The International Staff Band (ISB) has announced that it is to premiere a brand new piece by LSO principal trombone, Dudley Bright at the Epic Brass II concert with Black Dyke Band, being staged by World of Brass in The Sage Gateshead, on 17 May this year.

'The Cost of Freedom'

The work, 'The Cost of Freedom', is inspired by the life of Deitrich Bonhoffer, a German pastor who refused refuge in America during the Nazi era to remain in Germany, where he was eventually killed during the repressive regime.

Tribute

The ISB will also perform Leslie Condon’s The Call of the Righteous as a tribute to the composer, who died 25 years ago this year.

Explaining the significance of the work, The ISB’s Bandmaster, Stephen Cobb, told 4BR: "Leslie Condon was a very influential figure in The Salvation Army and this work was an iconic piece in SA band literature, particularly because of the prominence of the Eb tuba solo with use of timpani, which was very unusual at that time. This will be one of several tributes to Leslie Condon by The ISB this year."

'Cats Tales' is mostly a kind of jazzy piece with a Beep-Bop movement, in the tradition of Windows of the World. It comprises five movements, each based on a New York musicians such as Henry Mancini, George Gershwin and Leonard BernsteinPeter Graham

50th birthday tribute

Black Dyke Band and The ISB will each deliver a 25-minute programme before, as has become a feature of their glittering joint concerts, massing in the second-half for a 45-minute programme, during which they will mark the 50th birthday of eminent brass band composer, Professor Peter Graham.

Essence

It is understood that Peter Graham is using the theme of one of his well-known and loved works, 'The Essence of Time', as the inspiration for the massed segment. The composer intends to take the themes of the work’s original set of variations — 'A Time for Peace', 'A Time to Be Born', 'A Time to Dance' and so on — and adapt them to form the theme of the massed second-half of the concert.

Cats Tales

The piece will open with 'A Time to be Born' and for the ‘episode’, 'A Time to Dance', the composer has written a new five-movement work based on New York and its musicians, entitled 'Cats Tales'.

Tear apart

Said Peter Graham: "I’m planning to tear apart 'The Essence of Time' and, taking its sub-headings, use bits of it. 'Cats Tales' is mostly a kind of jazzy piece with a Beep-Bop movement, in the tradition of Windows of the World. It comprises five movements, each based on a New York musicians such as Henry Mancini, George Gershwin and Leonard Bernstein."

Black Dyke

Black Dyke’s ‘solo’ programme will feature a new finale by its Composer-in-Residence, Paul Lovatt-Cooper. Dr. Nicholas Childs told 4BR: "Paul Lovatt-Cooper's finale will have the hallmarks of quality from this new and exciting young composer."

Also enthusing about the prospect of Epic Brass II, Nicholas Childs added: "It is always an exciting time when Black Dyke shares the platform with The International Staff Band. You can be guaranteed of a journey that brings with it some real gems, whilst discovering and premiering new repertoire."

He added: "Peter Graham's 'Cats Tales' is a piece of real musical theatre, which follows in the footsteps of 'Call of the Cossacks' and 'Cry of the Celts'. With a galaxy of star soloists from The ISB and Black Dyke, I look forward to sharing the podium with Stephen Cobb for an evening to remember."

Details

The main concert starts at 7.30pm and Niki Bland, Director of Media for World of Brass, revealed: "Not surprisingly, given the reputation of these two iconic bands, the take-up of tickets for this concert has been extremely buoyant and the event continues to sell briskly every week."

Youth event

As part of the two bands’ ‘Epic’ visit to Gateshead, plans are underway to create a youth event during the day of the concert involving both bands and their renowned conductors, culminating in a foyer concert at The Sage Gateshead.