The Flowers Band is busy preparing for its trio of appearance at one of the UKs leading music festivals next month.
The band will appear at the Three Choirs Festival which celebrated its 300th anniversary in 2015, after an approach from its Chief Executive Alexis Patterson.
Three appearances
It is understood that they are the first brass band to appear at the event which takes place this year in Gloucester from the 22nd to the 29th July for over 30 years.
They will appear alongside performances from the likes of the Royal Philharmonic, Philharmonia and BBC National Orchestra of Wales as well as the ORA Singers and British Youth Opera.
A number of new commissions will be featured this year, with Flowers Band performing on three occasions — including the opening day procession through the city followed by an appearance at Gloucester Cathedral and a short family bandstand concert.
Concerts
On Sunday 23rd July they will host another family concert event entitled, 'Magic and Mischief' which will see them perform works by Dukas, Rimsky-Korsakov, Mussorgsky and Stravinsky alongside the captivating storyteller and illustrator James Mayhew.
He will create striking works as the band perform under the baton of guest conductor Jayne Murrill.
Higgins and McCabe
On Saturday 29th July (2.00pm) they return under guest conductor Michael Fowles to Gloucester Cathedral for a programme entitled 'Fanfare & Love Songs' — the centre piece being Gavin Higgins' work sat alongside major compositions from John McCabe ('Cloudcatcher Fells'), Liz Lane ('Tide and Time') and Vaughan Williams ('English Folk Song Suite') amongst others.
Significant
A Flowers Band spokesperson told 4BR: "This is a hugely significant series of concert appearances for the band with the festival attracting global interest and support and featuring world class performers.
It offers us the opportunity to showcase important original brass band compositions alongside wonderful arrangements — all presented in inventive ways to reach out to new audiences."
It offers us the opportunity to showcase important original brass band compositions alongside wonderful arrangements — all presented in inventive ways to reach out to new audiencesFlowers Band
Flowers Band
Magic and Mischief
Sunday 23rd July (1.00pm)
Conductor: Jayne Murrill
Featuring: James Mayhew
The Sorcerer's Apprentice (Dukas arr. Derek Bourgeois)
Scheherazade (Rimsky-Korsakov arr. Drake Rimmer)
Baba Yaga from Pictures at an Exhibition (Mussorgsky arr. Elgar Howarth)
The Firebird Suite (Stravinsky arr. Ray Farr)
https://3choirs.org/events/magic-and-mischief
Flowers Band
Fanfares and Love Songs
29th July (2.00pm)
Conductor: Michael Fowles
Home of Legends (Paul Lovatt-Cooper)
English Folk Song Suite (Vaughan Williams)
Canterbury Chorale (Jan van der Roost)
Cloudcatcher Fells (John McCabe)
Fanfares and Love Songs (Gavin Higgins)
Nimrod from Enigma Variations (Elgar arr. Denis Wright)
Tide and Time (Liz Lane)
Pomp and Circumstance March No. 1 (Elgar arr. J. Ord Hume)
https://3choirs.org/events/flowers-band-fanfares-and-love-songs
