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…
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…