CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

regionals 2016

1. Cambridge Variations © Studio Music Company Philip Sparke 16.09 Championship Section: BNFL Band, conducted by Richard Evans

2-4. Essay © R. Smith & Company Edward Gregson First Section: Black Dyke Mills Band, conducted by James Watson i. Dialogue 4.02 ii. Soliloquy 5.18 iii. Epigram 3.16

5. Th e Mermaid of Zennor © Harper Music Publications Philip Harper 12.25 Second Section: Cory Band, conducted by Philip Harper

6-8. A Cambrian Suite © Studio Music Company Michael Ball Th ird Section: Black Dyke Band, conducted by Nicholas J. Childs i. Gwyr Harlech ('Men of Harlech') 2.09 ii. Suo Gân (‘Cradle Song’) 3.10 iii. Codiad Yr Hedydd (‘Th e Rising of the Lark’) 3.11

9. Th e Journal of Phileas Fogg © Gramercy Music Peter Graham 10.11 Fourth Section: Black Dyke Band, conducted by Prof. Nicholas J. Childs

Total CD Playing Time 60.21

Track 1 taken from QPRL081 Executive Producer: Trevor Caff ull by kind permission of Studio Music Producer: Nicholas Childs Track 2-4 and 6-8 taken from Compilation and Mastering: Richard Scott DOY CD044 and DOY CD135 respectively Production Manager: Nicki Tonge Track 5 recorded on 6 June 2015 Project Coordinator: Mari Malm Mørkved Producer: Adam Goldsmith Artwork and Design: GK Graphic Design Post-Production: Melissa Dee Track 9 recorded on 18 June 2015 Engineer and Post-Production: Richard Scott

DOY CD353

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Championships and again for the Championship Gregson, both of whom regionals 2016 section Regional Finals in 1992. Whitsun Wakes was encouraged his early eff orts Cambridge Variations 5. set up an ostinato fi gure over a bass commissioned by the BBC and fi rst performed by at composition. He later Cambridge Variations was commissioned by tune. Th is continues until the soprano establishes the Black Dyke Band, conducted by James Watson, undertook postgraduate regionals 2016 Philip Biggs and Richard Franklin with funds a more legato tune. Th is dissolves into a bubbling at the Bridgewater Hall in Manchester on 26 May compositional studies provided by Th e All England Masters Brass Band version of the ostinato, under which a slow 1997, as part of the BBC ‘Music Live!’ Festival. It was with Edward Gregson Championship Ltd for their 1992 contest. chordal passage unravels. Th e original chorale subsequently selected as the test-piece for the 1997 at Goldsmiths College, from the introduction returns in triumph. A faster British Open. University of London and Th e basis of the variations are the six musical coda brings the work to a close. holds a PhD in Composition. notes in the word ‘Cambridge’, CABDGE, used Th e Journal of Phileas Fogg mostly in reverse. Th e work falls into fi ve sections Philip Sparke Th e novels by Jules Verne have been a rich source From 1983 until 1986 he (variations), which are all, to some extent, derived Philip Sparke was born of inspiration for composers over the years. Peter was resident in New York City, where he worked as from the six-note row. in London and studied Graham has taken elements of his epic work Around a freelance composer and as a publications editor composition, and the World in Eighty Days as the outline for a series with the SA Music Bureau. Since his return to the 1. Th e introductory fi rst section contains a chorale, piano at the Royal College of adventures recorded in an imaginary diary by the UK he has worked regularly as an arranger for which starts with the row. Th is is preceded by of Music, where he gained hero of the story, Phileas Fogg. BBC Television and Radio and has specialised in related fi gures in the lower half of the band after an ARCM. It was at the composition for brass band. Since the publication of the have set up a chattering ostinato. Th e College that his interest in Commencing with London bells in the background, Dimensions in 1983, he has become a leading fi gure chorale modulates and fades into a fl ugel horn bands arose. He played in the ensuing journey takes our hero by boat and as arranger and composer for brass and wind band. and baritone duet, supported by . A the College wind orchestra train to Paris (passing the Moulin Rouge en His many original compositions include Th e Essence full-band climax follows and a shortened chorale and also formed a brass route), Russia (where he is chased by Cossacks), of Time, Montage, On Alderley Edge, Harrison’s leads to: band among the students, writing several works Vienna at night, Spain (where he is a spectator at Dream and Th e Torchbearer. for both ensembles. a bull fi ght) before a fi nal circumnavigation by sea 2. Figures based on the row introduce a robust tune (where we hear hints of foreign lands) brings him Currently writing full time, Peter Graham taught in the baritones and the euphoniums. A bridge At that time, his fi rst published works appeared back to London with rich memories of his trip. for a signifi cant number of years as Professor passage leads to a second theme in the horns and – Concert Prelude (brass band) and Gaudium of Composition at the University of Salford. A baritones. (wind band). A growing interest in his music led to Th e Journal of Phileas Fogg was commissioned by generation of brass and wind composers trained several commissions, his fi rst major one being for Dr Nicholas Childs for the National Children’s Brass under him, including successful writers like Paul 3. An interlude, which features each section of the the Centennial Brass Band Championships in New Band of Great Britain and was fi rst performed by the Lovatt-Cooper, Kenneth Downie, Dorothy Gates, band in turn, starting with percussion. Th is leads to: Zealand – Th e Land of the Long White Cloud. He NCBBGB, conducted by Dr Robert Childs, July 2012. Peter Meechan and others. He has also held various has written for brass band championships in New posts with some of the UK’s fi nest bands including 4. A slow section, which starts with an expressive Zealand, Switzerland, Holland, Australia and the Peter Graham Music Associate with Black Dyke Band from 1997 to cornet melody, derived from the six-note row. UK, including three times for the National Finals at Peter Graham was born in Lanarkshire, Scotland, 2004 and the fi rst civilian Composer-in-Residence Muted fl ugel horn and reply and the the Royal Albert Hall. where he was taught brass and piano by his with Her Majesty’s Coldstream Guards Band from cornets set up a decorative fi gure under which a parents. He read music at Edinburgh University, 2003 to 2005. In 2009, Graham received the Iles majestic bass theme develops. A climax is reached In September 2000, he was awarded the Iles Medal graduating in 1980. During this period he came Medal of the Worshipful Company of Musicians in after which the fl ugel horn restates the cornet tune. of the Worshipful Company of Musicians for his into contact with Ray Steadman-Allen and Edward recognition of his achievements.

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A resident of Gloucester, Philip is also the Music National Youth Championships shortly afterwards services to brass bands and in 2005 Music of the contrapuntal. Th e second melody, underpinned Editor of the historic Wright and Round publishing in the same year. Spheres won the National Band Association/William by typical Gregson accompanying patterns, is company and in demand as a freelance conductor, D. Revelli Memorial Band Composition Contest. In more expansive. Th e interaction of these two ideas educator and adjudicator with brass bands of all Th e work in normal circumstances is intended 2011, he received the BUMA International Brass provides the musical motivation for the whole

regionals 2016 levels. to be played without a break although dividing Award for his contribution to brass music. movement. naturally into three component sections, each Philip is a prolifi c composer and his original based upon a traditional Welsh melody treated His conducting and adjudicating activities have After Dialogue comes Soliloquy, which is a works and arrangements are played all over the in free variation manner. Th ese are, respectively, taken him to most European countries, Scandinavia, meditative tribute to Gilbert Vinter. Edward Gregson world. In 2012, he composed Journey for the 650 Gwyr Harlech (‘Men of Harlech’), Suo Gân (‘Cradle Australia, New Zealand, Japan, Taiwan, South much admired Vinter’s music and he learned a musicians of the Gloucester Music Service Massed Song’) and Codiad Yr Hedydd (‘Th e Rising of the Korea, Canada and the USA. In May 2000, he took great deal from it, especially in matters of scoring. Ensemble, conducting the fi rst performance in Lark’). Th ere is also a momentary reference to the major step of becoming a full-time composer Vinter had died shortly before Gregson began a packed Royal Albert Hall at the Last Night of Yr Deryn Pur (‘Th e White Bird’) at the end of the by founding his own publishing company, Anglo work on Essay, and those familiar with Vinter’s the Schools Proms. You can fi nd out more detail second section. Music Press. Th e company is devoted to publishing Elegy, Spectrum and Variations on a Ninth will and listen to audio excerpts of Philip’s music at his brass band, concert band, fanfare band and recognize some of the melodic turns of phrase and www.philipharper.co.uk Michael Ball instrumental publications as well as recordings harmonic sequences used here in this ‘memorial’. Michael Ball was born in dedicated to his latest works. After a haunting cornet solo, the central section is En route to this point in his life, Philip graduated Manchester in 1946. As a more powerful. At its mid-point (and the heart of from the University of Bristol in 1994 before going Ralph Vaughan Williams Essay the whole work) the main theme of the Dialogue is on to take a Masters Degree in Composition and Trust Scholar at the It was in 1970, after a successful period as a re-introduced. a Post-Graduate Certifi cate in Education. He Royal College of Music, composition student at the Royal Academy of Music had a successful performing career and was the he studied with Herbert that Edward Gregson brought what he regards as his Th e brief fi nale – Epigram – begins as Soliloquy Principal of the National Youth Brass Howells, Humphrey Searle fi rst major work of substance for brass band, Essay. ended, but the context and tempo gives the music Band of Great Britain and Sun Life Band in Bristol, and John Lambert. In 1970, Th ere is a confi dence in his handling of the musical greater astringency. Th e Vinter-like chords of a as well as winning through to the Brass Final of he was one of four students material here, which impresses from the outset. seventh are transformed into angular melodic BBC Young Musician of the Year in 1991. Between selected to take part in Th e ‘nuts and bolts’ of the music are manipulated sevenths. As the composer says in his note, ‘Gaiety 1996 and 1998 he lived in Japan and was a guest master classes with Nadia Boulanger on her visit with assurance; the style is well-integrated and returns’, and the work ends in a fl urry of activity. soloist with most of the ‘British-style’ brass bands to the RCM and in the same year was awarded consistent. with whom he still keeps a close connection, all the major composition prizes of the College, Edward Gregson visiting annually. including the Octavia Travelling Scholarship, Essay was composed for the 1971 W.D. and H.O. Edward Gregson (born which he used to study with Franco Donatoni in Wills Championship fi nals in Leicester. Th e three 1945) is a composer of A Cambrian Suite Italy in 1972 and 1973. movements have the scope and scale of a concise international standing, A Cambrian Suite was commissioned jointly by symphony. All the titles have literary connotations. whose music has been Black Dyke Band and the Brass Band Heritage He has received many commissions, including Dialogue is a series of conversations between performed, broadcast and Trust. Premièred on 18th January 2002 at the fi ve from the BBC, and has written several large- pairs of instruments, with two themes worked out commercially recorded RNCM Festival of Brass by Black Dyke Band, scale works for orchestra. His writing for wind according to conventional sonata principles. Th e worldwide. He studied conducted by Nicholas Childs, it was, like An and brass includes Frontier! (1984), selected as fi rst, with its characteristic fourths and fi fths, uses composition and piano English Suite, fi rst used as a test-piece by the the test-piece for the 1987 European Brass Band all twelve semitones. Th e dialogues are busy and at the Royal Academy of

Code No.DOYCD353 Booklet-Pgs6&3 Music from 1963-1967, winning fi ve prizes for piano, saxophone, trumpet, trombone and cello, Th e Mermaid of Zennor ii. At the Church composition. Since then he has worked solely to whilst a fourth, with the BBC Philharmonic under Th e Mermaid of Zennor was commissioned by the Th e mermaid is portrayed by gentle, magical- commission and has written orchestral, chamber, Bramwell Tovey, was released in 2014. Cornwall Youth Brass Band and fi rst performed in sounding music and the church choir is heard singing instrumental and choral music, as well as music April 2015. Th e piece is inspired by an old Cornish the hymn-tune Axbridge set to the words ‘Safe home,

regionals 2016 for theatre, fi lm and television. Of particular Gregson is also internationally renowned for his folk-tale set in the village of Zennor on the coast safe home in port’. Th e plays the role of signifi cance in his orchestral output is the series contribution to the wind and brass repertoire. His of Cornwall. Mathew Trewella, rising above the band on a number of ten concertos, commenced in 1970 and still most important works for brass include his early of occasions. ongoing. His work for orchestra, Dream Song, was Brass Quintet (1967), Connotations (1977), Equale After a good day’s catch from the local fi shermen, commissioned by BBC Radio 3 for the 2010 Mahler Dances for brass quintet (1983), Dances and Arias the village-folk would gather in the church at the iii. Return to the Waves in Manchester Festival and premièred by the BBC (1984), Of Men and Mountains (1991) and latterly head of the coast road for a service of thanksgiving. Mathew and the mermaid’s eyes meet in a moment Philharmonic under Gianandrea Noseda to great Rococo Variations (2008), Symphony in two In the choir at Evensong was a very handsome of drama. Th e village-folk chase out of the church critical acclaim. movements (2012) and Of Distant Memories (2013). young man, Mathew Trewella, who had the most and back towards the beach and, after several Edward Gregson retired from an academic career beautiful voice. His singing attracted the attention musical fl ashbacks, the powerful music of the sea In 1988, he was nominated for an Ivor Novello in music in 2008, latterly as Principal of the Royal of a mermaid swimming in Zennor Cove who re-establishes itself above all else. As the waves Award for his title music to BBC television’s Young Northern College of Music in Manchester, a post listened, entranced, for many nights. One night, subside, the euphonium’s sweet but distant voice Musician of the Year and was commissioned by the he held for 12 years. He is an Emeritus Professor she decided to go to the church and, disguised can be heard for one last time. Royal Shakespeare Company to write the music and a Companion of the RNCM, and has also in human clothes, she sat in the shadows at the for a major cycle of the Shakespeare history plays. been awarded many honorary Doctorates and back. Mathew’s exquisite voice caused her to Philip Harper In 2002, the Chandos label released the fi rst of Fellowships from English universities and sigh, at which point he noticed her for the fi rst Philip Harper became Musical a series of CDs devoted to his orchestral music conservatoires. He still serves on a number of time and fell immediately in love. She knew that Director of the world-famous (including the clarinet and violin concertos). Two important boards relating to music education and contact between merpeople and humans was Cory Band in 2012. Within 18 further volumes have included the concertos for the music profession. forbidden, and so fl ed back to the shore with months he had steered the the congregation and Mathew in pursuit. Upon band back to the Number reaching the water, the mermaid turned and One World Rank by winning told him: “I cannot stay, I belong to the sea”, to three of the four major titles which he replied: “Th en I will come with you!” in the brass band calendar; and they both vanished beneath the waves, never the National, the European to be seen again. To this day it is said that the sound and Brass in Concert (with a runner-up prize in the of a sweet, far-away man’s voice can be heard from other, the British Open!) as well as receiving media the sea on days of fair weather in Zennor. awards for the band’s CD recordings and plaudits for the concert tour of Australia. Philip won the coveted Th e music is in three sections: Conductor of the Year Award for 2013, voted for by 10,000 readers of the website www.4barsrest.com. i. Th e Sea and Seafaring With previous bands, Tongwynlais Temperance Th e music rises and falls like the elemental swell of the Band and Flowers Band, he achieved unprecedented waves, before the fi shermen set sail and get to work on contest success, as well as winning acclaim for his their boats at sea. Th ey arrive home with a good catch. entertaining concert performances.

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