Conducting Competition Tests Announced

This year’s conducting competition semi-final test pieces have been announced by the Brass Band Conductors’ Association (BBCA). They will be used to test the musical interpretation and baton dexterity of the ten competition semi-finalists on 15th June at Eccles Town Hall.

The semi-finalists will have the opportunity to earn their place in the final by rehearsing the championship Hammonds Band on a section of one of the following: ‘Resurgam’ by Eric Ball or ‘Rhythm of Light’ by Liz Lane.

Composed in 1950 by Salvationist Eric Ball, Resurgam (‘I will rise again’) is arguably one of the finest, well-known and most moving brass band test pieces to have ever been written.

The second piece ‘Rhythm of Light’ was composed by Liz Lane in 2020/21. The piece is a suite of 4 movements, entitled ‘Landscape’, ‘Shadow cast by the sun’, ‘Pavan and Galliard’ and ‘Rhythm and dance and everything’, and celebrates the life and work of sculptor Barbara Hepworth.

Adjudicators Sarah Groarke-Booth and Morgan Griffiths will select five finalists to go on to rehearse and conduct the Eccles Borough Band in a concert item to be performed in the evening’s free Gala Concert.  BBCA’s Mareika Gray will conduct Eccles in the rest of the concert prior to the announcement of the winners.

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