A brass band arrangement by Sandy Smith of the iconic 1970s album 'Tubular Bells' is set to be performed in Manchester in May.

Mike Oldfield's original progressive rock album was released in 1973, when the composer was just 19 — staying in the British album charts for 279 weeks. It has since gone on to reach over 15 million sales worldwide.

Tubular Brass

It will be performed by Tubular Brass — a 28-piece brass band conducted by Sandy, featuring some of the UK's finest players, and he told 4BR, he thinks the album works perfectly for the medium.

"It's an iconic album — and one that is instantly recognisable by listener's young and old even 40 years after it was first released. It's been great to be able to arrange it for brass band as it works so well.

With a fantastic line-up of players it's going to be an amazing concert — and will hopefully thrill a new audience."

Stunning effect

The band will also perform a new work entitled, 'Mary Casio' by singer/songwriter Hannah Peel that combines 1970s analogue synthesisers with brass to stunning effect.

Tubular Brass also hopes to bring further contemporary works and innovative collaborations to the stage in the future — starting with Hannah Peel's extraordinary work that combines the deep, rich power of traditional brass with the uplifting arpeggiated patterns and unearthly sound textures of analogue synthesisers.

Intergalactic

With a nod to 1970s concept albums and progressive rock, the work's theme is an intergalactic journey from Earth to the star constellation of Cassiopeia utilising her creative pseudonym, Mary Casio.

It's an iconic album — and one that is instantly recognisable by listener's young and old even 40 years after it was first releasedSandy Smith.

TUBULAR BRASS

Tubular Bells (Mike Oldfield, arrangement for brass by Sandy Smith)
Mary Casio (featuring Hannah Peel)

Saturday 28th May,
Doors open: 7.00pm
Advance Tickets: £16.50
Halle St Peter's, Bloom St, Manchester M4 6BF
Tickets available from: www.ticketline.co.uk / 0161 832 1111