Regional Test Pieces 2019 Announced

The 2019 Test Pieces for the Regional Championships have been announced and are available to purchase now:-

Championship Section: Seascapes (Ray Steadman-Allen)
Seascapes was commissioned for the National Brass Band Championships of Great Britain in 1988. Seascapes takes its inspiration from the poem ‘Cargos’ by John Masefield. In the first movement, a gentle lyric theme, set against a pulsating background is contrasted with a dance. The dance reaches its climax and the music concludes with a quiet theme. The second movement has something of the nature of a sarabande, with a central section, which is a little lighter but retains a Spanish flavour. The composer adds a whimsical thought of his own that there may also have been a party of monks aboard. A variety of ingredients blend in the third movement: the coaster engines, the sea, some jovial shanty-music and the storm element through which the coaster steadily chugs.
Purchase now: Click Here

Section 1: Symphony of Marches (Gilbert Vinter)
One of the major works of Gilbert Vinter. Set out in three movements 1. Maestoso, 2. Grave and the finale, movement 3, Brioso. The work is given with a duration of 11:45.
Purchase now: Click Here

Section 2: Rise of the Phoenix (Darrol Barry)
As the title suggests, the phoenix was a fabulous mythical bird, who every morning at dawn, sang a song so enchanting that even the sun God, Apollo, would stop and listen. The bird would live for a hundred years, and at the end of its life, would build a pyre, set it on fire and be consumed by the flames. After three days, the phoenix would be reborn from the ashes, to sing once more.This work was commissioned by Clifton and Lightcliffe Band and reflects the difficulties and rebirth of the band to make music once more.Suitable for second section bands and above.
Purchase now: Click Here

Section 3: First Suite In Eb (Gustav Holst)
Whilst the manuscript for this work was completed by Holst in 1909, it wasn’t officially premiered until 1920 at the Royal Military School of Music. Considered to be one of the cornerstone masterworks in the concert band repertoire, the work is made up of three movements; 1. Chaconne, 2. Intermezzo, 3 March.
Purchase now: Click Here

Section 4: Stantonbury Festival (Ray Steadman-Allen)
The second of two selected works this year from the pen of Ray Steadman-Allen. A three-movement suite in the composer’s approachable style. Though not difficult to play the whole band is fully employed throughout making both rehearsal and performance enjoyable.
Purchase now: Click Here

All of the set works and the Regionals 2019 CD are available now from the Brass Band Music Shop. Visit them at www.brassband.co.uk