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Travel The World Through Music

#FlexibleFriends: WORLD TOUR

There are no travel restrictions with our World Tour Flexi-Collection series offering flexible scoring for Lockdown-Limit-Friendly playing – regardless of how your group size grows over the coming months, our Flexi-Collection titles can grow with you.

The Flexi-Collection – World Tour Series is a collection of eight original compositions by Steve Robson, intended to give a flavour of the many styles of traditional music represented by the key selected countries.

  • African DawnSouth Africa – A chant with responses
  • Buenes Aires: You’ve Been Tango’dArgentina – A national dance
  • Caribbean CalypsoTrinidad – Afro-Caribbean dance genre
  • Children of ChernigovUkraine – A Cossack dance
  • Square DanceUSA – a hoe-down dance
  • Terracotta Army of Mount Li China – Inspired by a unique discovery
  • What’s The Matter HornSwitzerland – A knee-slapping Alpine dance
  • Windmills of La ManchaSpain – Inspired by literary genius

Available in print (score and parts) both as individual titles or as a complete album (at a discounted price) of all eight titles:

The series also provides a collection of educational and further learning information to assist band trainers of younger groups in maximising the benefits of their rehearsal and performance times.

Every part of the world has developed its own musical traditions, and it is hoped that within the medium of a brass band, the musicians and audiences will be able to identify with the inspiration behind each of the pieces, and hopefully learn a little about how the different cultures have evolved.

Individually, the pieces are of a manageable length and offer development challenges for younger players, and flexible repertoire for brass ensembles/bands from 6 – 600+ players! Whilst the pieces can be selected individually for a performance, their diversity in musical style lends them very well to presenting the full collection as one epic performance.

Encouragement for Percussionists
Every piece has the opportunity to use a range of percussion, from basic to ambitious. This will really add to the overall experience if you can you have any budding percussionists in your group, but the music is scored to ensure it will also work well with just the brass parts.

Learn Together Moments (LTMs)
Every individual part for each of the 8 pieces in the collection includes two pages of ‘Learn Together Moments’ and a further page of rudimentary theory information and references. Together, these are designed as an educational aid to introduce the musical skills included in the Flexi-Collection – World Tour Series, which may be new to some or all of your players.

LTMs give an opportunity for the whole band to warm up together, and focus on these new skills as a group. There is also the
opportunity for the percussion players to join in whilst the brass players can experiment with how it feels to be a percussionist!

Further Learning Through “Check It Out” Suggestions
As support for developing/younger groups, each score includes background information about the piece and/or its inspiration as a helpful, ready-prepared introduction for conductors to use at concerts. In addition to the musical information, further learning suggestions are also offered through the Check-It-Out listings. These suggest related topics for the players to research, consider and discuss, making rehearsals educationally multi-faceted and a way to invoke a better understanding of the influences that make music an ever-evolving art-from.

Performance Ideas
So much of our folk culture and music is associated with dance forms, and so several of the pieces present opportunities to consider collaborating with a local dance group or school to include a visual aspect to the performance. Caribbean Calypso in particular also opens the stage to the possibility of a joint performance with a Steel Band, so the possibilities are endless.

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New Solo, Duet and Trio Series Launched

#HomeHelpers #FlexibleFriends: Steps for 1, 2 and 3 Series is Launched!

We’re delighted to announce the launch of our new repertoires series for developing players – Steps for 1, 2 and 3.

Flying Solo offers 12 unaccompanied solo studies for players of around grades 4-6; Double The Adventure offers 25 duets for players of Prep Test – Grade 3 standard; and Travelling Trios offers 16 trios for players of Prep Test – Grade 3 standard.

This series includes books of solos, duets and trios presenting a variety of progressive original repertoires for all treble clef brass instruments. Each books supports developing players through new music which focuses on the keys of the scales required by examination boards. Thereby, generating an engaging and solid key-signature-learning link for the student, whilst enabling the instrumental tutor to expand their delivery approach in an individual or group teaching environment.

Colour-coded for easier reference:
Blue = Prep Test – Grade 3 player standard
Red = Grade 4 – Grade 6 player standard

Available in both print and downloadable formats, the currently available books include:

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Wired

#LivenUpYourLibrary: WIRED

This highly acclaimed concert piece, composed by Lucy Pankhurst, was originally written as a showcase for the Leyland Band.

It has a strong rhythmic element, a great opportunity for the percussion team to shine and makes for an energetic, non-stop, fast-paced toe-tapping experience for all to enjoy!

Wired – view score extracts, hear sound samples and purchase in print.

Don’t just take our word for it, see it in action with this great performance by Oslofjord Brass at the 2010 Grenland International Brass Festival 2010.

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International Women’s Day 2021

#IWD2021: FEMALE CREATIVITY

All our female composers and arrangers at The Music Company (UK) Ltd bring so much imagination to our music catalogue. We’re celebrating International Women’s Day in their honour!

So, a big THANK YOU to:

  • Elaine Agnew
  • Sandy Coffin
  • Helen Douthwaite
  • Sue Hopkins
  • Lucy Pankhurst
  • Lynsey Paterson

What have they contributed to our selection of music? Search their names on our website and be amazed at what you see.

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Third Book of Trumpet Solos

#HomeHelpers: THIRD BOOK OF TRUMPET SOLOS

Arranged and composed by John Wallace and John Miller, this volume continues the celebrated solo series. The collection is aimed at all Bb cornet/trumpet/flugelhorn players of grade 1-4 standard, but is just as accessible for baritone and euphonium players too.

The book includes a collection of 15 ‘classic’ and contemporary solos from Bartok, Reiche, Smyth, Betthoven, Dvorak, Verdi, Elgar, Bizet, Mouret and Wallace. The solo book is provided with downloadable performance backing tracks of real instrumental accompaniment, which include tracks of solo and accompaniment, accompaniment only and accompaniment at a reduced speed to support the learner’s progress.

The solo book is available in print or download format, and the piano accompaniment is currently available in print. There is also a special money-saving complete package which includes the solo and piano accompaniment books. The downloadable backing tracks are provided with all purchases of the solo book, in whatever form they are purchased.

Find out more on our website about each option:

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The Watch On The Rhine

#AllAboutYou: THE WATCH ON THE RHINE

A solo for Bb cornet/trumpet, baritone or euphonium with piano accompaniment (arr. John Wallace).

Based on the famous German patriotic song, John describes it as “a real beauty”. This is an arrangement of one of John Hartmann’s lesser known solos, made up of the popular and traditional format of introduction, theme and variations.

The Watch On The Rhine is currently available in print format, and a downloadable version will be released soon.

Here’s a snapshot audio of John Wallace performing it on an 1862 Bayley Acoustic Model cornet for you to enjoy:

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Flexi-Collection – Popular Classics Series

#FlexibleFriends: POPULAR CLASSICS

Flexibility is a must in these times of staggered return to playing. The 8 titles arranged by Andrew Duncan in our Flexi-Collection Popular Classics series offers just that.

Based on 4-part harmony you can make music together whatever your ensemble size might be today or in the future.

Available individually or as a complete album, each title is supplied with world parts; programme and performance notes; and helpful rudimentary theory guidance to teach and reiterate the basics of music.

Available titles in the series:

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Just Tunes

#HomeHelpers: JUST TUNES

A comprehensive compilation of original compositions by Martin Thomson, for Bb Valved instruments and Trombone (TC/BC) supplied with real instrumental backing tracks.

Just Tunes is aimed at prep through to Grade 4/5 level. The collection offers both student and teacher an ideal resource to extend a wider musical knowledge.

Available in print or downloadable formats:

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Hills of the North Rejoice

#LivenUpYourLibrary: HILLS OF THE NORTH REJOICE

A beautiful arrangement for brass band by Steve Robson, based on the melody by Martin Shaw ‘Little Cornard’. A perfect new addition to your band library in anticipation of some great post-pandemic performances.

See and hear it in action with our score extracts and sound samples.

Thanks also to The Reg Vardy Band for this stunning performance: