CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK DOY CD164 1. Tristan and Isolde Prelude 9.17 2. Praeludium 2.39 3. Nabucco Overture 6.39 4. On Hearing the First Cuckoo in Spring 5.59 5. Academic Festive Overture 9.55 6.-10. Giles Farnaby Suite 6.55 6. Galiarda 1.23 7. His Dream 1.18 8. His Humour 1.17 Executive Producer 9. His Rest 1.27 Trevor Caffull Producer 10. Mal Sims 1.30 Paul Hindmarsh 11. Froissart Overture 13.30 Sound Engineer Richard Scott 12. Des Pas sur la Neige 3.50 Digital Editing & Mastering 13.-16. Four Scottish Dances 8.53 R.E. Editing Programme Notes 13. Movement I 2.08 Trevor Herbert 14. Movement II 2.06 Project Manager Kevin J Coates MBE 15. Movement III 3.18 Artwork & Cover Design 16. Movement IV 1.21 GK Graphic Design. Recorded at Morley Town Hall Total CD Playing Time 68.26 during 2005 C & Salvationist Publishing and Supplies Ltd. 66-78 Denington Road, Wellingborough, Northants. NN8 2QH All rights of the owner and of the producer of the works reproduced reserved. Unauthorised copying, hiring, lending, public performance and broadcasting of this recording prohibited. (MCPS) Code No. Booklet-Pgs12&1 CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK Classical Arrangements Grimethorpe Colliery Band This, the penultimate disc in The History of Brass Band I believe I was the first to present Tudor music to the bands Music series is devoted entirely to transcriptions from – this a long time ago as an 18 year old. These pieces orchestral scores and in two cases arrangements of were scored some years later in my twenties; I felt they keyboard pieces. I have tried to demonstrate the great gave a freshness to band sound. Howard Snell is one of the variety of styles which have attracted the attention of greatest arranger-transcribers of all. Des Pas sur la Neige those experts in the genre which not only tie necessary (Steps in the Snow) is a miracle of delicacy, mystery, musical skills successfully to transform original scores into nuance, a million miles away from any clichéd approach. a convincing new form, but too with that streak of daring even recklessness which takes one by surprise. The disc finishes in high virtuosity with Ray Farr’s brilliant, technically exhilarating version of Arnold’s Four Scottish Alexander Owen certainly surprises. None other in his Dances. Here is the modern sound par excellence, bright day would have dared set music from Tristan and Isolde, few but multi-coloured rivalling the original orchestral score in would now. His transcription of the famous Prelude is its excitement. Malcolm Arnold loved it. included in the much longer Grand Selection. It provided Soprano Cornet Flugel Horn Solo Euphonium Bb Bass a benchmark for the future. As with all the recordings in this series there are omissions I regret. Alexander ‘Sandy’ Smith deserves a place here, he Kevin Crockford Ian Shires Michael Dodd Dean Morley William Halliwell is most famous as a conductor and leader, is as talented an arranger as he is the outstanding tenor Gary Proctor but Järnefelt’s Praeludium in his hands sparkles with light horn player of his generation. Circumstances prevented the Principal Cornet Solo Horn Second Euphonium charm and quiet humour. William Rimmer, one of the inclusion of any of his work here. band world’s most influential figures is included here in a Richard Marshall Alexander Smith Shaun Hudson Percussion bold version of Verdi’s Nabucco Overture. Norway, which has provided several fine bands during the Peter Matthews last 25 years or so, has emerged as a sourse of brilliant Solo Cornet First Horn Solo Trombone David Hartland To slightly more modern times – the band sound changing arrangers – three in particular; Reid Gilje, Fröde Rydland John Hudson Jim Fletcher Richard Brown Gavin Pritchard somewhat with the grace and tact of Denis Wrights’ pen. and Svein-Henrik Giske – all current members of the Brahms Academic Festival Overture recorded here is one Eikanger-Bjørsvik Band. There will be others in the future. Gregory Timmins Richard Clough of his most popular contributions to the bands’ repertoire. Elgar Howarth David Barraclough Second Horn Second Trombone Stephen Peacock Stephen Haynes Band Secretary Most ‘surprising’ of all is On Hearing the First Cuckoo in Second Cornet Terry Webster Spring of Delius. Logically it should not work; amazingly Peter Warlock’s transcription does – beautifully, illustrating Mike Kennedy Solo Baritone Bass Trombone the poetic potential of the medium. Martin Grimes Robert Archer Mark Frost Second Baritone Eric Ball’s work as composer and transcriber is well documented. Never brash he makes a very personal sound, Third Cornet Clifford Hopes Eb Bass in love with the cantabile style for which the bands are Colin Brook Shaun Crowther famous without losing their ability for full blooded drama. Michael Green Richard Wilton Howard Snell and I occupy the arrangement slots. Code No. Booklet-Pgs&11 CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK The Grimethorpe Colliery Band Elgar Howarth Elgar Howarth was born into a brass A longstanding ambition has been band family, becoming principal cornet achieved during the last 10 years or so The Grimethorpe Colliery Band was formed in band were due to contest the National Brass Band of the Barton Hall Works Band when at Garsington Festival Opera, where he 1917, as a leisure activity for the workmen at the Championships at the Royal Albert Hall, London. only 14 years old. His father, the band's has conducted a succession of operas by colliery. It was initially financed by the colliery, a Needless to say, the pressure was immense, the conductor, was his only teacher until, Richard Strauss. sister company, and a welfare fund set up by the world's media seized on the band as a 'new angle' at the age of 17, he took trumpet miners themselves. The musicians, most of whom for their stories, but, as in all the best fairy tales, lessons from Cecil Kidd at the Royal In March 1997 Howarth was recognised worked at the colliery full-time, perfected their the band triumphed to become the Champion Manchester College of Music, by which for his achievements in the field of skills through competition. From 1932 to 1945 Band of Great Britain. time he had won the Alexander Owen Opera and was the recipient of an the band entered 42 such competitions, winning Memorial Scholarship and written his Olivier Award, with particular reference 19 and never coming lower than fifth! Soon after the victory at the Nationals a board first piece for brass band. to his work on Henze's of trustees was formed to manage the finances of Prince of and Zimmerman's The turning point in Grimethorpe's history, the band through this difficult period. Financial Homburg Die Soldaten. After studying at Manchester University he became however, was the appointment of Elgar Howarth backing continued from British Coal until 1995 a professional trumpeter, first with the Royal Opera When, in 1972, he was invited to become Music as professional conductor and music adviser when RJB Mining PLC agreed to fund the band, House Orchestra at Covent Garden and later with Adviser to the Grimethorpe Colliery Band, he in 1972. An outsider to the brass band world, an agreement which continues to this day under various London orchestras and ensembles. It was accepted on the understanding that the band would (although he did play in a band as a boy, its new name of UK Coal. with the London Sinfonietta that he made his engage wholeheartedly in new, modern scores - often conducted by his father) Howarth's association conducting debut in 1969. His career since 1975 has commissions of the most uncompromising virtuosity. with Grimethorpe was the inspiration behind the Greater international fame came with the making been international, conducting opera and concerts Composition has remained, in fact, a major interest commissioning of new works by leading avant of the 1995 film Brassed Off! for which the in most European countries as well as appearing for himself, and he lists among many pieces for brass garde composers. The band has commissioned band provided the soundtrack music The film regularly with the leading British orchestras and band and ensembles, his own favourites as: works from such composers as Hans Werner was nominated for a BAFTA award and as a Songs for opera companies. Henze and Sir Harrison Birtwistle. result the band has toured extensively ever since BL, Hymns at Heaven's Gate, The Euphonium Concerto (subtitled , throughout Europe and further afield to Japan, Stories for Saroyan) Fanfares for Philip Jones Opera indeed has been an obsession since 1978 and . In 1992, shock waves reverberated around Australia, New Zealand, Hong Kong and USA. Ascendit in Coeli when he premièred Ligeti's in the mining community in Great Britain when The band has also recently become the first ever Le Grand Macabre Stockholm. Since then he has fulfilled invitations Wearing his other hat, under the pseudonym W. the government announced its programme brass band to become an ensemble-in-residence from, for example, Covent Garden, English National Hogarth Lear, Howarth has written a series of of pit closures. It soon became apparent that at the Royal College of Music in London. With Opera, Opera North, Glyndebourne and further light pieces which proved popular with television Grimethorpe was on the list of mines to be shut. the continued support of UK Coal, the band is in afield, Sydney, Hamburg and Paris. audiences through the Granada Band of the Year Even as recently as 1992, 17 members of the band good health and it's future now looks secure. Contest during the seventies.