CD: Regionals 2025
Fairey, Black Dyke, Cory and GUSDoyen
The test-pieces for the 2025 Regional Championships have been revealed, with much for bands to be excited about in this tantalising selection of pieces.
The Championship Section will face Derek Bourgeois’ Diversions. Commissioned in 1985, Diversions is a marked contrast to his previous test-piece Blitz, being more light-hearted in nature, yet no less technically demanding. Consisting of three movements, the first is bold and jaunty, with an interplay of two main themes. The second is more lightly scored, with the beautiful, yet dark melodic lines enabling bands to demonstrate their expressive abilities. The final section is a delightful romp packed with rhythmic drive and constant time changes. Bands could have no better inspiration than this live recording from the 1986 National Championships. The winning performance from the Williams Fairey Engineering Band, conducted by Roy Newsome, is simply masterful.
Section 1 will compete on Morley Calvert’s Introduction, Elegy, and Caprice. Composed for the inaugural European Championships of 1978, the superb winning performance from the Black Dyke Mills Band and Major Peter Parkes is featured here. The dramatic, then mysterious opening precedes the Elegy, a fragmented passacaglia, before the tension is released in the energetic rhythmical dance of the Caprice.
Section 2 bands have Oliver Waespi’s Friendly Takeover to enjoy, performed here with style by Cory Band and Philip Harper. Composed in 2016, lyrical motifs are combined with a variety of rhythmic passages, and the music is gradually overtaken by groove-based rhythms, imbuing the lyrical passages with fresh energy giving the impression of a gradual acceleration.
In Section 3, Jacob de Haan’s Arkansas has been chosen, which is based on a Native-American folk song. Here, Black Dyke Band and Professor Nicholas Childs capture the cinematic nature with aplomb, from the eclectic variations of the first movement to the beautiful melodic lines of the second and the vigorous power of the third.
Section 4 bands are treated to a gripping new work by Andrea Price entitled I, Daedalus. The piece tells a programmatic story through five, through-composed movements of Daedalus and his son, Icarus’ ill-fated escape after being imprisoned by King Minos. The GUS Band and Christopher Bond successfully depict the drama of the story with driving rhythms, expressive lyrical passages and a vivid finale.
In all, this outstanding collection of high-quality recordings will provide an excellent reference point for bands as they begin to get their teeth into this thoroughly engaging selection of works for the 2025 Regional Championships.
THOMAS DUNNE
Featured artists...
Williams Fairey Engineering Band | Conductor: Dr. Roy Newsome
Black Dyke Mills Band | Conductor: Major Peter Parkes
Cory Band | Conductor: Philip Harper
GUS Band | Conductor: Christopher Bond
Available to purchase at www.worldofbrass.com | Available to stream at: www.wobplay.com
