The five works chosen for the Finals of the 2011 National Championships of Great Britain have been announced by Kapitol Promotions.

Breath of Souls

And after a great degree of fevered speculation, it has been revealed that a new work from the pen of Paul Lovatt-Cooper, entitled, 'Breath of Souls' has been chosen as the set work for the Championship Section at the Royal Albert Hall.

Inspired by nature’s unique regenerative process following disasters, it contains three linked sections, and will be published by the composer’s own PLC Music Company.

Cadenza choices

Intriguingly, the composer has provided the competing bands with a choice of cadenzas to feature euphonium, flugel horn, soprano, trombone and Eb tuba.

Described by the composer as his ‘masterstroke’, it allows each soloist the choice of two cadenzas to perform4BR

Masterstroke

Described by the composer as his ‘masterstroke’, it allows each soloist the choice of two cadenzas to perform, the result of which it is hoped will give each performance an unique individual characteristic to reflect the conductor’s own interpretation of the work.

Further details of the work are to be found in an exclusive interview given by the composer to this month’s Brass Band World Magazine, as well as the Kapitol Promotions website.

Cheltenham choice

The competing bands at Cheltenham meanwhile have also been given eclectic choices to perform – with the First Section contenders having to get to grips with another classic overture, Verdi’s ‘La Forza Del Destino’.

The reprise of the popular Frank Wright arrangement is sure to test the nerves of leading soloists as well as the ensemble of the competing bands, and despite its age (it was the National Final test piece in 1962) it remains a severe test of musical character.

Sparke portrait

Philip Sparke’s ‘Portrait of a City’ will test the bands in the Second Section.

Although originally commissioned to celebrate the 150th anniversary of L‘Orchestre d’Harmonie Municipal d’Annnemasse in France in 2002, it is in fact a musical portrait of the composer’s ‘hometown’ of London and is written in three distinct movements.

Young composers

The Music Panel’s desire to promote young composers is seen in the choice of Richard Grantham’s ‘Darkness Visible’ as the choice in the Third Section.

Described as a ‘musical essay of light and shade’ it is a continuous work that the composer describes, ‘…starts in darkness and ends in a glorious blaze of light’.

Historic classic

The Fourth Section bands will have to get to grips with a historic classic in the form of ‘Overture for Brass Band: Henry The Fifth’ by Vaughan Williams.

Edited by Roy Douglas, a close friend of Howard Snell, the work is in four short sections and was used as the Second Section Area set work in 1982.

Further details on all works can be found at the Kaptiol Promotions website at: