Professor Stephen Allen's research into the inspiration and structure of Ralph Vaughan William's 1957 National Championship of Great Britain test-piece, 'Variations for Brass Band' has now been published in 'The Musical Times' — the UK's leading academic journal of classical music.
Extensive research
His extensive research into the work and its links to the composer's previous output argues that it is indeed 'the capstone for all Vaughan Williams' and that it remains, as Frank Wright described it in the programme for the Albert Hall contest in 1957, "a landmark in the history of contesting — perhaps the most significant in the while history of brass bands."
New series
4BR has recently started a new series of in-depth conversations with Stephen about some of the most famous test-pieces of the brass band genre — including 'Variations', which you can enjoy at:
