British National tests revealed
The Music Panel of the National Brass Band Championships of Great Britain has announced the test-pieces for this year’s National Finals at London’s Royal Albert Hall (11 October), and The Centaur, Cheltenham Racecourse (13-14 September). Celebrating two eminent composers’ significant anniversaries, Edward Gregson’s 80th birthday year and the 50th anniversary of Sir Arthur Bliss’ death, they are:
Championship Section – Symphony in two movements (Edward Gregson). Novello/distributed Studio Music.
Section 1 – Checkmate (Bliss, arr. Eric Ball). Novello/distributed Studio Music.
Section 2 – Suite from Adams Zero (Bliss, new arrangement by Dr. Robert Childs). Published/distributed Prima Vista Musikk.
Section 3 – Music from ‘The Royal Palaces’ (Bliss, arr. Michael Halstenson). Kirklees Music.
Section 4 – Partita (Edward Gregson). R. Smith & Co./distributed Studio Music.
Director of Music for the ‘National’ and Music Panel representative, Dr. Robert Childs, told ‘BBW’: “We had considered the idea of featuring works by two British composers marking anniversaries in 2025 for some time. When Philip Wilby proposed commissioning two new arrangements of Bliss’ music, we realised that 2025 also marks Edward Gregson’s 80th birthday, so the concept came to life quickly.”
Symphony in two movements, which the Championship Section willl perform, is dedicated by the composer to his ‘friend, colleague, and biographer, Paul Hindmarsh’. Delighted that his ‘Symphony’ has been set in his 80th year, Edward Gregson commented: “The piece was commissioned in 2012 by the National Youth bands of Britain and Wales for their 60th and 30th anniversaries respectively.
He added that his ‘Symphony’, “came at a time of compositional maturity, and combines serious musical intent with considerable technical demands and emotional energy.” Never set for a UK contest, he enthused: “I owe a huge debt of gratitude to the ‘National’ for its adventurous decision – one that brings great pleasure and pride to me. I consider Symphony in two movements to be one of my finest compositions in any genre, and certainly the best of me in terms of brass band composition. It remains as my personal Valhalla!”
The ‘Symphony’s’ two linked movements are in a compact sonata-form – an allegro followed by a theme and four variations: The opening Toccata main themes are dramatic, rhythmic and lyrical in turn, and the second Variations movement uses a chorale, followed by the four variations: mercurial, menacing, serene, anddynamic. Earlier material is gradually developed as the piece progresses to a recapitulation of the symphony as a whole, and it ends as it began with the dramatic and rhythmic juxtaposed with the melodic.
The Bliss Finals’ tests are arrangements of his compositions and, commenting on these selections, Prof. Philip Wilby said: “Sir Arthur Bliss’ two original works for brass band are justly celebrated, but it is with genuine pride, for his future legacy, that we see two new arrangements on show at this year’s Finals – two ballet scores and one taken from television that demonstrates Bliss’ outgoing desire to work collaboratively within arts and technology. Eric Ball’s arrangement of Checkmate appeared at the Albert Hall Final in 1978, whilst Robert Childs’ scoring of Adam Zero and Michael Halstenson’s arrangement of Royal Palaces are both new.”
Section 1 bands will perform three of the four dances: Dance of the Four Knights, Ceremony of the Red Bishops, and Checkmate.
Suite from the Ballet, ‘Adam Zero’ for Section 2 was arranged by Dr. Childs for Prof. Nicholas Childs and Black Dyke Band to première at 2024 RNCM International Brass Band Festival. In five movements (Fanfare Overture, Dance of Spring, Approach of Autumn, Dance of Summer, and Fanfare Coda), Dr. Childs enlightened: “The music dates to the winter of 1945-46, when Bliss was at the height of his powers. Arguably his greatest work, it is certainly among his half dozen finest scores. Its neglect, both on-stage and in the concert hall, is a surprise to many. The ballet depicts a man’s life cycle: His birth and death, and his passage through spring, summer, autumn and winter. A ballet representing these episodes is created on-stage, at first empty and dark at his birth, but gradually lit and filled with scenery as his life develops, before the stage becomes empty on his death, after which a new ballet represents the cycle of creation beginning again.“
Section 3’s Music from ‘The Royal Palaces’, arranged by Michael Halstenson in 2023, is also cast in five movements: the quietly regal Queen Victoria’s Call to the Throne; The Ballroom in Buckingham Palace waltz evoking the gaiety of functions at Buckingham Palace; Joust of the Knights in Armour (George V’s reign) depicting knights preparing to joust; Melodrama characterising the murder at Holyrood House, Edinburgh, of Mary, Queen of Scots’ Secretary, David Rizzio; and the majestic The Royal Palace Theme march.
Commissioned by Redbridge Youth Band in 1971, the 13th Century, sombre plainsong, Dies Irae from the Requiem Mass, runs through Edward Gregson’s Partita set for Section 4, which is cast in three movements: Intrada, Chorale and Variations, and March. The ominous Dies Irae has the final say, however.
The test-pieces for Sections 1, 2, and 3 are on a recently released Chandos label recording of Black Dyke conducted by John Wilson, (‘Bliss – Works for Brass Band’ – CHSA 5344 at www.chandos.net). For updates about the Finals, visit: www.nationalbrassbandchampionshipsofgreatbritain.com
