Arthur Wills OBE, has taken the time to speak to 4BR after the composer read the December Editorial which highlighted his major work for organ and brass band, ‘The Fenlands’.

Broadcast

The piece was written in 1981 and given a live BBC broadcast premiere later that year from Ely Cathedral, featuring the composer at the magnificent organ accompanied by the City of Cambridge Band, conducted by David Read.

It was recently broadcast in its entirety on Classic FM.

"It was so nice to read about the work and the thought that it should be played again," he told 4BR.

The piece was inspired by the Ely area and its historical influences such as the Vikings and Oliver Cromwell. I reflected this in the four movements of the work, ending with a real English marchArthur Wills OBE

Inspired

"The piece was inspired by the Ely area and its historical influences such as the Vikings and Oliver Cromwell. I reflected this in the four movements of the work, ending with a real English march."

"One bandsman from the City of Cambridge Band was a singer in my choir at the Cathedral and suggested that using the organ and a brass band would be a good idea. I felt so too, although I think they had a little bit of a shock when I turned up with such an extensive composition."

Available

Arthur revealed that after the premiere, the piece was recorded for posterity and is still available today, and selling well on the Hyperion label. In the immediate period after the premiere the work was performed in Huddersfield and St Albans, accompanied by Grimethorpe Colliery Band.

Overture

"City of Cambridge Band were very good at the time and David Read was a fine conductor and understood the music so well. About a year later we recorded it and a little later I wrote an overture called ‘A Muse of Fire’ for the band too."

Successful

Over the years the recording has proved to be very successful and in 1994 the first movement, ‘The Vikings’, was recorded by the Dallas Wind Symphony.

He has subsequently arranged a version for orchestral brass, which was premiered in Ely last September, and within the last year the piece has been performed extensively in Holland and Australia with a brass ensemble in Atlanta USA wishing to record it in 2009.

Far from dead

"The piece is far from dead then," Arthur added. "Hopefully, the coverage on 4BR will get more bands to look at the piece again – I think they will enjoy it."