The National Youth Brass Band of Great Britain is currently enjoying its Easter Course at Uppingham School.

And during a week of intense music making, Artistic Director, Bramwell Tovey, took time out of rehearsals to be featured live on BBC Radio 3's 'In Tune' magazine programme on Wednesday afternoon, where he was joined by trumpet star Philip Cobb and composer, Gavin Higgins.

New Arteries suite

Whilst the music came from the conductor at the piano alongside the LSO principal trumpet player, Gavin Higgins spoke about his new 'Dark Arteries' suite which originates from the original ballet score that premiered to widespread acclaim by the Rambert Ballet and Tredegar Band in 2015, and followed by a national tour featuring a number of leading bands.

The work will form part of a programme under Bramwell Tovey at London's Barbican Centre on 22nd April — one which will also feature compositions from the pens of Elgar Howarth, Edward Gregson, John Ireland, Joseph Horovitz, Denis Wright, Joseph Turrin, Lucy Pankhurst and the conductor himself.

The featured soloists are the remarkable London Symphony Orchestra stars Philip Cobb and Peter Moore — both of whom ply their professional trade at the iconic concert hall complex that has been home to the orchestra since 1982.

Impact

'Dark Arteries' created a great deal of impact following its premiere at Sadler's Wells In 2015 — enjoying extensive national media coverage. It has since gone on to reach new audiences both in Britain and Europe.

The Guardian newspaper referred to it as, '…the dark, glittering sound palette of Higgins's score' whilst The Independent referred to '...Higgins' layers of chiming, rumbling sound'.

The literary inspiration comes from a line in Mervyn Peake's coal mining poem 'Rhondda Valley' with its three individual movement titles taken from 'GB84' by David Peace.

Have a listen

You can listen to Bramwell Tovey, Philip Cobb and Gavin Higgins by clicking on the link below from around four minutes into the broadcast:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b08ljtlc

Gavin Higgins spoke openly on BBC Radio 3 about the excitement of hearing his new suite being played by the National Youth Brass Band of Great Britain 4BR

Barbican Performance:

22nd April
7.30pm
Barbican
London

https:/­/­www.barbican.org.uk/­music/­event-detail.asp?id=19373&pg=9450

Selected music from:

Mosaic (Elgar Howarth)
Symphony in Two Movements (Edward Gregson)
Elegy from 'A Downland Suite' (John Ireland)
Concerto for Cornet (Denis Wright)
Dark Arteries Suite (Gavin Higgins)
Lincoln Tunnel Cabaret (Bramwell Tovey)
Fandango (Joseph Turrin)
Ballet for Band (Joseph Horovitz)
Wired (Lucy Pankhurst)

Conductor: Bramwell Tovey
Featured Soloists: Philip Cobb (trumpet); Peter Moore (trombone)