The announcement has been made of the test pieces for this year’s European Championships to be held in Perth on the weekend of the 2nd and 3rd May.

Muckle Flugga

The eleven competing bands in the Championship Section will tackle ‘Muckle Flugga’, by renowned composer and Professor of Composition at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, Rory Boyle.

Commissioned by SBBA for the EBBA event, the composition has been made possible with funding from Creative Scotland.

Inspirations

The composer has provided a detailed programme note which describes the inspiration behind his work.

"Muckle Flugga, a small rocky island north of Unst in the Shetland Islands, is the northernmost point of the British Isles.

The name comes from old Norse ‘Mickla Flugey’ meaning ‘large steep-sided island', and, according to local folklore, two giants, Herma and Saxa fell in love with the same mermaid and fought over her by throwing large rocks at each other, one of which became Muckle Flugga.

To get rid of these rivals, the mermaid offered to marry whichever one followed her to the North Pole but both drowned since neither could swim.

Lighthouse

He adds: "In 1854 Thomas and David Stevenson started to build the lighthouse on Muckle Flugga, ostensibly to protect British ships during the Crimean War but also to prevent all sailing vessels from floundering in this wild and dangerous place.

For much of the time the lighthouse was being built, the weather was so violent that the sea crashed over the summit of the rock taking materials with it, and the workmen had to crawl out of doors on their knees for fear of being pitched off the rock and out to sea.

Evidently, from the day it was finished in 1857 to this day, the lighthouse has not let in a drop of water such was the brilliance of this pioneering Stevenson family whose lighthouses can be seen all around the Scottish coast.

After a short introduction, the music deals with giants, the drowned, and the lighthouse, all in the context of the wild seas and violent winds which are indigenous to this rocky outcrop."

A full biography of Rory Boyle can be found at:
http://www.scottishmusiccentre.com/members/rory_boyle/home/full_biography/

...two giants, Herma and Saxa fell in love with the same mermaid and fought over her by throwing large rocks at each other, one of which became Muckle Flugga4BR

The Pilgrim

Bands in the European Challenge Section (former B-section) will play, ‘The Pilgrim’ written by one of Scotland's most talented young composers and leading bass trombonists, Josiah Walters.

He describes his composition as a journey of development and emotion; encompassing three key stages of emotional state: from the opening sounds which are full of anticipation and uncertainty, through to a passage of disillusionment and frustration, then moving on to a concluding stage which reintroduces the positive elements of the opening optimism, yet closing quietly, symbolising an inner peace and contentment at the end of the musical journey.

Emotive approach

The composer’s emotive approach to the creation of the work embraces a wealth of passion, anguish and enlightenment. Through his use of imaginative melody, themes and harmonic texture, Josiah has represented a collection of powerful emotions.

Non programmatic

He states: "Essentially non-programmatic, the piece opens in a contemplative manner, building with enthusiasm, and first introducing the use of bells and bell effects as a musical metaphor which is used throughout the piece to signify the journey’s destination.

As the sentiment continues, the music evolves in to an Allegro Furioso section, opening up a strong sense of frustration. At this section’s climax, the symbolic use of the bells is reintroduced to create an over-tone of hope and purpose, although this does not last long as they fade into the Misterioso Molto Rubato section.

As the melodies and harmonies develop onwards, ‘The Pilgrim’ evolves into a more reflective phase, reintroducing the sounds and motifs of the more strident opening.

This closing section symbolises the realisation that everything needed was already available to The Pilgrim, but travelling the journey, confronting and overcoming all of the challenges was the only route of discovery – a peacefulness prevails bringing the work to a close with a sense of contentment and enlightenment."

Highly emotive

‘The Pilgrim’, highly emotive in its creation, offers a wealth of musical imagery: It is a powerful and beautiful work that aims to stir and stimulate a variety of emotional reactions — offering each listener an opportunity to apply the music to their own journey, their own personal pilgrimage.

More information on the composer can be found at: http://www.josiahwalters.co.u