Artistic Director Paul Hindmarsh tells 4BR that there are a host of major musical treats in store at this weekend's RNCM Festival of Brass.
The brass band movement’s premier showcase repertoire event takes place at the RNCM in Manchester this weekend, when the UK’s leading bands perform major works written for the medium.
Line up
Black Dyke, Fairey, Tredegar, Foden’s, the RNCM Brass Band, Cory, The Band of the King’s Division and Grimethorpe Colliery Band will be amongst the line up this year for an event that has become recognised internationally as providing a unique platform for new brass band music, much of which has become established in the contesting and concert repertoire.
Major firsts
And as Paul Hindmarsh told 4BR, major 'firsts' in Manchester invariably go on to make a huge impact elsewhere in the banding world: “After Black Dyke’s premiere of ’Journey of the Lone Wolf ‘by Simon Dobson last year, the work was taken up by the Dutch Nationals and has been played as an own-choice contest piece all over Europe,” he said. “It also won Simon a second prestigious British Composer Award.
The works on show this year are equally as engaging, inventive and thought provoking — so there are treats in store with every concert performance.”
Black Dyke
This year Black Dyke will join with the RNCM Band in Residence to give the world premiere of a showpiece for principal euphonium Garry Curtin by Martin Ellerby.
Commissioned by the band with support from the John Golland Trust, ‘The Four Elements’ will, in the composer's words, “enable the soloist to display flair and lyricism in equal measure.”
The four movements are entitled ‘Earth’, ‘Air’, ‘Water’ and ‘Fire’ — with the last movement described by the composer as a kind of pagan dance.
Tredegar and Foden’s
On Saturday afternoon, Tredegar will provide a landmark 'first' with the concert premiere of part of the ballet score ‘Dark Arteries’ written by Gavin Higgins, which will then be premiered by the Rambert Dance Company for stage production with Tredegar in May.
Meanwhile, Saturday evening's concert sees Foden's join with Principal Trumpet of the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra, Mark O'Keefe, to give the first European performance of Bramwell Tovey's dynamic concerto ‘Songs of the Paradise Saloon’, as well as the world premiere of the winning work from the band's Composer Competition, ‘Atrium Phase’ by Huddersfield based Andrew Baker.
King’s Division
The RNCM will also be welcoming the King's Division Band to the Festival for the first time, with the band giving the first performance of a new work by Lucy Pankhurst inspired by WW1 and particularly the Christmas truce of 1914.
The King's Division Band and the Junior RNCM Band will also be showcasing a number of recent concert 'originals' for brass, as well as paying tribute to the life and work of Arthur Butterworth and Ray Steadman-Allen.
Cory
Paul also added that he was delighted that the RNCM Festival provides the opportunity for a second major performance of a significant composition.
He told 4BR: “I’m thrilled Cory will give the second performance of a delightful work from Robert Saxton, entitled, ‘Sonata on a Prelude by Orlando Gibbons’. It was commissioned and first played by the City of Cambridge Band some years ago, and is his first piece for brass band. I'm really looking forward to hearing it again.”
Howarth and Gregson retrospectives
These premieres will be sitting alongside retrospectives of the music of Edward Gregson and Elgar Howarth, as they approach their 70th and 80th birthdays, with both in some composers involved in other events.
Elgar Howarth will also be helping Paul present an engaging programme to be given on Sunday morning by the RNCM Brass Band and James Gourlay.
He added: “As well as Oliver Waespi's lovely ‘Traversada’, they'll be tackling two of the mighty works that Elgar Howarth himself launched – ‘Fire on Whaleness’ by Anthony Payne and ‘Salford Toccata’ by Harrison Birtwistle.”
Fairey and Grimethorpe revivals
Paul also revealed that on Saturday morning, Fairey will be turning the clock back with a 'spirit of pageantry' inspired selection, including a much anticipated revival of Edrich Cundell's 1955 Nationals test, ‘Blackfriars,’ and one of the all-time classics from 1934, ‘Pageantry’ by Herbert Howells.
Meanwhile, Grimethorpe will bring the Festival to a close with another revival — this time, the colourful suite ‘The Unfortunate Traveller’ of 1929 by Imogen Holst and three eclectic symphonies: ‘Symphony of Marches’ (Vinter), ‘An Epic Symphony’ (Fletcher) and ‘Symphony in Two Movements’ (Gregson).
The works on show this year are equally as engaging, inventive and thought provoking — so there are treats in store with every concert performanceArtistic Director, Paul Hindmarsh
Something for every brass enthusiast
Paul concluded: With James Gourlay's Masterclass and Recital, the RNCM Brass Ensemble, plus a free preview concert from Crown Brass (RNCM), and the showing of parts of the acclaimed restoration of the 1927 epic film ‘The Battles of Coronel and the Falklands’ (music by Simon Dobson), there is something of every brass band enthusiast at this year's RNCM Festival of Brass. I really do hope to see as many people there as possible.”
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For a full preview of the 2015 Festival of Brass go to:
http://www.4barsrest.com/articles/2014/1473.asp#.VL-ic0esUg8
