2006 Australian National Championships - A, B & C Grade Test Pieces

We've put together a synopsis of each of the Tests for A, B & C Grade, together with a profile of the composers.

A Grade Test Piece Synopsis:
Variations on an Enigma (Philip Sparke)

Variations on an Enigma was commissioned by Howard Snell for the Desford Colliery Band and first performed by them in Gillingham, Dorset, England in September 1986.

The ‘Enigma' is a short snatch of a phrase taken from a well-known brass band test piece - a phrase which caught the imagination of the composer who took it as the basis of a sort of concerto for band with each section featured in turn. First the cornets have their turn, with a ‘moto perpetuo', and they are followed by the horns and flugel whose variation is delicate and decorative. Trombones follow, each having there own tune in turn and then combining them together. Euphoniums and baritones have an expressive funeral march which is interrupted by percussion and basses who share a rhythmic, syncopated variation. A climax is reached and this is followed by a fugue (based on the theme) against which snatches of the preceding variations appear. The fugue heralds what turns out to be the theme on which all the variations are based, appearing in full at last, whose first five notes are derived from the ‘enigma' theme. The piece ends with an emphatic final statement by the timpani.

Composer Profile: Philip Sparke

Philip Sparke was born in London and studied composition, trumpet and piano at the Royal College of Music, where he gained an ARCM.

It was at the College that his interest in bands arose. He played in the College wind orchestra and also formed a brass band among the students, writing several works for both ensembles.

At that time, his first published works appeared - Concert Prelude (brass band) and Gaudium (wind band). A growing interest in his music led to several commissions, his first major one being for the Centennial Brass Band Championships in New Zealand – The Land of the Long White Cloud.

Further commissions followed from individual bands, various band associations and the BBC, for whom he three times won the EBU New Music for Band Competition (with Slipstream, Skyrider and Orient Express). He has written for brass band championships in New Zealand, Switzerland, Holland, Australia and the UK, twice for the National Finals at the Albert Hall, and his test pieces are constantly in use wherever brass bands can be found.

A close association with banding in Japan led to a commission (Celebration) from and eventual recording of his music with the Tokyo Kosei Wind Orchestra. This opened the door worldwide to his wind band music and led to several commissions, particularly from the United States. In 1996 the US Air Force Band commissioned and recorded Dance Movements, which won the prestigious Sudler Prize in 1997. In 2005 Music of the Spheres won the National Band Association/William D. Revelli Memorial Band Composition Contest.

His conducting and adjudicating activities have taken him to most European countries, Scandinavia, Australia, New Zealand, Japan and the USA. He runs his own publishing company, Anglo Music Press, which he formed in May 2000. In September 2000 he was awarded the Iles Medal of the Worshipful Company of Musicians for his services to brass bands.

Source: www.philipsparke.com

B Grade Test Piece Synopsis:
Purcell Variants (Peter Meechan)

Purcell Variants is based on Purcell's Queen Mary's Funeral Music, which consists of 4 canzonas (for brass), 2 elegies and an anthem.

The first movement begins by sounding some of Purcell's original music in the trombones, underpinned by a timpani roll with the cornets articulating the beginnings and endings of the phrases. This leads into a cadenza for cornet and horn before the movement heads in different directions, leading us to its mysterious end, where the original music is sounded this time in the 'stabs' of the muted cornets.

Originally composed for the funeral of Queen Mary in 1695, Purcell's original funeral music was used later that same year for Purcell's own funeral – he died aged only 34. The second movement is an elegy, inspired by this story.

After an introduction (started by cornets sounding a last post), the main melody of the movement is introduced by the solo euphonium, with other solo roles for an off stage soprano cornet, and trombone. This is then taken over by the cornets who lead us into the middle section of the movement.

The middle section is a quasi funeral march, inspired by the image of Purcell's coffin being taken to its final resting point. The main melody returns in the euphonium, flugel and soprano cornet, this time more elaborated, and the movement ends with a snare drum fading away – perhaps a metaphor.

The Finale is a fast and furious movement combining thematic material from the two previous movements with new rhythmical ideas. This takes us through to the final passage - the triumphant return of Purcell's original theme.

Purcell Variants was composed in 2004, for the Black Dyke Band and is dedicated to their musical director, Dr. Nicholas J. Childs. The first performance was given by Black Dyke Band, conducted by Dr. Nicholas Childs at Bridgewater Hall, Manchester on 4th September 2004.

Composer Profile: Peter Meechan

Peter Meechan (b.1980) graduated in 2002 from the Royal Northern College of Music, after studying for four years with Anthony Gilbert (and for a short period, Elena Firsova). On graduation, he was awarded the Edward Hecht prize for composition.

His music is strongly influenced by jazz, especially the post 50's era of Miles Davis. Amongst other influences, Peter lists the music of Stravinsky, Andriessen and Pink Floyd. In May 2003, Peter was appointed as the first ever 'Young Composer in Association' at the prestigious Black Dyke Band. September 2002 saw a performance of 'Crazy Diamonds Shining' by the City Side Symphony Orchestra, London - a concert marking his appointment as composer in residence with them.

Ensembles, conductors and instrumentalists who have played his music include: James Gourlay, Clark Rundell, David Thornton, Rob Buckland, RNCM Wind Orchestra, Fodens (Courtois) Brass Band, RNCM Brass Band, City Side Symphony Orchestra, Warwickshire County Chamber Orchestra and the RNCM New Ensemble. Peter has had works performed at the National Lower Brass Day, RNCM Festival of Brass, the ITG (International Trumpet Guild), the ITEC (International Euphonium and Tuba Conference), BASBWE 2003, and the Edinburgh Festival. His music has been performed in several countries, including: Portugal, the Czech Republic, New Zealand, the Republic of Ireland and the USA. He has also been broadcast on Portuguese television.

Peter won the second prize in the British and International Bass Forum composition competition 2001, with his piece Word of Mouth (Inner Vision).

C Grade Test Piece Synopsis:
Northern Landscapes (Peter Graham)

Northern Landscapes was originally written for Ulster Brass Quintet and later arranged by the composer for the Boarshurst (Greenfield) Silver Band. The four movements provide musical mood pictures of various aspects of Northern working life. 1) Industry opens the suite with the bustle of factory machinery, followed attacca by 2) Seascapes, which evokes the calmness of local waters during a fishing expedition. 3) Earth Dance references the mining industry where the blackness of the environment is mirrored by the darkness of the music. 4) Flight evokes the path of an aircraft on its maiden journey in this tribute to the aircraft industry.

Composer Profile: Peter Graham

Peter Graham read music at Edinburgh and London Universities (Goldsmiths' College) and holds a PhD in composition. Following spells in New York and London in music publishing, he is currently Professor of Composition at the University of Salford.

He enjoys an international reputation as one of the leading composers of music for the British style brass band, and his music for the medium is performed in concerts and competitions worldwide. He has also written the test-piece for the prestigious National Brass Band Championships of Great Britain on two occasions.

His music for wind band has been recorded and performed by many of the world's leading ensembles, including the US Air Force Band, the Tokyo Kosei Wind Orchestra and the Royal Norwegian Navy Band. He was awarded the ABA/Ostwald Prize for Original Composition for Symphonic Winds in 2002.

Peter Graham has held various posts with some of the UK's finest bands, serving as Music Associate/Conductor with the famous Black Dyke Band (1997-2004) and as the first civilian composer-in-residence with Her Majesty's Coldstream Guards Band (2003-2005) in their 250-year history. He lives in Cheshire, England with his wife Janey, son Ryan and daughter Megan.

Source: www.gramercymusic.com