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…
Derek Bourgeois: Blitz Context Derek Bourgeois studied at Magdalene College, Cambridge and the Royal College of Music, where he received specialist composition tutelage by Herbert Howells and conductor education from Si Adrian Boult. Bourgeois worked at a number of places as a lecturer, teacher and conductor, whilst also writing a Read more…
Herbert Howells: Pageantry Context Herbert Howells was a well-established composer by the time his invitation to compose a work for the British Open Brass Band Championship was issued. The year was 1934 and Howells accepted the big task of writing a new piece for the top UK brass bands to Read more…
John McCabe: Salamander Context Composed for a commission by Michael Webber for the English Heritage to celebrate their 10th birthday of the Historical Buildings and Monuments Commission for England, Salamander was premiered in June 1994. Grimethorpe Colliery and David Urquhart Yorkshire Imperial Bands, conducted by Geoffrey Brand, united at Kenwood Read more…
Gustav Holst: A Moorside Suite Context Gustav Holst’s A Moorside Suite is the composer’s only work for brass band. Commissioned by the BBC and the National Brass Band Festival Committee in 1927, A Moorside Suite was used for the final of the 1928 National Brass Band Championships of Great Britain, Read more…
Philip Sparke: The Land of the Long White Cloud Context Born in 1951 in London, Philip Sparke studied composition, trumpet and piano performance at the Royal College of Music. Due to his affiliation with brass, Sparke is known for his many popular works for both brass bands and wind orchestras. Read more…
Kenneth Downie: St Magnus Context Last used as the championship test piece for the 2014 Regional Area Contest, Kenneth Downie’s St Magnus is a terrific work for brass band. The piece was commissioned by the Scottish Brass Band Association for the 2004 European Brass Band Championships in Glasgow. St Magnus Read more…
Philip Wilby: Masquerade Context Philip Wilby’s Masquerade was premiered in September 1993 at the Free Trade Hall in Manchester during the brass band British Open Championships. Since then Masquerade has been used for a number of contests including the 2002 Championship Section National Test Piece, the 2005 Grand Shield and, Read more…
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…