Cat No. JM48648
Price £30.00
Composer: Andrew Duncan
Category: LIGHT CONCERT MUSIC

Commissioned by the Charles church Camberley Band to commemorate the 90th. Birthday of Gerallt Hughes in November 2007.

Gerallt Hughes (Gerry), was the founder of the Charles Church Camberley Band and its musical director for over 40 years. He was born in 1917 and spent his formative years in Ystalyfera, near Swansea. Two of his older brothers played in the Ystalyfera Town Band, and at the age of ten Gerry joined them becoming the youngest  player and going on to become principal cornet. Featuring in many radio broadcasts his talent became widely recognised and led to an invitation to join the championship band, Callenders Cable Work Band. He stayed with them until the outbreak of World War ll, during which he served in Northern Egypt.

After the war Gerry trained as a teacher and went to work in primary and secondary schools in Surrey and Hampshire. The combination of his teaching and musical skills involved him in various choirs and music groups, bringing success in both local and national school music festivals. He also became Musical Director of Sandhurst Silver Band and, under his leadership, the band thrived.

He married Rona in 1959 and they moved to Camberley in 1960. They enjoyed a long and happy marriage throughout which Rona gave her support and encouragement to Gerry's musical interests. Over the years he has taught many youngsters and adults to play a wide variety of instruments and his infectious enthusiasm has introduced them to the wonderful and enjoyable world of music. His contribution to the world of music has been recognised by numerous awards over the years, the most prestigious of which was in 1999 when he received the Diploma of Honour from the Worshipful Company of Musicians, designed to mark 'outstanding lifetime contributions to the teaching of young brass musicians'.

The Charles Church Camberley Band originated as the Camberley Silver Band. However, the property development magnate, the belated Charles Church, was an old school pupil of Gerry‘s, and after a chance meeting many years later, the band was delighted to accept an annual sponsorship in return for which they proudly adopted the name of the business. In 2003 Gerry handed over the baton to his grandson Robert Cherry, but still continued to take the training band untl 2005.

Welsh Echoes was commissioned by the band to offer Gerry a 90th Birthday present to remember and one which would act as a tribute to his unparalleled involvement with the development of musicians and the banding movement. The piece was presented to Gerry by the band through its first performance as a surprise programme item, when he attended their annual concert in November 2007. Words can not describe the emotions of his joy at listening to the piece and then learning this had been written for him especially for his 90th Birthday, not least for the musical references to some of his favourite Welsh folk melodies.

Welsh Echoes intricately weaves and develops three striking and beautiful Welsh melodies: Sosban Fach, David of the White Rock and Watching The Wheat, to create a musical moment that stays with the audience long atter its strident ending brings the piece to a masterful close.