Croft Music

 CATALOGUE for brass band

       

MARCHES

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The Red Clydesider

 ... is a traditional march, incorporating "The Red Flag" in the bass solo.  It celebrates trade union activism in the Clyde shipyards.  Not difficult.            4’10”   

Duncarnock 

...is a traditional march, named after a hill near the town of Neilston, home of Croft Music. Not difficult.           4 mins 

  

The Majorette

 If you've seen a band of Majorettes in the street, then you know what inspired this march.  Easy                                  3’ 30”  

Ticker-Tape Parade

 New York: celebrities parade down the Canyon of Champions, paper strips fall from above. This quick march captures the scene.        3’ 14”     

The Pudding Club 

 ...is based in a hotel in the Cotswolds. If you go, you have to eat 7 puddings in one sitting! Includes fanfares, jovial themes, and stately Parade of the Puddings. 3’ 05”    

Opening Credits 

 .....is a dark thriller of a piece in 12/8 time, with a fast and rhythmically insistent opening and contrasting romantic middle theme. Music for an imaginary film.           4’ 30”      
Olympic Torch ...just in time for London 2012. Standard march, but can be played without Trio section. Quite easy for all standards. 2'20" or 5 mins
CONCERT ITEMS      

Big Band Rock 

 ...is strongly influenced by rock music.  It is very rhythmical, and has great toe-tapping tunes. It's quite easy to play, and is accessible to all standards.   3’ 15”    

Highland Lullaby

 ...is a very simple, slow and gentle piece in a lilting 6/8 rhythm with an important, quasi-solo part for the Flugel Horn.  Relatively easy.        Listen to MP3     3 minutes    

Siesta 

 Latin feel, capturing a laid-back, sunny summer afternoon. After a good meal and a refreshment, there is nothing to do but lie back and relax!   Easy.  3 minutes      

Sundance 

 ...is about the Aztecs. It opens with the rising sun, goes into a lively dance, then a prayer, finishing off with the dance theme. Quite difficult.  Listen to MP3   4 minutes    

Under the Influence 

 ..is lively number, fusing jazz influences with modern march-style themes.  A contrasting blues section in the middle. Tricky in places.                                     3’ 44”     

Moscow Mule 

 ...is a cocktail with a strong Russian flavour. Starts slowly, gets faster, then after a tempo relapse, goes as fast as your band can manage.      5 minutes: or less!       

Tivoli at Night

 .. is a musical representation of an evening stroll through the magical Tivoli gardens in Copenhagen. It's in 3/4, slow and gentle, with a slightly faster middle section.   2’ 47”      

Calypso 

...is a Latin-influenced piece in a bright 2/2 tempo.  It's quite easy to play, and can be programmed with Siesta and/or Tequila Sunrise.                                        3’ 31”

   

Geisha 

 This gentle piece, mainly in 4/4, seeks to reflect something of the enigma of the Geisha. The melodic material is based on the pentatonic mode.           3’ 33”     
Dimples ...is a "characteristic number",  a simple tune which characterises a person who has a smiling, dimpled face.  Nice and easy, jolly to play, fun to listen to!         3' 10"

Daydream 

 ... no particular dream, just the mood of someone thinking about this and that.  So the mood is laid back and, well, dreamy.  Moderately difficulty.  Nearly 5 mins    

Spooky 

 Light, jazzy feel, minor mode, suggesting spooky goings-on. Insistent walking bass, slightly syncopated tunes, and trombones tested in the middle section.   3’ 53      

Winter 

 A slow and gentle evocation of the cold season. No great challenge for most, but euphonium has an arpeggiated line which may be a bit of a test.                        5 mins      

Steppe Dance 

 Distinctly Eastern European flavour, with a slow opening section followed by a fast dance movement in 2 sections. Some neat filigree work required of the cornets.  4 mins      

Ellis Island 

 ...an immensely moving place, was the main entry facility for US immigrants until 1954. This quiet, reflective music stems from a visit. Not technically challenging.      4’ 42”      

Fanfare and Gloria 

 Based on sort fanfare themes and a running melodic line ("Gloria") this piece is a band-only version of "Gloria" for choir and band. Moderate difficulty.                     3 mins    

Songs of the '45 

 ...is a medley of 4 songs from the times of Bonnie Prince Charlie. Originally written as a test piece for Brass in Concert.    Very difficult.             Listen to MP3    4’ 34"    

The Farmer's Boy 

 An arrangement of the folk song, it's mainly in 2/4, with sorties into 6/8. Written as a test piece for Brass in Concert, it's quite demanding.      Listen to MP3    3’ 50”    

A-roving

 An arrangement of the sea shanty, it starts in 2/4 then moves though a number of time and key signatures, testing the whole band.  Difficult.                          4’ 20”     
Carols from Denmark ...a medley of 3 carols from Denmark containing "Dejlig er den himmel blå", "En rose så jeg skyde"  (The world's fair rose) and "Et barn er født i Betlehem". Easy        2’ 53”
Venetian Boat Song .....is one of thirty or so "Songs Without Words" written by Mendelssohn. This one, Op 19 No 6 is a Barcarolle featuring flugel and solo horn in duet. Moderate.   2 mins
Evening Prayers A  transcription for band of the beautiful duet from the opera "Hansel and Gretel" by Humperdinck arranged for two cornets a. Solo parts not demanding.           3 mins
Basically Baroque This is a feature to spotlight the 4 basses in your band  on a baroque-style theme. It’s relatively easy for the band, a bit trickier for the soloists.                      4’ 16”
Tequila Sunrise Up-tempo latin-american (challenging!)  trio for cornets, with tricky accompaniments for band too. Can be programmed with Siesta or Calypso.               3’ 40”
Lochaber No More Lochaber No More is a slow melody from the time of The Clearances.  This arrangement features Euphonium with band, lasting just over 3 minutes  Listen to MP3
The Two Bridges
(from Queensferry Suite)		 Bright opener, depicting  the Rail Bridge and e Road Bridge spanning the River Forth. (Revised Sep 11)  Listen to MP3 here        2' 41"
The Burry Man
(from Queensferry Suite)		 During the Ferry Fair, the Burry Man dressed in a suit of burrs lumbers around the town, obliged to drink  whisky at all stops. This pictures what might happen.  Listen to MP3 here     2' 50"
Margaret
(from Queensferry Suite)		 Queen Margaret (d. 1093) aka Saint Margaret, gave her name to the town.  This is a slow, melodic movement featuring euphonium and cornet      Listen to MP3 here             3' 20" 
The Loony Dook
(from Queensferry Suite)		 Every New Year's Day, some hardy individuals run into the icy waters of the Forth for a "dook". They are loonies. This is their march.
Listen to MP3 here                          2' 42"

LONGER PIECES

   
Invocation ...is a musical prayer based on themes of rising 4ths and 5ths, with a contrasting central melodic section coalescing all the themes. Difficult in places.         7’ 51”
Overture: Skara Brae Inspired by the ancient site in Orkney, the music is heavily rhythmical with prominent harmonic clashes, reflecting the character of the place.                     9’ 40”
Suite for Brass Band 3 movements based on Orwell's "Road to Wigan Pier".  It's not overly demanding , but has plenty to interest players and audiences.                                     10’ 35”
Tone Poem: The Pearl Based on John Steinbeck's novella. Contrasting sections depict the interplay of innocence and deception, and the attempt to fight back against ecploitation.           11’ 14”
Tone Poem: Moonfleet Based on Meade Falkner's exciting tale of smuggling, this piece starts at a seaside town, and follows the heroes as they seek a priceless diamond.   Challenging.      11'04"
Queensferry Suite 4 musical pictures of Queensferry icons. The 2 bridges, The Burry Man, Queen Margaret and The Loony Dook. Good fun, and not too testing, (revised Sep 11).                    11' 48"

MISCELLANEOUS

    
Gloria: for Band, Organ Choir (SATB) This is a lively setting of part of the "Gloria" text for the forces listed.  Band parts cover if there is no organ available.  Not very difficult for band or voices.        3'51"
Gloria: for Band, Organ Choir (TTBB) This is a lively setting of part of the "Gloria" text for the forces listed.  Band parts cover if there is no organ available.  Not very difficult for band or voices.        3'51"
Trombone Quartet This is a long piece in rondo form for the traditional brass band quartet.  There's 5 sections: fanfare, fast movement, modal dance, slow section, modal, and fanfare.      7'32"