Music: Winter Hill

Winter Hill
Euphonium solo
Composed by Darrol Barry 
Published by Wright and Round

Darrol Barry’s latest euphonium solo, Winter Hill (not to be confused with Dan Price’s similarly named euphonium solo, On Winter Hill) offers the classic combination of the expressive and the stimulating.

A nostalgic opening allows the soloist to demonstrate lyrical skills before a brief cadenza launches an energetic finale, adorned with flourishing semiquaver passages. As a result, the solo euphonium player must have effective finger dexterity, as well as musical interpretation, making the piece ideal for a more experienced player looking for a change in repertoire.

The band accompaniment is scored sensibly, complementing the soloist whilst never becoming overly intrusive.
The piece should be a comfortable test for bands in the middle sections, the main challenge of which is to maintain good ensemble discipline, particularly in the faster section. This style of solo serves as a welcome solo euphonium option.      
  
THOMAS DUNNE

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