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Listen: Festivo

Festivo for Symphonic Wind Band was commissioned in 1985 for the 10th Anniversary of the Bolton Youth Concert Band, with funds provided by the Trustee Savings Bank. It was first performed by the BYCB, conducted by Nigel Taylor, in Kortrijk, Belgium, at the World Association of Symphonic Band and Ensembles Conference in July 1985.

As the title suggests it is a festive piece, exuberant in style and lasting some six minutes. Throughout, there is much emphasis on rhythm and the scoring utilises many solo and chamber-like textures. It is cast in rondo form with a longish introduction which announces in fragmented form some of the main ideas. The main theme is light-hearted and exuberant, heard first on clarinets but immediately tossed around the band. The first episode starts quietly but gradually adds layer upon layer of repeated fragments until the whole band is heard (important parts for melodic percussion here). The final statement of the rondo tune is heralded by Tubular Bells and bell-like chords on the brass, after which a short coda brings the work to an exciting conclusion.

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