Anglo Music

Named after the leaf displayed on Canada's flag, Maple Leaf Overture was composed specifically to open a Canadian school's symphonic band tour of England. A short fanfare during the overture smoothly...

Christmas is full of customs and traditions, both old and new. This is especially evident in Christmas songs, some of which have been part of Christian worship for centuries. A Medieval Christmas comb...

The title of this work refers to the Tall Ship Race, in which large sailing ships annually appear at various European destinations. The work consists of a slow introduction, which describes the majest...

The title of this work refers to the Tall Ship Race, in which large sailing ships annually appear at various European destinations. The work consists of a slow introduction, which describes the majest...

This celebratory work, which Philip Sparke wrote for the 20th anniversary of the Nottingham Concert Band, starts with a hymn-like theme played as a fanfare in the brass. With a change of mood from 'so...

The composer writes: 'On March 11th 2011 a massive 9. 0- magnitude earthquake occurred off the coast of north-eastern Japan. I'm writing these programme notes barely a week later and the death toll ca...

The composer writes: 'On March 11th 2011 a massive 9. 0- magnitude earthquake occurred off the coast of north-eastern Japan. I'm writing these programme notes barely a week later and the death toll ca...

Of Skies, Rivers, Lakes and Mountains was commissioned by the Northern California Band Directors' Association to honour their 50th Anniversary in 2012. The first performance was given by the Associati...

Five States of Change was commissioned by Kunstfactor for the 4th section of the Dutch National Brass Band Championships (NBK) 2011. It is dedicated to Jappie Dijkstra and the Music Information Centre...

The Song of the Bell was commissioned by Stadtmusikkapelle Wilten, from Innsbruck, Austria, and premiered by them on 21st April 2012, conducted by Peter Kostner. The piece is based on Friedrich Schill...

Looking Up, Moving On was commissioned by the Tokyo Kosei Wind Orchestra and was part of a tour programme they gave in May 2012, a tour which included many areas that had been devastated by the 2011 e...

Philip Sparke's Of Myths and Monsters links thematically to his work Music of the Spheres. The Hydra, Cassiopeia, Orion and Pegasus are the constellations and corresponding Greek myths depicted in thi...

Golden Winds was commissioned by Jugendblasorchester Schramberg, Germany, to celebrate their 50th anniversary in 2012. They gave the premiere, conducted by Andreas Hirt, at their Christmas concert tha...

Dance of the Whale was commissioned by the Spanish music foundation, Musica et Orbi, at the instigation of its president, Frank De Vuyst. It is part of a unique project which involved nine composers e...

Dance of the Whale was commissioned by the Spanish music foundation, Musica et Orbi, at the instigation of its president, Frank De Vuyst. It is part of a unique project which involved nine composers e...

The Shakers were a sect who, in the 18th Century, sailed out from England to America. Right into the late 19th Century, the numerous songs of this community were handed down orally, until they were wr...

The work opens with a stern fanfare in bare fifths, which leads to a cantabile theme introduced by alto saxophone. This builds to a climax and reintroduces the fanfare, which slowly evolves into the s...

The melody of this Christmas carol comes originally from a Finnish songbook of 1582, containing a collection of 74 medieval songs together with Latin texts. The version arranged by Gustav Holst became...

Fanfare for Tokyo was commissioned by the Tokyo Wind Symphony Orchestra to celebrate its 50th anniversary in 2013. It was premiered at their special anniversary concert in October that year, conducted...

Spirit of Endeavour is a virtuosic piece of music with a positive musical message. It tells the story of a wind band embracing hard work, friendship, musical excellence, love, marriage and birth, as w...

Spirit of Endeavour is a virtuosic piece of music with a positive musical message. It tells the story of a wind band embracing hard work, friendship, musical excellence, love, marriage and birth, as w...

Wind Sketches is a top quality concert work for wind band in three movements, inspired by the relationship between man and wind. Trade Winds, in the form of a march, is reminiscent of a shanty, conjur...

With Clouds Descending is a fantasy on the powerful Advent hymn Helmsley which is long associated with another Advent hymn - Wesley's Lo! He Comes with Clouds Descending. The hymn tune is divided into...

Philip Sparke's third symphony, A Colour Symphony, was commissioned by 'sinfonischen blasorchester wehdel' conducted by Thomas Ratzek. In the five movements (white, yellow, blue, red and green) the c...