Edward Gregson: Connotations Context Edward Gregson’s brass band test piece Connotations was initially commissioned for the 1977 National Brass Band Championship Finals held at the Royal Albert Hall. The winners of that year were the Black Dyke Mills Band, who further won the British Open in 1983 with the same Read more…
Interview with Philip Harper Award-winning conductor and composer Philip Harper has led the world’s No.1 brass band, The Cory Band, since 2012. He has won all the major trophies including the Grand Slam of all major titles in 2016 & 2019 – something now known as the ‘Harper Slam’. In Read more…
Hermann Pallhuber: Titan’s Progress Context Commissioned by Brass Band Oberosterreich for the 2007 European Brass Band Championships at Symphony Hall in Birmingham, Hermann Pallhuber’s Titan’s Progress is ‘On A Theme Of Mahler’. The piece has since been used as the test piece for the 2009 British Open and the 2019 Read more…
Paul Lovatt-Cooper: Enter the Galaxies Context Composed in 2008, and dedicated to the Cory Band, Paul Lovatt-Cooper Enter the Galaxies received its premiere at the prestigious Sage in Gateshead. Cory performed the work as part of their winning performance at the 2008 Brass in Concert Championships. The work has become Read more…
Philip Wilby: Paganini Variations Context Commissioned by the BBC in 1991 for their ‘Band of the Year’ event, Paganini Variations was first recorded by Grimethorpe Colliery Band in the same year. In recent years Paganini Variations has been set for the Championship section in the 2011 Brass Band Regional Contest. Read more…
Philip Sparke: A Tale as Yet Untold Context A Tale as Yet Untold was composed in 2010 after a commission came to Sparke from the Cory Band. The band wanted a work to take to the European Brass Band Championships in Linz, Austria. Their winning performance of this piece at Read more…
Paul Lovatt-Cooper: Donegal Bay Context Donegal Bay was the first work for brass band that Paul Lovatt-Cooper composed when he was just 18 years old. Written for a solo baritone and brass band, Donegal Bay has become a staple in many band rooms around the world. It is a homage Read more…
Gilbert Vinter: Symphony of Marches Context Gilbert Vinter (1909-1969) was most known for his work as a conductor and as a composer of brass band music. Vinter was a chorister at Lincoln Cathedral when he was a young boy. He later took up the bassoon. He conducted the BBC Concert Read more…
Thierry Deleruyelle: Fraternity Context Composed for the 2016 European Brass Band Competition, Thierry Deleruyelle’s work Fraternity is a staple in Championship repertoire. Fraternity was also used at the 2017 British Open competition, where the work was voted the ‘Test Piece of the Year’ for 2016 and 2017. The work is Read more…
Eric Ball: Journey Into Freedom Context Composed to be used as the Championship test piece for band competing at the Royal Albert Hall in 1967, Eric Ball’s Journey Into Freedom is one of his most popular works. The work has endured the test of time, being used twice more for Read more…