MERMAID of ZENNOR, The - Parts & Score, TEST PIECES (Major Works)
Availability Available Published 11th September 2015
Cat No.JM73145 Price
£69.95 Composer: Philip Harper Category: TEST PIECES (Major Works)
Set as the SECOND SECTION REST PIECE for the 2016 Brass Band Regional Championships of Great Britain.
Commissioned by the Cornwall Youth Brass Band to mark its 60th Anniversary, with funds bequethed by Dennis Arbon
This piece is inspired by an old Cornish folk-tale set in the village of Zennor on the coast of Cornwall, the most South-Westerly county of England.
After a good day‘s catch from the local fishermen, the village-folk would gather in the church at the head of the coast road for a service of thanksgiving. In the choir at Evensong was a very handsome young man. Matthew Trewhella, who had the most beautiful voice. His singing attracted the attention of a mermaid swimming in Zennor Cove who listened, entranced, for many nights. One night, she decided to go to the church and, disguised in human clothes, she sat in the shadows at the back. Matthew's exquisite voice caused her to sigh, at which point he noticed her for the first time and fell immediately in love. She knew that contact between merpeople and humans was forbidden, and so fled back to the shore with the congregation and Matthew in pursuit. Upon reaching the water, the mermaid turned and told him: "l cannot stay, I belong to the sea," to which he replied: "Then I will come with you!" and they both vanished beneath the waves, never to be seen again.
To this day it is said that the sound of a sweet, faraway man's voice can be heard from the sea on days of fair weather in Zennor.
The music is in three sections:
l. The Sea and Seafaring
The music rises and falls like the elemental swell of the waves, before the fishermen set sail and get to work on their boats at sea. They arrive home with a good catch.
ll. At the Church
The mermaid is portrayed by gentle, magical-sounding music, and the church choir is heard singing the hymn-tune Axbridge set to the words 'Safe home. safe home in port'. The euphonium plays the role of Matthew Trewhella, rising above the band on a number of occasions.
ill. Return to the Waves
Matthew and the mermaids eyes meet in a moment of drama. The village-folk chase out of the church and back towards the beach and, after several musical flashbacks, the powerful music of the sea re-establishes itself above all else. As the waves subside, the euphonium’s sweet but distant voice can be heard for one last time.
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