SKU: A0.1203187

Helping Hands is a march written for the British Bandsman March Composition Contest, entered into category 2 (marches for 3rd/4th section bands). It is dedicated to all the volunteers that make the Whit Friday March Contests possible, which is said to be the greatest free show on Earth. The piece is loosely programmatic in nature.

The introduction is fanfare-like, announcing the date of the next Whit Friday Contests and the bands’ anticipation of and preparation for the event. The first section is the march of the volunteers, as they descend upon the many venues, ready to run the contests. There is the usual hustle and bustle before the second section sees the contests start. The bands strike up, march, finish and go from place to place, whilst the volunteers manage them, the audiences, and all manner of issues and problems thrown at them. The third section represents the bad weather which has, at times, presented itself on that particular Friday. But everyone carries on (possibly the sun comes out) and we enjoy the day.

The trio uses the hymn St. Vincent by Sigismund Neukomm: St. Vincent de Paul is the patron saint of charities and volunteering, hence its use here. There is a small bridge that is reminiscent of previously used motifs and melodies before the hymn returns. The piece is influenced by marches that are commonly heard during the Whit Friday March Contests, using motifs, rhythms and harmonic progressions (sparingly) throughout the piece.

This piece is for the UK-style brass band, includes march-card sized parts, with alternatives for horns in F and bass-clef lower brass.


Other searchable terms: Delph, Denshaw, Diggle Dobcross, Friezland, Greenfield, Grotton, Lees and Springhead, Lydgate, Scouthead and Austerlands, Uppermill, Broadoak, Carrbrook, Denton, Droylsden, The Bush, Dukinfield, Tame Valley, Heyrod, Hurst Village, Ashton United FC, Stalybridge, Labour Club, Knight Templar, The Wizard, The President, Ravenswood, Honest Toil, Mephistopheles, Melphi, O.R.B., Castell Coch, Cornish Cavalier William Rimmer, T. J. Powell, W. E. Moyle, Charles Anderson, George Allan, William Gerrman, Shipley Douglas.

SKU: A0.1512565

“Green Bushes”, an immensely popular traditional English folk song (c.1760’s) is about a young man walking one morning who overhears a woman singing of her true love. He immediately offers her rich clothing if she will marry him instead. She rejects his offer, and yet almost immediately, she changes her mind, on condition that he be 'loyal and constant'. Finally, the erstwhile true love appears and is disappointed as he sees the pair disappearing into the distance. The green bushes are both part of the landscape and a symbol of virginity.  This arrangement is scored for 4-part SATB ensemble to be performed a cappella.  Performance time: 3:50+-.

SKU: A0.505219

Traditional and beautiful folk song written in mixolydian mode. The lyrics concern the antics of a faithless lover and the green bushes of the title are a metaphor for virginity. This tune was made popular in the UK in the Victorian era, and first recorded in 1907 by the musicologist Percy Grainger. It features in the second movement of the English Folk Song Suite by Ralph Vaughan Williams.

SKU: A0.505221

Traditional and beautiful folk song written in mixolydian mode. The lyrics concern the antics of a faithless lover and the green bushes of the title are a metaphor for virginity. This tune was made popular in the UK in the Victorian era, and first recorded in 1907 by the musicologist Percy Grainger. It features in the second movement of the English Folk Song Suite by Ralph Vaughan Williams.

SKU: A0.1246889

This fanfare was written to enter the Arts Active's Fanfare Competition, in celebration of St. David's Hall 40th Birthday. In writing this piece, I researched the musical history of St. David’s Hall. Unfortunately, it has proven very difficult to find specific songs/pieces from some of the key events (the only clip I could find was the Cory Band playing John Mile’s Music), so I focused on brass bands and Wales.

The pieces incorporates Men of Harlech (Rhyfelgyrch Gwŷr Harlech), Land of My Fathers (Hen Wlad fy Nhadau) and Philip Sparke’s The Year of the Dragon. Growing up with brass band, I heard Men of Harlech a lot and it has always been my “go to� Welsh piece. Land of My Fathers is the unofficial anthem of Wales. As for The Year of the Dragon, it was used both times that St. David’s Hall has hosted the European Brass Band Championships: it was used as the set test pieces in 1986 for Desford Colliery Dowty Band’s historic victory (under Howard Snell) and as the own choice test piece in 1992 as part of Britannia Building Society (now Fodens) Band’s winning performances (again under Howard Snell). The Year of the Dragon is also a popular piece of music in the brass-band world and has much significance to me personally.

The name of piece comes from the GPS location of St. David’s Hall (51.48022° N, 3.17653° W), rounded to the nearest integer: the actual location of 51° N, 3° W is just off of the A378 in North Curry in Taunton, Somerset, England. 

The competition stipulated that the fanfare was to be composed for a maximum of five standard brass band instruments and so was written for 2 Cornets, Tenor Horn, Trombone or Euphonium and Eb Bass. An additional score and parts have been provided for a more traditional brass quintet set up.

SKU: A0.752289

‘The Young Tigers’ is dedicated to the Band & Corps of Drums of the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Army Cadet Force. The name of the march originates from the nickname for the Royal Hampshire Regiment, the Tigers due to the ‘Tiger’ cap badge that they wore. When the Army Cadet Force in the area became part of the Royal Hampshires, the cadets were known as the ‘Young Tigers’.

The piece was first performed at Royal Military School of Music Knellar Hall in October 2006 and then at the 10th Rorke’s Drift Concert held at the Theatr Brycheiniog, Brecon on 24 February 2007.

This arrangement includes alternative parts for tenor horn, treble-clef trombone, euphonium and tuba.