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EASY – EASY-MEDIUM – MEDIUM – MEDIUM-DIFFICULT
EASY
A WORLD AWAY
This piece contains two distinctively different themes – a traditional European folk song sounding melody and a Japanese inspired one. Each melody is introduced on its own, then they are combined – with both themes playing simultaneously! This creates a very effective and beautiful sonority. This piece was written to celebrate the twinning of two cities – one in Canada and the other in Japan.
AND ALL WAS WELL
And All Was Well is a lyrical piece which features various players in the ensemble. This composition provides a great opportunity for musicians to develop many performance techniques, such as playing long, legato phrases, intonation and balance, as well as other musical concepts, including syncopated and dotted rhythms.
THE INTREPID
The Intrepid is a piece that is aggressive in nature, designed to depict someone that is brave, therefore the majority of the music is to be played bold and crisp. Melodies are relatively simple, using mainly the first six or seven notes taught in most method books. Strong rhythmic unisons, fun parts for all and even some clapping make this a hit with students and audiences.
THE SIEGE
This piece was composed to reflect a medieval scene of an army attacking a castle. Fun parts to play for all while focusing on using the first six notes learned in most method books.
VIDA DEL SOL
Vida del Sol (Life of the Sun) is a straight ahead Latin chart with a catchy groove and interesting parts for all players. With lots of opportunity to work on both technical and jazz skills, young musicians will find this chart both fun and challenging to play. There are written out solos included for both trumpets and trombone.
EASY-MEDIUM
BRAVE WOLFE
This mournful piece is based on a Canadian folk song which is an account of the Battle of the Plains of Abraham, where the British, led by General Wolfe, captured Quebec City from the French, under General Montcalm. This lyrical arrangement makes use of rich harmonies influenced by jazz and pop music. There are some great solo sections to feature a talented flugel horn, cornet and euphonium member of the ensemble.
THE FINAL DESCENT
The term ‘final descent’ has many meanings. This composition is a musical representation of the last push to achieve a goal: it is suspenseful, dramatic, exciting, emotional and most importantly, fun to play!
THE GODS OF EGYPT
Gods of Egypt is a piece composed with the flare of music of the Middle East. A strong opening using a traditional Middle Eastern scale and counter melody immediately create the feel for this piece.
HANUKKAH SWING
This is a fun, traditional Hanukkah song arranged in a jump swing style. From beginning to end, the chart is full of high energy, and incorporates hints of classic swing tunes. Although there is a written solo for the trumpet, chord changes are included, allowing opportunity for improvisation.
MAIDEN VOYAGE
Maiden Voyage is a song about celebration. Although the term ‘maiden voyage’ refers to a boat’s first adventure, it can represent any first successful event. Great rhythmic interest and memorable themes make this a fun piece to play and ideal for contest or concert use.
SHIMMER
Shimmer is a calm, reflective piece that is reflected by the meaning of the word itself: to shine with a subdued flickering light, as in a reflection on water. The main melody is simple and repeated several times throughout, each time mixed with various harmonies, contrapuntal techniques, rhythmical figures, or counter melodies, to keep the music interesting for performers and listeners.
WESTERN FAIR
Western Fair is an energetic, uplifting piece that can be fun for both players to perform and listeners to hear. It is composed using two main melodies that are performed in many forms, combined in various fragments and supported with different harmonic backgrounds, giving it new life each time it is heard. The piece slowly builds from a simple flugel horn solo into an epic, cut-time feel in the middle before driving to an exciting ending.
MEDIUM
A RIFT IN TIME
The title, A Rift in Time, represents this piece perfectly, as it is a great way to introduce developing musicians to the 7/8 (2+2+3) metre, with the ‘rift’ being the extra beat in the ‘time’ signature to give the song the distinctive feel. Great rhythmic parts and memorable melodies are found throughout.
GLEN AND GALLEY
The title of this suite refers to the headdress (the glen) worn by the cadets of the Lorne Scots Royal Canadian Army Cadet Corps and the galley is the Galley of Lorne, which is displayed on the coat of arms for the Dukes of Argyll. This piece is set in 3 contrasting sections, each with a Scottish feel – The Sapling Grows, Colonel Parker and For Our Heritage.
JAGGED
The word jagged can be defined by either 1) having a rough or harsh quality or 2) having a sharply uneven surface or outline. Both of these definitions are reflected by this piece through the constant changing of feel, irregular rhythmical patterns, sudden dynamic changes, often changing of direction in melodies and motifs. Dramatic, catchy and exciting parts for all in this original piece.
THE LION HEART
The Lion Heart is a great way to describe one who is brave, be it a soldier, knight, or a member of society who risks their lives everyday to keep others safe. The piece is meant to be strong from start to finish, with some short contrasting sections. This fun symphonic march offers interesting parts for all.
RISE OF THE ANCIENTS
Ancient civilizations represent many things about life as we know it today: power, beauty, intelligence, and ambition. This piece reflects all of these qualities, from the driving force of the ancient armies, to the elegance of ancient architecture.
THE TIDES OF FATE
For those who have enjoyed Last Voyage of the Queen Anne s Revenge or Burning of the Royal Fortune, here is another exciting installment to the pirate theme at a more challenging level. All the world loves a pirate theme. Argh!
TURMOIL
This piece reflects the title accurately: chaotic, extreme contrasts and loud.Although it presents several challenges, it is a piece designed to capture the interest of both young musicians and listeners. Fiery rhythmic drive and memorable melodies will make this a successful choice on a concert or contest.
MEDIUM-DIFFICULT
KAALIN’S FLIGHT
This piece was influenced by the music of the Middle East and India. ‘Kaalin’ is the Hindi word for ‘rug’, much like the one ridden by Aladdin in the famous story. This piece can even be considered a programmatic piece, as if someone were riding a magic carpet through the Arabic or Indian communities.
SANTA’S SLEIGH RIDE
Santa’s Sleigh Ride is a creative arrangement of Up on the Housetop as it would be heard in various cultures from around the world. The original melody has been mixed with traditional songs or has been modified to fit the style of music well known to these cultures. Regions covered by Santa during this clever arrangement include The Caribbean, Hawaii, India, Japan and the USA.