The test pieces that will be performed at the 2020 Australian National Championships in Perth have been announced by the contest organisers.

The event, which returns to the city for the first time since 2013, will run from Friday 10th April to Monday April 13th, and will incorporate the usual series of band contests as well as the popular Parade of Bands and keenly fought solo and ensemble events.

The main competitions will be based at Scotch College, Swanbourne, using its impressive Dickinson Centre and Memorial Hall facilities.

A Grade:

'The Torchbearer' Peter Graham's affectionate homage to Eric Ball is the set-test for the A Grade competitors.

Commissioned as the test-piece for the National Championships of Great Britain and the Australian FABB Open Contest in 2009, it is a set of symphonic variations based upon the first phrase of the trio of Ball's Salvation Army march, 'Torchbearers'.

Although direct quotes from many of the composer's iconic works for both the Salvationist and secular medium are not used, Graham cleverly and respectfully retains their flavour and identifiable characteristics — from 'High Peak' to Journey into Freedom'.

B Grade:

A work that takes its inspiration from the name given to high Alpine mountain pass in Swiss Romansh language will pose a stern test for bands in the Open B Grade event.

Written by respected Swiss composer Oliver Waespi 'Traversda' evokes a journey taken on such a beautiful but at times treacherous pathway. It is based on the Swiss song of farewell and uncertain reunion, 'S-chura', as the music starts in the bucolic foothills. It soon heads into a series of dramatic vistas before eventually finding safety in the sunlight destination.

C Grade:

Another work by a hugely respected European composer has been chosen for the Open C Grade. Thierry Delleruyelle wrote 'Fraternity' for the European Championships in 2016, and his 'Viking Age' from 2017 was first used at the Dutch National Championships in 2018.

It is a work the evokes the golden age of the Norsemen from the 8th to the 11th century; four sections that although based on an initial four note motif explore their contribution to exploration, commerce, authority — and conquest.

D Grade:

The popular Scottish composer Alan Fernie provides the Open D Grade work, 'A Royal Mile Suite', which is a celebration of some of the most famous landmarks and characteristics of the city of Edinburgh such as the opening movement, 'At the Palace Gates' which is a majestic vista of Holyrood Palace.

It is followed by the peaceful 'Holyrood Park', the free-wheeling, 'Jenny Ha's Reel' and the closing march 'Castrum Dun-Edin'.

Written in 1997 it has since been used extensively since — including the Fourth Section National Championships of Great Britain in 2010.

Junior Grades:

A trio of well written works will test the bands in the Junior Grade competitions.

Edward Kennedy's 'Spirit of Youth Overture', 'Village Scenes' by Alan Fernie and 'An Irish Folk Sing Suite' are aimed at challenging the emerging talents through tests of considered technique and musicality.

The event, which returns to the city for the first time since 2013, will run from Friday 10th April to Monday April 13th4BR

Set works:

Open A Grade: The Torchbearer (Peter Graham)
Open B Grade: Traversada (Oliver Waespi)
Open C Grade: Viking Age (Thierry Deleruyelle)
Open D Grade: A Royal Mile Suite (Alan Fernie)

Junior A Grade: Spirit of Youth Overture (Edward Kennedy)
Junior B Grade: Village Scenes (Alan Fernie)
Junior C Grade: An Irish Folk Song Suite (Trad. Arr Rob J Hume)

More information

For Concert Band test-pieces and more information, go to: https://www.nationalbandchampionships.com.au/test-pieces-2020.html?fbclid=IwAR2fkMyW1ZG7Q71Hpr5ZxU1wndPfmT0lcFkKVShhlDbd4bNoWeha_EcPpdc