Cat No. JM50517
Price £79.95
Composer: Paul McGhee
Category: TEST PIECES (Major Works)

Waiting for a Pain Hit was written in November 2006 as an entry in the Swiss Brass Band Association's Young Composer Competition where it gained second prize. It was the first major work written by the composer after graduating from the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama the same year and was chosen as the set test-piece for the Swiss National Brass Band Championships 2010.

The piece draws its inspiration from the music of diverse artists such as Frank Zappa, The Residents, The Flaming Lips and John Zorn.

The composer writes; "The piece lasts 15 minutes and aims to explore different textures in timbre by the use of various mutes and dynamic nuances. The primary aims are related to both structural coherence and timbre, and whilst the piece explores the use of rhythm and has technical elements, they were not an initial aim of the piece and grew organically from the primary aims. The structure is underpinned by the use of related tempo markings and metronome modulations which give the piece it's coherence. The music has no themes or motifs and moves from one idea to the next, interacting and reacting to what has preceded it. Starting muted and quiet and ending in the same way, the use of tutti' ff 'hits' bring the music to an interrupted close."