The most difficult grade in Brass Band Music – regarded by some as "professional level" , but certainly Associated Board Grade 8 plus.
Writing at this level, composers expect all instrumentalists to be able to play the full instrumental range with ease, ( from pedal register to top register) and cope with all advanced techniques required on their instrument, such as double and triple tonguing. Any player in the band can reasonably expect to be featured as a soloist at this level.
Percussion writing – in pieces which have been written in the past two decades ( i.e. since 1990 ), the percussion will normally include some or all of the following : ( composers expect to have a minimum of three players available ).
Level of Difficulty in the Solo Cornet Part :
Note Range : Middle C to C above the stave - Range - two octaves.
Division of Solo Cornet Part : This works divides the solo cornets into four parts in two groups of two.
Requirement to play SOLO or Cadenza : a significant number of solo passages for Solo Cornets 1, 2 and 3.
Frequency of repetition of highest notes : frequent Gs, As, Bs, but remarkably few top C’s at this level.
Fast Running Semi Quaver Passages : frequent fast slurred scale passages.
Fast Passages with recurring leaps : tongued and slurred arpeggio type motifs.
Other Technical/ Stylistic Requirements : ability to triple tongue, ability to play legato, ability to play staccato, abilty to play single accented notes (>), ability to play double accent notes (^). ability to play fzp.
Dynamic Range : pp to ff.
Mutes Required : Straight Mutes for Solo Cornets.
Notable requirements for other instruments in the band in this piece :
Solos for Eb. Soprano
Solos for Solo Horn
Solo for Flugel Horn
Solos for Repiano
Solo for 1st. and 2nd. Baritone
Solos for Euphonium – frequent
Solo for Eb.Bass
Percussion Requirements :
Timpani : four pedal timps required.
Percussion 1 - Tambourine, Side Drum, Triangle, Loose Cymbal, Bass Drum, Tam Tam. 4 tom toms.
Percussion 2 – Glockenspiel, suspended cymbal, xylophone, 4 tom toms ( in addition to those used in part one.), Bass Drum.
Percussion 3 – Bass Drum, wood block, tambourine, tam tam, xylophone.
Level of Difficulty in the Solo Cornet Part :
Note Range : low G# ( three spaces beneath the stave ) to top C – 2 octaves and a 4th.
Division of Solo Cornet Part : part divides into two and sometimes three parts – frequently, and sometimes with a degree of independence of part.
Requirement to play SOLO or Cadenza : a small number of cadenza’s, muted and open. - frequent solo passages.
Frequency of repetition of highest notes : very frequent top As,Bs and occasional Cs.
Fast Running Semi Quaver Passages : very frequent fast scale passages.
Fast Passages with recurring leaps : frequent ascending and descending arpeggio patterns in thirds.
Other Technical/ Stylistic Requirements : ability to double tongue, ability to play staccato, abilty to play single accented notes (>), ability to play double accent notes (^), ability to play fp ( fortepiano ), ability to play trills and turns.
Mutes Required : Straight and Cup Mutes.
Notable requirements for other instruments in the band in this piece :
Solos for Eb. Soprano
Solos and Cadenza’s for Solo Horn
Solo for Flugel Horn
Solos for Repiano (short)
Solo for 1st. Baritone
Solos for all trombones - muted
Solos for Euphonium - frequent
Both Eb. And Bb. Bass parts are divided, but rhythmically similar.
Percussion Requirements : Easily covered by three players
Timpani : 4 pedal timps.
Percussion 1 - Side Drum, Triangle, Loose Cymbal, Vibraphone, Bass Drum.
Level of Difficulty in the Solo Cornet Part :
Note Range : low A ( two ledger lines beneath the stave ) to top C – 2 octaves and a 3rd.
Division of Solo Cornet Part : part divides into three parts – viz. 2/1/1 – frequently.
Requirement to play SOLO or Cadenza : a small number of solo passages – no cadenza.
Frequency of repetition of highest notes : Top C on several occasions.
Fast Running Semi Quaver Passages : a few half bars of this type of technical difficulty.
Fast Passages with recurring leaps : none.
Other Technical/ Stylistic Requirements : ability to play staccato, abilty to play single accented notes (>), ability to play double accent notes (^), ability to play fp ( fortepiano ), abilty to play with a swing feel, ability to play trills.
Mutes Required : Cup Mutes.
Notable requirements for other instruments in the band in this piece :
Octave Glissandi are required by Flugel, Solo Horn, First Horn and Euphoniums.
Level of Difficulty in the Solo Cornet Part :
Note Range : Middle C to G above the stave - Range - Octave and a 5th.
Division of Solo Cornet Part : part divides into two on occasion, but always rhythmically similar.
Requirement to play SOLO or Cadenza : a small number of Solo Passages in each of the four movements - no cadenza requirement.
Frequency of repetition of highest notes : frequent Fs on the 5th.line – Gs occur three or four times in each of the four movements.
Fast Running Semi Quaver Passages : infrequent scale passages at a moderate tempo.
Fast Passages with recurring leaps : none.
Other Technical/ Stylistic Requirements : ability to play legato, ability to play staccato, abilty to play single accented notes (>), ability to play double accent notes (^).
Dynamic Range : pp to ff.
Mutes Required : none for Solo Cornets.
Notable requirements for other instruments in the band in this piece :
Solos for Eb. Soprano
Solos for Solo Horn
Solo for Flugel Horn
Solos for Repiano (short)
Solos for Euphonium
Percussion Requirements :
Timpani : none required.
Percussion 1 (two players) - Tambourine, Side Drum, Triangle, Loose Cymbal, Bell ( Glockenspiel), Bass Drum.
