Category: LIGHT CONCERT - Grade 5.0 Composer: Peter Graham
Alexander McCall Smith is the bestselling author of over sixty books including the celebrated No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency. His 44 Scotland Street Series, which appears in the Scotsman newspaper and is published in full by Polygon, has also been enjoying considerable success. The light-hearted series concerns itself with the comings and goings of an eclectic group of Edinburgh residents and has received wide critical acclaim.
This work is the result of a collaboration between author and composer, McCall Smith's specially created narration, which captures the personalities and foibles of the Scotland Street residents, providing the inspiration for the following set of character variations:
Domenica Macdonald (anthropologist - represented by an "exotic" tango)
Bruce Anderson (notorious narcissist - represented by a pompous march)
Pat McGregor (love sick flatmate of Bruce - represented by a love theme)
Bertie (6 year old jazz-loving saxophone-playing prodigy - represented by a cakewalk)
Irene Pollock/Dr Fairbairn (Bertie's pushy mother and her co-conspirator, Bertie's psychoanalyst - represented by Wagner)
Cyril the dog (the only dog in Scotland with a gold tooth)
"The result is immense fun, beautifully envisaged by Graham’s lively score, and performed with such gusto and humour by the talented young performers of the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland. I am grateful to all of them for helping me to see my characters afresh."
Alexander McCall Smith
Note: The narration can be spoken/acted or if preferred printed/projected as a programme note to accompany the variations
It seems that every community or school has at least one vocal soloist just ready, willing and able to perform with your concert band. To fill the need for audience-pleasing 'pop' standards, Warren Barker recently launched his Vocal Showcase Series and contributes this delightful new scoring to that series. Should you wish to use an instrumental soloist, parts are included for solo tenor saxophone, clarinet or trombone. Wonderfully lush 'Barker' treatment. (Vocal range: A-flat below staff to fourth line D, treble clef) (duration 3:36)
It seems that every community or school has at least one vocal soloist just ready, willing and able to perform with your concert band. To fill the need for audience-pleasing 'pop' standards, Warren Barker recently launched his Vocal Showcase Series and contributes this delightful new scoring to that series. Should you wish to use an instrumental soloist, parts are included for solo tenor saxophone, clarinet or trombone. Wonderfully lush 'Barker' treatment. (Vocal range: A-flat below staff to fourth line D, treble clef) (duration 3:36)
The title refers to the warm and beautiful sound of the trombone, which Bert Appermont tried to use to its full potential when he composed this piece. This golden glow will come alive in the bright fanfares of the first and third movements; in the brassy effects and heroic melodies of the second movement; and in the beautiful expressive choral in the third movement. The composition ends the same way as it began, with the main motif echoing away – but now combined with the chorale theme fading into the golden glow of the final chord.
Categories: New & Recent Titles, LIGHT CONCERT - Grade 5.0 Composer: Frank Bridge Arranger: Alastair Wheeler
Grade 5.0
Frank Bridge (1879 – 1941) was one of the leading English composers of his time. In October 1922 he adapted his popular string quartet Sir Roger de Coverley for full symphony orchestra and Sir Henry Wood agreed, at the last minute, to include it in the last night of the Queen’s Hall Promenade Concerts at the end of that month.
This elaborate and colourful orchestral version has never been widely performed, but has now been brilliantly transcribed by Alastair Wheeler to provide a miniature dance poem for grade 5 level concert band. Bridge’s lively treatment of one of England’s most famous traditional dance melodies will make a fitting end to any concert, with the strains of Auld Lang Syne introduced by Bridge as a nod towards Sir Roger de Coverley’s traditional function as the final dance of a Christmas Ball, as it was in Old Mr. Fezziwig’s party in Dickens’ A Christmas Carol.
Sword Dance. One movement from a seven movement suite, featuring different soloists.
Short mp3 audio extracts are provided here to give you a sample of this work. Access them by clicking on the "MORE DETAILS" button. You can buy the full recording of this work on the CD section of our site.
The recording is "HYMN of the HIGHLANDS" on Polyphonic QRL 214D
HYMN of the HIGHLANDS was commissioned by David King and the Yorkshire Building Society Band for first performance at the 2002 European Brass Band Championships Gala Concert in Brussels.
The complete suite lasts approximately 36 minutes. however it is possible to construct pieces of different lengths in order to feature particular soloists or fit different programming constraints, and to this end most of the movements are published separately. The only exceptions to this are the first and last movements which are published together (with Alladale) as "Suite from Hymn of the Highlands".
Strathcarron is a movement from Philip Sparke’s Hymn of the Highlands, in which each movement reflects a different location in the beautiful Scottish highlands. Strathcarron, named after a village at the head of Loch Carron, near the Isle of Skye, takes the form of a sword dance which alternates between fast and slow tempi. Duration 5.40
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