The British Open organisers have announced the trio of works that will test bands at the 96th Spring Festival in Blackpool next May.

They have certainly ensured that competitors will have to earn the right the hard way to gain both promotion and qualification towards the ultimate contest destination of Symphony Hall, with the selection of three highly demanding set-works.

Grand Shield

The Grand Shield contenders hoping to gain the two qualification places to the British Open will have to master Edward Gregson's tone poem, 'Of Distant Memories' — (Music in an Olden Style), which made such a favourable impression when first used at the 2013 National Finals at the Royal Albert Hall.

The work was commissioned by Black Dyke and the Worshipful Company of Musicians with funding provided by John Iles, to mark the centenary of the first original test-piece used at the event. It has since been used to critical acclaim throughout the banding world.

Gregon's composition pays generous musical homage in accessible modern scoring language to pioneering composers such as Percy Fletcher, Holst, Bliss, Howells and Vaughan Williams who gave the brass band movement a foundation of distinguished original works on which to build.

Senior Cup

There is certainly a severe test of technique and musical character to overcome in the Senior Cup, where the competitors will be faced by Philip Sparke's imposing 'Music for Battle Creek'.

The work was commissioned by the Michigan based professional Brass Band of Battle Creek, with funds provided by the W.K. Kellogg Foundation. The piece is dedicated to Russell and Lou Ann Mawby — Russ being a former CEO and President of the W. K. Kellogg Foundation.

In three connected movements (Prelude & Toccata; Elegy: In memoriam, John and Marguerite Gray; Rondo Finale) it received its first performances at the 2007 National Finals at the Royal Albert Hall, with Battle Creek giving the American premiere in December that year.

It has subsequently been used at the Dutch, Australian and German National Championships as well as the 2011 Scottish Open.

Senior Trophy

There is a welcome reprise for Gilbert Vinter's final test-piece composition, 'James Cook — Circumnavigator' in the Senior Trophy.

The work was completed shortly before the composer's death in 1969 and was originally commissioned for the New Zealand Brass Bands' Association by the Port Nicholson Band Trust to commemorate the Cook Bicentenary the following year.

It was subsequently premiered at the New Zealand National Championship in 1970 and later used as the Grand Final set-work at the W.D. & H.O. Wills 'Champion of Champions' contest in London in 1971 and again as the test-piece at the British Open in 1974.

One of Vinter's most descriptive musical portraits, it remains popular to this day — including its use as the 2008 First Section Area test piece.

The Spring Festival takes place at Blackpool's Winter Gardens on Saturday 14th May.

Gregon's composition pays generous musical homage in accessible modern scoring language to pioneering composers such as Percy Fletcher, Holst, Bliss, Howells and Vaughan Williams4BR

High interest

A British Open spokesperson told 4BR: "The interest from bands wishing to gain entry to the Spring Festival qualifying contests remains as high as ever.

We offer our congratulations to Foresters Brass 2000 whose qualification performance in the Championship Section at the recent Wychavon Festival of Brass contest has already earned them an invitation to compete in the 2016 Senior Trophy.

A further qualification place in the Senior Trophy will be made available for the highest placed band in the Championship Section at the 2016 Brass at the Guild on Sunday 24th January as well as the Bolsover Festival of Brass."

Details of the start times, prizes, the competing bands, adjudicators, venues and ticket information will be announced in due course.

Further information:

Further information for the Spring Festival can be obtained from the British Open website www.thebritishopen.net

Publishers:

Of Distant Memories (Music in an Olden Style)
Novello (distributed Studio Music Co.) — http://studio-music.co.uk/

Music for Battle Creek
Anglo Music — http://www.philipsparke.com/anglo_music1.htm

James Cook — Circumnavigator
Novello (distributed Studio Music Co.) — http://studio-music.co.uk/