British Isles Suite, A
For Brass Band and Percussion
DURATION: 11 minutes
DIFFICULTY: 4th+
A British Isles Suite is a musical exploration of poetry from around the British Isles. Each movement takes inspiration from a quote of literature specific to the country in question. The work is written in a symphonic style with a moderately paced opening movement, a slow and expressive second movement, a lively two-part minuet and a grand finale.
I - Scotland "When chill November's surley blast, make fields and forest bare" - from Man Was Made To Mourn by Robert Burns
II - Wales "Though lovers be lost, love shall not" - from And Death Shall Have No Dominion by Dylan Thomas
III Isle of Man "Make us free as thy sweet mountain air" - from the Isle of Man National Anthem by William Gill
IV Ireland "How do we tell the dancer from the dances?" - from Among School Children by William Butler Yeats
V England "Be not afraid of greatness" - from Twelfth Night by William Shakespeare
A British Isles Suite was selected as the test piece for the 4th Section final of the National Brass Band Championships of Great Britain 2012