Kenneth Hesketh
Composer Kenneth Hesketh, in association with Faber Music's Wind Band Series, is marking the 75th birthday of this living legend of the wind band with a musical gift in the form of a 9 minute work entitled Autumn's Elegy. The original source material of this rich and tuneful music is the second movement of a youthful Symphony. Ken's much played Masque was the first movement. The music is nostalgic in tone, but like Masque and the recent Danceries II will receive a typical Hesketh update, with a few modern twists.
Faber Music Band Consultant Paul Hindmarsh has already made a brass band version of this music: "It is measured and melodic, with a big tune climax of which the Hollywood greats would be proud. It makes a lovely contrast to the witty Masque and is at the same level of difficulty. Perhaps I'll be able to persuade Ken to work up the massive fugal finale sometime and then we'd have a full-length wind orchestra Symphony!"
Tim Reynish
Autumn's Elegy is scheduled for its world premiere on Saturday 9 March 2013 at the Royal Northern College of Music, when Tim will be at the helm of the RNCM Wind Orchestra. To enable this to be realised, subscribers from the wind band community are being sought in order for Ken's commission fee (much reduced for this adapted work) and the music preparation costs to be met. Subscribers will be free to mount their own performances after the RNCM performance.
Faber Music will make available a full score and set of parts to all those who would like to subscribe to this birthday gift for one of the greats of the wind orchestra scene over the past 50 years. There are two levels of commission available. A fee of ?500 (UK) will secure your premiere between April and September 2013 and the right for you to make a recording should you wish. A fee of ?200 will secure your first performance in the remaining six months of the exclusive consortium period of one year.
A number of expressions of interest have already been registered, but there is still room for more to join this landmark consortium. If you are interested in being part of Tim's musical birthday musical present, or would like more details, please contact Faber Music's Band Consultant, Paul Hindmarsh by email:
or phone/text: +44(0)7860 707780.
The deadline for joining the consortium has now passed (1st December 2012).
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