Featuring: Cory Band; The International Staff Band of the Salvation Army; GUS Band; Black Dyke Mills Band; Ever Ready Band 
Conductors: Dr Robert Childs; Dr Stephen Cobb; Christopher Bond; Major Peter Parkes 
CD: DOY CD448

Although sales are no longer measured in the same numbers as they once were, the announcement of the regional championship test-pieces still brings an eager urge for many to add the CD release to their collection. 

And despite a few pre-release ‘leaks’, finding out about the pieces themselves is almost as satisfying as hearing the performances from the featured bands – and especially the interpretations of the conductors (none are new commissions and all but one are recorded elsewhere).

Well received

On the whole, the selections from the National Championship Music Panel have been well received – although there was debate over the out-dated foreword to Eric Ball’s Fourth Section set-work, ‘Indian Summer’.  

Context is everything. With the need to attract competitors to the various qualification events, the appropriateness to be performed by an ensemble lacking a full complement of players was key. 

However, a timely explanation of its archaic 1950s cultural references should be mandatory if players and listeners alike are to feel entirely comfortable with the depictions of ‘The Great Chief Speak’, ‘By the Cool Waters’, ‘Totem Dance’ and ‘Hymn to the Great Spirit’.  

However, a timely explanation of its archaic 1950s cultural references should be mandatory if players and listeners alike are to feel entirely comfortable with the depictions of ‘The Great Chief Speak’, ‘By the Cool Waters’, ‘Totem Dance’ and ‘Hymn to the Great Spirit’.  

Remarkable hands

No such considerations with ‘Three Haworth Impressions’,  which despite its 19th century literary inspiration of the famous Bronte sisters and their landscape in the remarkable hands of Gordon Langford is transported to 1970s Yorkshire without ever sounding out of place.

Each of its three movements is a delight – bringing a sense of the warm austerity that needs to be captured with informed appreciation by the Third Section contenders. 

 its 19th century literary inspiration of the famous Bronte sisters and their landscape in the remarkable hands of Gordon Langford is transported to 1970s Yorkshire without ever sounding out of place.

The inspiration of Philip Harper’s colourful, ‘20,000 Leagues under the Sea’  is cut from the pages of Jules Verne’s celebrated 19th century sci-fi novel written with a filmscore ear to tension and excitement. The five self-contained episodes are clever page-turners that lead the performer and listener its dramatic climax.  

No blueprint

Andrew Wainwright’s ‘Variations on ‘Was Lebet’  is also made up of five contrasting variant parts to offer a stern test of stylistic understanding for the First Section bands, whilst Martin Ellerby’s intentionally enigmatic ‘Elgar Variations’  will be a deceptive challenge of Championship Section credentials. 

As always, although each recorded performance  does not offer a blueprint to qualification success, as you would expect, the approaches and interpretations from Dr Robert Childs (‘Elgar Variations’  and ‘Indian Summer’),  Dr Stephen Cobb (‘Was Lebet’), Christopher Bond (’20,000 Leagues’) and Major Peter Parkes (‘Three Haworth Impressions’) offer plenty for consideration.

Iwan Fox 

To purchase: 
CD: https://www.worldofbrass.com/102343
Download: https://www.worldofbrass.com/102343-download 
Wobplay: https://wobplay.com/

Play list:

1. Elgar Variations (Martin Ellerby)
Cory Band (2007)
Conductor: Dr Robert Childs   

2. Variations on ‘Was Lebet’ (Andrew Wainwright)
The International Staff Band of The Salvation Army (2018)
Conductor: Dr Stephen Cobb

3. 20,000 Leagues under the Sea (Philip Harper)
GUS Band (2025)
Conductor: Christopher Bond 

4. Three Haworth Impressions (Gordon Langford)
Black Dyke Mills Band (1981)
Conductor: Major Peter Parkes
  
5. Indian Summer (Eric Ball) 
Ever Ready Band (1998)
Conductor: Robert Childs