The cosmopolitan flavour of the recent International Brass Band Summer School in Swansea was certainly maintained at the end of course concert at Brangwyn Hall last Friday evening.

Titan

For one of the guests enjoying the music making was Hermann Pallhuber, the composer of ‘Titan’s Progress’, the test piece that made such an immediate impression at the European Championships in Birmingham last year.

Hermann was making his first visit to Wales after staying and working with composer Professor Philip Wilby at his home near Bristol.

I thoroughly enjoyed the concert. It was great to see and hear so many young players, enjoying the music and performing to such a high standardHermann Pallhuber

Enjoyed

As part of the IBBSS Course Philip had led many of the delegates in classes on composition and Hermann jumped at the chance to come and listen to the bands through the week.

"I thoroughly enjoyed the concert," he told 4BR. "It was great to see and hear so many young players, enjoying the music and performing to such a high standard."

Inspiration

Hermann is hoping that when the European Championships comes to Austria in 2010, the organisers will be able to put on a week of youth led music making, based on a great deal of what he had experienced in Swansea. "It was a fantastic week, and it has given me great inspiration."

Swiss role

As for the near future however, Hermann is looking forward to the Swiss Championships later this year when ‘Titan’s Progress’ will be used as the top section set work in Montreux. "I am also looking forward to this very much too. The chance to hear a number of performances of ‘Titan’ is going to be very interesting."