Your band will love getting acquainted with Mexican Pictures a suite in four movements based on Mexican folk music. The first movement El Butaquito is based on a very lively folk-song of the same name and is characterised by its many contrasting rhythms. The second movement Romance Mejicano creates a peaceful and romantic atmosphere. The title of the third movement Ballaviejo means ‘Antique Dance’ in which the word antique refers to the rhythms that were taken to America by Africa’s black population. La Charreada the final movement depicts the popular Mexican Rodeo where the action in the arena is usually supported by instrumental ensembles the so-called ‘Mariacchi’.

Piotta is a lively 6/8 march from well-known concert band composer Franco Cesarini. This exciting and musically witty piece is as impressive rhythmically as it is melodically and will make for an elegant opening to any concert.

Composer Richard Comello observed that there is practically no music written for two flutes accompanied by concert band so he composed this delightful piece convinced that this it will fill this little gap in the repertoire. Following a solemn baroque style introduction joyful characteristic flute sounds develop with subtle band accompaniment. The two flute parts can be played by more players so enabling this piece to put your complete flute section in the spotlight.

The Haunter of the Dark is based on a tale by the author Howard Phillips Lovecraft (1890-1937) about a deserted church where according to an old legend a monster had been lying low for years.A scientist who studies ancient religions visits this church. Besides some ancient writings he discovers a box which contains a luminous stone. Every time the stone sheds its light the scientist experiences all sorts of weird visions.The church in the tale actually exists and can be found in Providence (USA). Franco Cesarini has visited it and sketches the mysterious and occult atmosphere in The Haunter of the Dark.

Folk music plays an important role in the life of the Ukrainian people. Their country covers an area of over 600.000 square kilometres and has more than fifty million inhabitants. In the north there are vast woods in the west one finds the picturesque Carpatian mountains and valleys and in the centre and the south Ukraine has its famous steppes with fertile black soil. The river Dnjepr divides the country in two forming a natural frontier between the western and eastern regions which each have their own distinctively different musical folklore. This diversity forms the musical basis for Ukrainian Rhapsody. The work consists of three movements: the first one in a moderatetempo without a pause flows into a slow but very expressive middle movement resulting in a powerful climax. The composition ends with the Gopak: a rousing dance.

The Olympic Games from the summer of 1992 officially known as theGames of the XXV Olympiad of the modern era were held in the sunnySpanish city of Barcelona. This was the first time the Olympic Gameshad been held in Spain and to celebrate this Horst Schelke composedthis rousing concert march with a typically Spanish feel. Relive theexcitement of this great event with this superb march.

Blue Horizons (“Horizons bleus“) est un tryptique mystérieux puissant et luminescent qui dépeint l’univers de la mer et les créatures marines. 1. Dans Luminescent Creatures (“Créatures luminescentes”) le compositeur décrit l’univers marin à mille mètres de profondeur ; un monde sans lumière qui ressemble à une tache d’encre. Pour capturer les rares proies que l’on trouve dans ces eaux obscures des créatures abyssales se servent d’organes luminescents. Des bouches énormes et des estomacs dilatables donnent aux poissons un aspect ancestral et leur offrent la possibilité d’exploiter à l’infini les ressources alimentaires peu abondantes dans les profondeursde l’océan. 2. Leviathan against Kraken (“Le Leviathan contre le Kraken”) relate le combat meurtrier qui oppose les deux plus puissants prédateurs marins le cachalot et la pieuvre géante. On sait en effet que le cachalot et la pieuvre géante s’engagent dans des combats titanesques. Mais qui est l’agresseur ? Qui est la victime ? Le cachalot peut évoluer pendant près de deux heures à trois mille mètres de profondeur pour se nourrir de ces pieuvres géantes. Ces dernières lui infligent de cruelles blessures avec leurs ventouses laissant des cicatrices sur sa peau. Dans la mesure où d’autres espèces de baleine plongent dans les mêmes profondeurs que le cachalot mais ne portent pas de cicatrices similaires on peut donc supposer que l’agresseur est le cachalot. 3. The Blue Whale fait référence à la majestueuse baleine bleue ; le plus grand de tous les êtres vivants ayant jamais existé sur notre planète. Bleu mot à double sens puisque l’on s’aperçoit rapidement des dangers auxquels l’océan et ses habitants sont confrontés. Nombreux sont les déchets industriels et biologiques déversés dans l’océan ; des déchets contenant souvent des substances chimiques qui altèrent ou anéantissent la chaîne alimentaire. Le pétrole brut empoisonne la mer ; la pêche excessive fait de nombreuses créatures marines des espèces en voie de disparition ou en

The Thieving Magpie - Overture-In the monumental overture to the opera La Gazza Ladra (The Thieving Magpie) Gioachino Rossini employs themes from the opera itself in order to prepare the audience for the material to come. The overture contains themes that stay long in the memory of the listener as well as spectacular use of the famous Rossini crescendo. This wonderful arrangement for concert band from Franco Cesarini retains all of La Gazza Ladra ’s original charm and is ideal as a concert opener.

This composition by Bertrand Moren presents various dreams which could have an effect on a dreamer’s life. Its very high level of difficulty provides a great challenge for the conductor and musicians. You will be taken through a living Nightmare with spine-chilling passages as dissonant chords alternate with aggressive percussion. Daydream is a patchwork of solos with all the brass band soloists playing serene and soft melodic lines with a virtuosic trombone cadenza. Finally Visions portrays visions of insanity reflected by violent and discordant descending motifs leading to visions of joy presented in a sparkling and cheerful finale.

Last Call was commissioned by and written for Brass Band Oberösterreich (Austria) as a special concert finale. Austrian composer Otto M. Schwarz was asked to write an encore piece with which the band could really show off. Featuring all the sections of the band in turn your audience will surely be dazzled by their skills!

Electric Light Orchestra (ELO) est un groupe de rock originaire de Birmingham qui a connu ses heures de gloire dans les années 1970 décennie ouverte à de nombreuses expérimentations. Celles d'ELO ont séduit par leur inventivité s’appuyant sur une rencontre subtile entre rock musique classique et pop. Emmené par son leader Jeff Lynne le groupe a connu de nombreux succès tels que l’incontournable Mr. Blue Sky . L’arrangement de Gilbert Tinner est aussi lumineux que le titre original.

(1872)-This overture called Sinfonia is without doubt one of the best original works for concert band to emerge from the 19th century. It is characterised by its fluid spontaneity as well as its rich texture. This arrangement off ers bands the opportunity to perform a work of high artistic value which otherwise would be forgotten.

This piece was commissioned by a brass band from the Jura in Switzerland to thank its resigning conductor for his loyalty and work. The first and last sections of this composition develop a joyful and highly energetic theme which expresses the complete commitment required of a conductor in order to get the best out of the musicians. The central passage mirrors an atmosphere full of nostalgia. After so many years of intense and relentless work it is always difficult for a keen conductor to retire.

Those who dare to dream can access a world of hope and those who believe in miracles open their eyes to wonders everywhere! Gilbert Tinner was inspired by these thoughts when he composed this dynamic concert piece. Dreams fantasies and visions are represented with an array of colourful tones that are brought together through expressive musical themes.

Terra Vulcania paints impressive and captivating musical images depicting the creation history and life today in the Styrian Vulkanland Austria. Powerful and explosive natural forces create a foundation for growth interrupted by political strife and uncertainty until the fire and chaos of years past give way to a bright future. Embracing their unique geographical setting people of this region have learned to live in harmony with nature.

As performed by Queen-The rock anthem We Are the Champions was one of Queen’s largest hits and is instantly recognised by all. This monster hit is now available in an authentic-sounding brass band arrangement by Gilbert Tinner.

Le cortège du roi Renaud is a suite in five parts. It is based on tales that originated in southern European folk songs dating back as far as the 16th century. A large portion of these songs are of the genre Complaintes songs in which the text gives a detailed description of events having a generally criminal or macabre character. The most familiar song to feature the tales of Roi Renaud is Fualdes consisting of 48 verses.The first part of the suite is based on the song La Porcheronne (The Swineherd). It telis the story of a young woman forced by her mother-in-law to tend pigs while her husband is away fighting in the war. She is freed only when her husband returns sevenyears later.The next part tells the story of La mrquise Empoisonnée (The Poisoned Marquise). A marquise is coerced by her king to become his mistress. The jealous queen poisons her by means of a bouquet of deadly scented fiowers.Despite having the character of a merry dance the third part La maumariée vengee (The Avenged Wedding) expresses the touching story of Queen Clotilde persecuted for her refusal to live according to the Aryan beliefs.La belle engloutie (The Swallowed Beauty) relates the tale of the young wife of King Renaud. She cannot imagine a life without her husband who was mortally wounded in the war and begs the earth to open and swallow her up so thst she may rejoin her love.The gruesome content of the final part Le tueur de femmes (The Wife Killer) bears a strong resembiance to the tale of Bluebeard. The story is about a young wife in danger of being drowned in a pond by her husband which is what happened to her 13 predecessors. Thanks to her cunning she manages to turn the tables and contrive her husband's demise.

See You! is a little farewell song. Farewell scenes are a prominent part of the most touching elements of film music. Just think of the soundtrack to the great film Casablanca which became famous overnight. See You! is not intended to be a permanent good-bye but more a ‘see you soon’. It has been especially composed for young bands or smaller ensembles who want to try a more modern style of band music.

The Latin word Momentum has come to mean many different things in our language: a short period of time a force or a speed of movement. In our current times of around-the-clock high speed and energy the composer wanted to write a refl ective and meditative piece that focuses on the moment at hand. An ideal point of rest for your concert programme!

In writing this piece Gino Bergamini was inspired by the figure of Davy Crockett hunter and pioneer in the colonisation of the western part of North America. The piece is built entirely on the smooth succession of intriguing themes and characterised by sharp rhythms. The themes after a short elaboration with an expressive and meaningful style return in a finale with rich sonority to recreate the fascinating atmosphere of that mythical hero Davy Crockett.