Previously set as a 1st. Section testpiece, this piece has been set as the 3rd. Section testpiece for the 2005 Regional Championships.
Short mp3 audio extracts are provided here to give you a sample of each movement. Access them by clicking on the "MORE DETAILS" button. You can buy the full recording of this work on the CD section of our site.
The recording is REGIONALS 2005 on Doyen DOY CD181
This was Denis Wright's last major testpiece, composed for the British Open Championships of 1956. It is a symphonic poem based on the famous epic poem by Robert Burns. Described as "A cautionary tale of the dangers of taking too much drink, and interfering with the devil's business' its brief introduction contains a trombone glissando and some flutter tonguing - both rare in testpieces of this period in time. Following the introduction, there are six main sections each prefaced in the score by a quotation from the original Burns poem.
1. Tam makes merry with his friends in the inn.
2. Tam remembers his sulky sullen dame sitting at home, nursing her wrath to keep it warm.
3. Tam mounts his horse and, rather unsteadily, sets off for home.
4. He comes to the church.
5. Looking through the arch into the brilliantly lit graveyard he sees witches and warlocks dancing to the piping of their master, the devil.
6. Tam, scared, jumps on his horse. He rides off, pursed by all the witches, led by Maggie.
