Cat No. JM47840
Price £69.95
Composer: Stuart Pullin
Category: TEST PIECES (Major Works)

Selected for the 3rd. Section of the 2009 Butlins Mineworkers Open Brass Band Festival.

Click on "MORE DETAILS" to view the Solo Cornet part.

Programme Note by Stuart Pullin.

Haydock Variations was commissioned by the Valley Brass (Haydock) Band in 1999 and was premiered by massed bands at a joint concert with the Marple Band in 2000. It was also part of a submission for the degree of MA in Composition at the University of Salford, for which the composer gained a distinction.

Valley Brass are a third section national graded band with a vibrant and successful youth training scheme that has seen their under 16’s band win the National Youth Championships twice and the British Open Youth title in 2006.

The form of Haydock Variations is a double set of variations. The first theme is stated in the opening bars and the second theme derived from the accompaniment to the first (bars 9 - 12). The variations on the themes return in the final marziale section.

About the Composer :

Stuart Pullin began brass lessons at the age of 7, joining the Eccleston Junior Band on cornet and later moving to the tenor horn. He commenced studies at the University of Salford in 1992, graduating with a BA (Hons) music degree in 1995. During his time at the university he won two major composition awards and as a postgraduate student completed an MA in composition with distinction.
As a performer Stuart played with some of the finest bands in the Northwest of England, including Wingates and Marple. He was a member of the famous Yorkshire Building Society Band in their halcyon period, winning multiple European and British Open Championships. Stuart was also a fine keyboard player and organist of the URC church in Penwortham and in addition held positions as Musical Director of Hesketh Bank and Chorley Silver Bands. His works have been performed by The Royal Liverpool and BBC Philharmonic Orchestras as well as many top brass bands, and his test piece Musings has been set in competitions across Europe.

Stuart Pullin passed away at the age of 32 on the of September 2007 but leaves a wonderful legacy of compositions. He is survived by his wife Donna.


Please note that in the Butlins 2008 Souvenir Programme the 3rd. Section Testpiece was incorrectly announced as HORBURY VARIATIONS, this of course should have been "HAYDOCK VARIATIONS"