Anglo Music Midway Series

In Letter from Home Philip Sparke portrays the many feelings and emotions that a letter from home can evoke. This intimate work opens with a gentle woodwind melody, which gradually becomes more confus...

Klezmer music originated in the shtetl (villages) and ghettos of Eastern Europe, where itinerant Jewish troubadours, known as klezmorim, had performed at celebrations since the early Middle Ages. Thre...

Exultation is a short and energetic concert opener that is similar to a palindrome. A fanfare opens the work, juxtaposing 3/4 and 6/8, reminiscent of Latin-American music. The main theme is first hear...

Blazon heisst Wappenschild oder Schmuck und dieser Marsch ist auch bestens geeignet als Aushängeschild, mit dem sich das ganze Blasorchester wunderbar präsentieren kann. Er beginnt mit einer ausgiebig...

Whence is that Goodly Fragrance Flowing?' is the first line of an old French Christmas song that originated in the 17th century. In 1728 John Gay used this joyous and markedly festive melody that hono...

Just based on its title, this piece has to be celebratory and up-beat, which it is! It opens with a stately fanfare, first played on the low brass before the entire band joins in. This gives way to a...

Composer Philip Sparke decided to use the idea of white to write a piece that was both bright and light in terms of harmony, colour and orchestration. He achieves this by using simple major and minor...

Composer Philip Sparke decided to use the idea of white to write a piece that was both bright and light in terms of harmony, colour and orchestration. He achieves this by using simple major and minor...

The lyrics to Drink to Me Only with Thine Eyes can be traced to English poet Ben Jonson, a contemporary of Shakespeare. The melody's origin, on the other hand, is not certain. In this three- movement...

The lyrics to Drink to Me Only with Thine Eyes can be traced to English poet Ben Jonson, a contemporary of Shakespeare. The melody's origin, on the other hand, is not certain. In this three- movement...

Named after the leaf displayed on Canada's flag, Maple Leaf Overture was composed specifically to open a Canadian school's symphonic band tour of England. A short fanfare during the overture smoothly...

Christmas is full of customs and traditions, both old and new. This is especially evident in Christmas songs, some of which have been part of Christian worship for centuries. A Medieval Christmas comb...

The title of this work refers to the Tall Ship Race, in which large sailing ships annually appear at various European destinations. The work consists of a slow introduction, which describes the majest...

The title of this work refers to the Tall Ship Race, in which large sailing ships annually appear at various European destinations. The work consists of a slow introduction, which describes the majest...

This celebratory work, which Philip Sparke wrote for the 20th anniversary of the Nottingham Concert Band, starts with a hymn-like theme played as a fanfare in the brass. With a change of mood from 'so...

The composer writes: 'On March 11th 2011 a massive 9. 0- magnitude earthquake occurred off the coast of north-eastern Japan. I'm writing these programme notes barely a week later and the death toll ca...

The composer writes: 'On March 11th 2011 a massive 9. 0- magnitude earthquake occurred off the coast of north-eastern Japan. I'm writing these programme notes barely a week later and the death toll ca...

Of Skies, Rivers, Lakes and Mountains was commissioned by the Northern California Band Directors' Association to honour their 50th Anniversary in 2012. The first performance was given by the Associati...

Five States of Change was commissioned by Kunstfactor for the 4th section of the Dutch National Brass Band Championships (NBK) 2011. It is dedicated to Jappie Dijkstra and the Music Information Centre...

Golden Winds was commissioned by Jugendblasorchester Schramberg, Germany, to celebrate their 50th anniversary in 2012. They gave the premiere, conducted by Andreas Hirt, at their Christmas concert tha...

Dance of the Whale was commissioned by the Spanish music foundation, Musica et Orbi, at the instigation of its president, Frank De Vuyst. It is part of a unique project which involved nine composers e...

Dance of the Whale was commissioned by the Spanish music foundation, Musica et Orbi, at the instigation of its president, Frank De Vuyst. It is part of a unique project which involved nine composers e...

The Shakers were a sect who, in the 18th Century, sailed out from England to America. Right into the late 19th Century, the numerous songs of this community were handed down orally, until they were wr...

The work opens with a stern fanfare in bare fifths, which leads to a cantabile theme introduced by alto saxophone. This builds to a climax and reintroduces the fanfare, which slowly evolves into the s...

The melody of this Christmas carol comes originally from a Finnish songbook of 1582, containing a collection of 74 medieval songs together with Latin texts. The version arranged by Gustav Holst became...