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Classic test-pieces revisited No 4: Victorian Snapshots — On Ratcliff Highway

The the fourth of our series, Prof Steven Allen takes an in-depth look at one of the major crossover works to the banding movement that came from the Salvation Army composer Ray Steadman-Allen.

Allen
  Ray Steadman Allen's work was written in 1978

Prof Stephen Allen takes an in depth look at one of the classic works for the brass band medium — Ray Steadman Allen's 1978 work, 'Victorian Snapshots — On Ratcliff Highway'.

A 'sound picture' of one of the most colourful as well as infamous stretches of the East End area on the banks of the River Thames, brought to life in its Victorian heyday by composer Ray Steadman-Allen.

Steven looks at the remarkable work that hides its quixotic subtleties, colours and textures in plain sight for all to picture in the mind's eye... although the composer himself rather forgot about much he wrote in the work...


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Michael Bennett

BSc, RNCM (Perf)
Performer, Composer, Arranger, Teacher


               

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