Tenor horn virtuoso Owen Farr has told 4BR that he is looking forward to being able to premiere a brace of new woks at his eagerly awaited Regent Hall recital in London on the weekend.

Presentation

Not only will he be giving an exhaustive two hour performance, but the recital, which will also feature the talented pianist Christopher Williams, will include a presentation on the virtuoso soloists of the famous Sousa Band.

Explore

"It's a real opportunity to explore both the history and the future of the tenor horn repertoire,"the Besson artist told 4BR.

"Many of the great players of the Sousa Band have a fascinating back story and were performers that would have graced any professional orchestra or competing band at the Albert Hall. My presentation is something of a personal dedication to them."

Premieres

The two new works that will be given their world premiere are 'Elegy'- dedicated to Welsh composer Mervyn Burtch, and a large scale arrangement of the second movement of the Gershwin piano concerto.

"Mervyn Burtch was a wonderful composer, capable of encompassing both the avant-garde and the traditional and fusing them together,"Owen added.

"He also wrote for brass in a most inventive way — combining elements of folklore with startling modernism. The 'Elegy' has been written by Christopher Williams, who knew him very well and is a beautiful work, whilst the arrangement of the Gershwin, also by Chris, is simply a tour de force."

Mervyn Burtch was a wonderful composer, capable of encompassing both the avant-garde and the traditional and fusing them togetherMervyn Burtch

Works

Also included in the recital will be works by Herbert Clarke, Herman Bellstedt, Arthur Pryor, Bohumir Kryl, Andrew Baker, David Harrington, Bill Mayer and Owen himself.

Owen Farr recital: 2.30pm. Friday October 9th — Regent Hall, London.