Par SPARKE PHILIP. Prelude on an Irish Folk Tune (“Prélude sur un air irlandais”) est basée sur l'air traditionnel Slane, la version hymnique d’une mélodie irlandaise plus ancienne The Banks of the Bann. La mélodie s’imbrique dans la trame musicale vers la fin de la pièce. Publiée pour la première fois en 1909 dans le recueil Old Irish Folk Music and Songs (“Chants et airs irlandais anciens”) de P…

Par SPARKE PHILIP. Dances and Alleluias was commissioned by the British Federation of Brass Bands for the inaugural English National Brass Band Championships, held in the Lyric Theatre at The Lowry, Salford Quays, on July 1st 2006. In this fantastic work the composer mixes wonderful slow music, vocal in nature and ecstatic in mood, along with faster dances to create a challenging piece, which will…

Par SPARKE PHILIP. The picturesque town of Mandalen lies amid snow-covered mountains and scenic fjords on the west coast of Norway. MANDALEN LANDSCAPES was commissioned by and written for Måndalen Skule og Ungdomskorps (Mandalen School and Youth Band) for a major concert in November 2003 at the instigation of its conductor, John Hudson, a long-time friend of composer Philip Sparke. Sparke set out …

Par SPARKE PHILIP. Prelude on an Irish Folk Tune (“Prélude sur un air irlandais”) est basée sur l'air traditionnel Slane, la version hymnique d’une mélodie irlandaise plus ancienne The Banks of the Bann. La mélodie s’imbrique dans la trame musicale vers la fin de la pièce. Publiée pour la première fois en 1909 dans le recueil Old Irish Folk Music and Songs (“Chants et airs irlandais anciens”) de P…

Par SPARKE PHILIP. La seconde moitié du XXe siècle a été marquée par le début de l?exploration de l?espace. Depuis les premiers pas de Neil Armstrong sur la lune en 1969, ces aventures dans l?espace ont stimulé l?imagination de tous et ont donné naissance à de nombreux films, livres et séries télévisées de science-fiction. Infinity and Beyond. . . (?L?infini et au-delà. . . ?) s?inspire des extrao…

Arr. Philip Sparke. Par FRANCK CESAR. Although Cesar Franck won many prizes during his student days his music was generally unrecognised by his contemporaries. His pieces were written in the romantic style whilst retaining a classical structure and his later compositions were referred to as 'cathedrals of sound'. Panis Angelicus is poetic and almost serene and this arrangement by Philip Sparke ret…

Arr. Philip Sparke. Par HOLST GUSTAV. Christina Rossetti wrote the words to this famous Christmas carol in 1872 in response to a request from the magazine Scribner's Monthly for a Christmas poem. They were set to music by Gustav Holst (1874-1934) for inclusion in the first edition (1906) of The English Hymnal, edited by his life-long friend, Ralph Vaughan Williams. Philip Sparke has carefully arra…

A Tribute to Jules Verne (1828-1905). Par SPARKE PHILIP. Three Extraordinary Journeys was commissioned to mark the centenary of the death of the famous author Jules Verne. Based on three novels from his Voyages Extraordinaires series of travel stories, the music aims to capture the excitement and adventure of these famous books. A fantastic new major concert or ‘own choice’ contest piece. / Niveau…

Arr. Philip Sparke. Par FRANCK CESAR. Although Cesar Franck won many prizes during his student days his music was generally unrecognised by his contemporaries. His pieces were written in the romantic style whilst retaining a classical structure and his later compositions were referred to as 'cathedrals of sound'. Panis Angelicus is poetic and almost serene and this arrangement by Philip Sparke ret…

Par SPARKE PHILIP. To A New Dawn was commissioned by the United States Continental Army Band - Captain Timothy J. Holtan, Commander and Conductor. The brief was for a piece to celebrate the 3rd Millennium and it was the composer’s aim to provide a work which, as well as looking forward to the challenges of the new century, also contained moments of reflection about the last one. After a bright int…

Arr. Philip Sparke. Par HOLST GUSTAV. Christina Rossetti wrote the words to this famous Christmas carol in 1872 in response to a request from the magazine Scribner's Monthly for a Christmas poem. They were set to music by Gustav Holst (1874-1934) for inclusion in the first edition (1906) of The English Hymnal, edited by his life-long friend, Ralph Vaughan Williams. Philip Sparke has carefully arra…

Par SPARKE PHILIP. MASQUERADE was commissioned by Stadtmusik Willisau from Switzerland (Reto Güdel, conductor) to celebrate their 175th anniversary in 2003 and first performed by them in November that year. 1. OvertureThe first movement opens with a fanfare-like figure, featuring the brass, before the main them is introduced over staccato chords. After a short, syncopated interlude a legato theme …

Par SPARKE PHILIP. Second to None est un titre qui convient parfaitement à ce morceau, même s’il fait en fait référence à « Nulli Secundus », la devise du British Corps of Army Music, l'orchestre qui a fait la commande auprès de Philip Sparke. La pièce commence par une fanfare, suivie de deux citations courtes de deux de leurs propres marches, et un Vivace festif. Une section plus legato crée un b…

Par SPARKE PHILIP. Second to None est un titre qui convient parfaitement à ce morceau, même s’il fait en fait référence à « Nulli Secundus », la devise du British Corps of Army Music, l'orchestre qui a fait la commande auprès de Philip Sparke. La pièce commence par une fanfare, suivie de deux citations courtes de deux de leurs propres marches, et un Vivace festif. Une section plus legato crée un b…