GOX THE BELFAST MUSIC SOCIETY C ELEBRITY CONCERTS AT THE ELMWOOD HALL

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FINE ARTS BRASS ENSEMBLE Bryan Allen Richard Sandland Andy Culshaw Stephen Roberts Simon Hogg Supported by the ONO ARTS COUNCIL der (tuba) * * * * * (trumpet) 7.30 pm (trumpet) (horn) (trombone) Saturday 15 February 1992 Elmwood Hall supported by D NC COU BELFAST CITY COUNCIL

Pastime With Good Company BELFAST MUSIC SOCIETY 15 February 1992 Three Sonatinas Allegro Adagio Vivace Canon Overture to William Tell Concertino Suite Rhapsody for Trombone Soliloquy for Horn Scherzo for Tuba Finale for Trumpets Classic Images Aspens, Northern New Mexico, 1958 Surf Sequence, San Mateo County Coast, California, 1940 Moon and Half-Dome, Yosemite National Park, 1960. Nellie's Nutcracker In Memoriam Pau Clarke INTERVAL Landlord Fill the Flowing Bowl Puttin' on the Ritz Henry VIII arr Roberts 1 Pezel arr Roberts Pachelbel arr Roberts Philip Wilby Rossini arr Roberts David Catherwood Tchaikovsky arr Roberts Philip Flood Trad arr Roberts Irving Berlin arr Roberts

Classic Images TRA138 Aspens, Northern New Mexico, 1958 Surf Sequence, San Mateo County Coast, California, 1940 Moon and Half-Dome, Yosemite National Park, 1960. 'Classic Images' is the title of a collection of Ansel Adams' finest photographs, most of which deal exclusively with the natural world and in particular concern themselves with Californian landscapes. So influential, direct and simple were the images of his homeland that Americans commemorated the anniversary of his death by officially naming one of Yosemite Valley's peaks after him in 1985. The style of my music attempts to mirror Adams' own photographic techniques, moving in and out of sharp focus into background material of some complexity, although I have endeavoured to preserve what he himself called a 'clean straightforward approach to art ... allowing direct access to Transcription from Nature.' The first piece takes a single central image and surrounds it with ghosted images of itself ... in my own case the solo horn is shrouded in muted tone from the other players. The second piece is a sequence of photographs of wave-surf at different stages of light, water-mass and density. The third piece is a nocturnal evocation of one of Yosemite National Park's greatest mountains, the glacially sculpted Half-Dome. The character of the photograph is both dreamlike and majestic, providing a tranquil and positive answer to the disturb flavour of 'Aspens'. 'Classic Images' was commissioned by Fine Arts Brass Ensemble with funds provided by Northern Arts and first performed in the York Guildhall in January 1988. Philip Wilby 2

In Memoriam Paul Clarke 1991. On being asked to write this piece I was concerned that the musical material should be relevant to the subject of the work. Many of the early sketches therefore revolved around the letters of Paul Clarke's name almost like a code where each letter had a musical equivalent. What finally arose were two elements, one harmonic and the other melodic, from which much of the work developed. The opening unaccompanied horn line develops much of the initial melodic material and in a way it is this instrument that is the central character of the piece. The harmonic material is introduced by the rest of the no ensemble in small snatches and not heard in its full form until the final chorale. At this point the horn is absent. The piece deals with both movement and repose, at times joyful and celebratory, at other times reflective and respectful. The piece is dedicated to Paul Clarke, former Promotions Director of the Arts Council of Northern Ireland. It was commissioned by Armagh City and District Arts Committee with funds provided by the Arts Council of Northern Ireland. Philip Flood PHILIP FLOOD Philip Flood was born in Belfast in 1964 and after completing a degree in Music at the Queen's University of Belfast moved to London in 1986. He studied composition with Buxton Orr and Robert Saxton at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama as a post-graduate student and continued his research at the City University, London, under Simon Emmerson. 3

His piano work December Preludes was first broadcast. on Radio Ulster in 1987 and later in that same year December Study, for two pianos, was broadcast on Austrian Radio. Other European performances include Apologia, for solo guitar, which was part of a 1987 Arts Network tour in Holland by the Dutch guitarist Tom Kerstens. Daisy's Delight, for clarinet and percussion, was given its premiere in London by this group. In 1990 he was asked to write a piece for the Cork Choral Festival; At that hour, a setting of a poem by James Joyce, was given its first performance by the BBC Singers. In 1991 he was commissioned by the Sonorities Festival to write a solo piano piece for Rolf Hind. Pivot was first performed in April at the Queen's University of Belfast. Future commissions include Spindle and Shuttle, for soprano and tape, which will be performed as part of the 1992 New McNaughton concert series in London. FINE ARTS BRASS Fine Arts Brass of England enjoys an international reputation as one of the world's leading brass ensembles. Since its formation in 1980 the group has been acclaimed by critics and audiences alike for its musical artistry and entertainment. In addition to a busy schedule of concerts throughout Great Britain, Fine Arts Brass spends an ever increasing amount of time overseas. In 1986 alone, the group toured Europe, the Far East, Middle East, Africa and the Americas, embracing a total of 17 countries. Regular visits are undertaken to the USA, Canada, Scandinavia, Germany and Japan. The ensemble has also represented the British Council on a number of occasions, and has the unusual distinction of being the last Western group to perform in Beirut to the accompaniment of shell fire! 4

Fine Arts Brass has earned a considerable reputation for musical versatility, and this is reflected in the unusually wide variety of its many television and radio broadcasts. The ensemble is equally at home whether it be recording new commissions for BBC Radio 3, loosening its ties on Radio 2, or presenting its own series of highly popular shows on Radio 4. An ever increasing catalogue of commercial recordings features all aspects of the group's wide ranging repertoire. Since its inception, Fine Arts Brass has been involved in a number of educational activities, and, in addition to running its own courses for brass players, regularly gives workshops and masterclasses. The Belfast Music Society gratefully acknowledges the support of Belfast City Council for this concert. NEXT RECITAL Mary King Adrian Thompson Iain Burnside Saturday 21 March 1992 Elmwood Hall 7.30 pm Mezzo Soprano Tenor Piano 5

For 71 years the BMS has been presenting concerts of first-rate chamber music, including masterpieces which are landmarks in European culture. Some of the world-famous artists who have played and sung for us have included the Amadeus Quartet, Elly Ameling, Claudio Arrau, Vladimir Ashkenazy, Janet Baker, Pierre Bernac_and Francis Poulenc, Alfred Brendel, Barry Douglas, Kathleen Ferrier, Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau, John Lill, Elisabeth Schwarzkopf, Gerard Souzay and Rosalyn Tureck. Copies of BMS brochures available from the Secretary, Margaret Hunter, 36 Sharman Road, Belfast, BT9 5FX, tel. 0232-661708. CITY HOSPITAL ELMWOOD HALL LISBURN ROAD CAMDEN S ELMWOOD AVENUE COLLEGE GARDENS METHODIST COLLEGE WELLESLEY AVENUE UNIVER OWER MOUNT CHARLES UNIVERSIT UNIVERSITY SQUARE FR QUEEN'S UNIVERSITY DONEGALL PASS OO STREE BOTANIC GARDENS