Collection Le Pupitre (LP23) The third volume of Couperin's Pieces for Harpsichord does not contain a date of publication, however it is thought to have been composed during 1716-1717, due to the address which the composer gave on his other Harpsichord compositions. Yet, the compilation remains a favourite. François Couperin (1668-1733) is often nicknamed 'Couperin the Great' to distinguish him …

Par VAN DER ROOST JAN. This 4-movement suite is based on authentic folktunes from the beautiful southern province in France: the 'Provence'. The composer used an harmonic language respecting the popular characteristics, but on the other hand also contains some 'spicy' notes (. . . just like the wellknown 'Provençal sauce'! . . . ). The instrumentation is very colourful, paying a lot of attention t…

Par BULLA STEPHEN. This rhapsody for concert band describes programmaticallythe period of history when knights fought bravely in suits ofshining armour. The tournament was a time of fierce joustingfor the favour of royalty as well as a duel of mortal combat. The music portrays this battle by showcasing the variousinstrumental sections, each fighting for attention with ‘calland response’ patterns. …

This new collection of folk songs - 'Laula kultani' (Finnish for 'Sing, my sweetheart') - offers choirs attractive literature to expand their repertoires and to perform concerts for many different occasions. The creative choral director has many possibilities for performing this music: thus instruments can be added, or - if there are difficulties due to pronouncing a foreign language - a small ens…

Book 1. Par HARWOOD BASIL. Sonata No. 1, Op. 5 Two Preludes, Op. 52 Two Meditations, Op. 57 A Quiet Voluntary, Op. 70 Basil Harwood's organ music takes a chronological journey through the composer's creative years. This journey begins with the Organ Sonata No. 1 in C sharp minor, op. 5 and ends with Quiet Voluntary for Evensong, op. 70, composed in 1946 when the composer was eighty-seven. In the i…

Cesar Franck's Sonata for Piano and Violin is one of the most treasured works in the violin repertoire, a masterpiece of cyclic form with a gracefulness and expressive force almost paradigmatic for the age of musical Romanticism. This work was composed in 1886 and was dedicated to the Belgian violinist and composer Eugène Ysaÿe.After Franck's death in 1890 the original publisher of the Sonata, the…

Par JOLIVET ANDRE. Andre Jolivet (1905-1974) established his love for composition from a young age. This remained throughout his life, and he held the post of Professor of Composition from 1966-1970 at Paris Conservatoire. Concerto No. 2 for Trumpet was composed in 1955, and remains highly regarded. Jolivet, himself a cellist, wished to explore composition for all instruments and therefore has a c…

Par VAN DER ROOST JAN. ‘Toccata Festiva’ was commissioned in 1994 by the Dutch Brass Band Championships. The wind band version was made a year later by the composer himself. Historically speaking, the toccata is considered to be one of the first independent instrumental forms for keyboard instruments. Originally the toccata was typically more or less improvised, later this musical form was given a…

Par VAN DER ROOST JAN. ‘Toccata Festiva’ was commissioned in 1994 by the Dutch Brass Band Championships. The wind band version was made a year later by the composer himself. Historically speaking, the toccata is considered to be one of the first independent instrumental forms for keyboard instruments. Originally the toccata was typically more or less improvised, later this musical form was given a…