Little Hymn was composed by award-winning composer Simon Dobson (b.1981) to provide an alternative to the traditional hymn tune settings that provide one of the foundations of the brass band repertoire. This simple haunting melody begins on a brass quartet without cornets. The full band joins for the second part which rises to a richly textured climax before receding to a quiet reflective close…

Complete score and full set of parts for Philip Sparke's Suite From Hymn To The Highlands for Brass Band. This work draws three expressive musical pictures of the Scottish highlands. The first movement Ardross Castle contains solo passages for horn and baritone and features a fascinating bagpipe melody. The second movement Alladale is a trio for tenor horn flugel horn and baritone with an acc…

Meditation on 'Quem Pastores Laudavere'-Carol of the Shepherds is based on the hymn tune 'Quem Pastores Laudavere' which dates back to the 14th century and is widely known throughout the Christian world. Although the melody has been set to a number of different texts in different countries it was originally a carol celebrating the Christmas story in particular the visit of the Angel Gabriel to th…

Christina Rossetti wrote the words to this famous Christmas carol in 1872 in response to a request from the magazine Scribner's Monthly for a Christmas poem. They were set to music by Gustav Holst (1874-1934) for inclusion in the first edition (1906) of The English Hymnal edited by his life-long friend Ralph Vaughan Williams. Philip Sparke has carefully arranged the beautiful melody into this de…

No. 1 of Two Hymns of Praise-A tremendous celebratory work arranged by John Rutter for Mixed Choir and Brass Ensemble. Now Thank We All Our God starts with a triumphant fanfare introduction and is a majestic and inspiring piece. It is based on Ecclesiasticus 50:22-24 a 17th Century text by Martin Rinkart and it is believed that it was written for a celebration service to mark the end of the Thir…

Chamber opera in a prologue and one act. A ghost story telling of the mysterious disappearance of three lighthouse keepers in the Hebrides. This is a mystery story in the form of a chamber opera. The prologue is set as acourt of enquiry into the unexplained disappearance of the three keepers from a lighthouse. Questions are posed by a solo horn which may sound from among the audience and three …