Cat No. JM31190
Price £59.95
Composer: Edward Gregson
Category: TEST PIECES (Major Works)
Difficulty level: Second

This is the Second Section Test Piece for the 2013 Regional Events of the British Brass Band Championships.

Duration approx. 11.30

Please click on "MORE DETAILS" to view the Solo Cornet part and to listen to audio extracts.

Try clicking on MORE DETAILS, then on DIFFICULTY LEVEL to learn more about this work.

Audio extracts to follow on Saturday 22nd. September.

You can buy a full performance CD of this work and the other four Region Test Pieces on this site. The CD is called "REGIONALS 2013" - type this into the CD QUICK SEARCH to find.

Previously set as a 1st. Section Test Piece.

COMPOSER’S FOREWORD :

THE PLANTAGENETS is not intended to be programme music.lt rather tries to portray the mood and feelings of an Age - that of the House of Plantagenet,which lasted from the middle of the 12th century tothe end of the 14th century.

To many It conjures up an Age of Chivalry and this is represented by fanfare motifs which occur throughout the work In varied form. The opening thematic figure, rising through the band in thirds,and followed by the fanfares, is important as nearly all the subsequent material is based upon it.

There follows two themes, the second of which is lyrical in style, and introduced by ‘tutti’ horns. In the long slow middle section a new theme is introduced by a solo horn (it recurs on cornet and euphonium in Canon) and is developed at some length. A lively fugato scherzino, however, leads to a recapitulation of the opening section music, and the work ends with a maestoso statement of the slow movement theme; a final reference to the fanfares ends the work.