Cat No. JM47431
Price £13.95
Arranger: Doyen
Category: BRASS BAND CDs

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Grimethorpe Colliery Band (UK Coal) conducted by Elgar Howarth

Tracks:
01. Tristan and Isolde Prelude, Richard Wagner arr. Owen, 9.17
02. Praeludium, Armas Järnefelt arr. Hallum, 2.39
03. Nabucco Overture, Verdi arr. Rimmer, 6.39
04. On Hearing the First Cuckoo in Spring, Delius arr. Warlock, 5.59
05. Academic Festive Overture, Brahms arr. Wright, 9.55
06. Giles Farnaby Suite - Galiarda, Giles Farnaby arr. Howarth, 1.23
07. His Dream, 1.18
08. His Humour, 1.17
09. His Rest, 1.27
10. Mal Sims, 1.30
11. Froissart Overture, Elgar arr. Ball, 13.30
12. Des Pas sur la Neige, Debussy arr. Snell, 3.35
13. Four Scottish Dances - Movement 1, Malcolm Arnoldarr. Farr, 2.08
14. Movement II, 2.06
15. Movement III, 3.18
16. Movement IV, 1.21

Total Playing Time: 68.26

This, the penultimate disc in The History of Brass Band Music series is devoted entirely to transcriptions from orchestral scores and in two cases arrangements of keyboard pieces. I have tried to demonstrate the great variety of styles which have attracted the attention of those experts in the genre which nor only tie necessary musical skills successfully to transform original scores into a convincing new form, but too with that streak of daring even recklessness which takes one by surprise.
Alexander Owen certainly surprises. None other in this day would have dared set music from Tristan and lsolde, few would stow. His transcription of the famous Prelude is included in the much longer Grand Selection, It provided a benchmark for the future.
William Halliwell is most famous as a conductor and leader but Järnefelt's Praeludiuns in his hands sparkles with light charm and quiet humour. William Rimmer, one of the band world’s most influential figures is included here in a bold version of Verdi’s Nabucco Overture.

To slightly more modem times — the band sound changing somewhat with the grace and tact of Denis Wrights’ pen.
Brahms Academic Festival Overture recorded here is one of his most popular contributions to the bands’ repertoire.
Most ‘surprising’ of all is On Hearing the First Cuckoo in Spring of Delius. Logically it should not work; amazingly
Peter Warlock’s transcription does—beautifully, illustrating the poetic potential of the medium.
Eric Ball’s work as composer and transcriber is well documented. Never brash he makes a very personal sound, in love with the cantabile style for which the bands are famous without losing their ability for full blooded drama. Howard Snell and I occupy the arrangement slots.
I believe I was the first to present Tudor music to the bands
— this a long time ago as an 18 year old. These pieces were scored some years later in my twenties; I felt they gave a freshness to band sound. Howard Snell is one of the greatest arranger-transcribers of all. Des Pat sur Ia Neige (Steps in the Snow,) is a miracle of delicacy, mystery, nuance, a million miles away from my clichéd approach.
The disc finishes in high virtuosity with Ray Farr’s brilliant, technically exhilarating version of Arnold’s Four Scottish Dances. Here is the modem sound par excellence, bright but multi-coloured rivalling the original orchestral score in its excitement. Malcolm Arnold loved it.
As with all the recordings in this series there are omissions I regret. Alexander ‘Sandy’ Smith deserves a place here, he is as talented an arranger as he is the outstanding tenor horn player of his generation. Circumstances prevented the inclusions of any of his work here.
Norway, which has provided several fine bands during the last 25 years or so, has emerged as a source of brilliant arrangers — three in particular; Reid Gilje, Fröde Rydland and Svein-Henrik Giske — all current members of the Eikanger-Bjorsvik Band. There will be others in the future.
Elgar Howarth