Philip Sparke

Music from the Caribbean is instantly recognisable. It somehow conveys sunshine and lazy summers and is full of the 'feel-good' factor. It is this infectious happiness that composer Philip Sparke has...

Music from the Caribbean is instantly recognisable. It somehow conveys sunshine and lazy summers and is full of the 'feel-good' factor. It is this infectious happiness that composer Philip Sparke has...

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 (18...

Adolphe Adam (1803-56) is perhaps best known for his classical ballet, Giselle, but it is his Cantique de Noël (popularly known in the English-speaking world as 'O Holy Night', the opening line of its...

This piece was inspired by the composer watching his young son, Benny, playing 'soldiers' with his collection of teddy bears - how appropriate! But it made him think of the many character pieces which...

Sir Hubert Parry (1848-1918) belongs to a forgotten generation of English composers who are often over-shadowed by Sir Edward Elgar, and the result has been that much of their work is little played or...

The Pirates of Penzance is perhaps Gilbert and Sullivan?s most popular operetta, and tells the story of Frederic, who was apprenticed to a band of tender-hearted, orphaned pirates. A Sullivan Ballad u...

This short processional was designed to be played as a concert opener but can equally be used as a sort of extended fanfare at presentations, graduation ceremonies and similar occasions. Its title evo...

A Christmas March was written to provide the young band something up-beat with which to open or close a Christmas or holiday concert. The main theme of the march is original, but many short references...

Lion City Festival was commissioned as one of the test pieces for the Singapore Youth Festival 2010, an annual event at which school ensembles from throughout Singapore can receive gold, silver or bro...

Marching Winds was commissioned as the set piece for the Youth Festival Singapore 2010, a competition for all the youth orchestras in Singapore. As the title indicates, it is written in the form of a...

Acclaimed Canadian composer/arranger Robert Farnon penned this distinctive march theme for the 1970s BBC television drama Colditz telling the story of prisoners held at Colditz Castle, Germany, during...

A lively upbeat concert march from the pen of the ever-popular Philip Sparke. The Centurion follows the conventional British march format. It is not technically demanding, yet a successful performance...

A lively upbeat concert march from the pen of the ever-popular Philip Sparke. The Centurion follows the conventional British march format. It is not technically demanding, yet a successful performance...

Navigation Inn was originally written to celebrate one of the most popular events in the brass band calendar - the Whit Friday marches. The Navigation Inn is a pub which is a popular meeting place for...

Navigation Inn was originally written to celebrate one of the most popular events in the brass band calendar - the Whit Friday marches. The Navigation Inn is a pub which is a popular meeting place for...

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 str...

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 str...

Carol of the Shepherds is based on the hymn tune 'Quem Pastores Laudavere' which dates back to the 14th century and is widely known throughout the Christian world. Although the melody has been set to...

Carol of the Shepherds is based on the hymn tune 'Quem Pastores Laudavere' which dates back to the 14th century and is widely known throughout the Christian world. Although the melody has been set to...

Flying the Breeze opens with three repeated B's (representing the initials of the Breeze Brass Band from Japan who commissioned this work). A short introduction leads to a robust theme from the barito...

Flying the Breeze opens with three repeated B's (representing the initials of the Breeze Brass Band from Japan who commissioned this work). A short introduction leads to a robust theme from the barito...

The long history of Jewish folk song has resulted in a rich and varied repertoire of songs which deal with religion, history, festival and celebration. The melodies featured in Shalom! reflect this pa...

Die lange Geschichte des jüdischen Volksliedes hat einen reichen Schatz an Liedern hervorgebracht. Die Lieder handeln von Religion, Geschichte, Festen und Feiertagen. Die Melodien in Shalom! spiegeln...