2017 Regional tests announced

Cheltenham saw the official announcement of the five set works that will test bands at the 2017 Area contests.

The National Finals at Cheltenham saw the official announcement of the compositions that will be used as the set-works for the 2017 Regional Championship of Great Britain series.

Championship Section:

Herbert Howell's iconic 'Pageantry' will provide the test for the Championship contenders.

Written in 1934 for the September British Open, its ceremonial subject matter — from the fanfares of 'King's Herald' and solemn 'Cortege' procession to its virtuosic 'Jousts' it is still a formidable test of tonality and polyphonic style and technique.

It has also remained one of the most popular works of the brass band genre — used at British Open again in 1943 and 1970, as well as the National Finals in 1937 and 1950. It has also been used at various Championship and First Section contests around the world.

Bands will perform the amended 1995 edition, which includes percussion parts adapted from the composer's own re-scoring of 'King's Herald' which were made for the 1937 Coronation of George VI.

First Section:

The First Section contenders will be faced with Philip Sparke's 'The Land of the Long White Cloud' — 'Aotearoa', commissioned for the Championship Section of the centenary New Zealand National Championships in 1980.

It celebrates the discovery of the country by 'the bold and restless ancestors' of the Maori people who crossed from Polynesia around 1,000 AD. The name, from the Maori tradition, is attributed to Kupe and his wife Hinete on first seeing the landfall with its low lying cloud cover.

It has since proved to be a highly popular work — used at the European Championship in 1980 as well as at various Championship and First Section level contest around the world.

Second Section:

One of the banding movement's best loved works will test the bands in the Second Section.

'Rhapsody in Brass' was originally sketched by Dean Goffin whilst serving with the New Zealand Army during the Middle East campaigns that stretched from Libya to Syria in the Second World War.

It was completed in Egypt in 1942 whilst he was on a week's leave, and received its first performance by the Fourth New Zealand Brigade Band at the 'Music for All' Club in Cairo.

The three contrasting movements of classical poise and proportion are very much in the manner of a divertimento in its use of modal harmony and counterpoint — from the pulsating 'Allegro Giocoso' opening, through the emotive 'Andante con Moto' and the bravura 'Allegro assai e Giocoso' to close.

Third Section:

'Darkwood' - commissioned in 2012 by the Blackley Band from just outside Manchester, is the test for the bands in the Third Section.

It will be the first time that it will be used as a set-test in the UK although it was selected for the Fourth Section of the 2015 French Open.

The name derives from the Anglo-Saxon Blaecleah which means 'Darkwood' or 'Dark Clearing' and is a three-movement work of colour and contrast.

The first 'The Boggart' is inspired by a mischievous imp, whilst the second, 'The House on the Hill' evokes musical images of St. Andrew's Church.

The final section 'Blackley Village' depicts Blackley's historic evolution, from its medieval roots through to the present day as an industrial part of the city.

Fourth Section:

Despite its title, Alan Fernie's engaging 'St Andrew's Variations' has no Scottish inspiration — other than the nationality of the composer himself.

It was originally written in 1998 for the East Anglian Brass Band Association contest held at St Andrew's Hall in Norwich — initially as a suite for a junior band but expanded and developed for full band in 2006.

It takes the form of a series of eight loosely based variations based on the descending third motif heard in the initial theme — from an Alla Marcia through to the final Allegro Giocoso.

Bands will perform the amended 1995 edition of 'Pageantry', which includes percussion parts adapted from the composer's own re-scoring of 'King's Herald' which were made for the 1937 Coronation of George VI.4BR