| Welcome to BandMusic. We hope you enjoy your visit. You're currently viewing our forum as a guest. This means you are limited to certain areas of the board and there are some features you can't use. If you join our community, you'll be able to access member-only sections, and use many member-only features such as customizing your profile, sending personal messages, and voting in polls. Registration is simple, fast, and completely free. Join our community! If you're already a member please log in to your account to access all of our features: |
| Philip Sparke; Music Pieces by Philip Sparke | |
|---|---|
| Topic Started: Nov 13 2004, 12:44 AM (316 Views) | |
| ChEnG Fu | Nov 13 2004, 12:44 AM Post #1 |
|
Unregistered
|
Title of Piece: Clarinet Concerto Composer: Philip Sparke Level of Difficulty: Grade 2 Publisher: Anglo Music Press Perfomance Time: approx. 16 minutes Piece Description: Clarinet soloist Linda Merrick is a long-time friend of the composer Philip Sparke and is married to fellow composer, Martin Ellerby. As part of a dynamic and forward-looking PhD thesis on works for clarinet and concert band, Linda has researched the existing repertoire in addition to commissioning several new concerti from leading British composers, including Martin Ellerby and Nigel Clarke. A fascinating part of the thesis described different composers’ attitudes to being asked to change details of the finished piece to make them either technically or musically more appropriate. Philip Sparke usually waits until a piece is fully finished before presenting it to anyone, but in this case Linda asked to be kept informed of the complete process of composition, including material which did not make it into the final work. Throughout the process, the composer sent sketches to the soloist, who advised on technical difficulties and suggested articulation changes. The original concept was for a suite of short movements, each with its own character, but by the time the first movement was complete, it was clear that a conventional three-movement format was going to work out better. The opening movement contains much syncopation and is almost rag-like in style. The slower second movement explores initially the chalumeau register of the clarinet in a theme that is later taken up by the band whilst the soloist weaves a filigree descant. This leads straight into the third movement, which is almost bee-bop in style and shows off the jazzier side of the clarinet. Adapted From www.philipsparke.com |
 
|
|
| ChEnG Fu | Nov 13 2004, 12:45 AM Post #2 |
|
Unregistered
|
Title of Piece: Jubilee Overture Composer: Philip Sparke Level of Difficulty: Grade 4 Publisher: Studio Music Perfomance Time: approx. 8 minutes Piece Description: Jubilee Overture was commissioned for the fiftieth anniversary of the British-based GUS Brass Band and first performed by them at the band’s Golden Jubilee Concert in 1983, Keith Wilkinson conducting. It was transcribed for wind band in 1984. The work opens with a two-part fanfare - a brass flourish followed by a reflective chorale for the winds. This builds to a climax as the flourish returns. A lively allegro follows, with many changes of meter and a robust tune from the horns and saxophones. Eventually a cantabile tune emerges from the middle of the band, which everyone then plays before the allegro returns. A brief repeat of the opening fanfare precedes a presto coda. Adapted From www.philipsparke.com |
|
|
|
| ChEnG Fu | Nov 13 2004, 12:45 AM Post #3 |
|
Unregistered
|
Title of Piece: Orient Express Composer: Philip Sparke Level of Difficulty: Grade 5 Publisher: Studio Music Perfomance Time: approx. 8 minutes Piece Description: The BBC commissioned Orient Express in 1986 as its entry in the EBU New Music for Band Competition, where it won first prize. In an attempt to find a pan-European subject, the composer chose the luxury train and the piece is a musical journey across Europe. It opens with the hustle and bustle of a busy station and at last the train gets underway. A short moment of reflection leads back to the final stage of the journey and arrival at our final destination. Adapted From www.philipsparke.com |
|
|
|
| ChEnG Fu | Nov 13 2004, 12:45 AM Post #4 |
|
Unregistered
|
Title of Piece: Postcard from Singapore Composer: Philip Sparke Level of Difficulty: Grade 3 Publisher: Anglo Music Press Perfomance Time: approx. 9 minutes Piece Description: POSTCARD FROM SINGAPORE was commissioned by M.A.S.T. Music, Singapore, for a concert featuring Philip Sparke’s music when he conducted the Singapore Armed Forces Central Band. The first performance took place on 23rd July 2003. The three movements are based on traditional folk songs, popular as children’s songs throughout Singapore. The first movement is based on Gelang Sipaku Gelang, a well-loved folksong which has become associated with the Geylang area and which is a song about community spirit, about living together in harmony. The slower second movement uses Di-Tanjung Katong, a song which is popular with children’s choirs. Tanjung Katong is a district on the south eastern coast of Singapore. The third movement uses two traditional melodies: Lenggang Kangkung tells of the graceful swaying of watercress in the rice paddy fields and this is eventually combined contrapuntally with Munnaeru Vaalibaa. Adapted From www.philipsparke.com |
|
|
|
| ChEnG Fu | Nov 13 2004, 12:46 AM Post #5 |
|
Unregistered
|
Title of Piece: The Year of the Dragon Composer: Philip Sparke Level of Difficulty: Grade 5 Publisher: Studio Music Perfomance Time: approx. 12 minutes Piece Description: 1 Toccata This should be played with ‘malice’. The side drum should be as loud as possible at the starts and rhythms should drive forward with accents firmly made. At C the various components of the legato theme should be carefully balanced. At E the music needs to dance along in contrast to what has gone before; the markings are an indication of how the phrasing should be grouped. Be carefully that the low brass do not drag F; the tempo of the whole movement may depend on how the cope with this passage. From G onwards the movement should fade to nothing. 2 Interlude Start with some movement in the music and slow the ‘Lento’. 1st alto sax can take the solo if there is no english horn available and it should be played with flexibility but not too slowly. A bass clarinet with an extension to low C is a help there but not essential. H should only be slightly faster. Listen carefully for balance and intonation at J and try to attain a real ‘ppp’. From here to the first bar on page 34 there should be a noticeable, but not abrupt, increase in tempo. Lead into the Finale without a break. 3 Finale To create excitement, this should be played as fast as possible without inducing a scramble. Make sure that the chosen tempo is strictly maintained and does not vary with player’s abilities to play the notes. Rehearsals will probably benefit from playing under tempo in the initial stages to secure good rhythm. Make sure the Horns only play ‘poco sfp’ after P. Bells* and Glockenspiel at S should blend together into a distant ‘jangle’ without any one instrument being prominent. Bassoon and clarinets should sound like distant fanfares. Balance maybe a problem from 8th bar of X - the percussion should be exuberant without completely drowning the rest of the band. The final drumbeat should sound like the Gates of Hades closing. *The term ‘Bells’ is used in its English sense, i.e. ‘Tubular Bells’ or ‘Chimes’. Adapted From www.philipsparke.com |
|
|
|
| nick_fl | Apr 4 2005, 11:27 PM Post #6 |
|
Hanover Festival Wilten Festival Overture ( I like this  )
|
 |
|
| « Previous Topic · Compositions Corner · Next Topic » |
3:22 AM Nov 26
