The identity of the test pieces chosen for the finals of the 2013 National Brass Band Championships of Great Britain has been released.
The Kapitol Music Selection Panel has made a series of demanding choices from a quintet of leading composers – from Edward Gregson, Philip Sparke and Kenneth Downie to Gavin Higgins and Simon Dobson.
Championship Section:
The Royal Albert Hall will be filled with the sound of Edward Gregson’s homage to the golden age of brass banding and the composing pioneers of Percy Fletcher and others of that time.
Entitled, ‘Of Distant Memories’ (Music in an Olden Style), it received its world premiere by Black Dyke at the 2013 RNCM Festival of Brass this year.
Described by the composer as; ‘...summoning up a kind of subconscious memory bank of the musical languages, styles, and forms used by them. To this end my music is conceived in the form of a tone poem, reflecting aspects of those early test pieces.”
First Section:
The First Section contenders will be faced with ‘Fanfares & Love Songs’ from the pen of Gavin Higgins, which was originally written in 2009 following a commission by the National Children’s Band of Great Britain.
They gave the premiere of the ‘Fanfare’ element of the work at that year’s Summer Course, but it was not until the RNCM Festival of Brass in 2010 that the complete work received its world premiere, given by the Leyland Band conducted by Jason Katsikaris.
The three movements combine brilliant fanfares with luminescent interludes of lyricism – from an opening section of elaborate fanfare structures through to a haunting second movement of emotional beauty and a dancing finale.
Second Section:
Kenneth Downie’s ‘Purcell Variations’ will be the test faced by bands in the Second Section.
It was composed in 1995 to mark the tri-centenary of the composer’s death and was premiered by Grimethorpe Colliery Band at the BBC Festival of Brass.
It was subsequently used as the set work for the First Section Area contests of the National Championships of Great Britain in 1998 and again at First Section level at the Pontins Championship in 2001.
The theme is taken from the hymn tune ‘Westminster Abbey’ and follows a theme and four variations structure with finale.
Third Section:
Simon Dobson’s evocative, emotionally charged ‘Penlee’ is the musical retelling of the tragic Penlee Lifeboat disaster that occurred on the 19th December 1981 (the composer was born just a few weeks before the fateful event)
Originally written for the Cornwall Youth Band the composer pays a personal homage to, ‘... the bravery of the souls involved in a true story of heroism and sadness, a story that has passed almost into Cornish legend.’
Fittingly, the music ends with quote from the pen of Eric Ball’s ‘Resugam, proclaiming, ‘The souls of righteous are in the hands of God.’
Fourth Section:
Finally, Philip Sparke’s , ‘A Malvern Suite’, which is the oldest of the five works to be used this year.
It was originally written in 1984 following a visit the composer made to Hereford and Worcester.
The three movements are named after each of the famous ‘Three Choir’ venues at Worcester Cathedral (a brisk fanfare opening), The Wye at Hereford (led by the trombone in a lyrical interlude) and Gloucester Market (full of brightness and bustle).
To this end my music is conceived in the form of a tone poem, reflecting aspects of those early test piecesEdward Gregson
Set works and publishers:
Championship Section:
Of Distant Memories (Music in an Olden Style) by Edward Gregson
Published by Novello (distributed Studio Music Co.)
First Section:
‘Fanfares and Love Songs’ by Gavin Higgins
Published by Faber Music
Second Section:
‘Purcell Variations’ by Kenneth Downie
Published by Egon Music.
Third Section:
‘Penlee’ by Simon Dobson
Published by Faber Music
Fourth Section:
‘A Malvern Suite’ by Philip Sparke
Published by Studio Music
