Band

The Harbour:Sunday Morning was commissioned by the Jersey Instrumental Service for the Jersey Youth Wind Band. The history of the Channel Islands is inextricably linked to the sea and this determined the theme for this composition. The composer is intrigued by man's fascination with elements of nature (such as the sea, mountains, deserts and deep space), which are both beautiful and dangerous. Bring the power of the sea to your concert with this truly descriptive piece.

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 delightful version for concert band. A must for any Christmas concert.

One of the most beautiful songs ever written. Philip Sparke's sumptuous arrangement of this Stephen Foster classic will make a perfect item to bring a few minutes of peace and calm tranquillity to any concert. The lush harmonies, so characteristic of Philip Sparke's arranging. Once you have played this, you will want it on every concert program.

The idea behind this work was to create an opening piece, something to start a concert in an unusual way. The title is a portmanteau word derived from madrigal. The work indeed begins in Renaissance mood however gradually tries to shake of its modal start and, by contrasting different instrumental families, the work changes into modern clothes. Why not add a little Renaissance splendor to any concert with this unique new work?

The Four Noble Truths are the most basic expression of the teaching of Buddha and therefore still form the guidelines for Buddhists to this day. They concern themselves with Dukkha, which has no exact translation but can mean suffering, stress or sadness etc. Magga is The Noble Truth of the Path Leading to the Cessation of Dukkha - the Fourth Noble Truth - which gives us a description of eight disciplines which can help us eliminate the origins of stress from our lives.