Edward Gregson has been working alongside Besson euphonium virtuoso David Childs and Tredegar Band in putting the finishing touches to his eagerly anticipated 'Euphonium Concerto'.
Earlier this week he made his way to south Wales for a special rehearsal with David and the band to work through the finer points of a demanding composition that will be premiered in Asia, Europe and the UK in the coming months.
Euphonium Concerto
Commissioned by the Euphonium Foundation UK and written and dedicated to David Childs, the 22 minute long work is symphonic in structure and scale, with its trio of movements subtitled, 'Dialogues', 'Song without Words' and 'A Celtic Bacchanal'.
The first movement is concerned with contrast and development, using as a reference point a five note musical cipher, whilst the elongated central section is a nostalgic, beautifully realised lyrical interlude.
The finale, as the title suggests is a wild dance that takes on the character of Celtic folk music (the dedicatee is Celtic, and the composer half-Celtic!), culminating (via a reference to the first movement) into an exuberant and life-affirming coda.
Edward met up with 4BR Editor Iwan Fox to talk about the work and its challenges as well as his admiration at working with a world class performer and a band that embraces such a vibrant appetite for exploring new horizons.
Edward met up with 4BR Editor Iwan Fox to talk about the work and its challenges as well as his admiration at working with a world class performer and a band that embraces such a vibrant appetite for exploring new horizons4BR
Premieres
The work will be premiered in Japan with the Senzoku Gakuen College of Music conducted by Robert Childs in three weeks time, before being played at the Gala Concert of the Austrian National Championships and then the 2019 RNCM Brass Band Festival — both with Tredegar under Ian Porthouse.
