I'm writing a dissertation on brass bands, in particular how the test piece has evolved.
Just wondering if anyone knows of any test pieces that have been specifically commissioned for a certain contest in recent years or whether this rarely happens these days?
Hitchin Band
London and Southern Counties Third Section Champions 2012
NATIONAL FINALS THIRD SECTION CHAMPIONS 2012
London and Southern Counties Second Section Champions 2013
Pieces are commissioned regularly for contests, either by the band or by the organisers. To name a few:Originally Posted by HannahLouise
...And when the river told... - Commissioned for the 2010 Scottish Open
Infinity - Commissioned for the 2008 English National Championships
The Torchbearer - Commissioned for the National Championships of GB 2009
Red Priest - Commissioned by Black Dyke for 2010 Europeans
A Tale as Yet Untold - Commissioned by Cory for 2010 Europeans
On the Sholders of Giants - Commissioned by Cory for 2009 Europeans
Spirits of Puccini - Commissioned by Brass Band Oberosterreich for 2009 Europeans
Beat me to it....
More info here
Derek Hall
OO thank you!
The recent literature I've read suggested that composers are not composing as much specifically for the contest arena but I'm glad to hear thats not the case!
Hitchin Band
London and Southern Counties Third Section Champions 2012
NATIONAL FINALS THIRD SECTION CHAMPIONS 2012
London and Southern Counties Second Section Champions 2013
It is most definitely not the case. If you research recent works by Martin Ellerby, Peter Graham, Phillip Sparke and Philip Wilby you will probably find many that have been specifically commissioned.
Vienna Nights, Rococo Variations and A Night to Sing were all commissioned by the Open afaik. I think Ken Downie's Elgar tribute (Elgar Variations?) was too.
Within Blue Empires, Infinity and Dances and Alleluias for the EN.
Sleepless Cities for Butlins.
I think Eden was commissioned for the Nationals?
Plus of course the set test for the European is commissioned every year.
So there's quite a few...
Andrew Baker
i think Martin Ellerby wrote Elgar Variations?
Rob Powell
2nd cornet Markham and District.
Titans Progress (Hermann Pallhuber) for Oberosterreich in the 2007 (?) european own choice.
Paul Shafi
Royal Northern College of Music
Cornet - Hepworth
Visions of Gerontius (Robert Redhead) for the 2007 (I think) Open
Chris Hart
The true nature of a great song is one that keeps your hopes up whilst waiting for the emergency services
He did
No; Kenneth Downie
Gareth J. Green
MD The Egham Band
"The top Eb is not the hardest note in the Haydn trumpet concerto; it's the note after that'll make you look a pillock ... "James Watson (1951-2011)
Not forgetting Music for Battle Creek (Sparke) for the 2007 finals
Some European set tests have included Spiriti, From Ancient Times and Brass Blot
Ellerby composed Malcolm Arnold Variations for the 2008 Masters and I believe that a new work has been commissioned for the 2011 Masters, although I do not know who by or what it might be about
Not forgetting Journey to the Centre of the Earth by Peter Graham, commissioned by Black Dyke for the 2005 Europeans
I thought it may be helpful to repeat a post from anther thread on this subject, particularly as it highlights a couple of pieces that were joint commissions from more than one organisation:
Open: 1995: Revelation; 2005: Night to Sing; 2006: Vienna Nights; 2007: Visions of Gerontius; 2008: Rococo Variations (joint commission with Norway)
Nationals: 2004: All the flowers of the mountain (BBC commission for Nationals); 2005: Eden (Brass Band Heritage Trust commission for Nationals); 2009: The Torchbearer (with Australia)
Peter Bale
BBb bass, Hadleigh Temple Band
Alto sax, Salvation Army Symphonic Wind Ensemble
tMP band, Whit Friday 2004; tMP band, Hadleigh, April 2005
Labour & Love 1913....
Jacob Vilhelm Larsen - Mmus
MD - Stavanger Brass Band
http://www.jacoblarsen.eu
http://www.stavanger-brassband.no/
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