New Music Releases from Jagrins Music Publications

Out in Front – Goff Richards
The Joy of Christmas – Tony Swainson
Love Lilt – Tony Swainson
The Polar Bear – Gareth Pritchard
Alexander Owen Hymn Book
Festive Spice – Ray Sacks arranged by Gavin Pritchard
Longings – Gareth Pritchard

Gareth Pritchard has been making a name for himself over the years in the brass band field on many fronts. First he made an impression as a cornet player of some note both in Wales and England, before branching out and becoming a freelance Musical Director who has won prizes with bands from Championship and Lower Sections both in the UK and notably Norway. His latest sojourn has been to make a mark in the music publishing trade (something he knows a lot about from his background in the printing trade in the days of Robert Maxwell).

As with his other facets of his career, he has taken the opportunity to take a fresh look at the traditional aspects of the music printing game and has brought new standards to bear on a market that for many years has been in desperate need of a veritable kick up the jacksy. Jagrins Music Publications have raised the standard for others to follow in the past two years or so and the latest batch of releases once again show that they continue to push the standards of quality production further in the right direction.

These seven releases form a core part of the easy listening section of their catalogue and are aimed at competent bands and players – we think good third section bands upwards should cope well with the works, but youth bands with a core of good players should enjoy working on them.

"Out in Front" is an up tempo concert type march from the pen of Goff Richards, and as soon as you see his name at the top right corner of the score, you know that it's going to be full of rhythm and colour with interesting and essential percussion parts. Written for the 75th anniversary of the Haukas Musikklag Band in Norway it is a neat and detailed work that has all Richards hallmarks stamped throughout. The percussion part is very important indeed, but not beyond three competent players whilst the band parts require a solid technique, although the range of the parts isn't too great and everyone around the stand has something to do nearly all the time. It would make a good opener to any concert.

Although it may seem we are a little late in reviewing the Xmas pieces, you can never be too early to pick up a bargain for next year's festive season. "The Joy of Christmas" is written by Tony Swainson, a very respected figure north of the border and someone who has considerable understanding of brass band composition. This too is an opener for a concert and is based around three main themes of "Joy to the World", "Deck the Halls" and "Good King Wenceslas". Again, it's upbeat stuff with lots of rhythmic detail and a nice range of dynamics so it just isn't a blast. Everyone has something to do but it is well within the capabilities of all bands and will provide something a bit different for next years Xmas season (which given the way TV is, will most probably start around July).

"Festive Spice" is one of those neat fillers that are easy on the lips for the players and easy on the ears of the audience when played in a concert. All bands will be able to cope with this playful number, and you could get away with passing the percussion instruments (sleigh bells etc) to members of the band. Youth bands and young bands will enjoy playing the piece and it will put a smile on even the most grumpy Scrooge in December.

Gareth Pritchard's "Polar Bear" is a smashing Eb tuba solo, but one that is aimed at very competent players of the instrument. Written for the Eb tuba player of the Sandefjord Brass it's a piece that takes a day in the life of a Polar Bear as its inspiration. Don't let the title fool you – this is no "Tuba Smarties" type work and will require the soloist to be able to be in command of the full range of technique. It starts slowly but builds and although the band parts are deliberately sparse this means there is no hiding place for the soloist. If you do have a player at the back of the band who does fancy themselves a bit though, then this could well be a cracker for them.

Gareth Pritchard has also turned his hand at developing a traditional Norwegian Folk song into a fine lyrical cornet solo in "Longings". It has a short introduction, and then a straightforward theme, which is further developed by the band before the soloists caps things off with a high but delicate obligato. First performed in 1998, it will take a cornet player of sound technique and quality tone to make come off, whilst the band parts need to be balanced as not to swamp the main theme which is pitched quite low. A good challenge to a player with an eye to making a name for themselves.

"Love Lilt" incorporates two of Scotland's most beautiful traditional melodies "My Love is like a Red Red Rose" and "An Eriskay Love Lilt" and Tony Swainson has provided a light and smooth piece of writing which will take a lot of thought and attention to style and detail to make come off. Helpfully the composer has added a few notes for some of the trickier bars, but most bands will be able to cope with the challenges. It looks easy on the score, but further investigation will show that this could be a difficult little number to make come off. If it does though it really is a lovely number.

Finally we have the "Alexander Owen Hymn Book", 24 of the greatest hymn tunes arranged and composed by the great man himself. All are clear and detailed and are superb examples of how to not spoil a simple tune by trying to decorate it with unnecessary filigree and musical tinsel. Such beautiful tunes need no extra help and Owen's arrangements just emphasise the beauty rather than redrawing it in a modern garish fashion. All the top tunes are here, including the great Welsh ones such as Cwm Rhondda and Aberystwyth and all are little gems of simple yet effective scoring.

All the works have been published and produced with an eye on quality by Jagrins and there is little to fault them. The neat write ups at the beginnings will give the MD the chance to wow the audience with his in depth knowledge of each of the works as well. Good stuff indeed.

For further details concerning these or any other pieces from Jagrins please contact:

Jagrins Music Publications
180, Edgeley Road
Stockport
Cheshire
England
SK3 OTS

Tel: 0161 718 6420
email: jagrins.musicpublications@ntlworld.com

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