Finals 2025 - Set Works

The Music Panel of the National Brass Band Championships of Great Britain has announced the test-pieces for this year’s National Finals at London’s Royal Albert Hall (11 October), and The Centaur, Cheltenham Racecourse (13-14 September).

Celebrating two eminent composers’ significant anniversaries - Edward Gregson’s 80th birthday year and the 50th anniversary of Sir Arthur Bliss’ death, they are:

CHAMPIONSHIP SECTION

Symphony in two movements
(Edward Gregson)
Published by Novello & distributed by Studio Music

SECTION 1

Four Dances from 'Checkmate'
(Arthur Bliss arr. Eric Ball)
Published by Novello & distributed by Studio Music

SECTION 2

Suite from 'Adam Zero'
(Arthur Bliss - new arrangement by Dr. Robert Childs)
Published by Prima Vista Musikk

SECTION 3

Music from 'The Royal Palaces'
(Arthur Bliss – new arrangement by Michael Halstenson)
Published by Kirklees Music

SECTION 4

Partita
(Edward Gregson)
Published by R. Smith & Co. & distributed by Studio Music

Dr. Robert Childs (Director of Music for the ‘Nationals’ and Kapitol Promotions Music Panel representative) stated: “We had considered the idea of featuring works by two British composers marking anniversaries in 2025 for some time. When Philip Wilby proposed commissioning two new arrangements of Bliss’ music, we realised that 2025 also marks Edward Gregson’s 80th birthday, so the concept came to life quickly.”

Symphony in two movements
Symphony in two movements, which the Championship Section bands will perform, is dedicated by the composer to his “friend and colleague Paul Hindmarsh”.
Delighted that his ‘Symphony’ has been set in his 80th year, Edward Gregson commented: “The piece was commissioned by the The National Youth Brass Band of Great Britain and the National Youth Brass Band of Wales for their 60th and 30th anniversaries respectively. He added that his ‘Symphony’ “came at a time of compositional maturity, and combines serious musical intent with considerable technical demands and emotional energy.”

Never set for a UK contest, he enthused: “I owe a huge debt of gratitude to the ‘National’ for its adventurous decision – one that brings great pleasure and pride to me. I consider Symphony in two movements to be one of my finest compositions in any genre, and certainly the best of me in terms of brass band composition. It remains as my personal Valhalla”!

The work’s two linked movements are in a compact sonata form – an allegro followed by a theme and four variations. The opening Toccata main themes are dramatic, rhythmic and lyrical in turn, and the second Variations movement uses a chorale, followed by the four variations: mercurial, menacing, serene, and dynamic. Earlier material is gradually developed as the piece progresses to a recapitulation of the symphony as a whole, and it ends as it began with the dramatic and rhythmic juxtaposed with the melodic.

Bliss
The Bliss Finals’ tests are arrangements of his compositions and, commenting on these selections, Prof. Philip Wilby said: “Sir Arthur Bliss’ two original works for brass band are justly celebrated, but it is with genuine pride, for his future legacy, that we see two new arrangements on show at this year’s Finals – two ballet scores and one taken from television that demonstrates Bliss’ outgoing desire to work collaboratively within arts and technology. Eric Ball’s arrangement of Four Dances from 'Checkmate' appeared at the Albert Hall Final in 1978, whilst Robert Childs’ scoring of 'Adam Zero' and Michael Halstenson’s arrangement of 'The Royal Palaces' are both new.”

Four Dances from 'Checkmate'
Section 1 finalists will perform three of the four dances at the competition: ‘Dance of the Four Knights’, ‘Ceremony of the Red Bishops’, and ‘Checkmate’.

Suite from 'Adam Zero'
Suite from 'Adam Zero' for Section 2 was arranged by Dr. Childs for Prof. Nicholas Childs and Black Dyke Band to première at the 2024 RNCM - Royal Northern College of Music International Brass Band Festival. In five movements - ‘Fanfare Overture’, ‘Dance of Spring’, ‘Approach of Autumn’, ‘Dance of Summer’, and ‘Fanfare Coda’ - Dr. Childs enlightened: “The music dates to the winter of 1945-46, when Bliss was at the height of his powers. Arguably his greatest work, it is certainly among his half dozen finest scores. Its neglect, both onstage and in the concert hall, is a surprise to many. The ballet depicts a man’s life cycle: his birth and death, and his passage through spring, summer, autumn and winter. A ballet representing these episodes is created onstage, at first empty and dark at his birth, but gradually lit and filled with scenery as his life develops, before the stage becomes empty on his death, after which a new ballet represents the cycle of creation beginning again”.

Music from 'The Royal Palaces'
Section 3’s Music from 'The Royal Palaces', arranged by Michael Halstenson in 2023, is also cast in five movements: the quietly regal ‘Queen Victoria’s Call to the Throne’; ‘The Ballroom in Buckingham Palace’ waltz evoking the gaiety of functions at Buckingham Palace; ‘Joust of the Knights in Armour’ (George V’s reign) depicting knights preparing to joust; ‘Melodrama’ characterising the murder at Holyrood House (Edinburgh) of Mary, Queen of Scots’ Secretary, David Rizzio; and the majestic ‘The Royal Palace Theme’ march.

Partita
Commissioned by Redbridge Youth Band in 1971, the 13th Century sombre plainsong Dies Irae from the Requiem Mass, runs through Edward Gregson’s Partita set for Section 4 - which is cast in three movements: ‘Intrada’, ‘Chorale and Variations’, and ‘March’. The ominous Dies Irae has the final say, however.

'Bliss - Works for Brass Band' CD
The set test-pieces for Sections 1, 2, and 3 are on a recently-released Chandos Records label recording of Black Dyke conducted by John Wilson (‘Bliss – Works for Brass Band’ – CHSA 5344 at www.chandos.net).