News

New composers to feature at the 2009 Regional Championships

The Kapitol Promotions’ Music Panel is delighted to announce the test-pieces for the 2009 Regional Championships of the National Brass Band Championships of Great Britain.

The Panel says that it has, once again, opted for works that are musical, demanding and particularly lyrical in content, and is particularly pleased to present four out of five composers, whose works have not featured before in the championships.

The test-pieces are:
Championship Section: Salute to Youth (Gilbert Vinter) published by Studio Music Company (J. Weinberger).

Section 1: Pentacle (Graham Cole) published by Faber Music

Section 2: New World Sketches (Daniel Price) published by Kirklees Music

Section 3: The Once and Future King (Andrew Baker) Jagrins Music Publications.

Section 4: The Talisman for Brass Band (Frank Hughes) MMI Music

Championship Section
Salute to Youth (Gilbert Vinter)
2009 is the centenary of the birth of Gilbert Vinter and the 40th Anniversary of his death. The Music Panel therefore thought that the selection of the brilliant Salute to Youth, first used as a Regional Championship test-piece in 1961, would be a fitting testimony to the memory of this giant of musical composition for brass.

Section 1
Pentacle (Graham Cole)
Pentacle was selected as the test-piece for Section 1 of the Swiss National Brass Band Championships held in Montreux, in November 2007.

Graham Cole is a new composer to the scene and this original composition is built around the image of an upright, five pointed star, the five points representing each of earth, wind, fire, water and quintessence.

Section 2
New World Sketches (Daniel Price)
This is the first time that a work from the pen of this young composer has been selected for the British National Championship series.

Daniel Price has been a finalist on two occasions in the Salford University/Kirklees Music Annual Composers’ Competition.

A rhythmic, modern work portraying a journey through America in the early 20th century, “it is characterised by some excellent solo sections and has good audience appeal,” said Alan Hope.

Section 3
The Once and Future King (Andrew Baker)
A graduate of Nottingham University, Andrew Baker is a young and prolific composer, who has worked in professional orchestra administration and who has had many of his own compositions performed.

This work was used as a test-piece in the Swiss Open Championships of 2007 and is a suite of three movements, each depicting an Arthurian legend from the early sixth century – Tintagel, Lyonesse and the spirited Badon Hill.

The title is taken from King Arthur’s legendary dying words and gravestone inscription: “Bury me in Britain, for I am the Once and Future King.”

Section 4
The Talisman for Brass Band (Frank Hughes)
A three-movement suite comprising a Prelude, a short Nocturne and a lively and rhythmical Scherzo, the music is detailed and demanding. Said Alan Hope: “It should provide a challenging and popular choice for 4th Section bands to rehearse and perform. Again, this is the first time that a work from this composer, a native of the north west of England, has been selected for the Championships.”

Summarising, Alan Hope commented: “We hope that each of these test-pieces will provide interesting and popular tests for bands and be enjoyable for audiences.”

All the test-pieces for the 2009 regional championships can be heard on the new recording ‘Regionals 2009’ (stock code 24980) released by World of Brass on the Doyen label and available from the World of Brass website. http://www.worldofbrass.eu/acatalog/24980.html