of anyone whose life has been impacted by our NHS; something of which I can speak personally. LEGACY FOR BRASS BAND The primary goal of the piece is to present bands The theme of the work, which is set in three TOM DAVOREN with music that offers them the opportunity to A TALE AS YET UNTOLD movements, is one that recurs again and create a performance with feeling as its driver. again throughout the music of Philip Sparke – Whilst a sound foundation in technique is PHILIP SPARKE specifically a series of works for concert band; obviously required to achieve this convincingly, the Trombone Concerto, Deserts, When the Spirit creating a complete emotional picture should be Soars and Spirit of the Sequoia – which take as the primary concern of bands and conductors. their subject the power of the human spirit to overcome adversity and how the beauty of The opening represents a need to be filled. music can help in this respect. Whilst the pace, rhythmic content, colour and dynamic layout of the music seeks to create The “tale” of the title is an autobiographical one an atmosphere of foreboding, the choice of which the composer feels need not be divulged interval, style and phrase length of the melody is to explain the programme of the music, which designed to offer a constant sense of underlying deals with a much more general human assurance. The central section is very much the condition. The first movement opens with a core of the piece, representing the balance of nervous repetitive figure in the cornets, under hope and adversity as experienced by anyone which an impassioned theme develops. This who has been touched directly by our NHS. is cut short by a closely related faster section, Again, it is a pacing of tension through dynamic, which comprises two alternating moods; an orchestration and in intensity of execution that aggressive “toccata” interspersed by a yearning The idea for Legacy for Brass Band was originally seeks to create this feeling. The final section 6/8 melody. The second movement is the heart conceived in 2018 as a short work celebrating is a march to progress, representing Bevan’s of the work and symbolizes the ability of the the life and achievements of Welsh politician relentless championing of social justice. human soul to overcome the “Sturm und Drang” Aneurin Bevan and the 70th Anniversary of Hopefully fittingly, the music here is generated A Tale as yet Untold was specially commissioned of the first movement with an indomitable sense the British National Health Service. The work entirely from material born in the earlier sections by Cory Band for the European Brass Band of optimism. The third movement tries to negate was commissioned by Tredegar Town Band, of the piece. Championships in Linz, Austria, 2010, and their this feeling of peace but ends triumphantly in a supported by funding from Ty Cerdd, and winning performance gave them a hat-trick of salute to the power of the human spirit. premiered in the Speaker’s Room of the Houses of “No society can legitimately call itself civilised if a victories at the competition. Parliament featuring their soprano cornet soloist, sick person is denied medical aid because of lack Philip Sparke Ian Roberts. This test piece version, created for of means.” - Aneurin Bevan, 1952 The commission brought the composer full the 2020 Regional Brass Band Championships circle and completes a long relationship of Great Britain, was born from my desire to tell a Tom Davoren with this remarkable band from Wales, who more complete version of Bevan’s story. commissioned one of the composer’s first major works for band, The Year of the Dragon, to In three continuous sections Legacy for Brass celebrate their centenary in 1984. Band is not only symbolic of Bevan’s aspirational politics and character, but also of the experience By 1812, Davydov had achieved the rank of La Jeune Fille – This, the title of an old Ukrainian A Waiting Game – After the defeat at Smolensk Lieutenant Colonel and shortly before the Battle folksong, used here, that may well have been the Russian Imperial Army withdrew to defensive of Borodino, persuaded his commanding officer, known to many of the Cossacks attached to positions and awaited the arrival of Napoleon’s General Kutuzov, to let him lead a small group of Davydov’s partisan brigade. forces… cavalry and Cossacks to raid the French supply THE GOLDEN SABRE and communication lines. His actions in this new Mother Russia – Russia, with its vast landscapes One Last Dance! – As the French draw near, KIT TURNBULL form of warfare undoubtedly took their toll on the and savage winters presented a formidable Davydov and his band of partisans and Cossacks French army and led to the formation of further challenge to any invading army, and the Russian display the cavalryman’s devil-may-care attitude partisan units to harass the enemy (a tactic that people were exhorted to defend the ‘Motherland’. to life as they dance, sing and drink… would serve the Russians well in the wars to come). The Winds of War - 1812 – It is June 1812. Napoleon’s To Borodino - Death or Glory! – On 7 September 1812 was a hugely important year in Russian Grande Armée crosses the Neman River and 1812, the French Army located the Russian history. The Patriotic War of 1812 (Napoleon’s begins the invasion of Russia… positions just outside the town of Borodino. French, invasion of Russia and subsequent retreat) led to German and Polish cavalry charged the Russian a resurgence of Russian national pride. The war The Smoking Bivouac Fires – The Russian camp is positions, which was countered by the full force of served as inspiration for vast numbers of writers, alive with activity as the soldiers and cavalrymen Russian Cuirassiers, Dragoons, Hussars, Lancers poets, composers and musicians, and their prepare for the battle to come… and Cossacks. This is their charge into battle – their works came to define Russian Romanticism. ‘gallant attack’… Hussar songs and poetry were hugely popular Revels and Dances – Aside from battlefield heroics, in Russia throughout the 19th century, depicting Hussar poetry depicts the cavalryman’s love of life The battle that followed was one of the bloodiest the lives and heroism of Hussar cavalry. They and comradeship, celebrated with wild evenings of the Napoleonic campaigns, and ended in addressed themes such as true friendship, ‘carousing’ around the campfires. victory for Napoleon (Russian casualties were reckless valour on the battlefield, carousing and 43,000 out of an army of 120,000). Despite this, Denis Davydov (1784-1839) was awarded revels around the ‘bivouac fires’, and Davydov The Gathering Storm – At the camp of Prince Pyotr the losses inflicted on the Grande Armée were so a Golden Sabre (inscribed “For Courage”) was among the most famous of the so-called Bagration’s 2nd Army, Davydov and his unit await great that they were unable to recover sufficiently, following the Battle of Friedland, which took Hussar-poets. When writing War and Peace, the arrival of the French… and despite capturing Moscow a week later, place between French and Russian armies on Leo Tolstoy based his character, Denisov (the Napoleon was forced to start his retreat by mid- 14 June 1807. The Imperial Order of The Golden dashing hussar who falls in love with Natasha A drink - To true friendship! – A ‘Last Hurrah’ before October. Davydov’s career continued, as soldier, Sabre (or Saber) was established in 1720 by Peter Rostov) on the memoirs of Denis Davydov, battle ensues… poet and writer. He died in 1839 and was buried at the Great and became one of Russia’s highest ensuring his lasting fame beyond death. Novodevichy Convent, in Moscow. military awards. Davydov was known throughout Exodus - Retreat from Smolensk – Following defeat Russia, not only as a famous partisan during the Although written as a single, continuous work, at Smolensk in August 1812, the Russian Army “He sang Mars and Temira and he hung his Napoleonic wars, but as a poet whose works The Golden Sabre is a series of musical portraits was forced to withdraw eastwards. Despite the martial lyre twixt his true sword and his saddle” - were admired by many writers of the day, shaped around Denis Davydov’s military actions romantic idea of the life of a cavalryman, much of Alexander Pushkin including his younger friend, Alexander Pushkin, during 1812, alongside the ideals and themes the time their horses were used as transport for the who wrote of Davydov: “Hussar-poet, you’ve that defined Hussar poetry. army. On the retreat from Smolensk, the horses Kit Turnbull sung of bivouacs, of the licence of devil-may- of the Cuirassiers and Dragoons (Heavy Cavalry) care carousals, of the fearful charm of battle and At dawn - Reveille – As the sun rises, Cavalry were used to pull the guns of the remaining of the curls of your moustache.” Trumpeters sound the call… Russian artillery regiments. and they were encouraged to continue. On 26 strong enough to enter polar ice, but on 30 August though we shall land no more.” “All children, except October 1914 they left Grytviken in South Georgia 1916, over two years after their departure from one, grow up” wrote J.M. Barrie about Peter Pan in for the Antarctic continent, hoping to find the pack Plymouth, Shackleton finally returned to Elephant 1911; the first line and an expression of beautiful ice shrinking in the Antarctic spring. Two days later, Island aboard a steam tug borrowed from the melancholy and fantasy, coming to represent ENDURANCE however, they encountered unseasonable ice, Chilean government. Although some were in poor one of the best-loved children’s stories of the which slowed their progress considerably. On 15 health, every member of Endurance’s crew was 20th century. Peter & Wendy, as the book was first ANDREW BAKER January 1915, when Endurance was only 200 miles rescued and returned home alive. released, has subsequently been transformed into from her intended landfall at Vahsel Bay, the ship adaptations for film and stage, with subsequent became beset by ice, which had been compressed In early 2019 an expedition to search for the books based on this iconic tale. against the land to the south by gale force winds. wreckage of the Endurance was forced to abandon Trapped in the ice of the Weddell Sea, the ship their quest after the same bad weather and pack In writing this new work for brass band, the spent the Antarctic winter driven by the weather ice that doomed Shackleton’s ship caused the loss composer has taken three of the main themes further from her intended destination until, on 21 of the remote mini submarine being used to search from J. M. Barrie’s book, and used these themes November 1915, Endurance broke up forcing the the sea bed. to create new musical material, forming a work in crew to abandon ship and set up camp on the ice three contrasting sections. at a site they named “Patience Camp”. Andrew Baker I. Journey to Neverland The crew spent several weeks on the ice. As the The opening of the work, mysterious in its style, southern spring started to reduce the extent of the reflects the opening chapters of the story – a leafy ice shelf, they took to their three lifeboats, sailing NEVERLAND London street, still in the dead of night – with the across the open ocean to reach the desolate and CHRISTOPHER BOND music transforming quickly as it builds in texture uninhabited Elephant Island. There they used two and momentum – a journey to Neverland through Men wanted for hazardous journey. of the boats to build a makeshift shelter while the night sky; second star to the right and straight Small wages, bitter cold, Shackleton and five others took the largest boat, on ’til morning. “Then Peter knew that there was not Long months of complete darkness, an open lifeboat named ‘James Caird’ and sailed a moment to lose. ‘Come,’ he cried imperiously, and Constant danger, safe return doubtful. it for 800 terrifyingly dangerous miles across the soared out at once into the night, followed by John Honour and recognition in case of success. vast and lonely Southern Atlantic to South Georgia and Michael and Wendy. Mr & Mrs Darling and Ernest Shackleton, 4 Burlington Street – a journey now widely regarded as one of the Nana rushed into the nursery too late. The birds greatest and most heroic small-boat journeys were flown.” Endurance was written for the third section of the ever undertaken. After landing on the wrong side Regional Championships of Great Britain in 2020 of the island and having to climb over a mountain II. The Windows that Closed and takes its title from the ship used by Sir Ernest range in the dark with no map, Shackleton and The central section of the work takes its inspiration Shackleton’s Imperial Trans-Antarctic Expedition his companions finally stumbled back into the from the sense of longing throughout the book, in 1914-15. After many months of fundraising (and Grytviken whaling station on 19 May 1916. mainly by Peter Pan, the Darling children and reputedly running the above advert in The Times) the lost boys. Distant memories of life before the Endurance set sail from Plymouth on 6 August After resting very briefly to recover his strength, Neverland, memories of the lost boys’ mothers, 1914. Whilst at sea, news of the outbreak of war led Shackleton then began a relentless campaign “On the magic shores of Neverland, children at play and regret at what the children have Shackleton to put his ship and crew at the disposal to beg or borrow a ship to rescue the rest of his are forever beaching their coracles. We too have missed. of the Admiralty, but their services were not required crew from Elephant Island. Whaling ships were not been there; we can still hear the sound of the surf, Peter says “Long ago, I thought like you REGIONALS 2020 that my mother would always keep the window open for me; so I stayed away for Championship Section moons and moons and moons, and then 1. A TALE AS YET UNTOLD PHILIP SPARKE flew back; but the window was barred, for © Anglo Music mother had forgotten all about me, and Cory Band conducted by Dr Robert Childs there was another little boy sleeping in my bed.” First Section 2. LEGACY FOR BRASS BAND TOM DAVOREN III. Aboard the Pirate Ship © Tom Davoren Music The final section of the work takes its inspiration from the pirate ship and Peter Brighouse & Rastrick Band Pan’s ultimate battle with its infamous conducted by David Thornton Captain Hook. “In person, he was cadaverous and blackavized, and his Second Section hair was dressed in long curls, which at 3. THE GOLDEN SABRE KIT TURNBULL a distance looked like black candles, and Tales of the Hussar-poet, Denis Davydov gave a singularly threatening expression © Kit Turnbull Publishing to his handsome countenance. His eyes The GUS Band conducted by Chris Jeans were the blue of the forget-me-not, and of a profound melancholy, save when he Third Section was plunging his hook into you, at which 4. ENDURANCE ANDREW BAKER time two red spots appeared in them and Narrative Variations for Brass Band lit them up horribly.” © Morthanveld Publishing Ltd. Foden’s Band conducted by Michael Fowles Christopher Bond Fourth Section 5. NEVERLAND CHRISTOPHER BOND Track 1 taken from © Highlights from the European Brass Band Christopher Bond Music Championships 2010 (DOY CD281) Cory Band conducted by Philip Harper Track 2, 3 and 5 recorded on 18 July, 17 June and 10 July 2019 respectively Producer: Adam Goldsmith Executive Producer: Trevor Caffull Post-Production: World of Sound Compilation and Mastering: World of Sound Track 4 recorded on 11 July 2019 Production Manager: Nicki Tonge Producer: Melissa Dee Post-Production: World of Sound Project Coordinator: Mari Malm Mørkved Programme Notes: Michael Fowles Track 1 ℗ 2010 SP&S Track 2-5 ℗℗ 2019 SP&S Artwork and Design: Mango Design