Par SHELDON ROBERT. Otter Point Holiday, by Robert Sheldon, begins with a playful, fast tempo with interesting harmonies and meters, students will be immediately enamored by this piece. There is a contrasting, beautiful, and expressive lyrical section that follows before the opening feel returns---bringing the piece to an exciting conclusion. This delightful work is very tuneful and filled with jo…

Par VAN BELCUM HENK. As the title suggests, this work is a partita: it consists of a number of variations on a chorale melody. The partita has been popular for centuries, especially when it comes to organ music. Henk van Belcum, who is active in the choir world, chose for his Partita Piccola the German hymn Wunderbarer König as a starting point. Partita Piccola consists of four variations and a ch…

Himmelfahrtsoratorium. Par BACH JOHANN SEBASTIAN. Besides the Weihnachtsoratorium BVW 248, Bach composed an additional work for the feast days of the church year 1734/35: The Himmelfahrtsoratorium BWV 11 [Ascension Oratorio]. Although in its dimensions and character the oratorio is akin to his cantatas, it occupies a special position as a result of the epic text on which it is based; the text incl…

Par ALLEN VIRGINIA. This charming A-B-A form tone poem takes us on a memorable pleasure sailboat ride on the Chesapeake. Skillful scoring and natural melodies make sure this piece will show your group well on the concert stage. After a calm opening, the contrasting detached middle section of the piece sparkles as you feel the gentle breeze pick up to push the boat along on a joyously exciting crui…

Par VAN DER ROOST JAN. Condacum’ was composed on the occasion of the 25th anniversary of the Arts Council in the Belgian district of Kontich, the home town of the composer Jan Van der Roost. It is an interesting composition in which the history of this Belgian community is depicted in sound. The opening reminds one of the advance of the Roman army, whilst the dynamic development is full of vitaliy…

Par SPARKE PHILIP. The idea behind this work was to create an opening piece, something to start a concert in an unusual way. The title is a portmanteau word derived from madrigal. The work indeed begins in Renaissance mood however gradually tries to shake of its modal start and, by contrasting different instrumental families, the work changes into modern clothes. Why not add a little Renaissance s…

Written especially for the Red. of the Statue of. Par WILLIAMS JOHN. Liberty Fanfare follows the successful pattern that John Williams has made his own in a series of ceremonial fanfares. The grandeur and energy that are heard in this exciting short work form a juxtaposition and eventual combination of lively fanfare figures together with a broader theme. It?s concise form and simple directness ma…

This classic New Orleans standard has been given the full Ellington treatment---with a beautiful alto opening, and solos for baritone sax, trumpet, and clarinet. / Ensemble De Jazz

Par RIEDEMANN PETER. Paso Bella is full of the typical fiery and melodic characteristics of the paso doble. The hot Spanish temperament can be heard from the opening themes in the minor key, as is usual in a paso doble, to the last bars of the trio. The trio is followed by an exuberant closing which will reverberate in the ears of both musicians and audience for a long time. / Niveau : 2.5 / Pas…

Fassung Ii. Par BACH JOHANN SEBASTIAN. The St. John Passion ranks alongside the St. Matthew Passion, the Christmas Oratorio, the Magnificat and the B minor Mass as one of the great vocal works from Johann Sebastian Bach’s Leipzig years. In contrast to his other large-scale choral works, however, Bach never gave this work a definitive final form. Rather, for every performance he substantially revis…

The Grade By Grade series draws on the rich and varied Boosey and Hawkes catalogue of classical, contemporary and educational repertoire, highlighting composers including Serge Prokofieff, Dmitri Shostakovich, Karl Jenkins, Carol Barratt and Christopher Norton, alongside arrangements of traditional music from around the world by Peter Wastall, Vera Gray and others.Carefully selected by Iain Farrin…

Mathias' Sonatina, originally composed in 1953 but revised in 1986, is a slighter yet more approachable work. A considerable amount of straight repetition renders the music easily assimilable. For instance, both main themes in the opening sonata movement are repeated during the exposition; similarly a large stretch of the development consists simply of a transposed version of a previous passage. O…

Par BLANKEN JOHN. Meet the Band! was written as an ‘opening work’, but it is also perfectly suitable for performing halfway through a concert programme. During the introduction, the cornet players are lined up on both sides of the stage, while the trombone players take centre stage. Gradually all the sections of the band are introduced to the audience. Meet the Band? You certainly have! / Niveau :…

This unique service opening and closing offers truly fresh and creative options for worship. From the jazz waltz introit to the soothing benedictus, Craig Curry is at his finest! The harmonies are fully supported by the keyboard accompaniment. / Choeur (SATB)

From the original Broadway opening in 1972 to the 2013 Tony for Best Musical Revival, the story of the young prince Pippin has delighted audiences around the world. Based on the recent revival, this five-minute medley captures all the joy, wonder, and excitement of the stage. / Choeur SSA