Anglo Music Midway Series

The Four Noble Truths are the most basic expression of the teaching of Buddha and therefore still form the guidelines for Buddhists to this day. The four truths are Dukkha, which describes times of ma...

In The Pioneers Philip Sparke salutes the bicentenary of an expedition by two all time American heroes - Meriwether Lewis and William Clark. They were commissioned by US President Thomas Jefferson to...

100 years ago English composer Vaughan Williams visited Norfolk (an area on the east coast of England) to collect and notate folk songs from people of all trades and callings. Accompanied by a local c...

In 2008 Philip Sparke published his book of etudes "Super Solos", the third volume of a series for flute, clarinet, alto saxophone, trumpet, horn, trombone and euphonium. A young German flutist was so...

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...

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...

Moving Heaven and Earth consists of a theme and 4 variations; although the theme is original it contains a phrase heavily influenced by a 14-bar passage from the Libera Me in Fauré's Requiem. It is a...

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...

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...

Prelude to a Pageant was commissioned by Woodley Concert Band to celebrate their 40th anniversary in 2014. Celebratory in nature, Prelude to a Pageant includes a famous musical link to The Reading Rot...

This work was commissioned by Dr. Robert Oertli from Möhlin, Switzerland, and is based on an earlier composition called Spirit of the Sequoia. The piece is inspired by how the human spirit can gain fr...

Salute to the Victor is in traditional march form and contains, as a tribute to Victor Grieve who was a devotee of English music (in particular that of Sir Edward Elgar), a short quote from Elgar's Se...

Wind in the Reeds was commissioned by Deena Draycott in memory of John Watson, an army bandsman, teacher and bassoonist. Wind in the Reeds is both a tribute and lasting memorial to John. The piece is...

Song of Friendship was commissioned by the Concert Band of Jumonji University, Saitama, Japan and their conductor, Yutaka Nishida. The commission marked the 50th year of Yutaka Nishida's involvement w...

Zodiac Dances was commissioned by the Izumiotsu City Band, Osaka, Japan to celebrate their 50th anniversary. Sparke had previously written the piece, Prelude to a Celebration for the band, and in comp...

Zodiac Dances was commissioned by the Izumiotsu City Band, Osaka, Japan to celebrate their 50th anniversary. Sparke had previously written the piece, Prelude to a Celebration for the band, and in comp...

Three City Sketches' was commissioned for Soli Deo Gloria Alkmaar from the Netherlands. The work's three movements depict different aspects of the orchestra's hometown. This is an exciting and epic pi...

Three Norwegian Sketches was commissioned by Åndalsnes Musikkforening, Norway, who are conducted by John Hudson. The three contrasting movements - TROLLVEGGEN (The Troll Wall), RAUMA ELV (River Rauma)...

Three Norwegian Sketches was commissioned by Åndalsnes Musikkforening, Norway, who are conducted by John Hudson. The three contrasting movements - TROLLVEGGEN (The Troll Wall), RAUMA ELV (River Rauma)...

A Sevenoaks Suite was commissioned by the Sevenoaks and Tonbridge Concert Band from Kent in the south-east of England. The suite describes 3 famous landmarks in the Sevenoaks and Tonbridge area: 'Knol...

A Sevenoaks Suite was commissioned by the Sevenoaks and Tonbridge Concert Band from Kent in the south-east of England. The suite describes 3 famous landmarks in the Sevenoaks and Tonbridge area: 'Knol...

Henderson is a city in Clark County, Nevada, just southeast of Las Vegas and surrounded by desert: this was the inspiration for the title. Desert Dances opens with a lively introduction, mostly in 3/4...

Henderson is a city in Clark County, Nevada, just southeast of Las Vegas and surrounded by desert: this was the inspiration for the title. Desert Dances opens with a lively introduction, mostly in 3/4...

Aurora Dances' was commissioned by the Hong Kong-based Winter Band Festival, and consists of three movements, to be played without a break. 'Aurora Borealis' opens with florid woodwind figures and hig...

Aurora Dances was commissioned by the Hong Kong-based Winter Band Festival, and consists of three movements, to be played without a break. 'Aurora Borealis' opens with florid woodwind figures and high...