Concert Band

Southend Celebration

Grade 4 | 8 Mins

Southend Celebration was commissioned by the Southend Wind Orchestra to celebrate their 10th anniversary in 2012. Formed in 2002 by its Music Director, David Clark, the band gives many concerts in its home county of Essex and presented the premiere of Southend Celebration, conducted by the composer, in March 2013.

The work opens with a stern fanfare in bare fifths, which leads to a cantabile theme introduced by alto saxophone. This builds to a climax and reintroduces the fanfare, which slowly evolves into the subsequent vivo. A perky tune emerges on flute, saxophone and trumpet, which, after a short bridge passage, leads to a contrasting melody on low clarinets and saxophones. After some development a true ‘second subject’ appears for the whole band. A recapitulation leads briefly back to the opening fanfare before the vivoreturns to close the work in celebratory mood.