The organisers have announced the test pieces for the 91st British Open Spring Festival.

Grand Shield

Following the convention set over the last few years, competing bands at the Grand Shield will have to tackle a recent British Open test piece, with Hermann Pallhuber’s spectacular 'Titan’s Progress' chosen to sort out which two bands qualify for Symphony Hall.

The piece was originally written for the talents of Brass Band Oberostereich under Pallhuber’s non de plume John P Alliston, and performed at the European Championships in Birmingham in 2007. It was later selected as the British Open set work in 2009.

competing bands at the Grand Shield will have to tackle a recent British Open test piece, with Hermann Pallhuber’s spectacular 'Titan’s Progress' chosen to sort out which two bands qualify for Symphony Hall4BR

Senior Cup

The bands hoping to qualify from the Senior Cup will battle it out on Peter Graham’s 'Prisms', which was used as the Championship Section test piece at the 1989 Area Championships.

Subtitled 'Symphonic Study No 2 for Brass Band' it was originally commissioned by the IMI Yorkshire Imperial Band in 1986 and first performed by the band at the Madeley Festival in July that year. It was intended to be a sequel to Graham’s earlier work, 'Dimensions'.

The piece was revised for contesting purposes in 1988 to included a number of cadenzas and draws its inspiration from the refraction of light.

Senior Trophy

There is a new take on an old classic for the Senior Trophy, as the competing bands lock horns on a recent new arrangement of the Berlioz overture 'Benvenuto Cellini' by Dr Christian Jenkins.

This will be first time the new arrangement will have been performed at a major contest.

The Spring Festival takes place at the Winter Gardens in Blackpool on Saturday 14th May.

Recordings:

A recording of Hermann Pallhuber’s 'Titan’s Progress' can be found at:
http://www.4barsrest.com/shopping/cd_detail.asp?id=848

A recording of Peter Graham’s 'Prisms' can be found at:
http://www.4barsrest.com/shopping/cd_detail.asp?id=71

A recording of the Dr Christian Jenkins arrangement of 'Benvenuto Cellini' can be found at: http://www.4barsrest.com/shopping/cd_detail.asp?id=294