Category: OPENERS - Grade 5.0 Composer: Bruce Broughton
Grade: 5.0 Duration: 4.10
"The concert opener ""A Celebration Overture"" is really an extended fanfare, opening with an energetic brass and percussion motif that forms the basis of most of the piece that follows. A contrasting lyrical section appears shortly after the opening statement and once again before the final push to the end. (4:10)"
Category: OPENERS - Grade 5.0 Composer: Bruce Broughton
Grade: 5.0 Duration: 4:10
"The concert opener ""A Celebration Overture"" is really an extended fanfare, opening with an energetic brass and percussion motif that forms the basis of most of the piece that follows. A contrasting lyrical section appears shortly after the opening statement and once again before the final push to the end. (4:10)"
Category: OPENERS - Grade 5.0 Composer: Brian Balmages
Grade 5.0 Duration 3.54
This captivating composition was inspired by that "breakthrough" moment when people start to realize there is much more to life than they originally thought. Opening with a woodwind ostinato, the horns introduce the melody that becomes the focus of the work. The pace continues through a beautiful lyrical section that soon explodes into a triumphant ending of brass under a flourishing woodwind ostinato. An ideal concert opener.
Nothing beats waking up in the morning, stepping outside and finding that there isn't a cloud in the sky. Such great promise is held in a "blue sky day." This work hopefully reflects the optimism embodied in this somewhat innocent phrase.
Category: OPENERS - Grade 5.0 Composer / arranger: Clark McAlister
Commissioned by Alfred Reed, McAlister’s lively overture is a tribute to the swaggering world of the Italian commedia dell ‘arte and the picaresque characters who strut through it’s robustly scored pages. Set includes parts optional parts for alto and contrabass clarinets, cor anglais and contra.
Category: OPENERS - Grade 5.0 Composer: Malcolm Arnold
Grade 5.0 Duration 8.00
The Fairfield Halls are built on the site of Croydon’s old fair field and the music is rather reminiscent of a huge switchback ride in three-four time interspersed with a sprightly two-four prelude which seems to depict the general jollity of the fair ground. The main tune then expands to three-two time making for a grandiose finale. The general structure of the music is based on the chord of the major seventh which produces an interesting hurdy-gurdy effect.
This exuberant overture received its world premiere on 23rd March 2002 at the BASBWE International Conference, Royal Northern College of Music, Manchester by the Central Band of the RAF, conducted by Wing Commander Rob Wiffin. The outer sections are busy and colourful, framing an expansive middle section, where Hesketh introduces a typically broad melody.
Donald Hunsberger's classic edition of this Shostakovich masterpiece has already established itself as a basic repertoire for wind bands. This exciting and masterful work is a wonderful way to showcase a mature band.
Category: OPENERS - Grade 5.0 Composer: Jan Van Der Roost
Vatra I Slava
Level 4
Duration: 3 m : 50 s
This opening piece was commissioned by a youth orchestra, which explains why it has such a lot of dynamism, energy and optimism. However, it begins in a stately and noble fashion, in the lower range of the wind orchestra. Soon the rhythmical drive takes over, imbuing this piece with a vibrant and energetic character. Some lovely melodic lines and themes are also integrated within this fast section. Wind music in Croatia is developing apace as more and more ensembles are excited by the next generation of composers finding so much success worldwide. For this reason, the Vatroslav Lisinski Music School commissioned this short but effective piece from Jan Van der Roost. The première took place in Zagreb on April 24 2013, conducted by Mario Komazin.
Category: OPENERS - Grade 5.0 Composer: Jan Van Der Roost
Vatra I Slava
Level 4
Duration: 3 m : 50 s
This opening piece was commissioned by a youth orchestra, which explains why it has such a lot of dynamism, energy and optimism. However, it begins in a stately and noble fashion, in the lower range of the wind orchestra. Soon the rhythmical drive takes over, imbuing this piece with a vibrant and energetic character. Some lovely melodic lines and themes are also integrated within this fast section. Wind music in Croatia is developing apace as more and more ensembles are excited by the next generation of composers finding so much success worldwide. For this reason, the Vatroslav Lisinski Music School commissioned this short but effective piece from Jan Van der Roost. The première took place in Zagreb on April 24 2013, conducted by Mario Komazin.
Category: OPENERS - Grade 5.0 Composer: Brian Balmages
Grade 5.0 Duration 4.21
Premiered at Carnegie Hall, this minimalistic fanfare celebrates SpaceShipOne, the first privately manned spacecraft to exceed an altitude of 62 miles twice within two weeks. The three sections explore the launch to space, reaching the apogee (weightlessness), and return to the atmosphere. Punctuated by incredible brass fanfares and woodwind flourishes, the entire work is a bundle of energy from start to finish, and is the perfect opener for any concert. Monumental!
Category: OPENERS - Grade 5.0 Composer: Malcolm Arnold Arranger: Woolfenden
Grade 5.0 Duration 4.00
Flourish for Wind Band was arranged by Guy Woolfenden from Arnold’s Flourish for Orchestra (Op.112), which was written to celebrate the 500th anniversary of the granting of a Charter to the City of Bristol. It was first performed by the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra.
Commissioned for the University of Akron Symphonic Band, this dynamic work celebrates 100 years of music composed for the Olympic Games. Based on three primary themes, the first is a brilliant fanfare that serves as an introduction as well as a unifying link throughout. Second is the 1896 Olympic Hymn (music by Spyros Samaras) set in a beautiful lyric style which builds to a magnificent climax juxtaposed with the opening fanfare. The final section presents a new version of Mr. Curnow's own Olympic Fanfare and Theme for the Olympic Flag which was commissioned for the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta and performed again in 2000. The dramatic closing is again combined with elements of the opening fanfare.
Category: OPENERS - Grade 5.0 Composer: Paul Murtha
Grade: 5
Duration: 01:00
Originally composed for the acclaimed U.S. Army Band Herald Trumpets, Paul Murtha's dramatic fanfare pays tribute to the heroic men and women of the New York City Fire Department who lost their lives in 2001.
Category: OPENERS - Grade 5.0 Composer: Brian Balmages
Grade 5.0
This dynamic and contemporary fanfare combines elements from Schumann’s George Washington Bridge and Copland’s Lincoln Portrait. Premiered at the Kennedy Center, this work for mature ensembles spins a web of fanfare themes and lyrical melodies that all converge on each other in a massive statement of power and triumph. Outstanding!
Inspired by both metallic sounds and heavy metal, this opener or closer is intense in every sense of the word! Aggressive multi-meter passages soon move into dazzling fanfares that play with shifting tonalities before eventually resolving to a brilliant and powerful final chord. Extremely intense and invigorating!
The Great Paris Exhibition introduced western Europe to Eastern culture, and gave Saint-Saëns the idea for this splendid March. It combines the fluency, freshness and craftsmanship of his best writing with an endearing charm not often associated with his later music. Hokum of course, but an absolute delight. This edition is cued for bands of almost any size and range of ability, whilst allowing performances of total authenticity. Edited buy Timothy Reynish, who has provided an intreguing and helpful introduction. A gem.
Categories: BIGGIES - Grade 5.0, OPENERS - Grade 5.0 Composer: Malcolm Arnold Arranger: John P. Paynter
Grade 4.5 Duration 8.09
Robbie Burns fantastic tale of Tam O'Shanter and his drunken journey home on horseback on a dark stormy night from the market in Ayr. Masterfully told in music by Malcolm Arnold, and beautifully arranged by John Paynter.
This work scored for woodwinds, brass & percussion, exploits several spatial characteristics of a large concert hall. Onstage, the brass 7 percussion sections are separated into two antiphonal choirs, with the woodwinds and timps situated in the middle. Offstage, peripheral solo trumpet & horn project sounds from behind the audience. This is a partial tribute to the great Venetian composer Giovanni Gabrieli. 5.5 minutes duration.
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