Cat No. JM30893
Price £89.95
Composer: Philip Sparke
Category: TEST PIECES (Major Works)

Written in 1992, commissioned by Philip Biggs & Richard Franklin for the All England Brass Band Championships. (16.08)

Set as the CHAMPIONSHIP SECTION REST PIECE for the 2016 Brass Band Regional Championships of Great Britain.

Click on "MORE DETAILS" to view the Solo Cornet part & to listen to the FIVE audio extracts of this work.

The work falls into five sections (variations) which are performed continuously.
1. The introductory first section contains a chorale, which starts with a six note "row". This is preceded by related figures in the lower half of the band after the cornets have set up a chattering ostinato. The chorale modulates and fades into a flugel & baritone duet, supported by trombones. A full band climax follows and a shortened chorale to....
2. Molto Vivace. Motifs based on the second 3 notes of the "row" introduce a strong tunes in the baritones & euphoniums. A bridge passage leads to a second theme in the horns & baritones.
3. An interlude which features each section in turn, starting with the percussion section, leads to....
4. A slow section which starts with an expressive cornet melody derived from the 6 note row. Muted flugel & trombone replyand the cornets set up a decorative figure under which a majestic bass theme develops. A climax is reached after which the flugel restates the cornet tune ( mp3 extract 4).
5. Vivo - Euphoniums set up an ostinato figure over a bass tune. This continues as various sections of the band introduce different figures until the soprano establishes a more legato tune. The whole band play a unison passage and, after various figures from earlier in the section try to emerge, the original chorale from the introduction returns in triumph. A faster coda brings this great "test" to a close.