Programs

SABB Presents "SAGA!"

"With Clouds Descending" A Fantasy on the Hymn Tune ‘Helmsley’- Philip Sparke

With Clouds Descending was commissioned to celebrate, in 2014, the 10th anniversary of the formation of the Lancaster British Brass Band from Pennsylvania, USA. The commission honours Dr. Paul H. Belser, the band’s president and one of its founding members, and was instigated by his wife and family. The premiere took place on 10th May 2014 in Lancaster, conducted by the composer.

Dr. Belser is also a member of his local men’s chorus The Wesley Singers (who also took part in the premiere performance) and it was therefore decided to base the commissioned piece on the hymn tune Helmsley, long associated with Wesley’s great Advent hymn, Lo! He comes with Clouds Descending.

"Rise" - Steijn Aertgeerts, featuring Erin Thomas (Cornet) and John Caputo (Euphonium)

The work 'Rise' was specially written for Lode Violet and Kevin Van Giel, principal cornet and euphonium of Brass Band Willebroek, for their CD 'Rise'. The idea behind the piece is that friends always pull you through a difficult period, they make you rise again. It is a duet for cornet and euphonium, starting with a wonderful melancholic melody presented by the euphonium. The cornet takes over and is beautifully interwoven with the euphonium lines. The second part is festive, up tempo and a bit funky. The bass drum beat is the driving force for the soloists to display their versatility and flexibility. This all builds up to a grand finale in which the soloists shine.

"Tirttico" - James Curnow

Commissioned in 1988 by the Swiss Brass Band Association, James Curnow’s Trittico for Brass Band was first performed at the Swiss National Championships of the same year. This Championship-level test piece has been used around the world for various contests including the Grand Shield (1990), North American Championships (1996) and most recently at the SEWBBA Contest in 2018.

The title of the work ‘Trittico’ or indeed ‘Tripych’, are usually a collection of three works of arts based on a common theme. The commonality between the three variations in Trittico is the American hymn ‘Consolation’. Although played through, there are three distinct variations in this work, which all present the hymn in a very different light.

"The Australasian" - William Rimmer

William Rimmer dedicated this march to the brass bands of Australia. At the age of 15 William started as a Side-Drummer with the Southport Rifle band where he eventually became the third Cornet player, Second Cornet, Repiano and finally Solo Cornet. From Southport he went on to play with Besses O’th barn, Kingston Mills and Heywood Rifles. At the start of the 1900’s William was becoming a big name in the brass band world and had become the Music editor of “Richardson’s Cornet Brass and Military Band Journal”.

"Embers" - Tom Davoren

Composed in 2015 Embers is a short, lyrical concert work which evokes the subtle glow of a camp fire just after the final flame has withered. The piece received its official premiere in Gothenburg on 7th November 2015, where I conducted Windcorp Band at their 10th Jubilee concert. An original sketch for this piece was composed for Belgian conductor, bass trombonist and friend of the composer, Geert Van Looy.

"The Saga of Haaken the Good" - Philip Sparke

The Saga of Haakon the Good was commissioned by Frei Hornmusikk, from Norway, to celebrate the joining of the two neighbouring Kommuner of Frei and Kristiansund, which took place on 1st January, 2008. The band used it as their test piece in the Norwegian National Brass Band Championships the following February.

The piece traces key events in the life of Haakon the Good (c. 920–961), later to become King Haakon 1 - THE FUTURE KING - who had been fostered by King Athelstan of England as part of a peace agreement made by his father. The English king brought him up in the Christian religion, and, on the news of his father’s death, provided him with ships and men for an expedition against his half-brother Eirik Bloodaxe, who had been proclaimed king of Norway. On his arrival he travelled north - THE JOURNEY TO TRONDHEIM - where he began to gain the support of the landowners by promising to give up the rights of taxation his father had previously claimed.

Eirik’s sons allied themselves with the Danes, but were invariably defeated by Haakon, who was successful in everything he undertook except in his attempt to introduce Christianity to the country - THE MISSIONARY KING - which aroused an opposition he did not feel strong enough to face.

One of his most famous victories was THE BATTLE OF RASTARKALV (near to Frei) in 955. By placing ten standards far apart along a low ridge (to give the impression his army was bigger than it actually was) he managed to fool Eirik’s sons that they were out-numbered. The Danes fled and were slaughtered by Haakon’s army. These ten standards are represented by ten loud chords.