2027 Spring Festival test-pieces announced

Works by Philip Sparke, Robert Redhead and Derek Bourgeois will test the aspiring British Open credentials of the competing bands at the Spring Festival next May.

The trio of works to be performed at the 2027 British Open Spring Festival Championship have been announced.

The 105th event will see the Grand Shield competitors will perform at Town Hall, Birmingham on Saturday 8th May. The Senior Cup and Senior Trophy contests take place at the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire on Sunday 9th May.

Grand Shield

The Grand Shield competitors will perform Philip Sparke's 'Music of the Spheres' which proved to be a popular choice with competitors and listeners alike at the recent 173rd British Open Championship.

Senior Cup

The Senior Cup contenders will be faced with Robert Redhead's 'Isaiah 40'.

A joint commission provided by funds from the Swiss Brass Band Association, The Netherlands Brass Band Championships, the Norwegian Band Federation and Boosey & Hawkes, it was first performed at the National Championships of Great Britain in 1996.

It has since been used across the banding world at Championship level — from the commissioning countries as well as New Zealand, Australia and the USA. It was the top section set work for the 2007 Regional Championships.

Inspired by the Biblical verses 1-8, 28-31 from Isaiah 40, the composer stated that at the time of writing he was he was exploring both the positive and negative effects of rapid technological change and "to express through music the timeless truths of Isaiah 40, written to encourage a people facing very intimating circumstances'. The work is approximately 13 minutes in duration.

Senior Trophy

The Senior Trophy bands will perform 'The Forest of Dean' by Derek Bourgeois.

Written in 1991 when the composer was living in the area, it is dedicated to Herbert Howells, his teacher at the Royal College of Music who was born in Lydney within its historic borders.

Its theme is taken from the first 16 bars of one of Howells' short keyboard pieces, entitled 'De La Mare's Pavane'. It is then explored in six variations — from the forceful and jagged to the lilting and compound, a hymnal, sardonic waltz and joyful 'passacaglia' based finale that brings the music full circle and a re-iteration of its theme in its original guise. The work is approximately 13 minutes in duration.

The work used as the 1993 First Section Regional Championship set-work as well as being a popular own-choice selection.

Technical and musical challenges

Speaking about the works, Karyn Mortimer stated: "We are delighted with the choices that have been made by British Open Music Advisor, Dr Robert Childs.

Each blend both technical and musical challenges in different ways and we are sure that they will prove popular with our bands and audiences at Town Hall Birmingham and the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire as well as at home through our live-stream broadcasts."

She added: "Further details about the contest weekend will be published in due course."