Edward Gregson talks about ‘The World Rejoicing’
Edward Gregson was recently interviewed by Martin Gorman of Brasspass TV about his new work The World Rejoicing’, the test piece for the British Open Brass Band Championship, which will be premiered on 11 September at Symphony Hall, Birmingham.
Edward and Martin discuss the the inspiration for the piece, a collaborative commission by five European countries for their National Brass Band competitions. It was postponed for a year as a result of the effect of the Covid-19 pandemic, but it is hoped that the premiere at the British Open will be followed by the various European country premieres in the …
Read MoreBelated publication of Gregson’s Birthday Prelude for Brass Band
Edward Gregson’s previously unpublished piece, Birthday Prelude for Brass Band, composed in 1982 to mark the 80th birthday of Harry Mortimer, and performed again in 2015 at the North American Brass Band Championships to celebrate the 80th birthday of Gregson’s brother, Bram, has now been published by Morthanveld Publishing, with a dedication to Harry and Bram.
Of the piece, Gregson recalls:
… Read MoreI was aware of course of the Stravinsky Greetings Prelude, also based on Happy Birthday … I wanted mine to be celebratory but without being too obvious in quoting the whole tune; thus it uses various phrases of
New CD of Gregson’s instrumental music to be released on 9 April
A new disc of Edward Gregson’s instrumental music is to be released on Friday 9 April on the Naxos label. The CD was recorded in September 2020 at Hallé St Peter’s in Manchester, with soloists from the Hallé and BBC Philharmonic orchestras, accompanied by pianist Paul Janes.
Regarding the choice of repertoire, which includes Three Matisse Impressions, Serenata Notturna and Divertimento, Gregson writes:
… Read More… I wanted to reflect my life-long interest in writing instrumental music. From my earliest dabbling as a teenager, through my student days when I wrote what is really my Opus 1 (Oboe Sonata), to
‘The President’s Own’ US Marine Brass Ensemble performs Gregson’s ‘Symphony in Two Movements
Few sounds elicit the same drama, joy, excitement, and vibrancy as does the United States Marine Band’s brass section. Available to watch online from 25 March, This concert features the antiphonal music of Giovanni Gabrieli, Franz Beibl, Henri Tomasi’s and concludes with Edward Gregson’s electrifying 2012 composition: Symphony in Two Movements.
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