What a way to open any concert. The Black Horse Troopis one of John Philip Sousa?s best known marches and was described by the great Frederick Fennell as ?a regimental march of classic content and proportions one which serves as a model for all that are similar to it ...? Treat your band with this fantastic march.

A Tribute to Jules Verne (1828-1905)-Three Extraordinary Journeys was commissioned to mark the centenary of the death of the famous author Jules Verne. Based on three novels from his Voyages Extraordinaires series of travel stories the music aims to capture the excitement and adventure of these famous books. A fantastic new major concert or contest piece.

Jesu bleibet meine Freude from Cantata 147-Bach’s appointment as the Cantor at Leipzig’s Thomaskirche in 1723 required him to produce a new cantata for every Sunday service. Jesu Joy of Man’s Desiring is taken from his Cantata No.147 and is unusually elaborate treated more like an aria than a chorale. It is perhaps the best-loved cantata movement from Bach’s entire output and is a certain crowd pleaser for your concert programme.

Suite from Hymn of the Highlands draws three expressive musical pictures of the Scottish highlands. The first movement Ardross Castle features solo passages for clarinet and bassoon and features a fascinating bagpipe melody. The second movement Alladale is a saxophone trio with an accompaniment featuring the percussion section. The final movement Dundonnell features two highly contrasting melodies a wild presto and the bagpipe melody first heard in the first movement.Complete score and full set of parts for Philip Sparke's Suite From Hymn To The Highlands for Wind Band. Suite from Hymn of the Highlands draws three expressive musical pictures of the Scottish highlands. The first movement Ardross Castle features solo passages for clarinet and bassoon and features a fascinating bagpipe melody. The second movement Alladale is a saxophone trio with an accompaniment featuring the percussion section. The final movement Dundonnell features two highly contrasting melodies a wild presto and the bagpipe melody first heard in the first movement.

Klezmer music originated in the ‘shtetl’ (villages) and the ghettos of Eastern Europe where itinerant Jewish troubadours known as ‘klezmorim’ had performed at celebrations particularly weddings since the early Middle Ages. Since the 16th century lyrics had been added to klezmer music due to the ‘badkhn’ (the master of ceremony at weddings) to the ‘Purimshpil’ (the play of Esther at Purim) and to traditions of the Yiddish theatre but the term gradually became synonymous with instrumental music particularly featuring the violin and clarinet. In recent years it has again become very popular and in A Klezmer Karnival Philip Sparke has used three contrasting traditionaltunes to form a suite that will bring a true karnival atmosphere to any concert.

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 splendor to any concert with this unique new work?

Jesu bleibet meine Freude from Cantata 147-Bach’s appointment as the Cantor at Leipzig’s Thomaskirche in 1723 required him to produce a new cantata for every Sunday service. Jesu Joy of Man’s Desiring is taken from his Cantata No.147 and is unusually elaborate treated more like an aria than a chorale. It is perhaps the best-loved cantata movement from Bach’s entire output and is a certain crowd pleaser for your concert programme.

The four tunes used in this suite have been made universally popular in Sir Henry Wood?s Fantasia on British Sea Songs which is an ever-present ingredient in The Last Night of the Proms.He introduced this colourful suite into the Proms in 1905 to celebrate the centenary of Nelson?s brilliant victory at Trafalgar when ?Britannia? really did ?rule the waves?. Bring the excitement of The Last Night of The Proms to any concert with this stirring new edition.

Lively and upbeat in nature The Centurion follows the conventional British march format. It is not technically demanding yet a successful performance will need skill and commitment from every player in the band. The Centurion will make an ideal opening piece for any indoor or outdoor concert and will be a popular item with both players and audiences alike.

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 splendor to any concert with this unique new work?

MASQUERADE was commissioned by Stadtmusik Willisau from Switzerland (Reto Güdel conductor) to celebrate their 175th anniversary in 2003 and first performed by them in November that year. 1. OvertureThe first movement opens with a fanfare-like figure featuring the brass before the main them is introduced over staccato chords. After a short syncopated interlude a legato theme is introduced in the tenor register and material is developed until the music slows temporarily. The opening theme returns and the ‘tenor’ tune is taken up by the whole band until the opening fanfare returns to close the movement. 2. ElegyThe slow movement opens intensely with a bare two-part theme whichleads to a passionate chorale-style melody. A second theme is introduced and leads to a climax a return of the chorale theme and a pianissimo repeat which again leads to a full-band climax. The two-part theme returns quietly to create a peaceful close. 3 InterludeA short movement which changes the mood to introduce:- 4 FinaleThree violent chords preface a lively syncopated opening theme. The trumpets introduce a second idea which is treated fugally and this in turn leads to the main melodic idea of the movement over staccato chords. A contrasting subject is then introduced in the middle of the band followed by echoes of the first movement fanfare. The opening theme returns and material is revisited until the opening fanfare returns in full to end the work triumphantly.

Philip Sparke has taken this traditional melody and produced an attractive arrangement for brass band. The piece is ideal for use in Christmas concerts and is guaranteed to get everyone’s toes tapping - players and audience alike.

A saxophone feature based on the Passion Chorale-This timeless melody by Hans Leo Hassler (1564-1612) is now chiefly remembered because of its inclusion in J S Bach?s St.Matthew Passion(hence its title) where it is treated to a variety of rich harmonisations.This setting features alto and tenor saxophones who first play a lyrical descant to the famous hymn tune and then the melody itself against a Bach-like obbligato in the upper woodwinds.This fabulous new arrangement presents a wonderful opportunity to feature your saxophones.

In this exciting four-movement suite Philip Sparke has taken the yearly cycle to inspire the framework for the work. Spring Sunshine describe a bright spring morning Summer Siesta conjures up a quiet rest by a river on a hot summer afternoon. Autumn Alone heralds the approaching dark days of winter and Winter Winds brings the work to a close as it portrays stormy winter weather in all its fury and glory. This work of great contrast is sure to become a favourite in your concert repertoire.

Band director and radio presenter Yutaka Nishida hails from Tokyo and has long been a friend of composer Philip Sparke. As well as conducting bands and teaching he also presents a weekly two-hour music programme focusing on both brass and concert bands on the Japanese national radio station Digital Radio Musicbird.The programme is called The Bandwagon and the radio station commissioned Philip Sparke to write a march which could be used as a theme tune for the programme. The result is this bright and breezy march in simple ABA form.

The birth of Philip Sparke’s second son Benjamin was the inspiration for composing Ballad for Benny. A short calm introduction leads to the main ballad theme a gentle waltz melody. Following the work’s climax in which the complete band plays the main theme the sound fades and the piece ends in calm and serenity.

The picturesque town of Mandalen lies amid snow-covered mountains and scenic fjords on the west coast of Norway. MANDALEN LANDSCAPES was commissioned by and written for Måndalen Skule og Ungdomskorps (Mandalen School and Youth Band) for a major concert in November 2003 at the instigation of its conductor John Hudson a long-time friend of composer Philip Sparke.Sparke set out to capture the beauty of the area in music and the piece opens with an evocation of the crisp clear air of a Norwegian morning. After this introduction the main theme is stated on clarinets and saxophones. A central bridge section takes the listener through several moods until the brass reintroducethe main theme under a woodwind descant. Material from the introduction brings the work to a peaceful close.

Mozart originally wrote this concerto for a clarinet with an extended lower range compared to the conventional instrument. As early as 1802 published versions appeared with registral changes which made the concerto playable on instruments without the extra keys. When producing an edition for the conventional clarinet there are two choices to be made about the ‘extra’ notes - is it better to maintain the musical line and hence transpose whole phrases or passages up an octave rather than single notes or is the chalumeau tone more important in which case it may possibly be better to alter one or two notes to keep the correct octave. In this edition Philip Sparke has usually gonefor the former so the ‘sequences’ make musical sense but have taken the second option in some places. This fantastic work will prove popular with soloist band and audience alike.

Marchissimo will make a fantastic opening piece for any concert. It does however come with a twist! It can be played simply as written but is really designed to be ‘staged’ with players coming on the concert platform one by one as they begin to play. The piece actually consists of three marches in one each of which highlights a section of the band. The piece culminates in a final climax where all three march themes are played simultaneously.

Over a period of four decades Jimmy Webb (b. 1946) has written hits for a number of singers including Glen Campbell Art Garfunkel Frank Sinatra Willie Nelson Johnny Cash and Linda Ronstadt. His songs are often epic in character and include By the Time I Get to Phoenix; Up Up and Away; Didn’t We; Wichita Lineman and Galveston. MacArthur Park (1968) was unlike anything that had gone before it. Running at over 7 minutes it is 2 or 3 times the length of most pop songs and has an extended orchestral interlude. Richard Harris’ seminal recording topped the music charts in Europe while peaking at number two on the U.S. charts. Philip Sparke has made this excellentarrangement for brass band which is sure to become a regular feature on your concert programme.