The Butlins Mineworkers Championship has released further details of the First Section set work that will be used at the 2015 event at the Skyline Resort in Skegness.

Dedicated

‘Three Folk Song Settings for Band’ has been written by Andrew Boysen Jr and arranged for brass band by composer Mike Kilmartin.

The work is dedicated to the memory of conductor Graham O’Connor, who died in December 2013 following a long illness. The former Grimethorpe Colliery cornet player had been diagnosed with Cryptogenic Fibrosis Alveolitis, a chronic, progressive lung disease, that finally necessitated a complete double lung transplant.

Butlins double

Over the years Graham had also enjoyed considerable conducting success, leading Hatfield and Ransome to a unique Butlins ‘Double’ in 2005 as Hatfield took the First Section and Ransome won the Championship titles.

Three movements

‘Three Folk Song Settings for Band’ is structured in three movements based on traditional Anglo American folk songs, as Mike Kilmartin told 4BR:

"There is a similar motive that unites all three movements and sets the foundation for the entire piece.

I have also tried to capture my feelings at the time as I was going through an emotional rollercoaster with the loss of many close family and friends in short period of time."

He added: "I have found arranging this piece that I have been able to express my feeling within the music and it helped me come to terms with the loss of a great friend and mentor."

Tradition

The opening ‘Poor Wayfaring Stranger’ is based on a spiritual song sung mainly in the southern Appalachian Mountains and was typically used at revival meetings, whilst ‘All the Pretty Little Horses’ that follows is very much of the Afro American tradition.

It is an evocative lullaby portraying the sad fact that African American woman slaves had to leave their babies alone to take care of the master’s child instead.

The final movement, ‘Scarborough Fair’ is a pulsating and fiery setting of the well-known folk song that builds to a heart-pounding finish. There are also lots of intriguing musical references to the previous two movements used to create added interest.

I have found arranging this piece that I have been able to express my feeling within the music and it helped me come to terms with the loss of a great friend and mentorMike Kilmartin

Now available

Mike told 4BR that the music will now be available from BVT Music GCV, with band’s being given a free set of the festive work ‘Fanfare for Christmas’

Orders can be made at: info@bvtmusic.be or bert@bvtmusic.be or by phone (+32477350827).