At the Lake (“Sur les bords du lac”) d’Itaru Sakai raconte une légende japonaise. La musique est aérienne et mystérieuse à l’image de l’histoire qu’elle illustre.Il était une fois dans la lumière pâle du petit matin un jeune homme prénommé Innove. Alors qu’il longeait le lac il entendit une mystérieuse voix féminine : « La princesse Eugemaille est emprisonnée dans le château d’un scélérat du nom de Jesse. Elle a besoin de ton aide. Ne perds pas de temps pars immédiatement. ». Touché par cette voix inspirante Innove se mit en chemin vers le château de Jesse situé à l’extrémité nord du lac dans un décor de falaises impressionnant. Un vent tourbillonnant une pluietorrentielle et des éclairs aveuglants s’abattaient sur lui quand soudain la même voix se fit encore entendre. C’était la voix de Kai l’esprit du lac. Presque aussitôt le vent cessa de souffler et la pluie s’arrêta de tomber. Le sinistre château de Jesse se détachait des rochers.Chaque jour la princesse captive chantait sa tristesse. Plusieurs fois elle avait tenté de fuir mais en vain elle fut aussitôt reprise. Innove pénétra dans le château en compagnie de Kai. Commençait alors un terrible combat contre Jesse et ses serviteurs. Désemparée Eugemaille regardait Innove se battre désespérément. Kai ordonna à la tempête de se lever. Un vent tourbillonnant une pluie torrentielle et des éclairs aveuglants se déchaînèrent sur le château. Jesse et ses serviteurs furent engloutis par la tempête furieuse. Ils disparurent à jamais. La tempête se calma. Exténué par la lutte Innove se coucha. Eugemaille et Kai étaient à ses côtés. La princesse tomba éperdument amoureuse de celui qui avait si vaillamment combattu Jesse pour la délivrer. Kai s’éprit aussi d’Innove mais l’esprit du lac doit veiller sur le lac et protéger le bonheur des gens. Kai ne peut aimer Innove. Inconsolable elle retourna au lac.Au lever du jour Eugemaille et Innove se réveillèrent. Le lac scintillait de mille éclats de lumière dans le soleil du matin. La voix de Kai

This colourful work is based on the adventures of Christopher Columbus and his voyages to discover Africa and other new territories around the World. The theory that the earth was round urged Columbus to try and reach Asia by sailing west. A truly exotic work that grasps the drive and excitement of the world?s greatest explorer.

This hymn was commissioned by “Antwerpen 93”. And this city on the banks of the river Schelde has been nominated “Cultural Capital of Europe” for 1993. The work-group “animatie” took the initiative and commissioned a hymn which -as the finale to a grand open-air event on 27th March- was premièred by hundreds of musicians from all over Europe. Philippe Langlet (France) was the conductor at this majestic occasion.Musically speaking the piece can no doubt be labeled easy. Indeed it is meant to represent a hymn playable by all in different instrumental combinations. Consequently a variable instrumentation was chosen and a type of music which by native is easily accessible anduncomplicated.The conductor is free -in the instrumentation- to score this piece according to his own taste. It is perhaps advisable to use the sharp brass in the forte parts in order to make the range in the sound of the orchestra as colouful as possible. The percussion parts are not absolutely essential so that the hymn can also be performed without percussion.

Giacomo Puccini was one of the all time great opera composers andis especially famed for his wonderful warm-blooded melodies hiscolourful instrumentations his compelling dramatics his musicalfantasy and his power to reflect exotic ambiences in sounds. ForPuccini Highlights Wil van der Beek has made use of musical materialfrom the tenor aria ‘E lucevan le stelle’ (Tosca) the choral aria ‘Girala cote’ (Turandot) and the soprano aria ‘Un bel di vedremo’ (MadamButterfly). An operatic masterpiece that will go down a storm at anyconcert.

In Dublin Dances Jan Van der Roost has combined three well-known traditional Irish melodies to form an attractive medley. The medley contains Brian Boru’s March a melody made popular by worldfamous flautist James Galway followed bythe atmospheric tune The Minstrel Man and as a cheerful finale The Irish Washerwoman . Add a little magic from the Emerald Isle to your concert with this rousing medley.

En 2007 Dirk Brossé compose Il Signor Brossini (Monsieur Brossini) à l’occasion du 70e anniversaire de son père. Il fait de la mélodie du célébrissime Happy Birthday (Joyeux anniversaire) le fil conducteur de son œuvre. Divers petits fragments successifs brossent le caractère de “Monsieur Brossini” : tantôt héroïque tantôt impressionniste et romantique parfois passionné et fougueux mais aussi fragile et émouvant et toujours avec humour.La mélodie de la chanson Happy Birthday a été composée par deux sœurs américaines Patty et Mildred J. Hill en 1893 lorsqu’elles enseignaient à Louisville dans le Kentucky. En 1990 cette mélodie fut vendueaux éditions Warner Chappell pour la coquette somme de quinze millions de dollars.D’après le Livre Guinness des Records Happy Birthday est l’air le plus chanté de tous les temps. Les orchestrations sont multiples et couvrent une pléiade de combinaisons instrumentales. Quant au texte il a été traduit dans presque toutes les langues. Si le titre Il Signor Brossini fait référence au brillant compositeur italien Gioacchino Rossini il rappelle également les origines italiennes de la famille Brossé.

Composer Jacob de Haan has based The Heart of Lithuania on five folk melodies from Lithuania a country that despite its small size has a rich cultural heritage. The choice and diversity of emotions largely determined by the characteristic melodies take the listener straight to the heart of the Lithuanian people.

Theodor Oesten a composé de nombreuses pièces pour piano inspirées des musiques traditionnelles. Ein musikalischer Streifzug (“Une promenade musicale”) rassemble quelques-unes de ces mélodies romantiques et nostalgiques arrangées spécialement pour l’accordéon par Renso Popstra.

Drei kurzweilige Impressionen-For Three Aspects of Kurt Weill Peter Kleine Schaars took inspiration from the three periods that characterise the life of Weill - he successivelylived in Berlin Paris and New York. One theme is used to create threetotally different atmospheres a protest march against the fascists inBerlin a French Musette (valse de Paris) and an American big bandstyle Broadway orchestra. Let this great work show the versatility ofyour concert band!

from Carmen-The opera Carmen perhaps the best known work by Bizet was firstcriticised in France because of the 'obscene libretto ' but was soonconsidered a masterpiece partly thanks to the appealing melodies the Spanish temperament and the lively rhythms. Especially from a musical viewpoint the lively march Les Toréadors is one of the most popular scenes from Carmen. Tohru Takahahsi was inspired by this catchy music to write a delightful transcription for Concert Band. A true classic that will remain popular with your musicians and audiences.

A lovely setting of the Latin Grace from Jesus College Cambridge featuring harmonic richness and subtle rhythmic and textural merits. An excellent a cappella selection for mature mixed choruses. A lovely setting of the Latin Grace from Jesus College Cambridge featuring harmonic richness and subtle rhythmic and textural merits. An excellent a cappella selection for mature mixed choruses.

Overture-In 1786 Mozart composed his wonderful opera Le Nozze di Figaro (KV 492). The Italian libretto based on the play Le mariage de Figaro by Beaumarchais was written by Lorenzo da Ponte—who also made the libretti of Mozart’s opera’s Don Giovanni and Così fan tutte. In the opera Le Nozze di Figaro Count Almaviva tries to seduce the fiancée of Figaro his valet. Eventually through four acts full of complicated intrigue he is outwitted. In his music Mozart—at times in a humorous way—reflects the numerous social and erotic intrigues with both empathy and insight. The brilliant overture is just as vivacious and witty as the opera itself. Mozart delightfullyanticipates the passion and playful love that is to come. The skillful transcription for concert band by Tohru Takahashi certainly does justice to this appealing music.

As the tile suggests Pop Plaza contains a turbulent market place full of favourite pop songs. In this varied selection you will find a mixture of both old and newer hits - something for everyone to enjoy. Contains: Every Breath You Take • Underneath Your Clothes • Lying in the Arms of Mary • The Most Beautiful Girl in the World •Ben • You Don’t Have to Say You Love Me • Wherever You Will Go • Beautiful • She Will Be Loved • Streets of London and more. In this varied selection you will find a mixture of both old and newer hits – something for everyone to enjoy.

Elegy I ‘Jealousy’ has been named after John Donne’s poem of the same name. This English poet (1572-1631) wrote an entire series of elegies each with its own theme. Jealousy can trigger various emotions ranging from disappointment grief or regret to madness and anger. All these emotions have been incorporated into this composition. Jacob de Haan was inspired by three different works of art: a poem (the aforementioned poem by John Donne) a painting by the Norwegian painter Edvard Munch (Jealousy in the Garden) and an old French chanson about jealousy (Je ne l’ose dire) by the sixteenth-century French composer Pierre Certon. The music refers repeatedly to thischanson - sometimes through key notes from the melody that serve as the starting point for new isolated themes and sometimes through quotations of the original version

It is high time to expand the series Peter’s Popular Collection with a medley in latin style - music that is appealing to both young and old. For this arrangement Peter Kleine Schaars has selected perhaps the three most well-known latin compositions ever written: the sultry rumba Bésame Mucho the spicy cha-cha-cha Guantanamera and of course the stirring samba Quando Quando Quando. A dance feast in tropical mood!

Besame Mucho - Quantanamera - Quando Quando Quando (Si tu m'aimes tant que ça)-It is high time to expand the series Peter’s Popular Collection with a medley in latin style - music that is appealing to both young and old. For this arrangement Peter Kleine Schaars has selected perhaps the three most well-known latin compositions ever written: the sultry rumba Bésame Mucho the spicy cha-cha-cha Guantanamera and of course the stirring samba Quando Quando Quando. A dance feast in tropical mood!

Julius Fucik (1872-1916) was born in Prague Czech Republic. He studied under Antonin Dvorák and at a young age played in military bands and later became bandmaster a profession he practiced in various cities with many bands. In 1913 he settled in Berlin where he started his own music publishing house. As a composer Fucik is known for his light entertaining music however he also wrote chamber music songs choral works a mass a requiem and an unfinished opera. Many of his works have fallen into oblivion but many of his marches such as Einzug der Gladiatoren Regimentskinder and Florentiner Marsch are still often played. With the concert overture Marinarella Fucik takes us toan imaginary seaside resort on a beautiful spring day. Marinarella a girl of the sea accompanies us on our stroll. Leisurely walking couples on the boulevard the murmur of the sea fragments of a waltz melody from a café and a concert band performing a promenade concert pass you by. A fantastic opening work for any concert.

The Hida High School is in a highland city called Takayama in Gifu Prefecture. Takayama City has some of the highest mountains in Japan atmospheric rows of houses and streets and a beautiful landscape. The magnificent views from these mountains can be described as a paradise above the clouds. When the composer visited there in the summer of 2001 the lovely flowers spreading through the valley and the refreshing air welcomed him. The flowers looked as if they were fashionably dressed and fully enjoying conversation and a short summer at a reunion party. The composer was inspired by this scenery to compose this piece. The musical party opens with happy greetings of a reunion andjoyful themes follow one after another. A light xylophone solo a waltz and an adagio featuring alternate solos by alto saxophone euphonium and trumpet lead to a brilliant finale featuring brass and percussion played in irregular time. A beautiful musical picture that your band will enjoy performing for many years.

It is high time to expand the series Peter’s Popular Collection with a medley in latin style - music that is appealing to both young and old. For this arrangement Peter Kleine Schaars has selected perhaps the three most well-known latin compositions ever written: the sultry rumba Bésame Mucho the spicy cha-cha-cha Guantanamera and of course the stirring samba Quando Quando Quando. A dance feast in tropical mood!

Poem for Wind Orchestra- Hymn to the Infinite Sky est une prière mentale une reconnaissance spirituelle envers le ciel. Un poème de paix qui exige une grande sensibilité dans l’interprétation.