Challenging 2017 Spring Festival tests announced

There are three demanding works set to challenge the competitors at the Grand Shield, Senior Cup and Senior Trophy next May.

The organisers of the British Open Championship have announced the trio of works that will face competing bands at the 97th Spring Festival in Blackpool next May.

Not for the first time competitors will be sternly tested to earn the right to gain promotion and qualification towards the ultimate contest destination of the British Open, with a selection of highly demanding compositions that test musical style and technique.

The Spring Festival takes place at Blackpool's Winter Gardens on Saturday 13th May.

Grand Shield

The Grand Shield contenders hoping to gain the two qualification places to Symphony Hall will have to master a reprise of the 2015 British Open commission, 'Refections on Swan Lake' by Stephen Roberts.

Inspired by the famous Tchaikovsky ballet it tests the qualities of pure melody with technical virtuosity and is sprinkled with elements of the composer's dry musical wit. The work is dedicated to David Read MBE.

Composer's cut

Following its use in 2015, Stephen Roberts has revisited the score and in agreement with the organisers, the end of bar 473 to the beginning of bar 501 are to be omitted.

Senior Cup

The Senior Cup contenders will perform Dr Peter Meechan's, 'Fragile Oasis'.

In his notes to the work, Dr Meechan states: "Fragile Oasis is the name of a collective who describe themselves as ...a grass-roots participatory initiative that connects the shared perspective of astronauts from different countries and cultures with people on Earth, encouraging all to work together so that our planet is not only visibly beautiful, but beautiful for all."

Many involved in the project are astronauts on the International Space Station, who post, on their website different details of their experiments, photos and some incredible video footage of Earth.

He adds: "The work is in five sections, each relating to an aspect of the video — either something literal or something more metaphorical."

'Fragile Oasis' was commissioned by Leyland Band and Michael Bach, and partly funded by The John Golland Trust, for their appearance at the 2013 European Brass Band Championships.

It has since been performed in Australia, New Zealand and in Europe as an own-choice work and is the first piece by the UK composer who is now based in Canada, to be used at either the Spring Festival or British Open.

Senior Trophy

For the second year in a row the music of Gilbert Vinter will be used, courtesy of 'Salute to Youth' in the Senior Trophy.

Its three contrasting movements reflect aspects of early 1960s youth: 'Resilience', 'Romance' and 'Relaxation'.

Vinter's first major contest composition for brass band appeared in 1962 for the top section regional qualifying rounds of the National Brass Band Championships of Great Britain, and was further utilised as the set-work at the 1985 British Open. It was last used in the UK for the 2009 Championship Section regional qualifying contests.

Stephen Roberts has revisited 'Reflections on Swan Lake' and in agreement with the contest organisers there will be a cut from the end of bar 473 to the beginning of bar 5014BR

High Interest

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

In addition to the bands invited directly to compete at the Spring Festival, the highest placed band in the Championship Section at the Bolsover Festival of Brass and Wychavon Festival of Brass (not already invited) also qualify.

Our congratulations therefore go to Shepherd Group and Eccles Borough respectively, who have also been invited to compete in the 2017 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 2017 Brass at the Guild contest to be held on Sunday 29th January in Preston.

Further information:

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

Publishers:

The publishers of the test pieces are as follows:

Reflections on Swan Lake

Published by Tanglewind Music and available from:
Difem Music Publishers
Route d' Englisberg 11 CH-1763 Granges- Paccot
TÃ©l.: +41 (0)26 413 40 13
Fax: +41 (0)26 413 45 55
E-mail: info@topscorediffusion.ch
http://shop.topscorediffusion.ch/difem/index.phpe