Sunday Bandstand 27 September 2020

Sunday Bandstand 27 September 2020

Geoffrey Burgon was born in 1941, he came relatively late to music. As a teenager he taught himself the trumpet in order to play jazz, and it was as a trumpeter that he entered the Guildhall School of Music and Drama. He already had a catalogue of compositions and at the Guildhall his urge to compose grew. Eventually he asked his teacher, whether he could make it as a composer. His reply was decisive: ‘Well, you don’t seem to be able to stop, do you?’ After further study he decided to give up performing and devote himself entirely to composition. The years that followed were financially lean, but musically rich.

Then in 1976 came two breakthrough successes. At the same time his ability to engage directly with audiences resulted in growing numbers of commissions for TV and film scores, including BBC’s Dr Who and The Chronicles of Narnia, Granada’s Brideshead Revisited and the film Monty Python’s Life of Brian. The Brideshead Revisited soundtrack went Gold, selling over 100,000 copies, and the music won him his second Ivor Novello Award in 1981(two years after his first for Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy). More recently he was to win BAFTAs for Best Television Music for Granada’s The Forsyte Saga and Channel 4’s Longitude.

Despite commercial success, he maintained the flow of ‘serious’ works – to continuing critical acclaim. There have been major stage works, including an opera and dance scores for the Royal Ballet, London Contemporary Dance Theatre and Ballet Rambert. Later success have included a concerto for the percussionist Evelyn Glennie.

This was followed by a piano concerto for Joanna MacGregor, song cycles, Three Mysteries for soloists, choir and chamber orchestra, an anthem for St Paul’s Cathedral Choir and other new choral pieces

Geoffrey passed away after a short illness on September. 21, 2010. In this week’s show we feature his Narnia Suite which was played as the 3rd Section Regional test piece in 2000.

Playlist  27 September 2020   

Recording Details 

Rhythm and Blues – Philip Sparke   Opening for weekly show Foden's Band MD: Michael Fowles - 2010  'Patrons' Choice III' - CD - Egon CD-SFZ154 - 2010
Opening - Bertrand Moren  Brass Band 13 Etoiles (Switzerland)  MD: Richard Evans - 1994  'Highlights of the  European Brass Band Championships 1994' - CD - Obrasso Recording  CD841 - 1994
The Journal of Phileas Fogg - Peter Graham Black Dyke Band MD: Dr. Nicholas Childs - 2015  'Regionals 2016' - CD - Doyen DOYCD353 - 2016
Spartacus - Khachaturian arr. Howard Snell Scottish Co-op Band MD: Ray Tennant - 2004  'European Brass Band Championships 2004' - DCD2 (Glasgow) - Doyen recording DOY CD176 - 2004
Softly As I Leave You - Alfred De Vita arr. Alan Catherall Euphonium Soloists Mike Kilroy and Michael Dodd with the Grimethorpe Colliery Band MD: Frank Renton - 2012  'The Nationals 2012 - Highlights of the pre -results Concert at the Royal Albert Hall - Doyen Recording DOY CD304 - 2012
Paris Metro - W.H.Bowen arr. Steve Sykes  Amsterdam Brass (The Netherlands) MD: Frank von Koten  - 2005  'Highlights from the European Brass Band Contest 2005' - Double DCD1 (The Netherlands)  - SP&S Doyen DOY CD196 - 2005
Bird Bell Polka - Roger Barsotti  Massed Bands of Brighouse & Rastrick, CWS (Manchester), Fairey, Fodens and GUS (Footwear) MD: Roger Barsotti - 1970  'Festival Concert Royal Albert Hall 10 October 1970' - Vinyl - Pye Golden Guinea GSGL 10470 - 1970
Londonderry Air - Traditional arr. John Iveson  Trombone Soloist Christopher Thomas with the Cory Band MD: Philip Harper - 2013  'The Nationals 2013 - Highlights of the pre -results Concert at the Royal Albert Hall - Doyen Recording DOY CD324 - 2013
Bohemian Rhapsody - Freddie Mercury arr. Brevik Grimethorpe Colliery Band MD: Allan Withington - 2008  'National Brass Band Championships of Great Britain 2008' - CD - Doyen Recording DOY CD251 - 2008
Romance from Festival Music - Eric Ball Black Dyke Band MD: Professor Nicholas Childs - 2008   'Regionals 2008' - CD - Doyen recording DOY CD 238 - 2008
Pas Redoublé - Camille Saint-Saens arr. Michael Bach  Brass Band Burger Musik Luzern (Switzerland) MD: Michael Bach - 2011  'European Brass Band Championships 2011' - DCD2 (Switzerland) - Doyen recording DOY CD285 - 2011
March - Folk Songs from Somerset from the English Folk Song Suite - Vaughan Williams Black Dyke Band MD: Dr Nicholas Childs - 2012  'Regionals 2012' - CD - Doyen recording DOY CD 286 - 2012
Narnia Suite - Geoffrey Burgon Tredegar Town Band MD: Dr. Nicholas Childs - 2000  'The Regionals 2000' - CD - Doyen DOY CD102 - 2000
I'll Not Turn Back - John Larsson arr. Ivor Bosanko Cornet Soloist Roger Webster /Euphonium Soloist Tormod Flaten with the European Youth Brass Band MD: Reid Gilje - 2008  'European Brass Band Championships 2008' - DCD1 (Norway) - Doyen recording DOY CD253 - 2008
My Way - Paul Anka arr. Philip Harper Vocalist David Mitchell with the Cory Band MD: Philip Harper - 2013  'Nationals 2013' - CD - Doyen Recordings: CD324 - 2013
Simoraine March - Clive Barraclough  Grimethorpe Colliery Band MD: Frank Renton - 2012  'The Nationals 2012 - Highlights of the pre -results Concert at the Royal Albert Hall - Doyen Recording DOY CD304 - 2012
A Fistful of Dollars - Ennio Morricone  arr. Robin Dewhirst Foden's Band MD: Allan Withington - 2010  'Highlights from the 2010 National Brass Band Championships' - CD - DOY CD279 - 2010
Hymn of the Highlands i) Flowerdale - Soprano Soloist Peter Roberts ii) Dundonnell - Philip Sparke Yorkshire Building Society Band MD: David King - 2004  'European Brass Band Championships 2004' - DCD1 (Glasgow)  - Doyen recording DOY CD176 - 2004
The Day thou Gavest - C.C.Scholefield arr. Philip Wilby  Brighouse and Rastrick Band MD: Allan Withington - 1999  'European Brass Band Championships 1999' - DCD1 (Munich) - World Music  WWM500.048 - 1999 
Coronation Scene from Boris Godunov - Mussorgsky JJB Sports Leyland Band MD: Richard Evans - 2000  'European Brass Band Championships 2000 Highlights' - CD (Birmingham)  - Doyen DOY CD 114 - 2000
The Light Fantastic - Paul Lovatt-Cooper European Youth Brass Band MD: Erik Janssen - 2016  'Highlights from the European Brass Band Championships 2016' - DCD1 (France) - Doyen DOY CD362
Czardas - Johann Strauss arr. Howard Snell Brass Band Oberosterrich (Austria)  MD: Hannes Buchegger - 2007  'Highlights from the European Brass Band Championships 2007' - DCD1 (Birmingham) - Doyen DOY CD234 - 2007
Rhythm and Blues – Philip Sparke   Closing for weekly show Foden's Band MD: Michael Fowles - 2010​  'Patrons' Choice III' - CD - Egon CD-SFZ154 - 2010

1 comment

  • John Slater

    John Slater - Monday, 28 September 2020

    Thanx Chris, It is always very interesting to learn who composed the music in the movies and TV I have watched.

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