Edward Gregson’s Tenor Horn Concerto (Three Gods) was commissioned by the Belgian tenor horn soloist Tim de Maeseneer for a recording of commissioned works he made in 2024 with his ‘own’ band, Brass Band Willebroek.

The subtitle of ‘Three Gods’ refers to three mythological Greek Gods: Zeus, Hermes and Apollo. The idea for this came from a ‘sister’ work, a Viola Concerto, which he composed in 2023 and which was similarly subtitled ‘Three Goddesses’. Indeed, the first movement of the horn concerto shares some common material with the viola concerto, although the other movements are newly composed.

The concerto exploits the noble character of the horn, but the writing is also virtuosic in character as well as lyrical and melodic, demanding an extended playing range of nearly four octaves with a variety of colouration in its sonorities. The unifying motif of the whole concerto is the interval of a rising 5th, heard at the outset. The opening also has some other surprises (both seen and heard).

The musical ideas, cast in three separate movements, take their starting point from the characters of the Three Gods in the title:

Zeus, ruled as King of the Gods on Mount Olympus, and was the God of Thunder and Lightning and of War. His music is often threatening and violent, but also has a more tender side as portrayed in the lyrical second subject. However, the dominant mood is one of foreboding.

Hermes was the great messenger to the Gods who could travel between realms on his winged sandals. Thus, his music is fast, fleet of foot, and mercurial – a dashing scherzo, but with lyrical and expressive moments.

Apollo, the God of Music and Dance (and the Sun), symbolises virtue and beauty. This final movement, ‘Hymn to Apollo’, is mainly slow and hymn-like and cast in a continuous stream of melody passed between soloist and band. Brief fanfares herald a triumphant march, before the music returns to its quiet opening, gradually rising to a triumphant climax with glittering melodic percussion leading the way. The music ends in a blaze of glory!