A FESTIVE SUITE FOR BRASS BAND
Composed by Don Bateman
I. Celebration March. The main theme is perfectly suited to the trombones (covering a good range with an economy of slide movement) who are aided by the baritones. The cornets provide the rhythmic drive whilst the flugel and tenor horns add the glue. The contrasting section provides the cornet soloists with some technical wizardry, attractively under-pinned by the euphonium. All the brass band clichés are present, including a soprano obligato guaranteed to ride confidently above the full band. As to the metronome marking, I emphasize that, whereas the speed of a military march is traditionally 120 crotchets per minute, this example of the genre is a concert march and so, with a very busy note count, 112 seems quite fast enough.
II. Hippo 's Parade. A lively introduction in 3 leads into the Tuba Solo in 5 with some fullblooded punctuation at cadential points. A contrasting blidge passage in 2 gives way to the tuba, once again in 5. However, in order to add some variety, and to provide a possible vehicle for improvisation by the soprano cornet/tuba, there is a sustained passage, complete with chord progression, in the style of a jazz waltz. This makes the improvisation easier, although there is always a written solo as a fall back if it cannot be bettered! There are also some brief flunies of cut common time which help to make it all go with a swing. As to the metronome marking,176 seems to hit the spot.
III. Spiritual and Gospel Shout - starts with a gentle introduction by the tenor horns after which the flugel hom soloist is encouraged to perform in an expressive manner. In the form of a popular song, the second '8' is a variation, the B theme (or middle 8) at C is more heavily scored, thereby increasing its textural intensity, and in the last 8 bars the simple version of the A theme returns. Bar 36 starts a short bridge (metronome markings carefully calibrated) leading into the cut common section (the Gospel Shout ofthe title) at D. This involves midregister cornets on the melody with a lively lower brass accompaniment and some embellishments by the soprano and repiano cornets in octaves. The repeat leads to a rallentando and a return to the slow theme and a tutti end. The slow section convinces at crotchet = 66.
IV. Party Talk. Whereas the Brass Band is normally a textural entity this piece, (that is, in the dialogue passages) is contrapuntal, with some swinging, full band interludes. After a brief rhythmic statement by the drums and woodblock the euphonium plays a swinging line, later joined by the flugel and tenor horns at B, in counterpoint. C comprises a middle 8 with a simple tune carried by the repiano, and a chance for the solo cornet to improvise over a given chord progression, although there is a written solo for the less adventurous. Gradually more voices are added to the dialogue when, at K, the work is completed with a romping Coda containing cascades of fun and frolics and a tutti ending. Once again judicious experimentation has led to minim = 88.
Don Bateman - 2019
Composed by Don Bateman
I. Celebration March. The main theme is perfectly suited to the trombones (covering a good range with an economy of slide movement) who are aided by the baritones. The cornets provide the rhythmic drive whilst the flugel and tenor horns add the glue. The contrasting section provides the cornet soloists with some technical wizardry, attractively under-pinned by the euphonium. All the brass band clichés are present, including a soprano obligato guaranteed to ride confidently above the full band. As to the metronome marking, I emphasize that, whereas the speed of a military march is traditionally 120 crotchets per minute, this example of the genre is a concert march and so, with a very busy note count, 112 seems quite fast enough.
II. Hippo 's Parade. A lively introduction in 3 leads into the Tuba Solo in 5 with some fullblooded punctuation at cadential points. A contrasting blidge passage in 2 gives way to the tuba, once again in 5. However, in order to add some variety, and to provide a possible vehicle for improvisation by the soprano cornet/tuba, there is a sustained passage, complete with chord progression, in the style of a jazz waltz. This makes the improvisation easier, although there is always a written solo as a fall back if it cannot be bettered! There are also some brief flunies of cut common time which help to make it all go with a swing. As to the metronome marking,176 seems to hit the spot.
III. Spiritual and Gospel Shout - starts with a gentle introduction by the tenor horns after which the flugel hom soloist is encouraged to perform in an expressive manner. In the form of a popular song, the second '8' is a variation, the B theme (or middle 8) at C is more heavily scored, thereby increasing its textural intensity, and in the last 8 bars the simple version of the A theme returns. Bar 36 starts a short bridge (metronome markings carefully calibrated) leading into the cut common section (the Gospel Shout ofthe title) at D. This involves midregister cornets on the melody with a lively lower brass accompaniment and some embellishments by the soprano and repiano cornets in octaves. The repeat leads to a rallentando and a return to the slow theme and a tutti end. The slow section convinces at crotchet = 66.
IV. Party Talk. Whereas the Brass Band is normally a textural entity this piece, (that is, in the dialogue passages) is contrapuntal, with some swinging, full band interludes. After a brief rhythmic statement by the drums and woodblock the euphonium plays a swinging line, later joined by the flugel and tenor horns at B, in counterpoint. C comprises a middle 8 with a simple tune carried by the repiano, and a chance for the solo cornet to improvise over a given chord progression, although there is a written solo for the less adventurous. Gradually more voices are added to the dialogue when, at K, the work is completed with a romping Coda containing cascades of fun and frolics and a tutti ending. Once again judicious experimentation has led to minim = 88.
Don Bateman - 2019
| Publication details: | |
| Title | A Festive Suite For Brass Band |
| Composer | Don Bateman |
| Instrumentation | Brass Band |
| Duration | 11.00 |
| Difficulty | Difficult |
A Festive Suite For Brass Band (BB)
- Composer: Don Bateman
- Title: A Festive Suite For Brass Band
- Availability: In Stock
- Instrumentation :Brass Band
- Duration :11.00
- Difficulty :Difficult
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€ 76.50