BLISS: Works for Brass Band

Jul 17, 2024 | CD reviews

Black Dyke BandJohn Wilson conductor CHANDOS CHSA5344 As Master of the Queen’s Musick (he liked the old spelling), Sir Arthur Bliss was required to write much ceremonial music for brass instruments. He approached what could have been an onerous task with great...

Bite-Back: Lloyd’s Brass Band music

Jul 16, 2024 | Inbox

Phillip Hunt responds to Paul Jackson’s review I was interested to read Paul Jackson’s comment in his review of the CD of Lloyd’s Brass Band music, that Royal Parks was not considered challenging enough for the players. This was indeed the case, but...

Album to focus on composer Wilfred Heaton

Jul 9, 2024 | News

The music of Sheffield-born composer Wilfred Heaton (1918-2000) will be the focus of a new album from Divine Art due to be released in early 2025. Heaton is a household name in the brass band world, where some of his early worlds enjoy ‘classic’ status.  After his...

Labour announce new culture secretary

Jul 8, 2024 | News

The UK’s new Secretary of State for culture, media and sport is Wigan MP, Lisa Nandy. Thangam Debbonaire, the former shadow secretary for culture and Royal Academy of Music trained professional cellist, had been widely expected to become Culture Secretary had she...

Conductor James Loughran dies aged 92

Jul 8, 2024 | News

It is with regret that we have to report the death of the distinguished Scottish conductor, James Loughran, who died on 19 June at the age of 92. In the UK he is best remembered as the conductor who took over the Hallé Orchestra after the death of Sir John Barbirolli...

Tribute to Peter Pears

Jun 27, 2024 | News

Released recently on Signum Classics, Robin Tritschler’s album of Songs for Peter Pears sees the Irish tenor paying tribute to one of the most remarkable singers of the 20th century and exploring some of the many and varied song-cycles which he inspired.  The...

GEORGE LLOYD: Symphonies 1-6

Jun 27, 2024 | CD reviews

BBC Philharmonic OrchestraAlbany Symphony OrchestraGeorge Lloyd conductor Lyrita SRCD 2417 3 As an undergraduate studying music, I remember an essay title which read The symphony is dead. Discuss. Well, if that was a serious viewpoint in the early 1970’s it was...

CHARLES VILLIERS STANFORD: Te Deum & Elegiac Ode

Jun 27, 2024 | CD reviews

Rhian Lois sopranoSamantha Price mezzo-sopranoAlessandro Fisher tenorMorgan Pearse baritoneBBC National Orchestra & Chorus of WalesAdrian Partington conductor Lyrita SRCD435 Stanford’s major choral works have been lucky on disc recently with the Brabbins/Hyperion...

ANTHONY PAYNE: Visions and Journeys

Jun 27, 2024 | CD reviews

BBC Symphony Orchestra Martyn Brabbins, Andrew Davis conductors NMC  D281 Not only is this disc a tribute to Anthony Payne (1936-2021) who died shortly after his wonderful wife Jane Manning, but it can also be considered a memorial to the late Sir Andrew...

GEORGE LLOYD: The Works for Brass

Jun 27, 2024 | CD reviews

John Foster Black Dyke Mills BandDavid King conductor Equale Brass. LYRITA SRCD425 The wonderful Lyrita edition of Lloyd’s recorded works continues with this well filled disc of his music for brass.  It is not quite all as the Symphony No. 10 is for brass...