*
banner

4BR Boxing Day Brain Tickler

Something to get the brain working after all that food and drink on Christmas Day. You have to show your workings out though..

4br
 

Quite a bit of working out if you are to get to the ultimate answer of our Boxing Day brain teaser.

First letter

All you have to do is work out the answers of the 17 fairly easy questions below. The first letter of each should eventually give you the name of the 4BR Editor's favourite classic brass band test piece.

You must show your working out of how you got to the eventual name of the test-piece to get your hands on a cracking batch of CDs.

Have fun...

1. The little, not omnipotent, bit of Rolf Rudin's 4BR prize-winning European test piece.

2. Opera by Wagner inspired by the last Tribune of Rome: Later arranged as a National Finals and Area test piece.

3. Metrical psalm tune of uncertain origin — sung to the words 'All people that on earth do dwell'.

4. Tuned percussion instrument — African in origin — low pitched, lower in tone, richer in sound than a xylophone.

5. Welsh festival of music, poetry, dance and literature held every year — full of bards and druids heralded by the trumpet playing principal cornets of Tredegar and Fairey Bands.

6. A major 3rd in a tonic chord at the end of composition in a minor key — most famously 'The Coventry Carol'.

7. Surname of the composer of 'Pageantry' and 'Three Figures'.

8. Brass band instrument originally invented around 1843 by F. Sommer of Weimer — taking its name from the Greek for 'pleasant sounding'.

9. 'A Sailor's Life' — in French. Test piece with fearsome opening for soprano cornet...

10. Musical instrument of sinuous, reptilian shape: Forerunner of the ophicleide in brass bands.

11. The...... subject matter of Eric Ball British Open test piece. Inspired by poet Louis Untermeyer's line 'And, when at last the fight is won, God, keep me still unsatisfied'.

12. Italian word meaning 'nothing'. Often found at the end of reflective compositions.

13. Surname of composer of 'Grimethorpe Aria'.

14. National Finals test-piece inspired by epic Finnish poetry about a Nordic God who rides an eight legged horse called Sleipnir.

15. Name generally given to Schubert's Symphony No 8 in B Minor D759.

16. The.... famous cornet solo named after a bird with the Latin name Luscinia megarhynchos.

17. The first degree of the scale in the Tonic Solfa system and the famous utterance of cartoon character Homer Simpson.

You must show your working out of how you got to the eventual name of the test-piece to get your hands on a cracking batch of CDs4BR

Answers:

E-mail us the answer before midnight on 27th December with your contact telephone details at: quiz@4barsrest.com

Christmas Eve winner:

The answer to our Christmas Even brain teaser of the identity of a leading character in Donizetti's 1835 opera 'Lucia di Lammermoor', the Hollywood home of actress Mae West and a famous Whit Friday march by the great William Rimmer?

It was Ravenswood.

The winner was Jeremy Home, who will be getting a late Christmas prezzie of a selection box of CDs.

Jeremy plays for Friary Guildford Band and has been enjoying a great festive season doing the rounds of carolling.

Become a supporter and help make our future secure.

4barsrest continues to be a proudly independent voice. There are no paywalls to overcome to be able to enjoy what we do to keep our journalism at the heart of the brass banding world. Support us with a one-off donation or subscribe from just £2.50 per month.

Support us    


bbw

The latest issue of Brass Band World Magazine is now out

July 28 • The July/August edition of the leading banding magazine is now out and is packed with news, views, reviews and articles.


mEGAN

Cory sign Newbery

July 28 • Cornet player Megan Newbery has joined the Welsh champion.


Band Supplies

Band Supplies head to Elgar Summer School

July 28 • Band Supplies will bring a packed trade stand to the Elgar International Brass Band Summer School.


Bandamonium

Bandamonium on demand after global reach

July 28 • You can sit back and enjoy the great entertainment on show from the recent Bandamonium event held in Devon on the weekend.


Sherborne Town Band - Free Music in the park

Sunday 26 July • Sherborne, Dorset-Pageant Gardens DT9 3NP


Sherborne Town Band - Free Summer Concert- Trowbridge Park

Sunday 9 August • Summer Concert- Trowbridge Park BA14 8AH


Regent Hall Concerts - Cross Bones Trombone Quintet

Friday 21 August • Regent Hall (The Salvation Army). 275 Oxford Street. London W1C2DJ


Sherborne Town Band - Free-Music in the park

Sunday 23 August • Sherborne, Dorset-Pageant Gardens DT9 3NP


Sherborne Town Band - Free-Music in the park

Sunday 13 September • Sherborne, Dorset-Pageant Gardens DT9 3NP


Tintwistle Band

July 28 • Tintwistle Band are looking for a 2nd horn player to complete our horn section. We rehearse Monday and Thursday 8-10pm at our own bandroom on Old Road in Tintwistle, and perform a variety of concerts all year round.


Tintwistle Band

July 28 • Tintwistle Band are looking for front row cornet players to help complete the team.. We rehearse Monday and Thursday 8-10pm at our own bandroom on Old Road in Tintwistle, and perform a variety of concerts all year round.


Chinnor Silver

July 28 • Our COMMUNITY BAND is meeting again on Monday (3rd) at 11am in our bandroom.. If your band is taking a summer break and you fancy keeping your lip in with a friendly,relaxed rehearsal come and join us.All abilities welcome and its all free with tea & cake.


Jonathan Corry

Ph.D, M.Mus, B.Mus (hons)
Conductor, adjudicator, teacher.


               

 © 2026 4barsrest.com Ltd