A Symphony of Colours for Norway’s Elite
Simon Dobson's 2011 work, 'A Symphony of Colours' has been announced as the Elite Division set-work for the 2024 Norwegian National Championships. The six-section contest will take place at Bergen's Grieg Hall on Friday 9th and Saturday 10th February.
Winner Of BASCA’S 2012 British Composer Award For Wind Or Brass Band, ‘A Symphony of Colours’ was commissioned by the Fairey Band with assistance from the John Golland Trust. The first performance was given on 2 May 2011 during the European Brass Band Championships, Montreux, Switzerland by The Fairey Band, conducted by Russell Gray. The same band gave the UK première on 29 January, 2012 at the Royal Northern College of Music Festival of Brass, Manchester.
‘A Symphony of Colours’ is a continuous four movement work which is inspired by the rare condition of Synesthesia (literally meaning 'crossed' or 'together senses'), in which people can see colours or smell scent in response to hearing music. The piece is a homage to French composer Olivier Messiaen, who himself had Synethesia, and references his organ work 'L'ascention'. The work contains four movements, which merge seamlessly together; Joy; Chroma (a journey through the composer’s perception of synesthesia); Endless Time (where tuned percussion features alongside extended solos for the euphonium); and the final, climactic Ascent.
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