Music for a Festival

Was written at the request of Boosey & Hawkes Band Festivals for the Youth Section Finals of the National Brass Band Championships of Great Britain, 1985.

The work is one continuous but it does fall distinctly into three sections: 

1 starts with an extended fanfare, which reappears at various points throughout the work. This leads to the to the syncopated, jazzy main theme, played in turn by various sections of the band. After several contrasting interludes, the main theme returns, quietening down to introduce:

2 A slower central section which is characterized by intimate quartet writing and powerful climax for the whole band.

3 explodes percussively out of the quiet section and is a headlong gallop, interrupted briefly by a more tranquil mood, which leads back to the opening fanfare is an exciting close.