*
banner

4BR Boxing Day Brain Tickler — Answer and winner

We had a great response to our Boxing Day quiz — with plenty of people using their musical brains to get to the answer...

Granville
 

Thanks to everyone who took the time to take part in our Boxing Day quiz.

We have to say, quite a few worked out the overall test piece we were looking for way before they answered all the questions — and then tried to fit in the individual answers- but plenty got them all right.

All you had to do was work out the answers of the 17 fairly easy questions below. The first letter of eventually gave you the name of the 4BR Editor's favourite classic brass band test piece.

Answers:

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

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

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

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

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.
Eisteddfod

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

7. Surname of the composer of 'Pageantry' and 'Three Figures'.
Howells (Herbert)

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

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

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

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'.
Undaunted (The)

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

13. Surname of composer of 'Grimethorpe Aria'.
Birtwistle (Harrison)

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

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

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

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

If you got them all right then it spelt PROMETHEUS UNBOUND by the great Granville Bantock4BR

Test piece identity

If you got them all right then it spelt PROMETHEUS UNBOUND by the great Granville Bantock (who is one the left of the picture — the other is an old actor called Monty Wooley)

Winner:

The lucky winner of a selection box of CDs was Cathy Chinn of Southampton, who plays tenor horn with Gosport Solent Band.

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    


nybbg

New generation starts to shine for NYBBGB

May 29 • A trio of workshops inspires the next generation of players looking to enjoy the musical experience of being part of the National Youth Brass Band of Great Britain.


Thats not banding

Podcast: That's Not Banding — Episode 20

May 29 • The Brighouse duo give their thoughts and opinions on Whit Friday and Saddleworth versus Tameside, as well as looking back on their recent travels far and wide.


British Open

British Open tickets on sale

May 28 • The box office is open from 10.00am today to get tickets for the 172nd British Open Championship.


Tameside

Tameside ready to welcome Whit Friday visitors

May 28 • Tameside will offer a warm welcome to competitors and visitors alike for their Whit Friday contests.


Contest: Whit Friday March Contests

Friday 29 May • Saddleworth & Tameside OL3


The Hepworth Band - Brassband Burgermusik Luzern

Saturday 30 May • Dewsbury Minster, Vicarage Road, Dewsbury, West Yorkshire WF12 8DD


Regent Hall Concerts - Ithaca Brass

Tuesday 2 June • Regent Hall (The Salvation Army). 275 Oxford Street. London W1C2DJ


Fulham Brass Band - Summer Concert

Friday 5 June • St Dionis Church, Parsons Green SW6 4UH


Yorkshire Imperial - Roger Webster & The Colne Valley Male Voice Choir

Saturday 6 June • St George's Hall, Bridge Street, Bradford BD1 1JT


Tintwistle Band

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


Chinnor Silver

May 28 • Our COMMUNITY BAND meets again on Monday(1st) at 11am and we welcome players of all abilities to come along and join us in a relaxed and friendly rehearsal.. What is not to like = wont effect your no1 band ,its free and with coffee and cake


Otley Brass Association

May 26 • Otley Brass Band are keen to recruit a new member for their front row cornets (position negotiable).. . This is an exciting opportunity to join a thriving band of 30+ players under the leadership of our MD, Martyn Beecham.


Derek Renshaw

ABBA Member
Conductor, Band Trainer and Adjudicator.


               

 © 2026 4barsrest.com Ltd