Music: Lake of Tenderness

Lake of Tenderness
By Ben Hollings 
Prima Vista Musikk

Ben Hollings provides a delicate, atmospheric concert work utilising extended harmony reminiscent of modern choral composers such as Eric Whitacre.

The work is technically modest, consisting of sustained chords interspersed with moving crotchet lines and lyrical solo contributions, and would be accessible to many bands. The real challenge here is certainly control and balance over the quietest moments demanded by the score.

Bands should also be aware that four percussion lines are required, adding tonal depth to the brass writing. As we all know, simple music is often the most effective and this is certainly the case here. Hollings’s chordal and lyrical writing creates a truly beautiful work that would be welcome in any concert programme.

THOMAS DUNNE

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