National Finals 2026
Championship Section
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£134.99A Road Less Travelled By (Philip Sparke)
A Road Less Travelled By was commissioned by Palangos Orkestras for the Championship Section of the 2020 European Brass Band Championships held in Palanga, Lithuania.The following was written by the composer, Philip Sparke:The title alludes to a poem by American author, Robert Frost, which appeared in his 1916 collection, Mountain Intervals: The Road Not Taken.In common with most of my larger works, this piece in not programmatic, but purely abstract; there is no extrinsic musical story. The choice of title shares my view of how composers can often develop. There can be no 'destination' in a composer's career, but rather a continuing journey to an unknown place. From piece to piece a composer needs to decide his or her next steps, never really knowing where they might lead. As Frost so eloquently describes, these sorts of instinctive decisions guide all our lives.Set in three movements, which play without a break, A Road Less Travelled By opens with a Moto Perpetuo firmly rooted in classical language, form and syntax. A continuous river of semiquavers, veering from melody to accompaniment and back again, adds drive, every and motion. The second movement, Nocturne, is in the form of a free fantasia; solos for vibraphone, flugel horn and euphonium set the stage for a central cornet solo, quietly echoed by the full band. A triumphal climax is reached before the movement dissolves into a Scherzo Finale. Mercurial and quixotic in nature, this third movement starts jovially until trios for trombones and horns darken the atmosphere. A change of mood and meter leads to a reprise of the opening and a return of the cornet melody, this time accompanied by figures derived from the scherzo theme. A brief coda based on earlier material drives the piece to a close.
First Section
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£74.95Beyond The Falls - The Smoke That Thunders (Andrew Wainwright)
David Livingstone was a renowned Scottish missionary and explorer whose legendary expeditions from 1841 until his death in 1873 took him deep into the interior of central and southern Africa. While his initial aim was to spread Christianity and commerce, his legacy became defined by his relentless spirit of discovery. This work captures the harrowing and ultimately triumphant journey that led to his discovery of Victoria Falls. Originally composed for the GUS Band’s performance at the 2012 Brass in Concert Championships, the work was expanded in 2026 for the Black Dyke Band’s recording, Gothique Fantasy – The Music of Andrew Wainwright. The music opens with an air of trepidation, reflecting the weight of the mission ahead. This tension soon gives way to a more optimistic section featuring the Scottish folk song A Man’s a Man for a’ That. Livingstone reportedly hummed this Rabbie Burns tune to bolster his spirits while travelling. The score then depicts the immense hardships of the expedition (letters F to L), illustrating skirmishes with suspicious local tribes, wild animal attacks, and bouts of African fever. Following these trials, a more reflective, emotive movement (Letters L to R) explores Livingstone’s internal struggle and his doubts about continuing. This emotional core is built upon the hymn Lord, Send Me Anywhere, a melody composed by Livingstone himself. Emerging from this prayer with renewed purpose, the final section (Letter R to the end) follows his path along the Zambezi River. The music builds to a triumphant climax, capturing his elation at seeing the magnificent Victoria Falls - known locally as ‘Mosi-oa-Tunya’ (The Smoke that Thunders).
Second Section
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£74.95Song of Courage (Eric Ball) *new edition*
The music reflects many moods. There is, to commence, joyfulness, and later some sense of fear and effort against great odds. The old chorus ‘Stand like the brave’ typifies the call to action in the face of danger, and ‘A prayer for courage’ – the central part of the composition – is a reminder of the true source of Christian fortitude.
Third Section
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£79.99Snow Island (Thierry Deleruyelle)
The Swiss canton of Valais is home to a number of wind and brass bands that regularly stand on the podium in Swiss and European competitions. For the general public, the Valais is above all a unique place, between the Rhone Glacier and Lake Geneva, where life is pleasant. The brass players of the five music associations of the villages of Crans-Montana - an internationally renowned "snow island" - were awarded the organisation of the 224 cantonal festival, for which this work was commissioned.
Fourth Section
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£69.95Heroes of the North (Peter Graham)
Heroes of the North was commissioned by Henning Annundsen for Skodvin Skulemusikk and pays tribute to the development of brass band activity in the Nordhordland region of Norway.The music is a set of character variations based upon personalities long associated with both the band and the region. The opening 5 note motif (C D E F G) might be considered the starting point for beginner brass students, and this mini-theme is developed throughout the work.Five variations follow: Mr Brevik's Galop (representing Tom Brevik, a key figure in Norwegian brass band music); Frode's Dance (with apologies to Edvard Grieg), portraying soprano cornet player Frode Rydland, one of Skodvin Skulemusikk's most famous "old boys"; Mr Bjrge's Walk representing Viggo Bjrge, "Mr Eikanger Bjrsvik Band"; Hymn for Knut-Harald, known as "Mr Skodvin Skulemusikk" having over many years played a central role in the teaching and training of the band, and finally Maestro Snell's Russian Adventure features music with more than a hint of Russian (Khachaturian to be precise) and calls to mind Howard Snell whose arrangements and presence have made such a huge contribution to Norwegian Brass Banding over many years.