Music for Happiness

As the title suggests, the Austrian composer Gerald Oswald’s work Music for Happiness aims above all to convey a message: the great joy in making music together. Music making is joyful and relaxing, and brings a carefree, liberating freedom into the lives of listeners and musicians alike. It conjures a smile on our lips and inspires us to perform in our daily lives with gusto and spirit.

Music for Happiness

As the title suggests, the Austrian composer Gerald Oswald’s work Music for Happiness aims above all to convey a message: the great joy in making music together. Music making is joyful and relaxing, and brings a carefree, liberating freedom into the lives of listeners and musicians alike. It conjures a smile on our lips and inspires us to perform in our daily lives with gusto and spirit.

Joueurs de flûte : selected and performed by Franco Cesarini

Following La flûte au salon and Belle Époque, Franco Cesarini dedicated himself once more to French chamber music: Joueurs de flûte presents a delightful selection of compositions for flute and piano produced in France around the turn of the 20th century. The composers included in this book represent a wide stylistic diversity—from the flute virtuoso Paul Taffanel and the late-Romantic Gabriel Fauré to the more progressive Albert Roussel. Demo and accompaniment recordings included (available online as downloadable mp3s), this edition is the ideal to listen to, or use as a valuable practice aid—and of course for the sheer enjoyment!

Pastorale de Provence

Cesarini composed this work as a tribute to the memory of Darius Milhaud, born a century earlier in Aix-en-Provence, France. The premiere, conducted by the composer, was presented by the Civic Philharmonic of Balerna in December, 1992. The titles of the four-part suite include: La Villageoise (The Village Maiden), Le petit berger (The Little Shepherd), La Princesse (The Princess) and Le Lutin (The Imp). The numerous musical reference themes begin with five folksongs from the Provence region and continue with melodies written by French composers of the seventeenth century. Additional interest is created by the use of old dance forms (Ronde, Musette, Pavane and Farandole) toillustrate each historical character.

Thème de Sébastien

Pastorale de Provence

Cesarini composed this work as a tribute to the memory of Darius Milhaud, born a century earlier in Aix-en-Provence, France. The premiere, conducted by the composer, was presented by the Civic Philharmonic of Balerna in December, 1992. The titles of the four-part suite include: La Villageoise (The Village Maiden), Le petit berger (The Little Shepherd), La Princesse (The Princess) and Le Lutin (The Imp). The numerous musical reference themes begin with five folksongs from the Provence region and continue with melodies written by French composers of the seventeenth century. Additional interest is created by the use of old dance forms (Ronde, Musette, Pavane and Farandole) toillustrate each historical character.

Thème de Sébastien

Thème de Sébastien

Thème de Sébastien

Thème de Sébastien

The Police on Stage

British rock band The Police enjoyed their greatest successes during the early 1980’s. The group’s members were Stewart Copeland, Andy Summer and Gordon Sumner, who went on to enjoy a massive solo career as Sting. Stefan Schwalgin’s medley, The Police on Stage, brings together some of the trio’s biggest hits: Roxanne, De Doo Doo Doo De Da Da Da, Every Breath You Take and Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic.

The Police on Stage

British rock band The Police enjoyed their greatest successes during the early 1980’s. The group’s members were Stewart Copeland, Andy Summer and Gordon Sumner, who went on to enjoy a massive solo career as Sting. Stefan Schwalgin’s medley, The Police on Stage, brings together some of the trio’s biggest hits: Roxanne, De Doo Doo Doo De Da Da Da, Every Breath You Take and Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic.

La Flauta Romántica : Romantic Pieces from Spain

The pieces collected in LA FLAUTA ROMANTICA were written by three of the greatest Spanish instrumental virtuosi of their time: the pianists Isaac Albéniz and Enrique Granados as well as the violinist Pablo de Sarasate. When transcribing their piecesthe aim was to both create convincing chamber music works for flute and to preserve the typical Spanish sound idiom of this music. The CD provides demo tracks as well as the accompaniments of each piece. Contents: Tango in D (Albéniz) • Intermezzo (Granados) • Malagueña (Albéniz) • Prière et Berceuse (De Sarasate) • Oriental (Granados) • Serenata española (Albéniz) • Danza melancólica (Granados).

Il Giudizio Universale : Poema sinfonico

Camillo De Nardis’ Il giudizio universale (The Universal Judgement) was awarded first prize at the Competition for Band Composition held in Naples. This composition was inspired by Verdi’s Requiem with its melodramatic style, sudden changes of atmosphere and imposing moments of fortissimo.

Il Giudizio Universale : Poema sinfonico

Camillo De Nardis’ Il giudizio universale (The Universal Judgement) was awarded first prize at the Competition for Band Composition held in Naples. This composition was inspired by Verdi’s Requiem with its melodramatic style, sudden changes of atmosphere and imposing moments of fortissimo.

Genève : Geneva

Genève is a festive march, composed on the occasion of the 150th anniversary of the “La Musique Municipale de la Ville Genève” music association. The composer, Franco Cesarini, integrated a traditional march structure with cheerful melodies and a festive brass sound. Genève is especially suitable as a concert opener or as a musical highlight of a festive ceremony.

Genève : Geneva

Genève is a festive march, composed on the occasion of the 150th anniversary of the “La Musique Municipale de la Ville Genève” music association. The composer, Franco Cesarini, integrated a traditional march structure with cheerful melodies and a festive brass sound. Genève is especially suitable as a concert opener or as a musical highlight of a festive ceremony.

Joyful March

As the title implies, this piece is all joy and cheerfulness. In Joyful March, the themes have been combined to make a spirited work that can give each concert an elated touch. From the opening vivid melody to the softer and colourful themes of the trio, Joyful March is full of joie de vivre. Its fairly simple structure makes it accessible to most brass bands.

Joyful March

As the title implies, this piece is all joy and cheerfulness. In Joyful March, the themes have been combined to make a spirited work that can give each concert an elated touch. From the opening vivid melody to the softer and colourful themes of the trio, Joyful March is full of joie de vivre. Its fairly simple structure makes it accessible to all brass bands.

Sparkling Overture

Sparkling Overture was written to celebrate the centenary of the Swiss brass band La Musique Militaire de Rougemont. This energetic and dynamic piece opens with a festive and resolutely positive fanfare. The much more tranquil and lilting second theme is a magnificent chorale which is then followed by a brilliant return of the first motif. Used as a theme tune, this piece will be ideal as a contrasting, joyful and sparkling concert opening. Sparkling Overture was written to celebrate the centenary of the Swiss brass band La Musique Militaire de Rougemont. This energetic and dynamic piece opens with a festive and resolutely positive fanfare. The much more tranquil and lilting second theme is a magnificent chorale which is then followed by a brilliant return of the first motif. Used as a theme tune, this piece will be ideal as a contrasting, joyful and sparkling concert opening.

Sparkling Overture

Sparkling Overture was written to celebrate the centenary of the Swiss brass band La Musique Militaire de Rougemont. This energetic and dynamic piece opens with a festive and resolutely positive fanfare. The much more tranquil and lilting second theme is a magnificent chorale which is then followed by a brilliant return of the first motif. Used as a theme tune, this piece will be ideal as a contrasting, joyful and sparkling concert opening. Sparkling Overture was written to celebrate the centenary of the Swiss brass band La Musique Militaire de Rougemont. This energetic and dynamic piece opens with a festive and resolutely positive fanfare. The much more tranquil and lilting second theme is a magnificent chorale which is then followed by a brilliant return of the first motif. Used as a theme tune, this piece will be ideal as a contrasting, joyful and sparkling concert opening.

Equestrian Symphonette : (2nd Symphonette for Symphonic Band), Op. 52

Equestrian Symphonette was written for the Orchestre d’Harmonie de Laval, France. Laval is the capital town of the department of Mayenne, and the surrounding countryside is home to many thoroughbred race horse stables. The composition incorporates the principal gaits of the horse (walk, trot, canter and gallop) as the musical cornerstones of this work and incorporates into the composition colourful depictions of the natural environment and surroundings as well as the characteristics of each stride. Interesting rhythmical patterns, together with rich melodies, are interwoven throughout this original piece which makes it an excellent choice for a contest or as anenterprising part of your concert.

Equestrian Symphonette : (2nd Symphonette for Symphonic Band), Op. 52

Equestrian Symphonette was written for the Orchestre d’Harmonie de Laval, France. Laval is the capital town of the department of Mayenne, and the surrounding countryside is home to many thoroughbred race horse stables. The composition incorporates the principal gaits of the horse (walk, trot, canter and gallop) as the musical cornerstones of this work and incorporates into the composition colourful depictions of the natural environment and surroundings as well as the characteristics of each stride. Interesting rhythmical patterns, together with rich melodies, are interwoven throughout this original piece which makes it an excellent choice for a contest or as anenterprising part of your concert.

Puss in Boots : A Tale for Narrator and Concert Band from Charles Perrault

The tale Puss in Boots (Le chat botté), written by Charles Perrault (1628-1703), was published in France by Claude Barbin in 1696. Since that time Puss in Boots has become a popular character and has appeared in movies, animation and comics. The story was part of a collection titled Contes de ma mère l’oye (Tales of Mother Goose), which included a total of 11 tales, 8 in prose and 3 in verse. The most famous of these are: Sleeping Beauty (La belle au bois dormant), Little Red Riding Hood (Le petit chaperon rouge), Bluebeard (Barbe bleue), Cinderella (Cendrillon), Peau d’Ane and Le petit poucet (Tom Thumb).

Piccola Suite Italiana

With this new suite for concert band Franco Cesarini draws on the rich repertoire of folk songs from the Friuli Venezia Giulia region of northern Italy. Between the 16th and 17th Century this rural region developed the ‘furlana’, a brilliant dance in 6/8 time. This catchy dance soon spread throughout Europe and became more cultivated. François Couperin (1668-1733), Georg Philipp Telemann (1681-1767) and Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750) all composer of the 18th century composed ‘furlane’ and in the 20th Century Maurice Ravel used a ‘furlana’ dance his Tombeau de Couperin. Franco Cesarini follows this great tradition by using the ‘furlana’ as the basis for this major new concertwork.