Work and enjoyment go hand in hand in these ten fabulous compositions which provide educational and varied material for youth bands. The ten practice pieces together in one book (with comic illustrations) incorporate widely diverse tunes such as Ceremonial Prelude and The Verger's Favourite Song. The book also includes numbers that require singing stamping and shouting out (Chirpy Cha Cha and Ramble Bamble Rock). Pull out all the stops!

Bruce Fraser composed this test piece for the ‘Gouden Spiker Festival’ 2003 (The Netherlands). Suite Celebration was inspired by events in his recent family life. The first movement celebrates the marriage of his daughter and reflects her bubbly personality and vitality. The melodies and harmonies of the whole work are based on a note row which came up during a discussion with the publisher. The second movement celebrates the birth of his grand-daughter ‘Rebecca Aileen’ and takes the form of a ballad featuring expressive opportunities for the soloists. The final movement is more of a look into the future and hope of success and a good life for hisfamily. Who knows what is coming?

This festive fanfare sets the tone for your concert or festival and is suitable for all sorts of occasions. The premiere took place in 2001 and was written for the special 70th anniversary of the PTT Brass Band from Apeldoorn(Holland). The visiting-card for your band! Deze feestelijke fanfare zet de toon voor uw concert of een festival en is geschikt voor allerlei gelegenheden. De premi?re vond plaats in 2001 en werd geschreven voor het 70 jarig jubileum van de PTT Brass Band uit Apeldoorn. Het visitekaartje voor uw band!

10 famous Christmas songs in different styles. Including: 1. Intrada - Bohemian traditional 2. Quem Pastores Laudavere 3. Once in Royal David's City 4. Song - French traditional 5. Er is een Kindeke geboren op aard' - Dutch traditional 6. Coventry Carol 7. Deck the Halls 8. O Kindeke klein 9. Good King Wenceslas 10. Traditional from Poland

A delicacy for the eye ear and taste buds that was originally created by a Parisian cook in London. A musical haven of peace as a dessert and a romantic highlight of a diner a la carte. The melodic lines are relaxed and smooth and will definitely take you to another dimension for a while.

Rob Goorhuis schreef de compositie Amsterdam voor Amsterdam Brass in 2002. Het werk beleefde haar premi?re in 2003 in een uitvoering van de opdrachtgever. De componist zelf Amsterdammer van geboorte heeft in dit werk zijn herinneringen aan de toen ook al bruisende stad muzikaal verwerkt in een combinatie met het heden. De geluiden van de stad zoals Goorhuis die in de 50-er jaren hoorde zijn al dan niet abstract weergegeven in Amsterdam. Amsterdam bestaat uit drie in elkaar overgaande delen. Het eerste deel (Allegro Moderato) beschrijft de grote drukte in de Nederlandse hoofdstad die altijd leeft beweegt zindert en schijnbaar nooit 'slaapt'. Devoortdurende zestiende beweging in de diverse instrumenten benadrukken die immer aanwezige drukte in de stad die in de volksmond bekend staat als 'Mokum'. Zelfs de klanken van een Amsterdams draaiorgel zijn goed hoorbaar in dit eerste gedeelte. De karavaan vuilnisauto's die elke ochtend om 5 uur door de straat van de nog jonge Rob Goorhuis reed is een hoorbare herinnering aan vervlogen tijden. Het tweede deel brengt ons in het Vondelpark aan de rand van het centrum. Het thema wordt voorgesteld door de bugel en voert via variaties op dit thema in diverse andere instrumenten naar een drukker gedeelte van het stadspark om vervolgens weer kort terug te keren naar de oase van rust. Het tempo en de begeleidende beweging zijn bepalend voor het bijzondere karakter van dit middendeel. Het derde deel zet ons weer met beide benen in het bruisende hart van de stad. De euphonium introduceert het grillige thema met karakteristieke toonladderfiguren en kwartsprongen dat in de verschillende stemmen canonisch wordt verwerkt. Halverwege duikt onopvallend het thema van het middendeel weer op dat steeds opvallender naar voren komt resulterend in een verrassend slot. Verplicht werk Nederlandse Brassband Kampioenschappen 2004 - 1e divisie.

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.

Pull out all the stops in this wonderful swinging Big Bigger ... Can be played in all tempi and is therefore always surprising.

The Odyssee tells the story of Odysseus the undaunted hero. In times long ago the blind poet Homer wrote this famous epic. The Odyssey follows the Iliad the story of the bloody war between the Greek and the Trojans. This battle endsafter ten years thanks to the Odysseys famous trick. the Trojan Horse. The Odyssey is not a war epic but a story about perseverance loyalty adventure and the survival instinct of its ingenious hero. In The Odyssey Homer describes howOdysseus the king of Ithaca had to endure another ten years of affliction after the ten years of war in Troy before he could finally return to his home land. During those years his wife Penelope had to try and keep her many admirers away.These men not only wanted het hand but also the kingship. To prove her husbands worth she played a trick: As soon as I have finished weaving this shroud for my father-in-law Laertes I will choose one of you to become my husband she promisedthem. But during the night she secretly loosened what she had woven during the day prolonging the time until Odysseus would finally return. After twenty long years when he finally stood at the door she wondered: Is this really my husband? Ishe an imposter? Cunningly she asked him to move the bed because only she and her husband know that the bed was immovable and was build around an old three trunk! Odysseus was deeply moved: this really was his wife his Penelope! Nearly threethousands years later the loyalty and strength of this character and all the dangerous adventures that Odysseus survived thanks to courage and intelligence still moves us today. Odyssee by Jan Bosveld is not just an adventure story butrather a characteristic piece in which memories of Homers story can be heard. The composition opens with a firm stirring theme describing our hero Odysseus in detail: This man is not to be taken lightly. The further development of thisshort introduction completes this character sketch: trustworthy perseverant and a genius. After that we can picture Odysseus on the lonely beach of Ogygia. Do the trumpets depict his memories of the war of Troy? Does he think of his wife as werecognise the weaving loom of Penelope in the murmuring eighth? In the solemn plaintive part that follows we can imagine Penelope feeling lonely sitting in the womens room with her servants.One of the girls plays the harp but that does notclear the sombre atmosphere. Then we can imagine seeing the sorceress Circe who changed Odysseus men into swine. After she gives a simple magic sign something follows that reminds us of the sound of pigs grunting. Then the Odysseus theme resounds:the hero comes to savi his comrades. Assisted by Hermes he forces Circe to lift the spell. The piece ends the same way as it began with an animated theme: Odysseus is still the same undefeated and not to be taken lighty!

Composer Peter Martin received his inspiration from the period of the versatile Henry VIII and the accompanying sparkling late-medieval music. At Henry's Table describes the atmosphere at the court of the English king. Music that stays with you because it is so special.

An attractive work by the hand of Al Govan. Musicians and listeners will enjoy this three-part suite including: O Come All Ye Faithfull Silent Night Hark the Herald Angels Sing and fragments including from Jingle Bells and Joy to the World.

Mendelssohn was 34 when the premiere of A Midsummer Night's Dream 'in 1843 took place. Dance Of The Clowns is a part from this wonderful work but is also in the overture to be heard. He wrote the famous overture at the age of 17 (!).

A majestic opening which gets a thoroughly sparkling musical follow-up captivating ensemble and a very well-known hymn are the ingredients of Keep me praising by Andrew Mackareth from the English town of Nuneaton. His music sets itself apart through it scintillating vitality and spontanity. His feeling for style and melody makes this flashing work into a beautifully balanced composition which will undoubtedly find its way into the concert-stage. Influences from both jazz and rock furthermore make it an absolute hit. Een majestueuze opening een spetterend vervolg bekende hymnes en technische uitdaging zijn de ingrediënten van Keep me Praising. De muziek van AndrewMackereth uit het Engelse Nuneaton kenmerkt zich door veelzijdigheid. Gebaseerd op Sing Hosanna en Praise my soul. Een aanrader!

‘God rest ye merry Gentlemen’ is an ancient English carol. It was first published in 1833 but it can be traced as far back as the 15th century which makes it one of the oldest carols known. ‘God rest ye merry’ is a Middle English salutation. In this manner people wished one another greatness and might. In modern English the first line of this carol would read ‘May God keep you mighty gentlemen’. Andrew R. Mackereth has not kept to the original words in his up-tempo arrangement of the carol. It is still clearly recognizable but the arranger has taken a good many liberties. Sometimes a particular note is held longer at times motifs follow oneanother in various parts. If you listen carefully you may even be able to detect a motif from another well-known song.

In English-speaking countries ‘Away in a Manger’ is one of the first Christmas songs to be taught to little children. It is a moving song with simple words which makes it easy to understand. The song is also known as ‘Luther’s Cradle Hymn’. This suggests that Martin Luther was the author of the lyrics. According to researchers however this is a misconception – the author is unknown. In England ‘Away in a Manger’ is sung to a different melody than in the USA for example. The ‘English’ melody was composed by W.J. Kirkpatrick. Andrew Mackereth made a touching arrangement of the ‘English’ melody which suits the tender lyrics perfectly.

Greek dishes are mouth-watering. The nation's traditional dish could not be omitted from the menu. And the Greek dishes are still affordable. The Sirtaki is the musical accompaniment during your culinary trip to Greece.

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. Zamunda is de naam van een eiland dat niet bestaat maar enkel leeft in de geest van Andrew Mackereth. Bij het horen naar dit bijzondere werk is wel voor te stellen dat Zamunda tot een toeristische trekpleister kan uitgroeien. Reis mee in het brein van deze veelbelovende Engelse componist enovertuig u van de schoonheid van Zamunda. Geschikt als inspeelwerk of als afsluiter van uw concert.

‘God rest ye merry Gentlemen’ is an ancient English carol. It was first published in 1833 but it can be traced as far back as the 15th century which makes it one of the oldest carols known. ‘God rest ye merry’ is a Middle English salutation. In this manner people wished one another greatness and might. In modern English the first line of this carol would read ‘May God keep you mighty gentlemen’. Andrew R. Mackereth has not kept to the original words in his up-tempo arrangement of the carol. It is still clearly recognizable but the arranger has taken a good many liberties. Sometimes a particular note is held longer at times motifs follow oneanother in various parts. If you listen carefully you may even be able to detect a motif from another well-known song.

‘Circus Delight’ is a five-part suite which is set how could it be otherwise in a big circus tent. The suite starts with a part called ‘Entrance’. The orchestra positioned above the entrance of the ring asks for the attention of the audience and then the ring announcer enters. The show can begin! The elephants play a central role in the first act. These colossal grey animals are rather slow and perform their tricks in a moderate tempo. (‘Elephant Blues’) How different are ‘The Acrobats’. At high speed they run jump and fly through the ring until ....... It gets very exciting. Fortunately all’s well that ends well and they take their leave of the audienceat a trot. Everyone knows and yet it is mostly not spoken about that when a clown has taken off his red nose and rubbed off his make-up his face off-stage is not always a happy one. (‘Tears of the Clown’) The piece ends on a cheerful note with ‘The Parade’ in which all the artists make their entrance in the ring once again to gratefully acknowledge the audience’s overwhelming applause.

Written as a commission by the Stichting de Inrichting foundation of Wijk bij Duurstede (the Netherlands) Rob Goorhuis Requiem voor de mens (Requiem for Man) on lyrics by André van Zwieten was composed in the year 2001. This work for choir andwind-band greatly impressed the audience whilst its composer remained obsessed by its war theme. When he subsequently heard that the Rundfunk Blasorchester from the German town of Leipzig -a place not far from Colditz - was to dedicate a CDto his work Rob Goorhuis got the idea to process some of the themes from his Requiem for Man into an instrumental composition about the famous Colditz castle. a place still bearing the scars of war. From 1933 to 1934 the castle was aSchutzhaftlager. During the Second World War it was used as a prison for senior officers. From this prison many escapes were undertaken which even resulted in the castle being nicknamed The Escape School. In the seventies a television-seriesabout this period made the castle very well-known with the public at large. The despondent tone of the opening theme underscores the sadness caused by wars and violence. Nevertheless the works ending is hopeful and triumphant. Peace iscelebrated but with the hope for a lasting peace sadly remaining a topical issue to the present moment.