Benjamin Britten composed his Occasional Overture Op.38 for the opening of the BBC Third Programme on 29th September 1946 when it was performed by the BBC Symphony Orchestra under Sir Adrian Boult. It was not heard again until 1982 when the composer’s Executors decided that it should be revived. Given the dominance of brass and woodwind in this concise but exciting work versions for brass band and wind band have been prepared for Britten’s centenary year. Brass Band Grade 6: Championship. Duration: 8 Minutes.

Fanfare and Celebration was commissioned by the Brass Band of the Western Reserve (Dr Keith M. Wilkinson director) to celebrate their 15th anniversary. Based in north-west Ohio the band was formed in 1997 and was competing in the Championship Section of the North American Brass Band Championships in less than three years. The first performance of Fanfare and Celebration took place in Akron Ohio on November 10th 2012.The opening Fanfare features the cornet section in two groups standing either side of the band. A central horn theme brings a change of mood before the cornets take the lead once more. Celebration follows seamlessly andcontinues the declamatory style until a cantando theme in uneven meter is introduced. A transformed recapitulation ushers in a return of the Fanfare to close the work.

The name John Philip Sousa is no stranger to any brass band aficionado. Our Flirtations has its origins in incidental music written by Sousa for a play of the same name. It was written around 1880 about the time he was appointed Director of the U.S. Marine Band a position he held until he formed his own civilian band in 1892. Sousa wrote over 130 marches many of which have been transcribed for brass band.

The name John Philip Sousa is no stranger to any brass band aficionado. Our Flirtations has its origins in incidental music written by Sousa for a play of the same name. It was written around 1880 about the time he was appointed Director of the U.S. Marine Band a position he held until he formed his own civilian band in 1892. Sousa wrote over 130 marches many of which have been transcribed for brass band.

for Eb Horn and Brass Band-Sunday in the Park was written for tenor horn virtuoso Sheona White and commissioned by her partner Matt Wade as a Christmas present.Composer Philip Sparke had known and admired Sheona’s playing for many years having produced her first solo CD and written pieces for her previously.Both composer and performer are huge fans of the late Karen Carpenter Sheona in part modelling her sound on the singer’s sultry voice; so it was decided that this new solo would be a piece which whilst not being a ‘Carpenters’ pastiche paid tribute to their relaxed style and rich harmonic language. Sunday in the Park openswith an accompanied cadenza for the soloist which leads to a gentle rhythmic melody with a laid-back feel. This is taken up by the band but the soloist sparks a change of mood by introducing a faster light rock interlude. This reaches a climax at which point the music unwinds until the original mood returns.A variation on the original melody leads to a short cadenza from the soloist which brings the work to a peaceful close.

for Flugel Horn Solo and Brass Band-Moon Song Sun Dance was commissioned by Flugel Horn virtuoso Claude Romailler and premiered by him at the Swiss National Solo and Quartet Championships in April 2012. As the title implies the work is in two contrasting movements which can be performed separately or together.Moon Song opens with a flowing modal theme which the soloist embellishes before the band takes centre stage. A central section brightens the mood with a new melody over the lightest of accompaniments; this is once again developed by the soloist until the original theme reappears played by the band. This introduces a cadenza for the soloist which either closes the movement or canbe extended to link directly to the second movement.Sun Dance is a vivace 6/8 scherzo which opens with a flourish from the band. The soloist then introduces the main theme which in turn is taken up by the band. A short bridge passage heralds a change of key and a new melody from the soloist. A brief central interlude then introduces a change of meter and recalls the main melody of Moon Song before a recapitulation leads to a florid coda which brings the work to a close.

‘Jubilant Prelude’ is an orchestration of the ‘Preludium over Psalm 150’ originally composed for organ by Toon Hagen. Since 1998 Toon Hagen has been organ-player of the ‘Grote or Sint Michaëlskerk’ in Zwolle (the Netherlands). He has written several ‘contemporary’ compositions for organ.‘Jubilant Prelude’ has a capricious character by the use of irregular measures and its many measure changes. The structure of the Prelude is that of a fugue and is based on motives from the psalm.After the first climax which is both dynamic and harmonic the theme in the Andante Jubiloso is clearly audible and it is alternated with erratic motifs. Tension increases until at last the psalm itself isheard in all its glory. The melody of the psalm sounds as a cantus firmus in tenor register with motifs in ornamentation for saxophones bugles and trumpets. The finale like the prelude is capricious and vehement.The instrumentation for brassband was made by Dirk Annema. It is particularly colourful and has a surprising role for the percussion section.

This rousing jubilant overture mixes five original themes with the well-known doxology Old Hundredth which is also known as Praise God from Whom All Blessings Flow. The hymn is presented in short lyrical energetic motif fragments which combine until the complete hymn is presented in the form of a chorale prelude. This is a wonderful and truly uplifting concert work.

‘Circus Delight’ is a five-part suite which is set how could it be otherwise in a big circus tent. The suite starts with a part called ‘Entrance’. The orchestra positioned above the entrance of the ring asks for the attention of the audience and then the ring announcer enters. The show can begin! The elephants play a central role in the first act. These colossal grey animals are rather slow and perform their tricks in a moderate tempo. (‘Elephant Blues’) How different are ‘The Acrobats’. At high speed they run jump and fly through the ring until ....... It gets very exciting. Fortunately all’s well that ends well and they take their leave of the audienceat a trot. Everyone knows and yet it is mostly not spoken about that when a clown has taken off his red nose and rubbed off his make-up his face off-stage is not always a happy one. (‘Tears of the Clown’) The piece ends on a cheerful note with ‘The Parade’ in which all the artists make their entrance in the ring once again to gratefully acknowledge the audience’s overwhelming applause.

‘Jubilant Prelude’ is an orchestration of the ‘Preludium over Psalm 150’ originally composed for organ by Toon Hagen. Since 1998 Toon Hagen has been organ-player of the ‘Grote or Sint Michaëlskerk’ in Zwolle (the Netherlands). He has written several ‘contemporary’ compositions for organ.‘Jubilant Prelude’ has a capricious character by the use of irregular measures and its many measure changes. The structure of the Prelude is that of a fugue and is based on motives from the psalm.After the first climax which is both dynamic and harmonic the theme in the Andante Jubiloso is clearly audible and it is alternated with erratic motifs. Tension increases until at last the psalm itself isheard in all its glory. The melody of the psalm sounds as a cantus firmus in tenor register with motifs in ornamentation for saxophones bugles and trumpets. The finale like the prelude is capricious and vehement.The instrumentation for brassband was made by Dirk Annema. It is particularly colourful and has a surprising role for the percussion section.

In a four-part composition Rieks van der Velde takes us to the richly varied area surrounding the university city of Cambridge. The Dutch composer was especially inspired by the atmosphere of Cambridgeshire the county which lies north ofLondon. 1. The Journey. Although on arrival the area looks peaceful and friendly the ruggedness of its inhabitants and landscape have an unmistakable influence on the music. In the course of the tour which starts with an Allegromovement we are shown the vitality energy and freshness of the Cambridgeshire countryside. Short themes swift and sudden motifs and rhythmical patterns supported by the drive of percussion instruments give expression to this image. Thefirst part is concluded by two Calmo movements in which the music expresses how the cathedral in the city of Ely comes into sight and is gradually approached. 2. Visit to Ely Cathedral. The famous Norman cathedral church of Ely whichwas built in 1109 has attracted tourists from all over the world apart from being a place of worship and heritage site. A cornet solo introduces the contemplative mood of the composition at this point. The mystical atmosphere of thecathedral runs through this lyrical part like a continuous thread. 3. The Pub. The thirst caused by this intensive journey makes a visit to the local pub a definite must. These ?public houses? which may be open until the earlyhours of the morning offer all kinds of entertainment. Drinks are served liberally and the atmosphere is lively. 4. The Journey Back. Time has flown: In other words the moment of departure has come sooner than one would havewished. In a flashback which recaptures elements of the first part of the composition we say goodbye to Cambridgeshire in a fitting manner. Two scintillating final measures bring us abruptly back to the present.

Jamaica is an island in the Caribbean. In 1494 it was discovered by Christopher Columbus who used it as private property until 1509. After some skirmishes it fell under British rule and the sugar trade on the island flourished. After the abolition of slavery in 1834 it was only granted Home Rule in 1944 but it remained a member of the British Commonwealth of Nations. Whereas the export of cane sugar used to be Jamaica’s main export product for many years nowadays music has taken over this role. At first American music used to be very popular on the island. Later however Jamaican musicians started to experiment and thus in the end created their ownmusical style called Reggae. Well-known Reggae musicians are Bob Marley and Peter Tosh. The most important instruments used in Reggae are the bass and the drums. Together they form the base for the style: the riddim. A bass drum accent on the second and fourth beat are characteristic of a typically reggae drum beat. To this syncopic patterns are often added. The rhythm guitarist plays chords in a characteristic Reggae rhythm not on but between the beats.

In a four-part composition Rieks van der Velde takes us to the richly varied area surrounding the university city of Cambridge. The Dutch composer was especially inspired by the atmosphere of Cambridgeshire the county which lies north ofLondon. 1. The Journey. Although on arrival the area looks peaceful and friendly the ruggedness of its inhabitants and landscape have an unmistakable influence on the music. In the course of the tour which starts with an Allegromovement we are shown the vitality energy and freshness of the Cambridgeshire countryside. Short themes swift and sudden motifs and rhythmical patterns supported by the drive of percussion instruments give expression to this image. Thefirst part is concluded by two Calmo movements in which the music expresses how the cathedral in the city of Ely comes into sight and is gradually approached. 2. Visit to Ely Cathedral. The famous Norman cathedral church of Ely whichwas built in 1109 has attracted tourists from all over the world apart from being a place of worship and heritage site. A cornet solo introduces the contemplative mood of the composition at this point. The mystical atmosphere of thecathedral runs through this lyrical part like a continuous thread. 3. The Pub. The thirst caused by this intensive journey makes a visit to the local pub a definite must. These ?public houses? which may be open until the earlyhours of the morning offer all kinds of entertainment. Drinks are served liberally and the atmosphere is lively. 4. The Journey Back. Time has flown: In other words the moment of departure has come sooner than one would havewished. In a flashback which recaptures elements of the first part of the composition we say goodbye to Cambridgeshire in a fitting manner. Two scintillating final measures bring us abruptly back to the present.

Since most of the bands competing in the 4th Section of the Dutch National Championships have many young players this piece is stylistically youthful— especially in the opening and closing sections. An arpeggio pattern appears numerous times in all registers and is the basic musical element of the main melody alternating with a second theme that has a slightly different melodic character. The middle section is conceived like a chorale introduced and developed stepwise: firstly with short patterns and gradually in increasingly long snippets until it’s played in its glorious entirety at measure 216. No real solo passages are included but rather small chambercombinations thus offering the opportunity to various players to display their technical and performance skills. The finale recaptures musical material from the first section of the piece and provides a majestic conclusion.