Philip Wilby composition will be European Championships set test piece

The European Brass Band Association has announced that Philip Wilby is the composer of the set test for the 2022 European Brass Band Championships to be held in the Symphony Hall, Birmingham on Saturday 30 April and Sunday 1 May.

Saints Triumphant pays tribute to the great English composer Ralph Vaughan Williams (1872-1958) and forms part of a major nationwide celebration of his life and work entitled RVW150.

Saints Triumphant is based on the most famous of RVW’s own hymn tunes, Sine Nomine, composed to be sung to the hymn ‘For all the Saints who from their labours rest’. It will be published by Kirklees Music and will be available in February for competing bands, among whom will be Scotland’s representative, the cooperation band.

Challenge Section bands continue the RVW150 celebration as they face Variations for brass band, which Vaughan Williams composed for the 1957 National Brass Band Championships of Great Britain.

Two colourful recent works by leading English composers have been selected as set tests for the youth band contests. Chosen for the Development Section (18 and under) is Corineus by Cornishman composer Christopher Bond. Premier Section bands (22 and under) will perform A Brief Symphony of Time by highly-regarded brass band composer Simon Dobson.

General ticket sales for all events within the European Brass Band Festival will go on sale on Friday 10 December 2021. Full details of events can be found on the Brass Bands England website where you can register to be kept informed on new announcements.