N.Z. BRASS BAND CONTEST

Press, Volume XCVIII, Issue 28819, 13 February 1959, Page 7

N.Z. BRASS BAND CONTEST

A Grade Test Selection

The Woolston Brass Band and Derry’s Brass Band in the A grade, and the New Brighton Silver Band in the C grade, will be the Christchurch bands competing in the seventy-ninth annual Netv Zealand brass band championships beginning at Wellington on February 20. "Sinfonletta," .by Erik Lieden, has been chosen as this year’s A grade test selection. It was performed by the competing bands at the Belle Vue contest in England in 1955.

This “Sinfonietta” is challenging music, although not dissonant in the "contemporary” sense. Of particular interest is the excellent scoring, which exploits many of the sonorities possible in brass band playing with excellent effect. The work is in four clearly defined sections, but the composer directs that these are to be played without a break as one continuous movement.

After the slow introduction, containing an opening theme which recurs a number of times during the work, there follows an allegro wiovement, which, although mainly in the minor mode, is happy and sparkling music.

Section two brings a song-like theme, first heard from z the E flat bass soloist, and then' repeated three times with constantlyincreasins interest in the decorative material woven into the music.

Section three is scherzo-like in character, again full of interesting details. A quicker trio section is introduced by the trombones. The final movement commences with some forthright fugal writing. dignified and sonorous, later a theme previously'heard in the first movement appears, and the music then moves towards an exciting climax.