National Finals test piece composer Edward Gregson recently worked with conductor Takuo Yuasa, horn soloist Paul Klein the Ulster Orchestra in preparation for the premiere of the orchestral version of his ‘Horn Concerto’.
Critical acclaim
The critically acclaimed premiere took place on Friday 30th August at a BBC Radio 3 invitation concert at the Ulster Hall, alongside performances of Schumann's ‘Symphony for Strings’ and Amy Beach's ‘Symphony no. 2 Op 32, E Minor’.
Ifor James
The work was originally written in 1971 for horn virtuoso Ifor James and recorded with the Besses o’ th’ Barn Band.
At the request of principal horn, Paul Klein, the composer reworked the concerto for chamber orchestra.
The work was originally written in 1971 for horn virtuoso Ifor James and recorded with the Besses o’ th’ Barn Band4BR
Brass connections
The orchestra is proud of its brass band connections with many members of their brass section having banding backgrounds – including Patrick McCarthy (trumpet) who is a former member of Desford, Martin Wilson (trombone) with Whitburn and Paul Young (principal trumpet), like Edward Gregson, a member of Tottenham Citadel (now Enfield Citadel Band).
