On International Women’s Day (8th March) 4BR chooses five works (and there are many, many more) that should be making their way onto concert programmes more often – not just one day a year.
Thea Musgrave
Variations (1966)
It remains one of the great brass band mysteries as to why Thea Musgrave has only written one ensemble work for the medium.
How on earth did we leave 60 years (and counting) pass since this wonderful gem of innovative scoring was first heard. Now nearing her 98th birthday and living in the USA where she continues to champion new compositional talent, her music has a rich sense of dramatic impulse and communicative colour.
‘Variations’ was commissioned by the Scottish Amateur Music Society for the National Youth Brass Band of Scotland. Its solemn theme is followed by five highly individual jewels of texture and colour. Although just seven or so minutes in duration, it is commanding writing – elegant precise and pertinent in its questioning.
Although just seven or so minutes in duration, it is commanding writing – elegant precise and pertinent in its questioning.
Much to our shame it has been performed only intermittently over the years (it was scheduled for the RNCM International Brass Band Festival this year but dropped), but on each occasion it has, it has been a miniature joy.
To enjoy:
Brighouse & Rastrick Band
2024 RNCM International Festival of Brass
http://www.wobplay.com
Imogen Holst
The Glory of the West (1969)
Although not as celebrated as her father, Imogen Holst (1907 – 1984) not only shared his compositional style (especially in her earlier works such as ‘The Unfortunate Traveller’) but also a missionary zeal to enrich the musical lives of amateur performers.
She also had a passion for dance – often appearing to do just that when conducting.
‘The Glory of the West’ was commissioned in 1969 for Redbridge Youth Band (premiered the following year) and neatly fuses these joint passions together.
It is a short work (just over 6 minutes in duration) and is in essence a set of lightly scored, delicately proportioned variations
It is a short work (just over 6 minutes in duration) and is in essence a set of lightly scored, delicately proportioned variations on a traditional Morris Dance from the Cotswolds taken from Henry Playford’s ‘English Dancing Master’ of 1647.
Its simple sounding sophistication is a joy.
To enjoy:
Tredegar Band
Holst at 150
www.wobplay.com
Errollyn Wallen
Chrome (1997)
Thankfully, the brass band movement is gradually reacquainting itself with the brass music of the Belize born British composer, and now Master of the King’s Music after a period of neglect.
Written in 1996 following an invitation by Elgar Howarth for the National Youth Brass Band of Great Britain, 'Chrome' was given its premiere the following year at the Harrogate Festival. It has enjoyed some notable youth led renditions since and is also being performed by Eikanger Bjorsvik as part of a musical celebration of International Women’s Day in Bergen this weekend.
It has enjoyed some notable youth led renditions since and is also being performed by Eikanger Bjorsvik as part of a musical celebration of International Women’s Day in Bergen this weekend.
Vividly coloured and textured over its ostinato foundation (with hints of late 1960 Jerry Goldmith film scores), it draws the listening into its hypnotic complexities and nuanced wit with a sense joyful energy that never loses it grip throughout its 16 or so minutes of jazzy inflections and exotic percussion pulses.
The composer recently stated that she would love to write a major work for the medium if asked again. Someone should be on the phone straight away.
To enjoy:
Eikanger Bjorsvik
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uGVhY0i60fo
RNCM Brass Band
2022 RNCM Brass Band Festival
http://www.wobplay.com
Emily Howard
Obsidian – A Volcanic Ash Lullaby (2010)
Commissioned for Nichaolas Childs and the Black Dyke Band, ‘Obsidian’ was given its world premiere at the 2010 Leeds Brass Arts Festival. It was later shortlisted for a British Composer Award.
At the time the eruption of the Icelandic volcano Mount Eyjafjallaokull was very much in the news, causing major disputations as volcanic ash was blown into the atmosphere.
Dense, hard and cold to the touch Obsidian has been used as a weapon, a surgical tool and even wind chimes.
However, the composer was already writing the 5-and-a-half-minute work based on the history and myths surrounding the elemental glass that is formed when it cools in the air.
Dense, hard and cold to the touch Obsidian has been used as a weapon, a surgical tool and even wind chimes.
The Ivor Novello Award winning composer brings an unsettling darkness to bear in a wonderfully atmospheric way, as the music emerges almost in geological form – low, thick sounds added to in layers and effect to a series of huge climaxes.
Florence Anna Maunders
Sewer Crisis (2022)
Florence Anna Maunders is a composer who has gained critical acclaim for works that even ‘The Daily Telegraph’, a bastion of musical conservatism, herald as “an enjoyably furious melange.”
Those for the brass band medium also have a deliciously uncompromising underpinning – and not just from the titles such as ‘The Triumph of Kakistocracy’.
'Sewer Crisis' takes inspiration from a subterranean menace - colossal fatbergs; huge congealed masses of domestic waste and oil, hard as concrete and oozing with menace.
This virile, five minute work was developed for Fulham Brass Band as part of the ‘Adopt a Music Creator’ project, funded by the PRS Foundation and the Philip and Dorothy Green Music Trust, and run by Making Music, in partnership with Sound and Music.
'Sewer Crisis' takes inspiration from a subterranean menace - colossal fatbergs; huge congealed masses of domestic waste and oil, hard as concrete and oozing with menace.
However, the composer approaches her subject with both retching horror and waspish wit with a landscape of twisting pipes, dripping water and scuttling rats before the huge blob of human waste sides by in glistening, waxy triumph.
To enjoy:
Fulham Brass Band
https://soundcloud.com/makingmusicuk/sewers-crisis-concert-take-by-florence-anna-maunders
