The National Youth Brass Band of Great Britain (NYBBGB) is to give the world premiere of a new Peter Graham composition at their forthcoming concerts in Weston super Mare and Cheltenham.

The band starts its Easter course in Taunton this weekend during which time they will prepare for the two concerts on the 19th & 20 April featuring a range of original music, as well as a number of exciting arrangements and transcriptions.

Metropolis musical core

At its musical core will be the premiere of Peter Graham's 'Metropolis 1927', commissioned for the course by Artistic Director, Bramwell Tovey through funding provided by Arts Council England.

Guest soloist for the two concerts will be Dudley Bright, principal trombone of the London Symphony Orchestra, who will perform his own work for trombone and band, 'Life's Command'.

Varied repertoire

The remaining works include Graham's 'Harrison's Dream', Malcolm Arnold's 'Padstow Lifeboat' and 'Fantasy for Brass Band', Vaughan Williams' 'English Folk Song Suite', Imogen Holst's 'The Unfortunate Traveller' and 'The Glory of the West', Dudley Bright's 'Pursuing Horizons' and William Rimmer's classic march, 'The Cossack'.

Holst explored

Bramwell Tovey told 4BR: "We will explore the music of Imogen Holst, daughter of composer Gustav Holst and one-time musical assistant to Benjamin Britten.

Two of her works, written specifically for brass band, 'The Unfortunate Traveller' and 'The Glory of the West' will be performed, the latter receiving its first performance in over 40 years. Ms Holst was one of the most important women in British music in the 20th century, as a composer, teacher and editor."

Lang's film, which can be considered a type of 20th century morality play, draws upon a range of themes and influences from Marxist ideals and social satire to overt religious symbolism4BR

Science fiction epic

Meanwhile, Peter Graham talked about his new work: "Fritz Lang's 1927 science fiction epic Metropolis is considered to be a masterpiece of cinematic vision," he told 4BR.

"Set in a future dystopian world, the film introduces the viewer to two contrasting communities living in the vast city of Metropolis: Those above ground live a life of privilege and pleasure serviced by the underground-dwelling drone workers whose role is to maintain and operate the banks of machines which provide the city's power."

Morality play

Lang's film, which can be considered a type of 20th century morality play with its famous female 'Maschinenmensch' robot, centres upon a range of themes and influences from Marxist ideals and social satire to overt religious symbolism, as Peter further explained.

"Metropolis 1927 does not attempt to precis the plot, such as it is, nor promote the message of the original, but simply reflects my musical responses to Lang's noirish visual style and set designs – the brooding machine rooms, the decadent nightclubs, the gothic cathedral and so on – paradoxically a world of terrifying beauty.”

Open Brass:

It has also been announced that there are still places available for the free Open Day scheduled for Tuesday April 15th, which will see youngsters receive coaching from the band's expert team of tutors, talk with Bramwell Tovey and listen to the band in action.

Concerts:

The band will perform at the Winter Gardens in Weston super Mare on 19th April and Cheltenham Town Hall on 20th April.

The Open Day is free.

Email: armstrong_martin007@hotmail.com

Tickets for the concerts are available priced £12 each and concessions are £10. Tickets are available via philipbiggs@bandstand.demon.co.uk