Composer Jonathan Bates has told 4BR that he is honoured that his compositions will be used as the set-works at the 2021 Danish National Championships.

Test pieces

'Songs of Ascent' — composed for the RNCM Brass Band Festival in 2019, where it was premiered by the RNCM Brass Band will be performed by the elite level Championship Section bands.

The work, which was used at the top section set-work at the 2020 Butlins Mineworkers Championship, is inspired by a group of biblical psalms — 'The Songs of Ascent' which comprise Psalms 120 to 134, but more specifically Psalm 130 — 'Out of the Depths, I Cry to You, O Lord'. The composer also states that it pays homage to John McCabe, whose music s had a huge influence on my writing.

New work

The First Section competitors will perform his latest work, 'Grieg Variations' composed during the lockdown and based upon material from Grieg's famous 'Peer Gynt Suite No. 2'. The main theme of 'Solveig's Song' is followed by a set of eight variations.

The composer's popular composition, 'Ex Terra Lucem', composed for the St Helens Youth Brass Band in 2017 and built upon a tone-row derived from the shape of the roof of St Helens Town Hall will test the bands in the Second Section.

Finally, his cleverly conceived 'Repton Fantasy', commissioned by the National Children's Brass Band of Great Britain will be the Third Section test.

It is influenced by two primary sources; the hymn tune 'Dear Lord and Father of Mankind' which was originally written at Repton School (where the band's course was held), and one of Repton School's most famous alumni, children's writer Roald Dahl.

The Danish banding movement is certainly one which is on a steep upward curve and I can't wait to hear how the bands in the respective sections take to this wide range of my worksJonathan Bates

Huge honour

Speaking to 4BR about the announcement, Jonathan said: "It's a huge honour to have a full national competition selecting my works across the board.

The Danish banding movement is certainly one which is on a steep upward curve and I can't wait to hear how the bands in the respective sections take to this wide range of my works, spanning the last five years of my composing output."