Paul Hindmarsh has spoken about his delight that National Champion Foden's has been able to record what composer Wilfred Heaton regarded was an "unregarded corner"of his extensive output for a special Wobplay.com release.

Heaton Legacy

'The Heaton Legacy' was recently recorded by the band under MD, Michael Fowles at Congleton Town Hall, with the music forming part of a special documentary feature on the recording platform later this year.

Speaking to 4BR, Paul said: "After 20 years I'm approaching the end of a marathon editing and arranging the legacy of music for brass, orchestra and voices that Wilfred Heaton left in what he termed his 'unregarded corner' of unpublished or unperformed manuscripts.

I thought it was time to put his legacy into context and was thrilled that the idea of making a filmed concert in documentary style was taken on by World of Sound with Foden's Band."

Long association

He added: "Foden's has such an association with Heaton's music of well over 30 years — back to Howard Snell who coaxed 'Partita', 'Sinfonia Concertante' and the 'Trombone Concerto' from him. Supervising broadcasts with the composer was a revelation for me and a very special moment.

There was talk of a final opus, 'Variations', which Heaton began as a test piece for the All England Masters. However, in 1992 he stopped working on it for several years. In his final months he took it up again, creating a substantive semi-autobiographical work but leaving it tantalisingly unfinished when he passed away in 2000."

Masterful

Paul revealed that after Howard Snell completed the scoring in a masterful realisation he was invited by the Heaton family to curate his legacy, including another late work, 'Beulah Land', which Heaton referred to as a waltz for brass band.

He continued: "Since they were first performed and recorded, both have undergone some revision, so it is timely for them to be given a new lease of life.

In addition to 'Beulah Land' and a shortened version of 'Variations', authorised by the Heaton family, Foden's have recorded a recent suite from 'Pilgrims' Song', and three works originally composed in the late 1940s.

These include the brilliant 'battle of the bands' march 'Glory! Glory!', the touching set of mini variations, 'The Children's Friend', based on Sullivan's hymn 'In Memoriam', and my arrangement of a song for male voices and brass in show tune style entitled 'Safe in the Promised Land'.

I thought it was time to put his legacy into context and was thrilled that the idea of making a filmed concert in documentary style was taken on by World of Sound with Foden's BandPaul Hindmarsh

Top form

Paul concluded: "The band was on the top of its form for the recordings which were captured brilliantly by the World of Sound team under producer, Adam Goldsmith.

Meanwhile, I've been out and about filming in various locations in Yorkshire, to try and capture the sense of place in which the music was created."

Speaking about the recording, Foden's stated: "Our thanks to Adam Goldsmith and his team at World of Sound for a brilliant weekend under the red light!

This has been a wonderful project to be involved in — its fantastic music. We're excited to hear the final product and the innovative way it has been put together."