The famous West of England Bandsmen’s Festival, which will be held in Bugle in Cornwall on Saturday 20th June next year, has announced its list of test pieces.

Trustees have chosen a varied selection of music designed to appeal to both bands and listeners alike, with several of the pieces having connections to the event.

Two Ball works

Two Eric Ball compositions have been chosen: ‘Sinfonietta-The Wayfarer’ for the Championship Section and ‘Devon Fantasy’ for the Fourth.

Ball adjudicated five times at Bugle, on two occasions judging test pieces commissioned from him by the contest.

Richards

The late Goff Richards was another composer closely connected with the Festival. Born just a few miles away in St Minver, his 1984 work, ‘Oceans’ written for the Diamond Jubilee Festival, will on this occasion test the Second Section bands.

In addition, his arrangement of ‘Crimond’ is the hymn tune choice to test the Championship bands.

Arnold

In a further connection, Malcolm Arnold, who lived in North Cornwall in the 1960’s, will be featured with his ‘Fantasy for Brass Band’, which will be used in the First Section along with the ‘Centaur’ march by Derek Broadbent, who will be making his third visit to the Festival as adjudicator.

Sparke

Finally, Philip Sparke’s (above) colourful invention on the famous Saint-Saens Organ Symphony will be used with his Saint-Saëns Variations which will test the Third Section contenders, whilst the Youth and Training bands will perform own choice selections.

Set works:
Adjudicator: Derek Broadbent

Championship Section:
Sinfonietta — The Wayfarer (Eric Ball)
Crimond (Jessie Irvine arr. Goff Richards)

First Section:
Fantasy for Brass Band (Malcolm Arnold)
Centaur (Derek Broadbent)

Second Section:
Oceans (Goff Richards)
Cross of Honour (William Rimmer)

Third Section:
Saint – Saens Variations (Philip Sparke)

Fourth Section:
A Devon Fantasy (Eric Ball)

Youth Section:
Own Choice

Training Section:
Own Choice