Excuse me may I play along? Could you step aside please? ‘Step Aside’ is a pleasant competition both between two tempi and among the different parts. After a short slow introduction it is the drummer who without asking the questions above sets the high pace. As soon as this rapid movement has been established ‘part 1’ takes the lead but the other parts obviously don’t want to miss a thing and follow in rapid succession. At the end of the composition the various parts ‘compete’ in order to be able to play solo for a while but soon others join in again asking ‘Excuse me may I play along?’

During the eighteenth century a person called ‘The Dance Master' made his appearance in Ireland. He was a travelling dance-teacher who moved from one village to another to teach the people there how to dance. The piece consists of two dances Reel and the Jig.

Oxygen (2004) is a short composition for fanfare orchestra constructed with elements from rock and popular music.The composer used funky rhythms jazzy harmonies and pulsating rock to illuminate the fanfare band from a different angle.The music demands a groove from the percussion section and the wind players are asked to use playing techniques from light music. And for this all the performers and audience alike need a good supply of oxygen.

Which of us does not have them memories? Everyone sometimes remembers things from the past be they happy memories or not. Sometimes a scent may remind us of a particular place or a tune may bring back memories of a certain situation. John DeBee experienced something similar when he heard a song on the radio: he immediately picked up his pen and composed ‘Flashback’. It has become a piece that appeals to the ear which will provide both the musicians performing it and their audience with pleasant memories.

Crazy Crowd is a fun piece in which we meet a comical parade of eccentric figures: A drum major a clumsy clown a dancing robot a charming princess an ailing acrobat a timid spy and more! Where do you fit into this line-up?!

The composition the Lonesome Knight was based on a fairytale. The piece was written by Saskia Apon for the National Brass Band Championships 2001. Once upon a time there was a knight who went to fight and defeat the dragon that had beenkilling the people of his town. There is a short but intense battle between the two and the knight is triumphant. However whilst persuing the dragon the knight has travelled far away from his home and now is lost. He roames around trying to findhis way home but exhausted and weary he falls to the ground. He awakens startled by a Giant and a group of Goblins who are celebrating the death of the dragon. The knight joins in the festivities but after a long evening is once more leftalone. The sun rises the following morning and he sees a castle on the horizon. He enthousiastcally ventures towards the castle in the hope of meeting other people. However he becomes greatly disillusioned when there is none to be found. Inhis desperation the knight climbs the tower ready to jump off. Suddenly he hears a heavenly voice. Right before him is the most beautiful princess he has ever seen. She graciously thanks him for killing the dragon a spark ingnites between themand they build a life together and.... live happily ever after! Saskia Apon studied harp at Rotterdam School of music. With this instrument she rounded of her studies by passing with credit however it was her love of composition thatremained her focus. Self-taught she began composing at the age of nine. Since then she has written pieces for The Dutch Brass Quintet The Dutch Brass Ensemble The Rotterdam Trombone Quartet and the brass band quintet Brass Ability. Atpresent she is the in-house arranger for The Rotterdam Philarmonic Brass Ensemble. Besides the customary attention for the real splashworks she endeavours to add value to the melodic function of the brass wind instruments in her music. Hercompositions and arrangements can be found on many diverse Cds.The composition the Lonesome Knight was based on a fairytale. The piece was written by Saskia Apon for the National Brass Band Championships 2001. Once upon a time there was aknight who went to fight and defeat the dragon that had been killing the people of his town. There is a short but intense battle between the two and the knight is triumphant. However whilst persuing the dragon the knight has travelled far awayfrom his home and now is lost. He roames around trying to find his way home but exhausted and weary he falls to the ground. He awakens startled by a Giant and a group of Goblins who are celebrating the death of the dragon. The knight joins inthe festivities but after a long evening is once more left alone. The sun rises the following morning and he sees a castle on the horizon. He enthousiastcally ventures towards the castle in the hope of meeting other people. However he becomesgreatly disillusioned when there is n

David Well composed ‘X-mas for Three’ for three young pupils of his who wished to give a Christmas concert. He arranged six well-known Christmas songs for them and their first performance was a great success. This was reason for the composer to adapt the piece for ‘orchestra’ by adding percussion. The title has stayed the same and the work can still be played by as few as three musicians but as the saying goes: “The more the merrier”! ‘X-mas for Three’ consists of the following parts : 1. Oh du fröhliche 2. Kling Glöckchen kling 3. Gloria in excelsis deo 4. Joy to the world! 5. The first Noel 6. We wish you a MerryChristmas

An unintended play on words on the title of Mozart's famous composition forms the basis of this solo piece. It was composed in 2004 by the Scottish composer Bruce Fraser and features a solo for flugel or cornet. It is not a very difficult piece for both the soloist and the band but is that always necessary? A lovely highly recommended intermezzo for your concert.

An unintended play on words on the title of Mozart's famous composition forms the basis of this solo piece. It was composed in 2004 by the Scottish composer Bruce Fraser and features a solo for flugel or cornet. It is not a very difficult piece for both the soloist and the band but is that always necessary? A lovely highly recommended intermezzo for your concert.

Zamunda is the name of an island that does not exist but only lives in the spirit of Andrew Mackereth. Listening to this composition you can imagine that Zamunda is a touristic attraction that can grow in the future. Travel into the mind of this promising English composer and convince yourself of the beauty of Zamunda. Suitable as opener or closer on your concert.

This composition was commissioned by Koningin Wilhelmina Wamel on the occasion of its one hundred year anniversary. That it is a composition for xylophone and concertband lies in the fact that Harmony has a very talented young percussion player in the person of Barry Jurjes. The piece is both melodically and harmonically based on four notes (C - Dflat - F - G). The structure is divided into four parts: slow - fast - slow - fast.

The title and scope is not new but the message and the desire of the composer is clear. It is mainly that music can solve problems and can plead for peace in the whole world. Musically Peace for the World is a brief opening work with a fanfare-like opening followed by a melodious middle part and a end that refers to the opening.

‘Songs of Sorrow and Joy’ is een bonte suite van liederen zonder woorden. Ik heb geprobeerd enerzijds de clichématige identiteit van de melodieën niet uit de weg te gaan anderzijds heb ik middels harmonische en vormtechnische ingrepen getracht voor een flink aantal verrassingen te zorgen die deze emblematische gestaltes van het muzikale basismateriaal in een ander daglicht plaatsen opdat het geheel de platgetreden paden van de blaasmuziek overstijge. Voorts heb ik mijn best gedaan om voor iedere instrumentengroep een partij te schrijven die op muzikaal en technisch gebied uitdagingen bevat. Micha Hamel

Chicken is a versatile type of meat which is consumed all over the world. And it tastes differently everywhere but in the south of the United States chicken still tastes like real chicken. The music is in the recognizable square-dance style. Can you remain seated?

Which of us does not have them memories? Everyone sometimes remembers things from the past be they happy memories or not. Sometimes a scent may remind us of a particular place or a tune may bring back memories of a certain situation. John DeBee experienced something similar when he heard a song on the radio: he immediately picked up his pen and composed ‘Flashback’. It has become a piece that appeals to the ear which will provide both the musicians performing it and their audience with pleasant memories.

A classic melody with Latin-American overtones and numerous changes of tempo. This composition gives the conductor freedom to bring in various percussion instruments is wonderful for creating a mood and the orchestration is full of stunning effects. Music that is a pleasure to play!

Patrick Millstone based his Dance of the Shepherds on the song Quem pastores laudavere by Michael Praetorius. After an upbeat flashy introduction you can hear this wonderful Christmas song. A good choice for a Christmas concert or church service!

Only just a beginning musician but playing a 'grown-up' piece. This is possible with Prime Time because this is really cool!

Rock My Soul is a gospel song that has a worldwide reputation. Ben Christon has added a new spirit to the composition. The solo in the beginning can be performed by various types of instruments.

A new concertpiece by Menno Haantjes. After his previous' Around a Village' not an programmatic composition but an unnamed Sine Nomine leaving complete imagination to all musicians and listeners.