My Top 10 Brass Band Pieces of the Month: January
Updated: 2 days ago
A Collection of My Favourite Brass Band Pieces in January
To shine a spotlight on brass band music, both old and new, I thought I would start a monthly series where I put together a collection of music I have enjoyed listening to or playing in that particular month. From original pieces to arrangements and solos, here are the pieces I have enjoyed during January.
1. Piece of the Month:Â And Earth Raised Up Her Head by Andrea Price

This was my favourite piece at the RNCM International Brass Band Festival. This work is a dramatic musical depiction of Earth rising and displaying her rage at mankind for their destruction and disregard for nature. It is such a viscerally evocative work that, for me, eloquently represents the complex emotion of female rage. What do I mean by that? The bold dynamics, fiery feel and almost violent percussive moments, clearly paint the picture of anger, but this isn’t a one-dimensional emotion. There are subtle melody lines beneath the chaos offering emotional depth - there is sorrow and betrayal within this rage. I could almost hear Earth question why mankind has ruined everything she offered to them. It’s honestly one of the best new works for brass band I have heard since Edward Gregson’s The World Rejoicing. I can’t wait for a recording to be released then I can listen to it again - it is spectacular, so that is why it is my piece of the month for January.Â
2. Send Forth by Marcus Venables
This piece appeared on my radar when I was listening to a brass band playlist and Spotify pops in a track that it thinks you may be a fan of. It was right - this is a banger! Featured on the New York Staff Band’s 2024 album, The Invitation and written by Marcus Venables, Send Forth is an exciting arrangement that begins as a beautiful hymnal that builds into a driven, motivational and uplifting piece with a bit of pop-rock drum kit. It would make a fun start to a concert.
3. Silver-backed Fox by Andrea Hobson
I was introduced to this solo work when I watched at its world premiere at the RNCM International Brass Band Festival by flugel soloist, Jen Oliverio and the Athena Brass Band. Andrea Hobson’s Silver-backed Fox is a brilliant solo packed full of character and fun. It has great virtuosic moments that offer an enjoyable challenge for the soloist and an exciting listen for the audience.Â
4. The American Dream by Elgar Howarth
One of Howarth’s lighter works, The American Dream was written for the Cory and Grimethorpe Band’s tour of the USA in the 70s. It has all the cinematic brilliance of an old hollywood movie with glimpses of Copland-esque thematic elements. It’s a shining gem of a piece!
5. Derek Bourgeois Trombone Concerto
I think specifically, I want to hear David Bremner’s performance of this classic concerto again, as he delivered this work with so much style, it was brilliant! The Derek Bourgeois Trombone Concerto is a major solo work split into three movements: Allegro, Adagio and Presto that features beautiful expressive and lively technical sections throughout. If I’m being honest - at the risk of sounding a little ignorant (I’m not trying to be) - some concertos, although they display the musical dexterity of the soloist, sometimes aren’t the most engaging for the listener. However, although lengthy at a performance time of 20 mins, is so musical with an accompaniment that offers moments of dialogue between soloist and band. It does a great job of allowing the soloist their chance to really use the spotlight to display their virtuosity, but without running the risk of becoming a little too self-indulgent and losing listenability for the audience.
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6. Of Distant Memories by Edward Gregson
Whilst writing my Top 5 Edward Gregson Pieces article, I listened to as many recordings of his works and I really enjoyed revisiting some pieces I haven’t played or listened to for a little while. Out of all of them I listened to, it was Of Distant Memories that I kept going back to again and again, particularly on my way to band. It’s such a warm hug of a piece with its nostalgic style that replicates the music of our heritage, its gorgeous solo lines and the ending of this piece has me in tears every time. It’s a masterclass in brass band writing, in my opinion.
7. Elektrodesign by Elisabeth Vannebo
After listening to this work in Foden’s Band’s Programme on the first night of the RNCM International Brass Band Festival, I’ve been eager to hear it again! The festival offered me an introduction into Vannebo’s writing and I am definitely a fan. This piece was written in tribute to her father who tragically died unexpectedly. Her ability to capture a mood or emotion within her music is extraordinary. The work begins with an adventurous, glitter-filled memory of childhood, with a feel that is reminiscent of a Studio Ghibli soundtrack before moving into a tender, dance-like representation of falling in love, before the sudden shock of the passing of her father. It’s an emotional rollercoaster of a piece.Â
8. Silver Rose by Liz Lane
Liz Lane’s Silver Rose is another work that I was introduced to at the RNCM International Brass Band Festival. This piece is so powerful, especially with the performance at the festival featuring narration from a descendant of Isaac Rosenberg, whose poems inspired this work.
Silver Rose consists of five musical movements with Rosenberg’s poems being read before and during each of the movements. Rosenberg sadly died in action during World War 1 and the choice of his texts used in this work reflect on the atrocities of war and the hope for peace. This work isn’t simply just narration with the band providing some background music, it does feel like the two elements are connected - almost like a concerto with the soloist being the narrator. It’s such a cleverly written and deeply emotive piece and I would highly recommend giving it a listen.Â
9. Blue by Thomas Gansch, arr. by John Doyle
Are we surprised that this has made the list? Any excuse - it is one of my favourites. As you may have read in my coverage of the RNCM International Brass Band Festival, I was blown away by Macclesfield Youth Brass Band’s performance of John Doyle’s arrangement of Blue. This jazzy little number features a septet of soloists made up of three trumpets, tenor horn, two trombones and a tuba, with the lead trumpet part featuring lashings of pyrotechnic technical moments and acrobatic lunges into the upper register. It is a cracker!
10. Storm! by Thibaut Bruniaux
This piece was chosen as the winner of the RWCMD Cory Composition in 2023 and, as the title suggests, it portrays a storm, starting with a thunderous opening movement that transitions into a calmer moment, as the storm dies down before a whirlwind finish. I feel like I’m a listener of simple pleasures and one of those is the combination of brass band and a rock drum beat. I loved everything about this piece, it is so, so cool with loads of clever sound effects and an action-packed but really listenable score, but when that drum beat kicked in that solidified my love for this piece.Â
Bonus: Tenor Horn Concerto by Edward Gregson
I'm not even sorry - I couldn't leave this one off the list! This was a vibrant, beautiful, exciting work that blew my mind when I watched it performed by Tim de Maeseneer at the International Brass Festival!
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