The European Brass Band Association (EBBA) has announced that Philip Sparke will write the set-work for the Championship Section of the 2020 European Championships to be held in Palanga.

The Challenge Section test-piece will come from the pen of Lithuanian composer Vaida Beinariene, with the experienced Dutch composer Jan de Haan providing the work for the Premier Section of the European Youth Band Championship.

Another talented Lithuanian composer, Kazys Daugela will provide the work for the Development Section of the Youth Championships.

Four new works

The 43rd festival event takes take place in Palanga between the 25th April — 3rd May, with the works commissioned by host organiser Palangos Orkestras with the support of the Lithuanian Council for Culture.

In confirming the news about the compositions, EBBA President Ulf Rosenberg stated that Philip Sparke and Jan de Haan had worked closely with a number of Lithuanian composers new to writing for the brass band medium.

He told 4BR: "We are delighted that the team in Palanga has commissioned four new works to mark the first visit of the European Championships to Lithuania, including two composers from the country's rich and diverse musical culture."

We are delighted that the team in Palanga has commissioned four new works to mark the first visit of the European Championships to Lithuania, including two composers from the country's rich and diverse musical cultureUlf Rosenberg

Composers

Philip Sparke is the most performed composer in European Championship history and has provided the set-works in 1980 ('Land of the Long White Cloud'), 1986, ('The Year of the Dragon'), 1991, ('A London Overture') and 2000 ('Tallis Variations').

Jan de Haan is a hugely respected composer, conductor, teacher, publisher and adjudicator, whose works have been performed all over the banding world. In 1983 he founded the publisher De Haske and now devotes his time to composing, arranging and conducting.

Vaida Beinariene is a graduate of the Lithuanian Academy of Music and Theatre where she studied composition with Julius Juzeliunas and Vytautas Barkauskas. Her work often explores new sounds and unconventional playing techniques. Her chamber and solo music has gained widespread acclaim and has received awards in competitions organised by the Lithuanian Composers' Union.

Kazys Daugėla is an award-winning composer/arranger, conductor and teacher. He is an associate professor at the Lithuanian Academy of Music in Vilnius, where he teaches conducting, scoring, music history and arranging.

He composes in many styles from marches and overtures for wind orchestra to children's songs and is a prolific arranger. In 1990 his arrangement of the Lithuanian State Anthem was awarded the prestigious Grand Prix, whilst his repertoire is widely performed.

Further information:

For further information go to: https://www.ebba.eu.com/