Joseph Horovitz: Ballet for Band Context Joseph Horovitz was commissioned to compose the Championship Section test piece for the National Finals in 1983, which was held at the Royal Albert Hall, London. He composed Ballet for Band, which was conquered by Cory Band that year. More recently, Ballet for Band Read more…
Goff Richards: Oceans Context Commissioned from the West of England Bandsmen’s Festival in 1984, Goff Richards’ Oceans was premiered at the 60th Anniversary Festival of the Bugle Contest in Cornwall. A highly descriptive and challenging piece, Oceans has interestingly been used as a set test piece for the Championship, First Read more…
James Curnow: Trittico for Brass Band Context Commissioned in 1988 by the Swiss Brass Band Association, James Curnow’s Trittico for Brass Band was first performed at the Swiss National Championships of the same year. This Championship-level test piece has been used around the world for various contests including the Grand Read more…
Peter Meechan: The Legend of King Arthur Context Commissioned by brass band Bürgermusik Luzern in 2010, Peter Meechan’s The Legend of King Arthur is one of his most adventurous works. Meechan was inspired by the endless tales of King Arthur, from the pulling of the sword from the stone, to Read more…
John McCabe: Cloudcatcher Fells Context Commissioned by Boosey and Hawkes in 1985, John McCabe’s Cloudcatcher Fells was used as the test piece for the National Brass Band Championship in the same year. Set into four continuous movements, McCabe was inspired by David Wright’s 1977 poem Cockermouth, which the composer came Read more…
Thomas Doss: REM-Scapes Context Composed in 2014, Thomas Doss’ REM-Scapes for brass band is an eclectic mix of sonorous playing and extended techniques. The name of the piece refers to “Rapid Eye Movement” – which is a unique state of sleep seen only in mammals and birds. This phase is Read more…
Robert Simpson: Energy Context Robert Simpson composed Energy in 1971 for the Brass Band Championships. GUS won playing Energy, and since then the piece has been used at the 1980 British Open, the 1991 National Championships of Great Britain, plus many others. Most recently Energy has been used as the Read more…
Philip Sparke: Cambridge Variations Context Commissioned by Philip Biggs and Richard Franklin for the All England Brass Band Championships in 1992, Philip Sparke’s Cambridge Variations was most recently used at the 2016 Brass Band Regionals for the Championship Section. As the title suggests, the work is set in a form Read more…
Robert Redhead: Quintessence Context Robert Redhead composed Quintessence in 1978 for the Melbourne Staff Band’s tour of the UK in the same year. The piece was intended not just for concert performance, but to also be used at the band’s participation in The Salvation Army International Congress in London. The Read more…
Peter Graham: On Alderley Edge Context Commissioned for the 1997 National Brass Band Championships, Peter Graham’s On Alderley Edge was the set test piece for the Championship section. Described as a series of tone pictures, On Alderley Edge’s scene is set by this programme note from Graham: “The North Read more…