Brass from George Lloyd

 

Do you like British Brass Bands?

Just by chance, I recently listened to a handful of British brass band Christmas recordings. In those reviews, I mentioned my distaste for the British brass band sound - a sort-of quavery, tight ululation, with cornets in the lead.

That bias is set aside for this recording, as George Lloyd would have specifically written for this type of sound. That, and who can contest the fine virtuosity of the Black Dyke Mills Band? Not I!

I know the Cornish composer George Lloyd as an utterly tonal and melodic composer, so I wasn't quite sure what to expect from this recording. Thankfully, he doesn't write to the lowest common denominator or in a base, cinematic style; instead these are hand-crafted compositions of high quality.

I particularly favor those works which had personal meaning for the composer, or weren't written explicitly for Brass Band Championship competitions. This would include the wonderful In Memoriam, which makes up the center of Lloyd's Royal Parks suite, a delightful creation. Also, the nearly 12-minute Evening Song is a beautiful balm from brass theatrics, and of course, a march such as Lloyd's HMS Trinidad March is excellent fare for an album such as this.

Speaking of brass derring-do, Diversions on a Bass Theme is a thrill to listen to. I can't say I can follow the work akin to a Theme and Variations form, but it really doesn't matter when a 12-minute work can hold your attention as well as this one does.

English Heritage was the big news when this recording originally was released on Albany Records, a 17-minute symphonic poem for brass, and it too has its moments which comes closest to cinematic drama.

Now, however, it is the addition of A Miniature Triptych, a work recorded in 1984 by the Equale Brass Quintet, which takes center stage. This one wasn't included in the original release, and as far as I know, had never been released on record before, so its inclusion should thrill Lloyd-ians. For me, Triptych finds the composer at his most modern and chromatic; indeed the movement titles suggest blind wandering, and that is exactly what Lloyd gives us musically. Not a favorite, but a new perspective of the composer's abilities.

I've noticed as Lyrita has released George Lloyd's Symphonies, Concertos, and Choral Music in their new Signature Editions, what (unsurprisingly) high praise they have received on each reissue. I haven't found as much hype material regarding this Brass Works recording. His brass music is certainly worth hearing, if nothing else than for these solid contributions into the genre, nonetheless as contributions into the British brass band repertoire.

 

Listen on YouTube

 

 

 

Works
Royal Parks (14.13)
Diversions on a Bass Theme (11.33)
Evening Song (11.52)
H.M.S. Trinidad March (5.43)
English Heritage (16.58)
A Miniature Triptych (17.00)

Performers
Black Dyke Mills Band
Equale Brass Quintet
    John Wallace, trumpet
    John Miller, trumpet
    Michael Thompson, horn
    Peter Bassano, trombone
    John Jenkins, tuba
David King, conductor

Label: Lyrita
Year: 1988-92; 2024
Total Timing: 77.19

 

 

 

Brass music is a firm tradition which has yielded results from Vaughan Williams, Elgar, and Holst.

Let's add George Lloyd to the list, where his contributions here sit in able company.

Too bad there was no room for Lloyd's Kings Messenger.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Find more Lloyd recordings HERE!