British Open Test Announced
Organisers of the British Open Championships have announced that the 2024 test piece will be ‘The Lost Circle’, a new commission by the critically acclaimed Belgian composer Jan Van Der Roost. The 16 minute work is the Belgian’s fifth major contest composition and has been commissioned through an international consortium of organisations, including the British Open alongside the national bodies of Belgium, The Netherlands, Norway, Switzerland, Germany and Austria. ‘The Lost Circle’ will receive its world premiere at the 170th British Open Championship at Symphony Hall, Birmingham on Saturday 7th September.
British Open Championship Artistic Advisor, Dr Robert Childs explained, “Jan Van der Roost is rightly regarded as one of the foremost composers writing for the brass band medium. 'The Lost Circle' is a magnificent work and one which I am sure will provide a wonderful musical test for competing bands as well as rewarding musical experience for listeners in Britain and across Europe." The work is rich in thematic symbolism. It questions both how and why the inner circle of megalithic Bluestones were brought by ancient people on a 240-kilometre journey from deep in the Preseli hills in West Wales to their final resting place.
The composer stated, “It is definitely a challenging and demanding work, but one I hope will be enjoyed by the conductors, performers and audiences alike in the months to come in the UK and Europe.” British Open Contest organisers Martin and Karyn Mortimer added, “It will be the first time Jan Van Der Roost has written a work to be used at the British Open Championship. We are thrilled to be able to provide the stage for its world premiere. Our thanks go to him and to our consortium friends for making this wonderful piece possible.”
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