Category: TEST PIECES (Major Works) Composer: Peter I. Tchaikovsky Arranger: Derek Ashmore
Duration 6.21
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Category: TEST PIECES (Major Works) Composer: Gustav Mahler Arranger: Philip Harper
One of the most life-affirming pieces of music ever composed, Mahler’s 2nd Symphony, subtitled “The Resurrection”, was first performed in Berlin in 1895. Mahlers interest in the mysteries of the afterlife is well-known and is a recurring theme throughout all his nine symphonies. Philip Harper has arranged the final passages of the 2nd Symphony, which begins with a profound hymn set to the words of Friedrich Klopstock— Rise again, yea, thou shalt rise again:
The music contains one of Mahler’s magical transitionary passages. building in intensity. before the hymn is restated in all its majesty at the moment of glorious resurrection, This arrangement was performed as the finale to Cory Band’s winning Brass in Concert programme in 2012.
The publisher of this works suggests that it should be playable by 1st. section bands upwards.
Categories: TEST PIECES (Major Works), LIGHT CONCERT MUSIC Composer: Paul Lovatt-Cooper
This was commissioned by Dr Stephen Cobb for the 120th anniversary of the International Staff Band of the Salvation Army. It had a rousing premiere performance at the International Staff Band 120th anniversary - now set as the second section test piece for the 2016 Butlins Mineworkers Contest.
Duration 10'08"
Section: 2+
Programme Notes
Fire in the Blood was commissioned by Dr Stephen Cobb for the 120th anniversary of the International Staff Band of the Salvation Army. The piece was composed for the celebration concert where the ISB were joined by several other staff bands from around the world to perform independently to a sell-out capacity crowd at Britain’s most famous concert hall The Royal Albert Hall. Fire in the Blood received its world premier at the ‘ISB 120’ concert at the Royal Albert Hall on June 4th 2011.
With this piece I wanted to acknowledge music that had an impact on me through my Salvation Army upbringing. When thinking of a title for this piece I had no hesitation than to reflect and re-word the Salvation Army’s motto under their famous crest ‘Blood and Fire’.
When composing Fire in the Blood I wanted to use three songs of worship that have been prevalent in the Salvation Army’s services over a number of years. Opening with Richard Phillips’ setting of Psalm 95, ‘Sing for Joy’, the music is vibrant and full of energy, I wanted to capture the spirit of the well known words of Scripture. The music then moves into a more reflective section that includes Howard Davies’ emotive song melody ‘Lord, you know that we love you’ and Laurie Klein’s worship song ‘I love you Lord’.
A re-statement of the opening Psalm setting follows and this, in turn, leads into a dramatic and powerful finale that combines two pivotal statements drawn from the slower, reflective section: I love you lord, and I lift my voice to worship you, O my soul rejoice and Lord, you know that we love you with a final flourish from Psalm 95: Come let us sing joy to the Lord!
Category: TEST PIECES (Major Works) Composer: Igor Stravinsky Arranger: Ray Farr
Excerpts from the Ballet Suite. Duration 7.35
You can buy the full recording of this work on the CD section of our site.
The recording is "ECHOES of the EAST" on Doyen DOY CD195
This arrangement uses two movements from the orchestral suite. (i) The Dance Infernal of the ogre Kastchei. In the story the Firebird appears and sets free the beautiful princess who has been held captive by the giant. (ii) Final Hymn - the grand finale.
Category: TEST PIECES (Major Works) Composer: Stephen Bulla
Grade 5.0 Duration 11.10
Set as the Second Section test piece for the 2018 National Finals of the British Brass Band Championships of Great Britain - The Centaur, Cheltenham Saturday and Sunday 15th. & 16th. September.
Firestorm was composed by Stephen Bulla on the occasion of the tenth anniversary of the "United States Army Brass Band" and had its first performance at the Gala Concert of the North-American Brass Band Championships on 27th April 1991. The inspiration for this composition was the recent war in the Persian Gulf and its continuous presentation to the world through the medium of television. Bulla wanted to capture the emotion and color of the events of war as they were played out on the television screen. Composed as a single movement rhapsody, the work is framed by the riveting sounds of airborne bombing raids; brass and percussion combining to create a gripping sense of tension. The interior of the work is cast in flashback sequences The first features the comet section in a frenetic melody that captures the free spirited antics of a Baghdad market scene. Following is a poignant soliloquy depicting the calm, unspoiled beauty of the Iraqi countryside before its siege. These beautiful melodies are presented by the four "cornerstone" of the brass band: solo B-flat comet, E-flat soprano cornet, E-flat alto horn and euphonium. Stephen Bulla noted that his sense of inner creativity surrounding this project was directly related to the emotional impact of the war upon him. The final page of his score bears the following poignant inscription: "Completed February 26 1991, Kuwait liberated today".
Category: TEST PIECES (Major Works) Composer: Stephen Bulla
Grade 5.0 Duration: 11:10
Set as the Second Section test piece for the 2018 National Finals of the British Brass Band Championships of Great Britain - The Centaur, Cheltenham Saturday and Sunday 15th. & 16th. September.
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