Composer Andy Wareham has confessed that despite the fortune- telling inspiration behind his work, 'Tarot! Tortuous Tarot!', the success in it winning the 2017 RWCMD/Cory Composition Prize in Cardiff on the weekend still came to him as a 'total surprise'.
The 22 year old's five- minute long composition, was the unanimous, 'clear winner' choice of the jury — one that enabled him not only to pick up a cash prize from sponsors Kapitol Promotions, but which will now see it published by Wright & Round, as well as recorded by Cory on a forthcoming CD release and performed in concerts.
Complete shock
"It's amazing,"the Royal Welsh College post-graduate student told 4BR. "It was such a thrill to hear the piece performed brilliantly by Cory on the night, but to win came as a complete shock.
I did joke that given the inspiration, perhaps the cards should have told me the outcome, but I can assure you they didn't. I was completely shocked!"
Well deserved
Andy could well be forgiven that the work, inspired by the growing musical apprehension as the Tarot cards are turned over one by one, didn't give him an inkling of his well-deserved success.
That was perhaps down to the quality of the pieces submitted by the others finalists, David Robinson and Paul Saggers, which were also thoroughly enjoyed on the night by the audience in the Dora Stoutzker Hall.
The jury of composer Liz Lane, and Cory's musical team of Nigel Seaman, Chris Bond and Philip Harper, congratulated all the finalists, but as Liz revealed, it was the way in which Andy had so cleverly constructed his piece — starting and ending with the tinkling mystery of the percussion led sound of a musical box, that made it a clear winner.
Thrilled
"I was thrilled to hear that the judges felt it achieved what I wanted — trying to bring a sense of dark tension and atmosphere into play,"Andy said.
"I will ask for their advice and then submit it for publication, but to hear it played not once but twice in one night was more than I could have asked for."
The judges also praised David Robinson's evocative bullfighting 'Corrida', which captured the anxiety and excitement felt by a matador as he stepped into the ring, and Paul Saggers', 'The Roar of the Khasmin', which evoked the journey of a fast flowing Arabic wind.
I did joke that given the inspiration, perhaps the cards should have told me the outcome, but I can assure you they didn't. I was completely shocked!Composer, Andy Wareham
Superb response
Cory MD Philip Harper added: "We had a superb response this year, but the three finalists stood out. It was great to be able to perform the works with the composers present and it shows that there are lots of exciting new voices wanting to write for the brass band medium."
Meanwhile Philip Morris offered a further enticing prospect. "The Nationals is always on the lookout for new works and new composers, so I would encourage any composers to submit works for this excellent competition to test themselves."
One of those who the movement will certainly hear more of is the winner, with Andy Wareham adding that he hopes to build on this success after completing his Masters in Brass Band Conducting at the RWCMD.
Write more
"I have another year to go, and I do want to write more. I have two works, 'The Deep' and 'Fade Away' already published through Pennine Music who have been very supportive of me, and I'm currently writing a euphonium solo for Grant Jameson of Flowers Band.
I've plenty of other ideas for the future and I'm thoroughly enjoying conducting both City of Cardiff M2 and the Rogerstone Community Band, so perhaps I can write something for them as well."
Find out more:
http://andywarehammusic.wixsite.com/andywareham
Andy Wareham works:
The Deep: http://www.penninemusic.com/concert_items.html
Fade Away: http://www.penninemusic.com/solos.html
