The title Song For A New Generation refers to the approaching millennium change. The composition starts with a sustaining bolero-tempo the themes make their entry and the music gradually swells to an overwhelming climax. The turbulent harmonic passages symbolize the wars of the past. In the end the main theme returns once more describing a call for peace on earth.

‘Biberussa’ the old name of the small town of Beverst in Belgium is a combination of the words ‘biber’ and ‘ussa’ meaning beaver and river. This concert march was composed for the 100th anniversary of the Koninklijke Harmonie (Royal Concert Band) ‘Ons Verlangen’ from Beverst a place where the composer had his first musical training. After the opening passage a proud heroic theme is heard. As a contrast it is followed by a simple chorale melody and both themes then appear simultaneously in a grand tutti passage. This is followed by a cantabile trio with a majestic reprise of the main theme bringing the work to a close.

Bamberg has a population of approximately 70.000 people a city not far from Bayreuth famous for its Bayreuth Festspiele. The River Regnitz the historic buildings and the famous orchestra Bamberg Symphoniker are the source of inspiration for A Bamberg Fantasy. Following the opening with its beautiful melodies played by different sections the mood suddenly changes into an allegro ritmico in the minor key with rythmical elements and dynamic harmonics. In the finale changes in time signature add a flowing character to this composition.

This Little Christmas Suite arranged for concert band by Robert Finn contains three European Christmas carols of uncertain origin. The three movements Baile de Nadal (from Spain) Still Still Still (from Germany) and The First Noel (from England) create a delightful suite for any concert band and can also be performed with a choir.

as performed by Billy Paul- Me and Mrs. Jones was a 1972 soul song written by Kenny Gamble Leon Huff and Cary Gilbert originally recorded by Billy Paul. It describes an extramarital affair between a man and his lover Mrs. Jones. This single became Paul’s only #1 single on the Billboard Hot 100 in December 1972. Bart Picquuer arranged this beautiful song for a C/Bb or Eb solo instrument with Concert Band.

Elysium is a beautiful and modest choral created by Robert Finn a Dutch many-sided composer who has his roots in pop music. The piece opens with the introduction of the balanced main theme that passes into an overpowering climax after which it silently fades away...

The Norwegian composer Morten J. Wallin dedicated New Horizons to his three children of 8 20 and 23 years old. Each of them lives in a world of their own and is at a different stage of life with their own school friends and hobbies. They also all dream of the future in their own way and of a life that is always offering new perspectives and ... a new horizon

It is not entirely sure where the melody originates that forms the basis for Norwegian Overture. Most sources point in the direction of a certain J.H. Nebelong in about 1881. It is also possible that he was the first to note down this traditional melody and put his name to it.The lyrics are by a certain A.H. Brorson and were set to the music at a later date. The original title is store hvide flok which means the big white herd. Several composers have used this theme including Edvard Grieg and the Danish Carl Nielsen.

Plusieurs compositeurs tels que Jean-Sébastien Bach ou Georg Friedrich Haendel utilisaient les initiales SDG (Soli Deo Gloria - À Dieu seul la gloire) pour signer leurs œuvres. Parmi les nombreuses formations musicales qui ont également adopté cette expression latine on compte la formation dédicataire de cette œuvre. Sacred Song a une dimension spirituelle. Elle est l’écho d’un élan intérieur qui nourrit l’âme.

Quest implies exploring or being in search of. This four piece work is a challenge to every fanfare or symphonic wind band. All groups in the orchestra have explicit parts in this composition that is reminiscent of film music. It can serve both for a concert and a contest.

It is not entirely sure where the melody originates that forms the basis for Norwegian Overture . Most sources point in the direction of a certain J.H. Nebelong in about 1881. It is also possible that he was the first to note down this traditional melody and put his name to it.The lyrics are by a certain A.H. Brorson and were set to the music at a later date. The original title is store hvide flok which means the big white herd. Several composers have used this theme including Edvard Grieg and the Danish Carl Nielsen.

Belisia is the old Merovingian name of the Belgian town of Bilzen who commissioned this composition. It is also the composer’s place of birth. The work has two main themes. The melancholic theme in a minor key refers to the many ravages the town hassuffered through the years and the second theme stately and heroic represents the inner strength and courage of the proud inhabitants of this town.

The Last Song is a beautiful and sad choral that begins very slowly and calmly. Gradually the instrumentation increases leading to a big climax. After this Grandioso ma con moto the instrumentation gets smaller and the piece comes to an end with the initial theme but this time even slower than in the opening.

Suite for symphonic wind band is a rich orchestral piece that taxes the musicians to the utmost. The first part starts with a lyric melody in the French horn section to be taken over by the full orchestra ending in a kind of anarchistic entrada. The second part starts with a transparently orchestrated polyphonic web slowly passing into a richly arranged wave like movement that stops suddenly leading to the third part's attaca start. This third part is a fragile adagio con tenerezza. The finale is extremely virtuous and feriocious. It is a musical expression of anger fear and despair.

Townscape was composed for the centenary of the St. Cecilia concertband from Oudenburg a town which also inspired the composer throughout this work. The first part depicts a train slowly approaching from afar and then vanishing into the distance again. This is rendered by a sort of repetitive pulse in the music. This is followed by some serious action with jet skis on the Sinnesael lake. Their spectacular twists and turns are transformed into an exuberant theme and a middle section with several changes of time signature. After that comes a restful lyrical Nocturne a musical painting of the mill at night. The work concludes with a lively finale that is an ode to dailylife in Oudenburg a place where people take initiative and there is plenty to see and do.

Ballad is a jazzy flugelhorn solo. After the introduction of the main theme the soloist gets the opportunity to improvise freely. Hereafter the main theme returns slower than in the beginning and ends in a melancholic atmosphere. In this composition the soloist is able to show every aspect of the flugelhorn one of the favorite instruments of the composer.

In the 1950 motion picture Quo Vadis starring Robert Taylor and Peter Ustinov still is one of the greatest movies in the history. The music was composed by Miklos Rosza. The Hail Nero - Triumphal March beautifully arranged by Steven Verhaert gives an impression of the greatness of the Roman empire in the days of Emperor Nero.

The Legend of Ratu Kidul carries us into the world of Indonesian mythology on the island of Java:Once upon a time the Queen of the Southern Seas was a kind and beautiful princess. She was the daughter of Prabu Munding Wangi the favourite ofthe entire court and the local people. Her royal father doted on his daughter. Her name was Dewi Kadita but many called her Dewi Srengenge or the Angry Princess.Prabu Munding Wangi longed for an heir but Dewi Kadita’s mother couldn’t fulfil thiswish. So he took a second wife called Poetri Moentiara who was very jealous of the lovely princess and her mother. She begged the king to banish both her rivals from court. However Prabu Munding Wangi didn’t do as she asked. He loved his first wifeand her daughter. The second wife bore him a healthy heir but the monarch remained firm. So Poetri Moentiara called upon the renowned witch Djahil. She promised her a princely reward if Dewi Kandita and her mother were banished. Djahil thought fora moment and incanted this rapal (spell): “May leprosy befall you both”. Soon both mother and daughter began to suffer this dreadful disease. According to the law of the land they were to be banished to the wild forest high on the mountain. With aheavy heart King Munding Wangi saw the law carried out. So the two set off on their way to the forest covered in terrible sores. A great sadness fell across the land except for Poetri Moentiara the second wife of the king who had achieved heraim. The princess fell on hard times. In the forest lived a hermit who took pity on the mother and daughter. The queen couldn’t bear the shame and within a few days had died. Now Dewi Kandita was all alone in the world. There was still the hermit however who fortunately provided food and shelter in a cave temple. He bound her weeping sores but couldn’t relieve her emotional pain. Dewi Kandita became increasingly bitter and eventually left the hermit. She travelled southward from village tovillage further and further until eventually she reached the shores of the Southern Sea. She climbed upon a high cliff and gazed out onto the sea that spread before her. She was tempted to dive into the deep green and blue. In the cool waters shewould be able to forget all her pain and suffering. Suddenly awaking from these thoughts she jumped into the deep. The gods who had looked on Dewi Kandita throughout her hardships were filled with deep compassion. So they transformed her into apowerful spirit of the netherworld Ratu Kidul and to this day she resides in her grand palace under the sea.

This three-part work was commissioned by Kunstfactor—the Dutch Institute for Amateur Art. Its purpose is to further the repertoire for solo percussionist and orchestral accompaniment—whether brass band fanfare orchestra or wind band. For a good performance the soloist should be well-versed in a variety of techniques and should have a good understanding of the instruments not only technically but also musically. In terms of the selection of instruments and also technique the first and second movement are more classical in style while the final movement—with a set-up of various so-called ‘untuned’ instruments—is more suited to contemporarysolo kit playing. These distinctions will become clear to the soloist while studying the piece. (Menno Bosgra)Movement One requires timpani and tambourine;Movement Two requires marimba and vibraphone;Movement Three is a set-up of: five untuned drums (bongos and toms) large drum (standing) large floor drum or smaller bass drum (lying down) cowbell on a stand suspended cymbals Chinese cymbal and small drum.

Japanese composer Kohei Mikuni’s colourful concert march captures all the energy of a march and all the wonder of the sky. The beautiful melodies jump from section to section as they modulate to new and exciting keys accompanied by fun sounds and exciting rhythms from the drum set. Stardust in the Sky is an energetic piece that will make a perfect item for any occasion and will also wow the judges at music competitions.