*
banner

Soprano progress at Open?

Foden's star Alan Wycherley voices concern over the trend to test soprano players to the limit and beyond...

Wycherley
 

Foden's soprano star Alan Wycherley has expressed his growing concern to 4BR about what he believes is a current trend in modern day test pieces towards writing for the very extremes of the instrument.

Issue

Just a couple of days before he takes to the stage to play the exceptionally difficult soprano part in Hermann Pallhuber's 'Titan's Progress', his thoughts are sure to bring the issue to the fore.

The piece itself contains writing that sees the soprano peak at a top E above top C, and Alan thinks this may herald a desire in certain compositional quarters for the piccolo trumpet to be used in banding in future.

Direction

Speaking personally in an exclusive interview to 4BR Alan said: "I'm just a bit concerned as to which direction composers are going at the moment regarding the role of the soprano in a brass band."

"If we go back 30 years a top C was fairly rare and in the past 30 years they have got to be the norm. Certain composers have pushed the bar up a little by going up to the odd C# and even the occasional top D, but now all I seem to see at times is ever higher and ever louder requirements – writing that has more in common with piccolo playing than traditional soprano playing."

A good composer can test any soprano player within a reasonable range without just seeing how high they can go, so I don’t see the need to try send the soprano in extinctionAlan Wycherley

Ignored

Even though Alan fully understands the desire to test players, he feels that the true strengths of the soprano cornet are being ignored.

He added: "Whilst I fully understand the benefit of ‘pushing’ players to the limit I am also a little worried that composers now want to go even higher – there is a top E and E flat in this years Open piece for instance.

"I think that quite a few players will just take different mouthpieces on stage to get these notes, but I wonder is it time to ask composers what they really want, and if they really understand just what a soprano cornet can do to the tone and colour of a brass band?"

Out of control

Alan hopes though that the current trend doesn’t get out of control.

"If they want another octave above the cornet parts then why not just introduce the Piccolo into contesting and either do away with the soprano or allow the players to take on two separate instruments to play the parts?”

"A good composer can test any soprano player within a reasonable range without just seeing how high they can go, so I don’t see the need to try send the soprano in extinction – it is a wonderful instrument in its own right."

Become a supporter and help make our future secure.

4barsrest continues to be a proudly independent voice. There are no paywalls to overcome to be able to enjoy what we do to keep our journalism at the heart of the brass banding world. Support us with a one-off donation or subscribe from just £2.50 per month.

Support us    


Rodney Newton

80th birthday concert celebration for Newton

July 19 • Rodney Newton will enjoy a musical celebration of his birthday this weekend in Cambridge.


jhs instruments

JHS Ltd set to close

July 19 • The leading independent distributor and suppliers of Odyssey instrument brand set to close after 60 years of trading.


FodensLovatt

Lovatt joins Foden's for Regent Hall pre-National concert

July 19 • Trumpet star Mike Lovatt will reconnect with Foden's Band for their pre-National preview concert at Regent Hall.


Rooms for groups

Sold out signs up in Cheltenham

July 19 • Hotel demand from National qualifiers mean sold out signs are posted in Cheltenham.


The Hepworth Band - A Summer Proms Concert

Sunday 20 July • Hepworth United Sports Club, Far Lane, Hepworth, Holmfirth. HD9 1RN


Petworth Town Band - Ebernoe Horn Fair

Friday 25 July • Ebernoe Cricket Ground GU28 9LD


Petworth Town Band - Dorset House School Fete

Saturday 26 July • Dorset House School RH20 1PB


Haverhill Silver Band - A Nightingale Sang... (an evening concert)

Saturday 2 August • Foakes Hall, Dunmow CM6 1DG


Haverhill Silver Band - East Anglian Beer & Cider Festival

Sunday 24 August • St Edmundsbury Cathedral, Bury St Edmunds IP33 1QX


Longridge Band

July 21 • Due to ill health, Longridge Band invite applications for a SOLO HORN. We are a friendly, committed band, who enjoy a good balance of concerts and contests throughout the year. We rehearse 10 minutes from Jct 31A of the M6, on Wednesday and Friday evening


NORTH LAKES BRASS

July 20 • North Lakes Brass are seeking a CONDUCTOR with the drive to take our friendly band into the 2nd section. . We are different from most contesting bands as we rehearse just once a week (Wed), have 2 full band concerts & 4-5 contests per year.


Rushden Town Band

July 18 • Second Trombone vacancy. A friendly Midlands 1st Section Band, Rushden are looking for a Second Trombone player to come and join us. Great repertoire and concerts plus contests twice per year. Every other year, the band goes on tour.


Sarah Groarke-Booth

BA (Hons) MA
Conductor, Adjudicator, Compere, Actor


               

 © 2025 4barsrest.com Ltd