Ghost of Christmas Past, The - Jonathan Bates

DURATION: 2'30". DIFFICULTY: 2nd+. Composed for Strata Brass in 2020 as part of their COVID-19 induced, virtually recorded 'A Christmas Carol' (a new suite for brass bandlasting around 30 minutes in total), 'The Ghost of Christmas Past' is a lively and virtuosic cornet solo portraying the visions Scrooge is shown of his childhood. Beginning in a jovial mood, the ghost then shows Scrooge his early love life, before showing how Scrooge's unsympathetic and callous ways lead to his loss of love and friendship throughout the years as the music gets gradually darker and darker with each passing section. .