Cat No. JM38177
Price £65.00
Composer: Howard Snell
Categories: TEST PIECES (Major Works), Howard Snell Music

Set as the Third Section Test Piece for the National Finals in the Albert Hall - October 2000. Commissioned by the St.Helen's Youth Band.
Four movements lasting 14.5 minutes :
1. Salute
2. Overture
3. Souvenirs
4. Hymnus (ex terra lucem)

Howard Snell writes :

Commissioned by Lynda Nicholson and the St Helen’s Youth Brass Band, EXCELSIOR! is dedicated to them and also to the memory of St Helen’s most famous musical son Sir Thomas Beecham. It was first performed in May 1999 by the Band, conducted by the Composer.

The title EXCELSIOR! means ‘Ever Upwards’. It is a traditional motto which I have used here to represent the striving of young musicians towards an ever improving expression of their talents. The first movement, a forthright FANFARE, leads directly into the second, OVERTURE, while the third, SOUVENIRS is an evocation of aspects of lighter French music, so beloved of Sir Thomas. After a short pause, the fourth movement commences. Its sub-title is ‘ex terra lucem’, the motto of St Helen’s itself, which can be translated ‘and from the earth comes light’, referring to the town’s long-established industry of glass-making. The play of sun and light through stained glass was in my mind during the composing of this movement.