Lost works preserved by Foden’s
Following a successful bid to the ‘Heritage Lottery Fund’ in October 2016, Foden's secured funding for a ‘Heritage and Digital Project’ that has allowed the band to digitise its historical artefacts, original 78 recordings and original manuscripts.
Speaking about the project, Mark Wilkinson commented: "Since the successful application was awarded, our team of volunteers headed by historian Stewart Green have been busy arranging the digitisation of various items of memorabilia that will be housed on a new ‘Heritage Website’ to be launched in March 2018. As well as the digitisation process the funding also allowed Foden’s to record a number of these original manuscripts.
"Sadly a large number of the manuscripts were destroyed in the band room fire last year but it has been interesting researching about the various pieces that survived and deciding which to record. Amongst music recorded last weekend was ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream’ by Thomas Keighley which was originally performed and won by Foden’s at the 1926 British Open. This original score would have been used at the contest by the conductor William Halliwell (who conducted six bands including those placed 2nd and 3rd.) Foden’s also recorded original arrangements from the pen of Halliwell, Rimmer and Mortimer and an arrangement of 'Egmont'. This version was used at the Crystal Palace Grand Shield in 1928 and we have not been able to identify who the arranger is (it is not the usual arrangement by Eric Ball). Also, we are not sure how the music came in our possession as the band did not compete at this contest and it was never used again!
"We are extremely proud of our history and would like to thank the Heritage Lottery for their funding which allows us to safeguard this for future generations as well as allowing us to share this worldwide."
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