orchestra in two or combine with another orchestra, Hemispheres by Richard Meyer is sure to educate your students and your audience.

A suggested seating chart is included. Also playable by one orchestra in a traditional set-up.

SKU: BP.HB168B

Parts for 2 trumpets, horn in F, trombone, tuba, timpani and suspended cymbal.

Uses TERRA BEATA, ELLACOMBE, HYMN TO JOY.