The period between the two world wars was one of the richest in music composed for brass bands. Elgar, Holst, Vaughan Williams, Herbert Howells, Arthur Bliss, John Ireland and others added their voices to a growing repertoire, but little of that paid tribute to the loss of so many young lives, countless brass musicians among them. The musical war memorials receiving their first recorded performances here are of more recent vintage. They are framed by the music of Benjamin Britten (1913-1976), whose pacifist sympathies are enshrined in some of his finest music, the War Requiem being the most well known.
Tredegar Town Band
Ian Porthouse conductor
Cory Band
Phillip Harper conductor
Robert Childs conductor
AUDIO
FUNDERS
With special thanks to RVW Trust, John Golland Trust, Brass Band Heritage Trust, World of Sound, Faber Music Ltd. and PHM Publishing for their support of this recording.
RECORDING CREDITS
Occasional Overture, Voices (In Memoriam), Diversions after Benjamin Britten and St. Edmundsbury Fanfare were recorded on 23 January 2016 at Ysgol Gyfun Rhydywaun, Aberdare, Wales.
Recording Engineer: RICHARD SCOTT (WORLD OF SOUND)
War Memorials Nos. 1 & 2 were recorded in July 2016, Parc Hall, Cwm-Parc, Wales.
Recording Engineer: MELISSA DEE (WORLD OF SOUND)
The Maunsell Forts were recorded January 2010 by BBC Radio 3 at the Royal Northern College of Music Festival of Brass, Manchester.
Recording Engineer: TIM ARCHER
Recording Producer: PAUL HINDMARSH
(P) 2016 NMC Recordings Ltd
© 2016 NMC Recordings Ltd
Catalogue number: NMC D226
Release Date: 21 October 2016