In the Spotlight: 15 solos for brass & piano

In January 2021, using funding awarded by Arts Council England through the ‘Grants for the Arts’ programme, Foden’s Band commissioned five of its members to write three brass solos each. These solos are varied in difficulty, corresponding approximately to Grades 1-5 and, as part of the project funding, brass trio accompaniment videos were produced to allow players to play the pieces along with musicians from the band.

In the Spotlight is a collection of fifteen of these pieces from five of the band’s ‘in-house’ writers.

Animal Adventures   is a musical trip through the forest and is of approximately Grade 1 standard.

It's a warm and damp evening in the forest, the Marching Millipedes are emerging from under their rocks to hunt for food. Their legs move at a very deliberate and regular pace, marching - as they search for food. Meanwhile, high in the canopy, a Sleepy Sloth hangs from a branch, fast asleep - just as they do for 20 hours of their day. Finally, a Funky Fox , skulks around, swinging his shoulders and hips as he parades through the forest on his hunt for supper.

William’s Cracking Journey   is of approximately Grade 2 standard.

The first movement features three of the most famous pieces from the The Nutcracker – the Overture, Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy and Trepak – all woven together in less than a “mi-nut(e)”. The second movement, Forgotten Journey, is an original slow melody by Nick looking back at journey from his childhood. We finish with the Galop from William Tell , which most brass players will remember from the 1996 hit film ‘Brassed Off’.

Three Roseland Miniatures is of approximately Grade 3 standard.

These short character pieces are inspired by the beauty and landscapes of Cornwall’s picturesque Roseland peninsula. Caerhays Castle is bold and heraldic, echoing the sights and sounds of a bygone age of chivalry. Sailboats on the Roads is languid and gentle, evoking images of vessels on Carrick Roads, a large, sheltered estuary separating the Roseland from the port of Falmouth. Porthcurnick Beach is a bouncy waltz with plenty to evoke a Sunday afternoon spent relaxing on this popular sandy beach.

Three Seasonal Movements   is of approximately Grade 4 standard.

Spring Jig is a lively 6/8 dance. Structured in AABA form, the opening melody rises and falls imagining a couple enjoying the energetic dance. Following a developed repeat of the opening material, the B section has a more triadic feel before reintroducing the final A section. The music concludes with a resounding cadence as the dancer’s feet stomp the final beats of the dance. Autumn Walk is a gentle flowing piece that imagines a walk through a forest on a crisp autumnal morning. The melody moves mainly by step with each statement slightly developed from the first moving over the warm harmonies. Towards the end the music builds as our walker makes their way up a steep hill, only to settle as they reach the summit and enjoy once more the autumn scene before them. Summer Tango opens with the piano establishing the ‘Tango’ rhythm before the soloist joins with the sultry melodic line. The central section sees the melody pass to the piano with the soloist providing a counter-melody before once again taking the reins to conclude this terrific toe tapping tango!

Brass Classics   is of approximately Grade 5 standard.

Composed by the French writer Erik Satie, Grand Ritournelle is a short and playful work forms part of a larger suite for piano called 'La Belle Excentrique'. Originally, Delibes composed the aria Flower Duet for Soprano and Mezzo Soprano as part of his 1883 opera 'Lakme'. This particular song is performed by the lead character as she and her father collect flowers by the river. A piece which will be instantly recognisable, if not by the title! Mozart's Rondo Alla Turca or 'Turkish Rondo' is one of his most well-known works and has been performed by and arranged for countless musical genres and ensembles.

NB: Playalong videos should be used in conjunction with the parts linked from the video description. Published versions have been transposed and will not always match the pitch of the videos.

Instrumentation:
Brass soloist with piano accompaniment

Solo parts are provided as follows:
Treble Clef
Bass Clef