*
banner

4BR Boxing Day Brain Tickler

Something to get the brain working after all that food and drink on Christmas Day. You have to show your workings out though..

4br
 

Quite a bit of working out if you are to get to the ultimate answer of our Boxing Day brain teaser.

First letter

All you have to do is work out the answers of the 17 fairly easy questions below. The first letter of each should eventually give you the name of the 4BR Editor's favourite classic brass band test piece.

You must show your working out of how you got to the eventual name of the test-piece to get your hands on a cracking batch of CDs.

Have fun...

1. The little, not omnipotent, bit of Rolf Rudin's 4BR prize-winning European test piece.

2. Opera by Wagner inspired by the last Tribune of Rome: Later arranged as a National Finals and Area test piece.

3. Metrical psalm tune of uncertain origin — sung to the words 'All people that on earth do dwell'.

4. Tuned percussion instrument — African in origin — low pitched, lower in tone, richer in sound than a xylophone.

5. Welsh festival of music, poetry, dance and literature held every year — full of bards and druids heralded by the trumpet playing principal cornets of Tredegar and Fairey Bands.

6. A major 3rd in a tonic chord at the end of composition in a minor key — most famously 'The Coventry Carol'.

7. Surname of the composer of 'Pageantry' and 'Three Figures'.

8. Brass band instrument originally invented around 1843 by F. Sommer of Weimer — taking its name from the Greek for 'pleasant sounding'.

9. 'A Sailor's Life' — in French. Test piece with fearsome opening for soprano cornet...

10. Musical instrument of sinuous, reptilian shape: Forerunner of the ophicleide in brass bands.

11. The...... subject matter of Eric Ball British Open test piece. Inspired by poet Louis Untermeyer's line 'And, when at last the fight is won, God, keep me still unsatisfied'.

12. Italian word meaning 'nothing'. Often found at the end of reflective compositions.

13. Surname of composer of 'Grimethorpe Aria'.

14. National Finals test-piece inspired by epic Finnish poetry about a Nordic God who rides an eight legged horse called Sleipnir.

15. Name generally given to Schubert's Symphony No 8 in B Minor D759.

16. The.... famous cornet solo named after a bird with the Latin name Luscinia megarhynchos.

17. The first degree of the scale in the Tonic Solfa system and the famous utterance of cartoon character Homer Simpson.

You must show your working out of how you got to the eventual name of the test-piece to get your hands on a cracking batch of CDs4BR

Answers:

E-mail us the answer before midnight on 27th December with your contact telephone details at: quiz@4barsrest.com

Christmas Eve winner:

The answer to our Christmas Even brain teaser of the identity of a leading character in Donizetti's 1835 opera 'Lucia di Lammermoor', the Hollywood home of actress Mae West and a famous Whit Friday march by the great William Rimmer?

It was Ravenswood.

The winner was Jeremy Home, who will be getting a late Christmas prezzie of a selection box of CDs.

Jeremy plays for Friary Guildford Band and has been enjoying a great festive season doing the rounds of carolling.

Become a supporter and help make our future secure.

4barsrest continues to be a proudly independent voice. There are no paywalls to overcome to be able to enjoy what we do to keep our journalism at the heart of the brass banding world. Support us with a one-off donation or subscribe from just £2.50 per month.

Support us    


uk fORUM

Endorsement and reservations from UKLBF to automatic National invitations

August 13 • The UK Leading Bands Forum has welcomed the return of the four band automatic invitation to Albert Hall Final — but with pointed reservations.


Presto

Make a presto decision to add to your recording collection...

August 13 • There are six more, new and classic CDs and downloads to consider as you build your brass collection through a new partnership between 4BR and Presto Music.


Star Crossed lovers

Fewer than 100 premium tickets left for British Open

August 13 • If you want to to snap up a ticket for the Stalls or Upper Circle for this year's British Open, then make sure you don't miss out.


Gregson

Gregson's Choice on National eve

August 13 • You can still grab a seat for the chance to hear an evening of great Edward Gregson music on the eve of the Albert Hall National Final from the ISB and Ian Bousfield.


The Lindley Band - Parp and a Pint

Wednesday 6 August • 14a Holly Bank Road. Lindley. Huddersfield . West Yorkshire HD3 3 JE


Cheltenham Silver Band - Brass (and percussion) and Beer

Friday 8 August • St. Barnabas Church Hall, Orchard Way, Cheltenham GL51 7JY


Cheltenham Silver Band - Brass (and percussion) and Beer

Friday 15 August • St. Barnabas Church Hall, Orchard Way, Cheltenham, GL51 7JY GL52 7JY


Cheltenham Silver Band - Brass (and percussion) and Beer

Friday 22 August • St. Barnabas Church Hall, Orchard Way, Cheltenham, GL51 7JY GL51 7JY


Haverhill Silver Band - East Anglian Beer & Cider Festival

Sunday 24 August • St Edmundsbury Cathedral, Bury St Edmunds IP33 1QX


Epping Forest Band

August 11 • Epping Forest Band have a vacancy for a solo horn player.. We are a friendly social 3rd section band with a variety of concerts throughout the year.. We have our own band hut and are within easy distance of the M11 and the central line.


Ilkeston Brass

August 9 • Ilkeston Brass need a new MD! We are a 4th section band based in SE Derbyshire with a strong community presence. We have empty seats in the cornet section but a core of committed players fighting to keep the band going.


Shirley Band

August 9 • The Shirley Band invite applications for the position of MUSICAL DIRECTOR. Due to relocation, we now seek a Musical Director to maintain a high standard of playing and to produce varied programmes for our sell-out concert series together with contests.


John Ward


Conductor, Adjudicator


               

 © 2025 4barsrest.com Ltd