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The Celebratory

Highland Spring

Fling 2017

By Lochaber Community Wind Band

On Friday 12th and Saturday 13th May, 20 Lux Aurumque (Eric Whitacre) Four Dances From West Side Story
Brass, Woodwind & Percussion Players from (Leonard Bernstein)
all over Scotland and beyond ventured to Lux Aurumque began its life
Lochaber. They were heading along the as an a cappella choral work
winding roads to Fort William and the wild that was written in the autumn From 1961, West Side
and wonderful Highlands. They had been of 2000, when the Texas Story is the award-winning
adaptation of the classic
invited by the Lochaber Community Wind Music Educators Association Shakespeare romantic
Band to come and join us for a weekend and a consortium of bands tragedy, “Romeo and
commissioned Eric Whitacre to
of music making at the foot of Ben Nevis adapt it for symphonic winds. Juliet” and the underlying
and to celebrate our 21st year of operation, dynamics of social and
under the leadership of guest conductor The Olympic Flame (Franner Otter) racial strife. Now a concert piece in its own
Charles Hine of Colchester, Essex. Franner won the BASBWE RAF right, the symphonic dance music has been
Composers Competition in excerpted and scored for band by Ian Polster.
As community band conductors all over 2012 with her stunning overture The “Scherzo” is the first of four movements;
it displays a characteristic lively and animated
the country will know from experience, ‘The Olympic Flame’ for wind rhythm in triple time interspersed with soft,
it’s hard to pick music for an unbalanced band. The winning piece was almost tentative rhythms. The transition into
ensemble with players of widely disparate premiered by the Central Band the “Mambo” is abrupt and dominated by the
musical abilities and tastes. Playing in such of the RAF to high acclaim. percussion and brass. The third movement,”Cha-
a group is also a very different experience Tuba Odyssey, The Journey Of Innertuba Cha” is soft and graceful, in contrast to what has
from playing in a full band. The “Celebratory (Franner Otter) (Soloist: Jon Hodkin) preceded it. The “Fugue” is built upon a swing
Highland Spring Fling” set out to provide style “bop” rhythm that underscores the conflict
an opportunity for members of relatively Written for Jon Hodkin of InnerTuba. A composition between the Sharks and the Jets.
small, unbalanced bands to take in the thrill for solo tuba with wind band to reflect Jon’s journey
of playing in a 40-piece band with players across the country on his recumbent bike. This
on every part, and with sufficient numbers arrangement was originally written for brass band,
of experienced players to take the pressure but we are delighted that Franner has agreed to
off the novices. Repertoire was chosen for arrange this work for a full wind band especially for
the Spring Fling weekend, based on our our weekend. You can read all about Franner and “With just the right mix of
firm conviction that musical development is Jon at their websites:
achieved through grappling with challenges. www.frannerotter.com, www.innertuba.org.uk laid-back congeniality and
Mull Of The Cool Bens (Adrian Drover)
At the start of 2017 repertoire was sought concentrated musical focus.”
of a wind band grading up to 4 / 5 and One of the many traditional
included new compositions alongside Scottish airs arranged by
standard repertoire. An emphasis on Glasgows well known composer
and arranger Adrian Drover.
Scottish based composers or arrangers was The beauty of this piece comes
the main element of the weekend, from the from the lyrical flugal horn
concert programme. sound and the simplicity of the
arrangement itself.
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