Significant, but somewhat neglected major works by composers such as Joseph Horovitz, Sir Harrison Birtwistle, Louis Andreissen, H.K. Gruber and Hans Werner Henze are to be revived in a special concert to be given by Regent Brass this July.
Entitled 'Tributes and Dedications' (Sunday 23rd July — see details below) it will pay a timely tribute to figures who have made major, but occasionally all too brief impacts on the brass banding world.
Lost to us
Speaking about the initiative, Regent Brass MD, Alan Duguid told 4BR: "The idea came after a discussion about composers who have written for the brass band medium but who have now been lost to us — especially following the deaths of Joseph Horovitz and Sir Harrison Birtwistle last year.
We were discussing how they and others had provided wonderful works for the medium that deserved to be performed more often."
Amazing music
Alan added: "Though this is a significant technical and musical undertaking, we are looking forward to presenting this amazing music.
It is also hoped this could become a regular event promoting contemporary repertoire for band and joining with musicians from a range of different musical backgrounds."
Worker's Union
In respect to Joseph Horovitz that will see a welcome reprise of 'The Dong with a Luminuous Nose' from 1975 — a work of great wit and craftsmanship, whilst there is a rare opportunity to hear Harrison Birtwistle's 'Salford Toccata', a later companion piece to his celebrated 'Grimethorpe Aria'.
Louis Andreissen's (who died in 2021) intriguing 'Workers Union', a piece for non-specific instrumentation from 1975 and inspired by his Marxist political views will also be performed, as will H.K. Gruber's caustic 'Demilitarised Zones', that centres on the counter balances between his personal pacifist beliefs and the inherent militaristic musical influences of much of brass band march music.
It is also hoped this could become a regular event promoting contemporary repertoire for band and joining with musicians from a range of different musical backgroundsAlan Duguid
Ragtimes and Habaneras
Hans Werner Henze's iconic 'Ragtimes and Habaneras' from 1975 will also be performed, as will Liz Lane's 'Beyond the Light', composed in dedicated memory of Bramwell Tovey and James Chan's 'At the Gates' with cellist Lucy Neil.
The band will also give the world premiere of an exciting new work from their Young Composer in Residence, Franklin Onyeso.
Further details
Ticketing details are at the link below and a poster is attached for interest.
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/tributes-dedications-tickets-623259785797?aff=erelexpmlt
