Royal Birmingham Conservatoire Wind Orchestra

Royal Birmingham Conservatoire Wind Orchestra
Conductors David Gordon-Shute, Richard Ward 

Holst Hammersmith*
Sparke Bluegrass*
Arnold Four Scottish Dances
Vaughan Williams Toccata Marziale
Ticheli Blue Shades
Tull Sketches on a Tudor Psalm

We are delighted to welcome David Gordon-Shute to conduct this Wind Orchestra concert. The programme showcases all that is great about British and American compositions for Wind Band across many years: Vaughan Williams’ Toccata is a real showpiece for band and Malcolm Arnold preserves and enhances traditional Scottish songs by setting them for large wind ensemble.

The American tradition is represented by Fisher Tull’s masterwork, almost certainly a reaction to Vaughan Williams’ incredible Fantasia on a Theme by Thomas Tallis, and Frank Ticheli’s piece brings the programme right up to date. To start the concert, following his successful Wind Orchestra programme last January postgraduate student Richard Ward returns to conduct music by two other great British composers for this line-up; Gustav Holst and Philip Sparke.