Blazon
Blazon was commissioned by the Bournemouth International Festival and was given its premiere by the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra under Richard Hickox in 1991. It is scored for large symphony orchestra with the addition of harp, piano and an array of percussion. The title of the work is derived from the old English heraldic term to “proclaim abroad”.
The work could be loosely described as a mini-concerto for orchestra, featuring sections of the orchestra in a soloistic, and often virtuosic, manner. It commences with fanfares heralded by three antiphonal trumpets spread around the back of the orchestra. This colourful introduction, also …
Read MoreCelebration
Celebration, a Praeludium for wind, brass, percussion, harp and piano, was commissioned by the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra (RLPO) for its 150th anniversary. It was first performed by the RLPO, conducted by Libor Pešek. at Philharmonic Hall, Liverpool, on 21 March 1991, at a Royal Gala Concert in the presence of Her Majesty the Queen.
The work is a celebration by way of displaying the virtuosity of the players for whom it was written, and therefore could be viewed as a sort of mini-concerto for orchestra (without strings). Despite only lasting around six minutes it highlights in turn the …
Read MoreTrumpet Concerto
This work was commissioned by Howard Snell and the Wren Orchestra of London, with funds provided by the Arts Council of Great Britain. It was written for, and is dedicated to, James Watson.
It is the last in a series of brass concerti which the composer first started in 1970 with his Horn Concerto, written for Ifor James. Since then he has completed a Tuba Concerto (1976, for John Fletcher), a Trombone Concerto (1979, for Michael Hext) and finally the Trumpet Concerto (1983).
The Trumpet Concerto is in three movements and is scored for Strings and Timpani. The first movement, …
Read MoreSymphony in two movements
This work was jointly commissioned by the National Youth Brass Band of Great Britain (NYBBGB) and the National Youth Brass Band of Wales (NYBBW), the latter with funding from Tŷ Cerdd (Music Centre Wales), to celebrate their 60th and 30th anniversaries respectively. The first performances were given at Cadogan Hall, London, in April 2012, by the NYBBGB, conducted by Bramwell Tovey; and at the Great Hall, Aberystwyth University, in July 2012, by the NYBBW, conducted by Nicholas Childs
When I was approached about a joint commission to write a new work to celebrate the anniversaries of these two outstanding youth …
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