Bates to feature at Danish Nationals
The 2021 Danish National Championships has four major works by composer Jonathan Bates for the competing bands to perform. 'The Songs of Ascent' will test the top section, ‘Grieg Variations’ will challenge bands in the first section, second section bands will perform ‘Ex Terra Lucem’ and ‘Repton Fantasy’ has been selected for the third section.
'Songs of Ascent' was composed for the RNCM Brass Band Festival in 2019, where it was premiered by the RNCM Brass Band. The work is inspired by a group of biblical psalms as well as paying homage to John McCabe. 'Grieg Variations', composed during lockdown pays reference to 'Peer Gynt Suite No. 2'. The main theme of 'Solveig's Song' is followed by a set of eight variations. 'Ex Terra Lucem' was composed for the St Helens Youth Brass Band in 2017 and is built upon a tone-row derived from the shape of the roof of St Helens Town Hall. 'Repton Fantasy' is influenced by two primary sources; the hymn tune 'Dear Lord and Father of Mankind' which was originally written at Repton School and one of Repton School's most famous alumni, children's writer Roald Dahl.
Commenting on the contest selection Jonathan said, "It's a huge honour to have a full national competition selecting my works across the board. The Danish banding movement is certainly one which is on a steep upward curve and I can't wait to hear how the bands in the respective sections take to this wide range of my works, spanning the last five years of my composing output."
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