Music: Elemental

Grimethorpe Colliery Band’s Young Composer in Residence, Daniel Hall, reviews a recent release from Wright and Round

Elemental is an exhilarating new composition that was written to open the Cory Band's winning 2015 Brass in Concert programme.

Based upon the final words of the Sicilian philosopher Empedocles, the music explores the sound worlds of the four elements - fire, air, water and Earth.

A mysterious opening sets the scene to a dark ages setting with a provocative solo from the repiano.

The first element follows this at a dramatically sudden tempo change, Fire! A powerful melody in the middle of the ensemble is propelled by semiquaver figures in the cornets with added splashes of colour from the baritones.

Slowly calming down to the next two elements, Air and Water, somewhat rhythmically slower and reflective sections follow displaying the lyricism of the soloists.

Finally, we reach the last element - Earth, which excitingly drives the music to a substantial ending.

This is masterfully orchestrated programmatic music by Philip Harper that takes the audience on an indulgent journey of colours.

This title is available to purchase from www.wrightandround.com

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