2023 European Championship works revealed — 4barsrest


Four test pieces by Swedish composers will challenge the competing bands in Malmo later this year

The European Brass Band Association (EBBA) has announced the details of the four set-works that will be performed by competing bands at its festival event in Malmö later this year.

All come from Swedish composers and have been commissioned by the local organising committee, Brassmusik Skåne.

Test pieces

EBBC Championship Section: Aurora (Joel Thoor Engström)
EBBC Challenge Section: Tragic Overture (Tobias Broström)
EBBC Youth Championship Premier Section: Phoenix’ Chant (Daniel MöllÃ¥s)
EBBC Youth Development Section: Turning Torso (Magnus Hylander)

EBBC Championship Section: Aurora (Joel Thoor Engström)

Joel Thoor Engström (1987) is based in Stockholm. His works range from orchestra and choir to chamber/solo and opera and have been performed at several established Swedish venues. He was a finalist in the 2006 EBBC Composers’ Competition.

His music is characterised by colourful expressions in rhythm and harmony, influenced by neo-classical composers and the French tradition following Debussy and Ravel to electronic funk and progressive disco.

In describing his work, he states: “Aurora was the Roman goddess of the dawn. Every day she opened the gates of the east with her rosy fingers and riding her chariot in a glowing mantel across the sky, accompanied by children, she announced the coming arrival of her brother, Sol (the sun).

The natural phenomenon Aurora Borealis (or “northern lights”) is what inspired the Romans to this personification of the dawn and it can be a mysterious thing to behold, of both beauty and awe.

The dawn can be a symbol for many things, something beginning as well as something ending. The age old message of Aurora could therefore be considered timeless. Her call amid the joyous dance of the children of the stars that a new hope, a new light is on its way can be a comforting notion to all in the face of hardships.

This piece is in three movements, played attacca. Though not written with a programmatic intent, the writing process has evoked my thoughts on the symbolic themes of the Roman myth; the setting of an unstable and uncertain scene — like an endless fall — in the first movement, followed by a waiting and the “kindling of light” in the second, finishing with a festive song of praise in the third.

One of the key musical thematic features of this piece is a harmonic progression (first heard in the trombone section at bar 16).

It twists and turns around its axis like the waves of the northern lights, or the turns of Auroras chariot. Throughout the piece, its harmonic “magnetic fields”are constantly pulling and shaping the music into new forms.”

EBBC Challenge Section: Tragic Overture (Tobias Broström)

Tobias Broström (1978) was born in Helsingborg. Following four years of percussion studies at the Malmö Academy of Music, he undertook a Master’s degree in composition, studying with the composer Rolf Martinsson and Prof. Luca Francesconi.

Known for his rhythmically powerful music, colourful orchestration and a poignant harmonic sense, he has swiftly established himself among the foremost Scandinavian composers of his generation.

He describes his music as full of frenzy and power, appearing in attacks and waves.

He has collaborated with renowned conductors and soloists from HÃ¥kan Hardenberger to Rumon Gamba. Hardenberger has performed his work, ‘Lucernaris’ on numerous occasions.

Speaking about his work, he stated that despite the title he does not believe the work to be tragic in nature.

He stated: “Structurally, the piece has an overall A-B-A form with the first section an extended and ferocious passage in 6/8 time. It exploits the rhythmic possibilities in 6/8 and cross-rhythms and cross-dynamics are a feature and challenge that bands will need to overcome.

The Overture could be considered as absolute music, rather than having a fixed programme — the only potential tragedy being people attending the EBBC in Malmö and not hearing the performances of this exciting piece.”

Aurora was the Roman goddess of the dawn. Every day she opened the gates of the east with her rosy fingers and riding her chariot in a glowing mantel across the skycomposer

Youth Sections:

EBBC Youth Championship Premier Section: Phoenix’ Chant (Daniel MöllÃ¥s)

Daniel MöllÃ¥s (1993) is based in Malmö. He began his musical journey playing trombone and piano, through which he soon developed an interest in composing and arranging.

Since graduating he has studied composition at the Linnaeus University in Växjö (2012-13), Gotland School of Music Composition (2013-15) and at Malmö Academy of Music (MAM), including an exchange course at the Lithuanian Academy of Music and Theatre in 2018.

He has worked with several ensembles, orchestras and soloists, such as the Malmö Symphony Orchestra, Helsingborg SO and Norrköping SO amongst others.

Speaking about his work, ‘Phoenix’ Chant’ he said: “The initial sketches were written in the late Autumn of 2021; a time of increasing political tensions both nationally and worldwide, but also some relief that our society were starting to see the return of better times after the pandemic.

Whether this relief actually came or not might be quite hard, if not even impossible to say in today’s social climate. However just as it was then, hope remains as our strongest tool to cope with the difficult times — and above all to inspire us to work towards an actual better future.

Although maybe a bit of a cliché, the myth of the majestic firebird encapsulates this theme with an impeccable decisiveness. Consumed by its own flames, the old Phoenix is reborn from its ashes; younger, brighter and stronger than ever before.

As the sketches were developed and later on revised as the set piece commissioned by Brassmusik SkÃ¥ne for the European Brass Band Championships Youth Premier Section in Malmö 2023, the Phoenix theme became even more relevant, as it highlights the true importance and influence of the young for a sustainable journey ahead through time.

Although challenges will occur, hope remains through the voices of youth, calling for a brighter future.

This chant is for them. For all.”

EBBC Youth Development Section: Turning Torso (Magnus Hylander)

Magnus Hylander (1967) lives in Fristad and is a tuba player, who in addition to his composing can also be found conducting bands in the area.

He studied at the Malmö Academy of Music and played with the brass quintet Brassa Nova between 1992 and 1998. He has composed and arranged many pieces, mostly for brass, but also for other ensembles. Some of his works have been recorded by Göteborg Brassband, Flesland Musikklag, BrassaNova and Band of the Malmö Fire Brigade amongst others.

Speaking about his work he says: “The composition refers to the neo-futurist skyscraper built in the western harbour of Malmö in 2005.

It was designed by Spanish architect, structural engineer, sculptor and painter Santiago Calatravo. One reason for building Turning Torso was to have a new symbol for Malmö in lieu of the shipbuilding crane that had been removed a few years earlier.

The piece starts off, quiet and calmly, from a distance where you just barely can see the building. The next section describes the odd shapes and quirkiness of the building. In the middle section we are up at the top level and enjoying the spectacular view of the city on one side and over to Denmark on the other.

At last, we take the speedy elevator down for a last look at the magnificent building using the music from the opening.”



Essay prize on offer for Malcolm Arnold brass focus — 4barsrest


Students with an interest in the great brass music of Malcolm Arnold have the chance to put their thoughts into writing.

The Malcolm Arnold Society has informed 4BR that it hopes to receive entries from the brass banding world for its 2023 Essay Prize.

The focus of the topic to be explored is: ‘Malcolm Arnold and his contribution to music for brass instruments’.

Essay Prize

Supported by the Malcolm Arnold Trust, the Essay Prize is open to students under the age of 19. It is intended to encourage inquiry into Arnold’s work and to reflect on the experience of performing his music.

The completed essay of between 2500 and 3500 words should be typed in double spacing and will be assessed by Dr Timothy Bowers and Paul Harris (Chair of the Malcolm Arnold Society).

Entries should be submitted by 31st August 2023 to maessay@icloud.com

The author of the winning essay will receive £300 which will also be published in ‘Maestro’, the annual magazine of the Malcolm Arnold Society. The winning author will also receive a personal letter from Katharine Arnold, Sir Malcolm’s daughter.

The Malcolm Arnold Society has also just announced a JustGiving campaign to raise £10,000 to fund the release of a new CD of Arnold’s brass music with Foden’s Band.

https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/maclolmarnoldfodens

The author of the winning essay will receive £300 which will also be published in ‘Maestro’, the annual magazine of the Malcolm Arnold Society4BR

Performance help

Society secretary Ken Talbot told 4BR also hopes that bands will also take the opportunity in 2023 to let them know of all performances of his works in concerts, competitions and recordings.

“We are aware that Sir Malcolm’s works remain immensely popular for the brass band medium. We would encourage any band who is to perform one of his works to contact us.

We can then update our records and in return we will advertise the upcoming events through our extensive membership to hopefully help increase audiences for them.”

Contact:

Contact: ken@malcolmarnoldsociety.co.uk



Sergeant takes major A4 Quartet award — 4barsrest


A work inspired by the brutalist architecture of Owen Luder claims the A4 Quartet Composition prize.

A work inspired by the buildings designed by renowned British ‘brutalist’ architect Owen Luder has won the 2022 A4 Brass Quartet Composition Competition.

‘Luder’s Dreams of a Castle’ by Matthew Sergeant took the £500 first prize and will now be performed by the award-winning ensemble in performances to mark their 10th anniversary.

Controversial buildings

The RNCM graduate is Reader in Music at Bath Spa University and has already gained widespread acclaim for his compositions which have been performed internationally on concert and festival platforms by ensembles including the London Symphony Orchestra and BBC Concert Orchestra, the Divertimento Ensemble (Italy), and the Nieuw Ensemble (Netherlands).

Owen Luder was a British architect who was particularly renowned for his controversial buildings of the 1960s — the brutalist style that included the Tricorn Centre in Portsmouth, Derwent Tower in Gateshead and Trinity Square in Gateshead, whose multi-storey car park featured in the film iconic British film ‘Get Carter’.

Futuristic castles

Speaking about the work he said: “Luder was particularly renowned for his buildings expressed in angular and uncompromising concrete shapes — often resembling futuristic castles.

Although not always successful or popular, Luder’s architecture was driven by utopian ideas; a personal wish to make the living and working conditions of ordinary people better. The piece presents images of both the shocking angular forms of Luder’s architecture alongside his hopes and wishes for a better world. As such, in a sense, these are Luder’s dreams of a castle.”

Owen Luder was a British architect who was particularly renowned for his controversial buildings of the 1960s4BR

Runner-up and Under 24 winner

Runner-up from a record field of entrants was Robert Ely for his one movement work ‘Four Play’ inspired by thematic ideas of a classic scherzo.

The Under 24 Award was won by Naomi Hill, a baritone and euphonium player currently studying at the University of Huddersfield.

Her work, ‘As We Dwell’ is inspired my what she called “melodic conversations”that provide “a sense of space and serenity”- as if dwelling in the “calmness of the music”.

The other finalists were Joe Galuszka (‘Ukraine2022’); Harry Weir (‘Music in Four Parts’) and Akira Shoji (‘Sonatina’).