*
banner

It’s a Dream in 2009 at Butlins

Butlins announce 2009 test pieces — all headed by Harrison's Dream.

Butlins
 

‘Harrison’s Dream’, by Peter Graham will be the set work for the championship section bands that will be competing at the 2009 Butlins Mineworkers Championships.

The work, which was written for the 2000 National Championships of Great Britain, has proved to be popular with performers and listeners alike since Cory’s win that day and it should provide a stern test for the bands.

Well in advance

The announcement of the set works for all the sections of the 2009 contest comes after Butlins listened to the request from competitors that they would like to know well in advance what pieces they would have to work up over the Christmas period – a difficult time for many bands to keep interest in rehearsals four months or so before the regional championships around the country.

It is another move that has been initiated following feedback from bands and listenersContest Controller, Brian Eggleshaw

Feedback

Contest Controller Brian Eggleshaw stated: "It is another move that has been initiated following feedback from bands and listeners."

Available on CD

In another move to make the test pieces available to the bands in plenty of time, a compilation CD of the works will be made available at this weekend’s contest for bands and players to purchase.

Stuart Pullin

Works by Richard Grantham, Rieks van der Velde and Philip Sparke will test the bands in the First, Second and Fourth Sections whilst the composer Stuart Pullin who sadly lost his battle against leukaemia in 2007, is remembered with his composition ‘Haydock Variations’ in the Third Section.

The test piece for all sections are as follows:

Championship:
‘Harrison’s Dream’ – Peter Graham (published by Gramercy Music)

First Section:
‘Hostile Skies’ – Richard Grantham (published by Lake Music)

Second Section:
‘Crusade’ – Rieks van der Velde (published by Lake Music)

Third Section:
‘Haydock Variations’ – Stuart Pullin (published by Gramercy Music)

Fourth Section:
’The Four Noble Truths’ – Philip Sparke (published by Anglo Music)

Become a supporter and help make our future secure.

4barsrest continues to be a proudly independent voice. There are no paywalls to overcome to be able to enjoy what we do to keep our journalism at the heart of the brass banding world. Support us with a one-off donation or subscribe from just £2.50 per month.

Support us    


Civic Hall

Result: 2026 Midlands Regional Championships Second Section

March 15 • Harborough Band claims the last Midlands title on offer for this year as they are joined in York by Leicestershire Co-op.


markham

Results: 2026 Welsh Regional Championships

March 14 • Cory reclaims the Welsh title as Parc & Dare, Markham & District, City of Cardiff (M2) and Gwaun Cae Gurwen claim section honours.


Pendennis

Results: 2026 West of England Regional Championships

March 14 • Flowers reclaim Area title with section wins for Lympstone, Lanner & District, St Pinnock and Pendennis Brass in Torquay


Shine

Ready to shine? NYBBGB offer audition skills workshops

March 14 • There are a trio of FREE audition skills workshops on offer from the National Youth Brass Band of Great Britain to help young player's skills sets.


Regent Hall Concerts - Slide Effect Trombone Quartet

Friday 20 March • Regent Hall. (The Salvation Army). 275 Oxford Street. London. . W1C2DJ


Regent Hall Concerts - Welsh Guards Band Septet

Friday 20 March • Regent Hall. (The Salvation Army). 275 Oxford Street. London W1C2DJ


Enderby Band - Around the World in 80 Minutes

Friday 20 March • Wycliffe Rooms, George St, Lutterworth LE17 4ED


Contest: London & Southern Counties Regional Championships

Saturday 21 March • Arts & Leisure Centre, Lytton Way, Stevenage SG1 1LZ


Longridge Band - Spring Concert

Saturday 21 March • Longridge Civic Hall, 1 Calder Avenue, Longridge, Preston PR3 3HT


St John's Band (Mossley)

March 15 • We are a friendly, welcoming 4th section band based in Tameside, Greater Manchester. Following our 4th place at the North West regionals, we are looking for a SOLO CORNET player (position negotiable). We rehearse on Tuesday and Thursday evenings.


St John's Band (Mossley)

March 15 • We are a friendly, welcoming 4th section band based in Tameside, Greater Manchester.. . . Following our 4th place at the North West regionals, we are looking for a BBb BASS player.. . . We rehearse on Tuesday and Thursday evenings.


Linthwaite Band

March 14 • We are a welcoming 4th section contesting Band with a vacancy for a kit player. Our calendar is filling up with various contests and engagements to fulfil through the year.


Sam Fisher

BA (Hons), PGCE, Dip.ABRSM
Conductor, Adjudicator (AoBBA), Composer/Arranger, Cornet & Flugelhorn Soloist


               

 © 2026 4barsrest.com Ltd