What do you fancy for 2008 Lower Section Finals to play as your test piece

[ian perks]

So as the Area's are almost done &dusted of the bands who are playing at the finals what would you like to have picked as your test piece.
Ive got a few suggestions for you;
1st section;Le Roi d'Ys
2ns section:Rhapsody in Brass
3rd Section;Academic Festival Overture
4th Section:Rhapsody On Negro Spirtuals number 2

What do you think?
What would your choice be

[tubaloopy]

So as the Area's are almost done &dusted of the bands who are playing at the finals what would you like to have picked as your test piece.
Ive got a few suggestions for you;
1st section;Le Roi d'Ys
2ns section:Rhapsody in Brass
3rd Section;Academic Festival Overture
4th Section:Rhapsody On Negro Spirtuals number 2

What do you think?
What would your choice be
All good pieces, but too old hat and have been done to death.

[MRSH]

So as the Area's are almost done &dusted of the bands who are playing at the finals what would you like to have picked as your test piece.
Ive got a few suggestions for you;
1st section;Le Roi d'Ys
2ns section:Rhapsody in Brass
3rd Section;Academic Festival Overture
4th Section:Rhapsody On Negro Spirtuals number 2

What do you think?
What would your choice be
Please God no, no no and no again!!!! :mad: It's a rubbish arrangement and would no doubt throw out 4 or more months of error correcting.

I don't have any suggestions at the moment - I'm still getting over my hangover from celebrating qualifying.

[snazzy_cornet_sound]

1st section - Apocolypse
2nd - Music of the spheres
3rd - Hedwigs theme
4th- Blitz

[no2taz]

Triumphant Rhapsody.
Variations on a ninth.
The wayfarer.
Prisms.
Un Vie de Matelot.
Dare i say it Essence of time

I must tstress that these are what i wouyld like to see as the 1st section nationals piece... ( only my own opinion )

[emziesonic]

1st section - Apocolypse
2nd - Music of the spheres
3rd - Hedwigs theme
4th- Blitz

music of the spheres?
surely a little hard for 2nd section??:eek:

[Bass Man]

1st section - Apocolypse
2nd - Music of the spheres
3rd - Hedwigs theme
4th- Blitz

Music of the Spheres for 2nd Section?
Blitz for 4the Section?

A little bit too hard methinks

[MRSH]

I think snazzy_cornet_sound had tongue firmly placed in cheek ;)

[Sop_Or_Bass?]

1st section - Apocolypse
2nd - Music of the spheres
3rd - Hedwigs theme
4th- Blitz

1st - Eye Level
2nd - Eye Level
3rd - Eye Level
4th - Eye Level

That'll sort the men from the boys

[ophicliede]

When are the testpieces announced? Officially.

[brassneck]

erm ... :rolleyes:

1st Section - Winds Of Change (Brenton Broadstock) ... a nice wee challenge ;) (keeps with the tradition of past selections)
2nd Section - Music For A Festive Occasion (Jan Haderman)
3rd Section - Kefas (Rob Goorhuis)
4th Section - Glasshouse Sketches (Barrie Gott)

[brassneck]

Oh, I forgot to add that the Goorhuis work has been specially selected for Mike Lyons ;) (only joking Mike!)

[HBB]

So as the Area's are almost done &dusted of the bands who are playing at the finals what would you like to have picked as your test piece.
Ive got a few suggestions for you;
1st section;Le Roi d'Ys
2ns section:Rhapsody in Brass
3rd Section;Academic Festival Overture
4th Section:Rhapsody On Negro Spirtuals number 2

What do you think?
What would your choice be

Nice to see that you're making full use of today's composing talents.
These choices are half the problem of modern banding - there are hundreds of new pieces by less known but extremely talented composers that would be amazing to use, not this yellow music that's only hard for solo cornet and euph, and allows the percussionists time to read War and Peace!

[HBB]

Some funky choices there Tom! :D

[brassneck]

Some funky choices there Tom! :D

- and a bit of cheese for Mike :rolleyes: (Kefas is actually a nice number with all the usual Goorhuis traits, only watered down! Used in division 3 of the Dutch Championships in 2002). All chosen are under 10 mins except the Broadstock piece. The Hadermann work is typical of what he writes for wind band and is very European in style but may sound a little dated because of the rhythms deployed (very '80s)!

[The Reluctant Tuba Player]

Triumphant Rhapsody.
Variations on a ninth.
The wayfarer.
Prisms.
Un Vie de Matelot.
Dare i say it Essence of time

I must tstress that these are what i wouyld like to see as the 1st section nationals piece... ( only my own opinion )


Wayfarer? You know, that doesn't get selected often enough(!) But handy if anyone is also going to Pontins in October I suppose.

[PeterBale]

erm ... :rolleyes:

1st Section - Winds Of Change (Brenton Broadstock) ... a nice wee challenge ;) (keeps with the tradition of past selections)

The question there is whether the anvil and chains will be provided, or whether bands have to supply their own ;)

[Zeek]

Lets have something challenging for them to do;
4th section - devil and the deep blue sea - bourgoius
3rd section - montage - graham
2nd section - year of the dragon - sparke
1st section - night to sing - tovey
and for the Championship section................

........labour and love - fletcher

[smaca]

4th Section------Promenade--Frank Bryce
3rd Section------- Three Musketeers---George Hespe
2nd Section-------Tournament for Brass----Eric Ball
1st Section--------Tallis Variations------Philip Sparke
Championship-----Variations on Cadenzas that only Blue Whales can hear----Various.

[JR]

4th Section------Promenade--Frank Bryce
3rd Section------- Three Musketeers---George Hespe
.

3 Musketeers! - first movt "Aramis - the naff aftershave"
..and the lumberjack song in the 3rd movement - great stuff, rubbish, but great. And the last movt (D'Artagnan?) - the one everyone takes too fast.

I'd almost forgotten Promenade - I played it (or tried to) at the area in 1976. (God - is it that long ago?) I like the bit where the troms blare out the quote from "Lassie from Lancashire"! and the main tune sounds exactly like Vaughan Williams' Wasps overture.

John R

[AEHOWGATE]

1st Sec. Diversions on a Bass Theme (Lloyd)
2nd Sec. Vivat Regina (Mathias)
3rd Sec. Prince Igor (Borrodin)
4th Sec Land of the Mountain and the Flood (McCunn)

[no2taz]

Wayfarer? You know, that doesn't get selected often enough(!) But handy if anyone is also going to Pontins in October I suppose.


I think its a great piece one of my fav Eric ball pieces... Cant go wrong with Eric ball even by todays standard of test piece.

[DMBabe]

I remember when I was an ickle baby front row cornet playing a thing called "This Happy Island". Was sure it was in the 3rd section. Remember thinking it was a load of cheddar (in a good way) so wouldn't mind having a bash at it again (see if my memory serves me as badly as it might?).:roll: Sure it was all coconuts and bongoes for percussion and stuff like that!! Feel free to abuse me royally if it actually gets picked (although would probably be 4th section by now).:lol: ;)

[sopboy]

Top Section: Benvenuto Cellini

First Section: Jazz - Wilby

Second Section: Pageantry - Howlles

Third Section: Prisms

Fourth Section: Evocations - Ellerby

[The Reluctant Tuba Player]

I think its a great piece one of my fav Eric ball pieces... Cant go wrong with Eric ball even by todays standard of test piece.


No offence meant. I wasn't dissing Eric Ball or The Wayfarer - it is a great piece. It's just that we didn't play it very well at the areas last year and wouldn't relish playing it / working on it again relatively soon afterwards. I'm sure we'd feel differently if we had done better last year! :)

[RobBari]

Triumphant Rhapsody.
Variations on a ninth.
The wayfarer.
Prisms.
Un Vie de Matelot.
Dare i say it Essence of time

I must tstress that these are what i wouyld like to see as the 1st section nationals piece... ( only my own opinion )

I think Un vie de matelot would be a great choice, Wayfarer used last year in regionals so won't be that.Triumphant Rhap would be enjoyed by all.
If you want a modern piece that will test bands and audience what about 'prague' by Judith Bingham. on second thoughts perhaps not a good idea!

[Tim Pritchard]

1st. Dances and Arias
2nd. California Legend
3rd. The Margam Stones
4th. Tuba Mirum

[smaca]

I think Un vie de matelot would be a great choice, Wayfarer used last year in regionals so won't be that.Triumphant Rhap would be enjoyed by all.
If you want a modern piece that will test bands and audience what about 'prague' by Judith Bingham. on second thoughts perhaps not a good idea!

Totally agree with your 2nd thoughts!:(

[RobBari]

just seen suggestion of Dances and arias, Yes i like that one. (sorry about the Prague idea, hope no-one within the music selection committees saw that)

[KMJ Recordings]

Third Section: Prisms

This is the usual point in one of these threads for me to say:

"Pardon?" ;)

[madandcrazytromboneguy]

anything thats technical for trombones and not just a big blast or 1 thats just got loud sections with top f's and g's in it, not that it really matters as the pieces are now announced and i wont be playing in the final anyway.

[madandcrazytromboneguy]

1-dances and arias
2-symphonic music
3-diversions on a bass theme
4-st.austell suite

all tough pieces for each section, would make the bands work put it that way ;)

[Frontman]

How's about having a Peter Graham Finals.
1st. On Alderley Edge.
2nd Renaisance.
3rd Shine As A Light.
4th Dance in the Park. (I think its called.)

All wonderful pieces which may bring in the listeners.

[HBB]

How's about having a Peter Graham Finals.
1st. On Alderley Edge.
2nd Renaisance.
3rd Shine As A Light.
4th Dance in the Park. (I think its called.)

All wonderful pieces which may bring in the listeners.

I can't see any bands getting anywhere close to On Alderley Edge.
I'd swap Dances in the Park with Shine as the Light. Put Prisms as the 1st section piece or possibly The Essence of Time - but even that's quite hard!

[PSB Tom]

Does anyone know the date (or roundabout date) when the test pieces will be announced for the lower section finals?

[rgdunning]

My thoughts are = 3rd Section - Tingagel or Oceans That'll do for me!! :clap:

[rgdunning]

Does anyone know the date (or roundabout date) when the test pieces will be announced for the lower section finals?

There announced on the 1st June>>>>>>>>>>>>>........ :tup

[Bayerd]

1-dances and arias
2-symphonic music
3-diversions on a bass theme
4-st.austell suite

all tough pieces for each section, would make the bands work put it that way ;)

Are you havin' a tin bath?

Diversions on a Bass Theme is tough for the top section, let alone 3rd!:confused:

[ian perks]

I can't see any bands getting anywhere close to On Alderley Edge.
I'd swap Dances in the Park with Shine as the Light. Put Prisms as the 1st section piece or possibly The Essence of Time - but even that's quite hard!
i think you will find these two have been used before for 1st section;)

[PSB Tom]

There announced on the 1st June>>>>>>>>>>>>>........ :tup

Cheers.

[HBB]

i think you will find these two have been used before for 1st section;)

And I think you'll find that I didn't say they hadn't. I merely said that I thought that On Alderly Edge was far too hard for the 1st section, and personally think that even the Essence of Time is too hard for the 1st section - granted there are some very good 1st section bands who will play it very well.

Thanks

[the shed builder]

id love to see john gollands sounds get an airing! royal parks maybe somewhere?

[no2taz]

No offence meant. I wasn't dissing Eric Ball or The Wayfarer - it is a great piece. It's just that we didn't play it very well at the areas last year and wouldn't relish playing it / working on it again relatively soon afterwards. I'm sure we'd feel differently if we had done better last year! :)


None taken >>> Unfortunatley i was a little guted that it was the 1st section Area test as at the time Newbridge were in the 2nd section and i would have loved to play it...

[no2taz]

I think Un vie de matelot would be a great choice, Wayfarer used last year in regionals so won't be that.Triumphant Rhap would be enjoyed by all.
If you want a modern piece that will test bands and audience what about 'prague' by Judith Bingham. on second thoughts perhaps not a good idea!

Having Played Prague when it was the area test in the championship section on The end chair.. I think your second thought i prefer LOL ...

[Robin Norman]

For the 1st Section I think that there should be a sterner test for the bands and a Championship Section piece should be used. After all, this is one step from the Championship Section.

I'd like to see Blitz, Brass Metamorphosis (Curnow) or Chivalry.

[Matt Lawson]

1st Section - Whitsun Wakes
2nd Section - Paganini Variations
3rd Section - Tam O' Shanter's Ride
4th Section - Narnia Suite

[AEHOWGATE]

For the 1st Section I think that there should be a sterner test for the bands and a Championship Section piece should be used. After all, this is one step from the Championship Section.

I'd like to see Blitz, Brass Metamorphosis (Curnow) or Chivalry.

Chivalry would be good! also Cambridge Variations or Freedom!

[AEHOWGATE]

1st Section - Whitsun Wakes
2nd Section - Paganini Variations
3rd Section - Tam O' Shanter's Ride
4th Section - Narnia Suite


Narnia is a great choice!! Tom o' Shinty has been used a few yrs ago!

[Ryan_Littleport]

3rd Section:

I'd love to do Salford Sinfonietta, the slow movement is particularly nice. We played it at the Folkstone contest five years ago and did well. It was used in the 2nd section areas in 1994 I believe, but hey... it's the finals.

[RobBari]

Having Played Prague when it was the area test in the championship section on The end chair.. I think your second thought i prefer LOL ...

after many years of not playing this was the first piece i played back in championship section, what a shock!! I reallt don't now why i even suggested it.

[zak]

1st Section - Whitsun Wakes
2nd Section - Paganini Variations
3rd Section - Tam O' Shanter's Ride
4th Section - Narnia Suite


2nd section--- Paganini variations????????????????? :confused:

[smaca]

2nd section--- Paganini variations????????????????? :confused:

Glad someone else was surprised as well as me on this choice for 2nd Section.Played this at the first Scottish Open, and still think today that only the very best bands can cope with this piece.(upteen cornet sectionals on the fanfare sections!)

[Matt Lawson]

Well - it keeps them on their toes.

Serves them right for qualifying for the nationals ;)

Perhaps the top two were slightly tongue in cheek.

[JR]

1st Section - Whitsun Wakes
2nd Section - Paganini Variations


...there's nowt like ambition I suppose

...Paganini???? - by whom? new piece?

jr