Categories: TEST PIECES (Major Works), NEW & RECENT Publications Composer: Jan De Haan
Grade 3.5 Duration 13.40
Jan de Haan drew inspiration for this work from five paintings exhibited in The Hermitage in Saint Petersburg, one of the largest and most versatile museums in the world. He used the melodious Andante cantabile from the String Quartet Op. 11 by the Russian composer Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky as its starting point. Thus, he created his own musical painting, which is just as varied as the underlying canvases – from Cheerful Company by Dirck Hals to Dance II by Henri Matisse. A true work of art!
Category: TEST PIECES (Major Works) Composer: Bruce Broughton
Set as the Championship Section Test Piece for the 2020 National Brass Band Championships of Great Britain.
Bruce Broughton’s exciting new brass band work has been selected by Kapitol Promotions for the Championship Section Final at London’s iconic Royal Albert Hall. Originally premiered by Black Dyke Band at the BrassPass Band of the Year Contest 2019, Heroes was written by Double Academy Award nominee and 10 times Emmy Award winner, Bruce Broughton.
On July 20 2019 we celebrated the 50th anniversary of the Apollo 11 moon landing and the incredible achievements of astronauts Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin and Michael Collins. Heroes pays tribute in music to this historical event, and is cast in three continuous sections.
“Ignition”, which launches the work, propels us into orbit with Broughton’s characteristically dynamic rhythmic writing before transitioning into the beautiful second section, “Tranquillity”. Here, the ethereal beauty of The Sea of Tranquillity provides the soloists an opportunity to revel in the lush sound world.
The final Section, “Return” is a technical tour de force, developing material from the earlier sections before a reprise of the “tranquillity” theme brings to the work to a resounding conclusion.
Category: TEST PIECES (Major Works) Composer: Peter Graham
Heroes of the North was commissioned by Henning Annundsen for Skodvin Skulemusikk and pays tribute to the development of brass band activity in the Nordhordland region of Norway.
The music is a set of character variations based upon personalities long associated with both the band and the region. The opening 5 note motif (C D E F G) might be considered the starting point for beginner brass students, and this mini-theme is developed throughout the work.
Five variations follow: Mr Brevik's Galop (representing Tom Brevik, a key figure in Norwegian brass band music); Frode's Dance (with apologies to Edvard Grieg), portraying soprano cornet player Frode Rydland, one of Skodvin Skulemusikk's most famous “old boys”; Mr Bjørge's Walk representing Viggo Bjørge, “Mr Eikanger Bjørsvik Band”; Hymn for Knut-Harald, known as “Mr Skodvin Skulemusikk” having over many years played a central role in the teaching and training of the band, and finally Maestro Snell's Russian Adventure features music with more than a hint of Russian (Khachaturian to be precise) and calls to mind Howard Snell whose arrangements and presence have made such a huge contribution to Norwegian Brass Banding over many years.
Heroes of the North is playable by 4th section bands.
Category: TEST PIECES (Major Works) Composer: Gareth Wood
Set as the 3rd. Section Test Piece for the 2017 National Finals of the British Brass Band Championships.
Performance Duration 11 minutes 30 seconds
Previously used as a Fourth Section testpiece.
Commissioned by the New Zealand Brass Band Association inc. to commemorate 100 years of contesting in New Zealand.
This work was used at the 1980 National Brass Band Championships held in Christchurch, New Zealand, during the Centennial Celebrations.
Click on "MORE DETAILS" to view the Solo Cornet part.
Hinemoa, the beautiful daughter of Amukaria, a great Moon chief, had seen Tutanekai, a chief and brave warrior from the island of Mokoia, only once, during a tribal gathering; yet she knew she loved him dearly. Amukaria counselled his daughter to forget this man, whose flute-playing Hinemoa heard as it came, soft but clear, across the lake which separated them. At night she went to the shore and listened. The sound of the flute spoke to Hinemoa, giving her courage. When Tutanekai managed to get a message to Hinemoa, her mind was made up. On the next moonless night she entered the dark, cold waters of the lake, using empty gourds as floats. She was determined to swim the long distance to her Lover. Tutanekai flute-playing kept her going, until at last she reached the shores of Mokoia. Great was the joy when the lovers at last met, the rocks echoing Tutonekai’s cry HINEMOA’.
This score is a facsimile of the composer’s manuscript.
Category: TEST PIECES (Major Works) Composer: Jan De Haan
Duration 13.20
Two short mp3 audio extract is provided here to give you a sample of this work. Access them by clicking on the "MORE DETAILS" button.
This colourful work is based on the adventures of Christopher Columbus and his voyages to discover Africa and other new territories around the World. The theory that the earth was round urged Columbus to try and reach Asia by sailing west. A truly exotic work that grasps the drive and excitement of the world’s greatest explorer.
Composer Jan de Haan wrote Hispaniola on the occasion of the 500th anniversary of the death of Christopher Columbus, who lived from 1451 to 1506. Columbus was born in Italy, but as a young man he settled in Lisbon, where he undertook voyages of discovery to Africa and elsewhere. The then-new theory that the earth was round urged Columbus to try and reach Asia (then called the East Indies) by sailing west. In 1492 he sailed under the Spanish flag, and two months later, he discovered the first islands in the Caribbean Sea. Columbus assumed that he had reached the Indies, and so he called the natives Indians. One of the islands — that of Haiti and the Dominican Republic — he called La Espanola, meaning Little Spain. On Latin that is “Hispaniola”. The composition Hispaniola consists of three connected movements. In the first movement, the preparation of the voyage is reflected. The industriousness that is expressed in the music repetitively alternates with a relaxed Spanish atmosphere. The second movement has a fast tempo and is full of rhythmic surprises — thus the long, dangerous, and unpredictable sea voyage is described. After the ship’s bell has sounded loudly at the “Land hol”, the third movement begins. During the long-drawn-out theme, the coast seems to rise slowly from the sea, after which the euphoria because of the discovery of the new land is echoed with a great musical climax at the end.
Category: TEST PIECES (Major Works) Composer: Goff Richards Difficulty level: Third
This is the Third Section Test Piece for the 2013 Regional Events of the British Brass Band Championships.
Try clicking on MORE DETAILS, then on DIFFICULTY LEVEL to learn more about this work.
You can buy a full performance CD of this work and the other four Region Test Pieces on this site. The CD is called "REGIONALS 2013" - type this into the CD QUICK SEARCH to find.
Hollywood ! is a celebration of American Film. The work depicts the varying moods of Slapstick Comedy, Romance, the Western and contemporary Action Drama.
Perhaps the names of Charlie Chaplin, Marilyn Monroe, John Wayne and Harrison Ford will spring to mind during the performance.
Percussion :
Scored for Timpani and three percussion parts.
Some bands may wish to perform this work with three percussionists only, in which case Percussion 3 may be TACET with the exception of a number of bars which must be performed by the other members of the section in addition to their own parts. ( details of exactly which bars, are to be found inside the score ). Four players are however preferable.
Timpani and Bass Drum
Percission 1 - Glock and Xylophone
Percussion 2 - Drum Kit
Percussion 3 - Clash Cymbals, Ref's Whistle, cow Bell, Suspended Cymbal, Triangle, Tam Tam and Bass Drum.
To view 
