Brass Band Music
Over the last decade, Christopher has established himself as a leading composer for brass bands, working with the finest ensembles all over the world. Since 2015, he has been Composer in Residence to the world-famous Cory Band, with further commissions including Brighouse & Rastrick, Grimethorpe, Flowers, GUS, & Leyland Bands, and solo commissions including Owen Farr, Tom Hutchinson, Steve Stewart, Brett Baker, Stephen Sykes, Lode Violet, Tim De Maeseneer & Chris Bradley.
Christopher's test pieces have been set at the UK Regional Championships, National Youth Championships of Great Britain and West of England Bandsmen's Festival, with further international performances of his music including Australia, New Zealand, Taiwan, Japan, Canada, the USA, and extensively across Europe. Increasingly in demand as an adjudicator, Christopher has adjudicated for BBC Young Musician, the Regional & National Brass Band Championships of Great Britain, National Youth Brass Band Championships of Great Britain, UniBrass (University Brass Band Championship of Great Britain & Northern Ireland), Whit Friday Marches, South of Ireland Band Championships and Cory Band's Annual Composition Prize.
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Christopher's brand new arrangement of Puccini's iconic aria, Vissi d'Arte received its premiere today at the Welsh Open Entertainment Championship. The work, from Puccini's opera, Tosca, is originally sung by Floria Tosca as she thinks of her fate, how the life of her beloved, Mario Cavaradossi, is at the mercy of Baron Scarpia and why God has seemingly abandoned her. This brand new instrumental arrangement for baritone and brass band was premiered by baritone soloist Rose Hancock and City of Cardiff (Melingriffith) Band. The arrangement will be available to purchase later in 2020.
Christopher today adjudicated at the 2020 UniBrass Contest (University Brass Band Championships of Great Britain & Northern Ireland). Joining adjudicator Sarah Groarke-Booth, Christopher and Sarah judged the Shield section, where eleven bands battled it out to lift the shield and gain promotion to the Trophy section for the 2021 contest. Congratulations especially to podium-placed bands Southampton University, Bristol University, and Sheffield University.
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Bringing together a 12-month project between Christopher, Bratton Silver Band & Cory Band, the three-movement work was premiered in its completed form today at the RNCM Festival of Brass by Cory Band. The work was commissioned by Bratton Silver Band in celebration of the band's 160th anniversary, with support from the Arts Council National Lottery Project Grants Fund and the Brass Bands England Norman Jones Trust Fund. Structured in three movements, the work will be available to purchase later in 2020. i) On Imber Downe ii) The Church of St. Giles iii) Imemerie Aeternum
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Tranquillum, commissioned by Tim De Maeseneer, has today received its world premiere performance in the town of Mechelen, Belgium, where it was performed by Tim and the horn section of Brass Band Willebroek. The title, Tranquillum, is latin, and is a translation of 'tranquility' - music which is calm, still and serene, but above all - moving. Tim will next perform the work in the UK next month at the Saxhorn Fest in Yorkshire on 14th February.
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Commissioned by Flowers Band, the band and cornet soloist Jamie Smith have today given the world premiere of new cornet solo, The Descent, as part of their podium-place performance at the annual Brass in Concert Entertainment Contest at The Sage, Gateshead. The work, inspired by the character Captain Nemo and his descent to the abyss, will be available to purchase in due course.
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christopher.bond@live.co.uk
079 3883 0353