Here's brass band arrangement of 'Sunset' - or 'Retreat' with the famous intro courtesy of HM Royal Marines Band Service. It's very hard to find an arrangement of this, so here you are!

Sunset Prelude and 'Sunset'

The Dulverton Stag is a march commissioned by Dulverton Town Band in Somerset as their signature tune. It's highly playable, changes from 2/4 to 6/8 and back and has a good feel to it. 

It's now published by Musikverlag Frank.

The Dulverton Stag

This arrangement was  commissioned by Sidmouth Town Band for a concert in 2014. It's a version of the Gypsy Song from Bizet's opera 'Carmen'.  As it stands, it's written for a full brass band with a soprano vocalist, but I'm in the process of writing it out for full band without the vocalist.

Gypsy Song from Carmen

This arrangement of this famous carol is based on a piano solo version written and performed by Nigel Hess in his album featured on Classic FM called 'Silent Nights'. It's not a jolly 'have a laugh' version like the original, but a more sombre version with some glorious harmonies underneath. I'm sure it'll be something different for your Christmas concerts.

Ding Dong Merrily on High

Written as the behest of my Cornish father in-law Gerald Opie (who hails from Redruth and whose father played with Camborne Town Band), here's a selection of Cornish Christmas Carols scored for brass band for you.

There are currently 23 carols in the booklet, but there are another 21 to be added.

Cavalcade of Cornish Carols

This suite of music was composed for my sister's wedding back in 2005, and it served as a submission for my degree course too!

The second movement 'The Love That We Share' is also published separately by MF Publications.

Wedding Suite

Here's a brass band arrangement of Happy Birthday for your concerts - always needed - asnd this one has a 'proper' ending!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY - Brass Band

This is a version of Hubert Parry's Jerusalem for concert brass band. It has percussion with it - often not scored for in other arrangements.

Jerusalem

Originally written for Resonate Brass quintet a few years ago, and regularly used at Christmas services and concerts, as I've been having a lot of calls for new 'christmassy' music, I've transcribed it for brass band. It works well - and would make a great opener for your Christmas Concerts in 2021.

A Christmas Fanfare

Finally! This is the opening sequence of my long-awaited musical - Lorna Doone. The scene is that John Ridd is dreaming about his father who is being chased and is then shot by the Doones. He wakes up sat at Blundell's School having 'heard' the shot.

More to come.

Lorna Doone (Opening sequence)

I've been hooked on this soundtrack of 'You Will Be Found' from the musical 'Dear Evan Hansen' since I first heard it performed by Voctave - it's brilliant! Such was my liking for it, that I wondered if it would work for brass band. I've spent quite a while on it, and I think it does.

You Will Be Found

This work is based on the melodic and thematic content of the original Metheny and Mays album 'As Falls Witchita So Fall Witchita Falls', but there the similarity ends.  It is not a 'transcript' of the original tracks, but an exploration and development of the themes from one idiom to another quite different one.

The themes, with the exception of the opening from 'September 15th' which also exists as a solo for Soprano Cornet, have been reworked and/or taken out of context, and I hope this doesn't offend purists on either side.

I have always been most intrigued by this album, having been introduced to it by my brother and lifelong friend Kevin Dance to calm some of my more melancholy moments, and trust that you, the brass player, will approve of my work.

Wichita Falls

Here's my brass band arrangement of Coldplay's 'When I Need A Friend'. It's most appropriate with what's going on over in Ukraine at the moment. I actually started this back in 2019, but for whatever reason didn't really get going with it. This song has even been featured on Classic FM - which is a measure of the style and level of musicality of the work. I'll put my box of tissues away now....!!

I'm still waiting for copyright permission to get this piece published.

Here's the lyrics:

Holy, holy, dove descend
Soft and slowly
When I'm near the end
Holy, holy, God defend
Shield me, show me
When I need a friend
Slowly, slowly, violence end
Love reign o'er me
When I need a friend

When I Need a Friend

Here’s a new piece I've written that I’ve called ‘Changing Seasons’ because the mood and musical style changes throughout the piece. It’s not too difficult, but there is a tricky little modulation in there! I started piece this back in 2021 but didn’t get past the introduction, but due to a condition I’m not going into here I’ve had a lot of time sat at home near a toilet recently so I’ve been able to spend more time working on it!

Changing Seasons

I wrote this as part of a Wedding Suite I composed back in 2005, and to be honest, I'd forgotten all about it and it's never been played, whereas the other two movements have been! One of the movements is now published as 'The Love That We Share' by Musikverlag-Frank. This is a big, bright fanfare suitable for any occasion - not too short, and definitely not too long! I rewriote it in 2022 and added some big percussion. It'd make a great opener for any concert, but  would equally work for special occasions outdoors. It's now published by Obrasso.

Celebration Fanfare

I've had a thing about this Elvis song for ages now, and thought I'd see what it sounded like for brass band (yes, I know!) - and I quite like the result. It's a bit high for the sop and solo cornets in places, and features a whole section of the melody on solo horn, 1st baritone and euphonium. The cornets never have the melody!

Updated 06/12/2022

IF I CAN DREAM

Arranged as a commission from the British Scouting movement several years ago, this march by Harry Stafford is dedicated to my Godfather Pete Johnson who sadly died a few years ago. He was a very senior figure in the scouting movement, and dedicated his later life to the movement. The Mortimer Scout Hut where he was based has gone from a ramshakle old shed to a purpose-built building commensurate with his commitment.

Pete was a World War 2 Royal Marine veteran having being involved with the D-Day landings – of which he rarely spoke, and was a well-known figure in his home village – often maintaining the church grounds. He was presented with an award by Her Majesty the Queen for his work with the scouting movement. He was also one of those presented with the ‘Legion D’Honeur’ medal when they were issued.

Boy Scout March (Military Band)

This brass band arrangement was commissioned by Sidmouth Town Band to be performed by their young star solo cornet player. It's the opening theme to the latest Shrek film Shrek Forever After.

Shrek the Musical

SHREK - ALL STAR SMASH

This beautiful song performed by Barbara Streisand in the film Yentl was stunning when it first came out. I was commissioned to arrange it as a solo for trombone a few years ago, and I think it actually works!

Papa Can You Hear Me?

This a wind band version of my arrangement for solo trombone of Louis Armstrong's famous hit. Always reminds me of my daughter Bethany when she was a little tot at primary school and brings a tear to my eye.

Now published at Sheet Music Direct and Sheet Music Plus.

What a Wonderful Wolrd

Inspired by the success of my 'Symphony of Somerset', I started to write a second major work, but struggled to find the necessary motivation. Then I found the spark I needed, and here it is complete at 18 minutes in length. I've not called it a 'symphony' as the movements do not develop a single moltif.

I've called it 'Symphonic Sute - Thoughts of Cambridge' as I was once told by a priest, who was not known to me, after a BPSO (British Police Symphony Orchestra) concert many years ago, that he had seen 'greatness occuring for me' at the Church of Great St Mary's - in Cambridge! Whether that turns out to be the case or not, we shall see!

Symphonic Suite: "Thoughts of Cambridge"

A hauntingly beautiful piece by Secret Garden subtly arranged for brass band.

Hymn To Hope

Performed by the legendary Fodens Band (National Champions 2021), this trombone trio is Dance is With Music's best seller! Featured by Chris Helme on Sunday Bandstand recently, it's becoming very popular.

Published by Mf Publications, Switzerland. (www.musikverlag-frank.ch)

Midnight In Moscow (Trombone trio)

Here's a very famous piece by Secret Garden reworked as a euphonium solo for brass band. This piece is said to be the most covered work by other artists out there!

You Raise Me Up

Several years ago, I said I would do an arrangement of this piece for brass band - at the suggestion of my good friend Paul Painter. Don't ask why it's taken so long, but here it is - and he was right - it really does work well for brass band!

And So It Goes

Götterdämmerung is the last in Richard Wagner's cycle of four epic music dramas titled Der Ring des Nibelungen. It received its premiere at the Bayreuth Festspielhaus on 17 August 1876, as part of the first complete performance of the whole work.

It featured at the end of the 1981 John Boorman film 'Excalibur' when Sir Percival reluctantly throws 'Excalibur' to the Lady of the Lake and King Arthur dies.

This arrangement is for brass band - and I have to say, it was rather difficult to make if fit and work properly! I hope you like the final outcome of my endeavours.

Götterdämmerung

Here's Symphony No. 3. It's a bit different to the first two. It's now five movements long- and snippets of the main little theme crop up in different formats in each movement.

New, edited version uploaded 6th November 2024

Symphony No. 3

Here's my latest composition for you to listen to. It's just over five minutes long, and depicts scenery and lifestyles in a city.

New updated version 06/02/2025

METROPOLIS

A new version of my arrangement of Deborah's Theme by Ennio Morricone - arranged as a soprano cornet or Bb cornet solo. It's a beautiful theme from the film 'Once Upon a Time in the West.

Deborah's Theme

This is a moving melodic piece with loads of cozy, warm harmonies. It is taken from the centre of another major work (Pandemonium), but with the addition of a lovely opening and a very tasty ending, it works beautifully on its own.

CONTEMPLATION

This is a piece intended as a concert item to add some quiet harmony to the performance. It has a 'magical' melody and has great modulations and dynamic contrast.

A Magical Melody

Here's my completed Symphonic Suite: "Spitfire". I've been working on this for some weeks now, and have now completed all four movements.

Spitfire Symphonic Suite

This little concert piece is derived from the final movement of my orchestral work 'Spitfire - Symphonic Suite'. I thought it fitted very nicely into the brass band style and tones.

The Lost Souls

Here's a concert opening piece for you. The first section can be used as a standalone fanfare, or the whole piece can be played. It's only two minutes long.

LUMINESCENCE ABLAZE

A catchy little piece for brass band to add to you concert collection.

Here's an other catchy little tune just right for your band's concert programmes.

Reflections on a Sunny Day

Here's a great little concert opener for your Christmas concerts that are coming up soon. It's not too difficult, and whilst it deliberately has no known 'Christmas Melodies' in it, it's written with Christmas in mind to bring on the festive spirit.

A CHRISTMAS FANTASY

This is a quiet little concert piece that will suit all brass bands. It has a lovely melody with counter melodic parts, and it nicely suits the season of the month of September.

September Sunset

This is a concert piece that shows off various styles. It has a big opening and ending in a modern style, and a main theme that is again in popular style. It moves  to a more sombre section in the middle before the big finish. It's deliberately not written in too difficult a manner so to suit all bands.

Creative Sparks

A collection of British Regimental Marches. Perfect for Remembrance Parades - especially in 2018 to commemorate the Centenary of the end of the Great War of 1914-1918.

It includes:
Heart Of Oak - Royal Navy
A Life on the Ocean Wave - HM Royal Marines Band
Sarie Marais - Royal Marines Commandos
British Grenadiers - Grenadier Guards
Royal Air Force March Past - Royal Air Force
Men of Harlech - Welsh Guards & Fusiliers

Regimental Marches

Composer and arranger of music for everyone. 
Any genre, any combination.

All pieces here either arranged or composed by Colin G Dance - credits given where appropriate. 

Some arrangements pending approval prior to publication.

Go on - be creative and think outside the box!

Dance is With Music

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