Burtch On Brass
Mervyn Burtch MBE (7 November 1929 – 12 May 2015) was a prominent Welsh composer, who held close association to Lewis-Merthyr Band
Burtch was born in Ystrad Mynach in 1929 and, except for his two years of National Service in the RAF, lived his entire life in the Rhymney Valley. He studied at Cardiff University, and subsequently became Head of Music at Bargoed Grammar Technical School, Head of Music at Lewis Girls' School and then, in 1979, joined the staff of the then Welsh College of Music and Drama (WCMD)
Mervyn was Head of the Performance course at the College until 1989, after which time he devoted himself entirely to composition. His extensive output of instrumental and vocal works included 17 string quartets, 14 concertos, 13 operas for children and numerous choral and brass band pieces
His collaborators include The Banff Centre, Alberta, Manitoba Opera and CanWest Performing Arts Centre, Winnipeg Canada, the Royal Albert Hall, London, the Welsh National Opera Company, National Youth Ensembles of Wales and Welsh National Opera Company. Mervyn passed away on the 12 May 2015, at the age of 85
Burtch was born in Ystrad Mynach in 1929 and, except for his two years of National Service in the RAF, lived his entire life in the Rhymney Valley. He studied at Cardiff University, and subsequently became Head of Music at Bargoed Grammar Technical School, Head of Music at Lewis Girls' School and then, in 1979, joined the staff of the then Welsh College of Music and Drama (WCMD)
Mervyn was Head of the Performance course at the College until 1989, after which time he devoted himself entirely to composition. His extensive output of instrumental and vocal works included 17 string quartets, 14 concertos, 13 operas for children and numerous choral and brass band pieces
His collaborators include The Banff Centre, Alberta, Manitoba Opera and CanWest Performing Arts Centre, Winnipeg Canada, the Royal Albert Hall, London, the Welsh National Opera Company, National Youth Ensembles of Wales and Welsh National Opera Company. Mervyn passed away on the 12 May 2015, at the age of 85
Mervyn & Lewis-Merthyr Band
Lewis Merthyr Band enjoyed a long and close association with Mervyn Burtch, which began in the 1980's between the composer and then Musical Director Nigel Seaman. Mervyn wrote two works specifically for Lewis Merthyr. In 1982, the band gave the first performance and broadcast of Mervyn Burtch's Overture: Pinocchio and, a year later in 1983, the premiere broadcast performance of Paean, both for the BBC
Beyond these, Mervyn then went on to write numerous additional light and major works for brass band, which included Revolt In the Valleys for mixed voices and brass band (a commemoration of the 1839 Chartist uprising, premiered in Cardiff in 1993 with Michael Foot narrating); Beowulf & Grendel, a large scale work for male choir and brass band; Spirit of Conflict for the National Youth Brass Band of Wales; and his recently rediscovered Wind In The Willows suite
Lewis Merthyr Band enjoyed a long and close association with Mervyn Burtch, which began in the 1980's between the composer and then Musical Director Nigel Seaman. Mervyn wrote two works specifically for Lewis Merthyr. In 1982, the band gave the first performance and broadcast of Mervyn Burtch's Overture: Pinocchio and, a year later in 1983, the premiere broadcast performance of Paean, both for the BBC
Beyond these, Mervyn then went on to write numerous additional light and major works for brass band, which included Revolt In the Valleys for mixed voices and brass band (a commemoration of the 1839 Chartist uprising, premiered in Cardiff in 1993 with Michael Foot narrating); Beowulf & Grendel, a large scale work for male choir and brass band; Spirit of Conflict for the National Youth Brass Band of Wales; and his recently rediscovered Wind In The Willows suite
The Project
Working in partnership with Oriana Publications and Rita Burtch, Lewis-Merthyr Band have recently identified 61 unpublished manuscripts for brass and voices by Mervyn Burtch. The band now proposes to undertake a recording (working title "Burtch On Brass") of a number of the most prominent works for full band and solo artists by Burtch, in order to promote the composer's considerable output for brass and encourage further awareness, performance and consumption of the same
Working in partnership with Oriana Publications and Rita Burtch, Lewis-Merthyr Band have recently identified 61 unpublished manuscripts for brass and voices by Mervyn Burtch. The band now proposes to undertake a recording (working title "Burtch On Brass") of a number of the most prominent works for full band and solo artists by Burtch, in order to promote the composer's considerable output for brass and encourage further awareness, performance and consumption of the same
Burtch On Brass - Proposed Content
Lewis-Merthyr Band
- Overture: Pinocchio (1982) m/s 4:00
- Paean (1983) m/s 2:00
(The premiere broadcast recording of Paean is available here)
- Wind in the Willows Suite (with Narrator) Vanderbeek 12:00
I) The River Bank
II) The Open Road
III) Mole
IV) The Wild Wood
V) Mr Toad
- Spirit of Conflict Oriana (14:45)
-----
Cornet Soloist
- Will o' the Wisp Oriana 2:00
OR
- Suite for Cornet & Piano m/s
Horn Soloist
- Dream Sequence for Horn & Piano (1986) Oriana 16:40
Mvt I - Mvt II - Mvt III - Mvt IV - Mvt V
3:05 - 4:25 - 4:25 - 1:45 - 3:15
OR
- Nocturne for Tenor Horn Vanderbeek 5:00
*available for both piano and brass band accompaniment (sheet music)
Euphonium Soloist
- Nocturne & Dance (2013) Prima Vista Musikk (sheet music) 8:30
OR
- Fantasy for Euphonium, Oriana 8:00
Tuba Soloist
- Prelude, Cadenza and Dance (1980) m/s 6:00
OR
- Sonatina for Tuba, Oriana (sheet music) 9:00
A recording partner is currently being sought for the project. It is hoped that the physical recording sessions can be undertaken in winter 2021 for release in Spring 2022
Lewis-Merthyr Band
- Overture: Pinocchio (1982) m/s 4:00
- Paean (1983) m/s 2:00
(The premiere broadcast recording of Paean is available here)
- Wind in the Willows Suite (with Narrator) Vanderbeek 12:00
I) The River Bank
II) The Open Road
III) Mole
IV) The Wild Wood
V) Mr Toad
- Spirit of Conflict Oriana (14:45)
-----
Cornet Soloist
- Will o' the Wisp Oriana 2:00
OR
- Suite for Cornet & Piano m/s
Horn Soloist
- Dream Sequence for Horn & Piano (1986) Oriana 16:40
Mvt I - Mvt II - Mvt III - Mvt IV - Mvt V
3:05 - 4:25 - 4:25 - 1:45 - 3:15
OR
- Nocturne for Tenor Horn Vanderbeek 5:00
*available for both piano and brass band accompaniment (sheet music)
Euphonium Soloist
- Nocturne & Dance (2013) Prima Vista Musikk (sheet music) 8:30
OR
- Fantasy for Euphonium, Oriana 8:00
Tuba Soloist
- Prelude, Cadenza and Dance (1980) m/s 6:00
OR
- Sonatina for Tuba, Oriana (sheet music) 9:00
A recording partner is currently being sought for the project. It is hoped that the physical recording sessions can be undertaken in winter 2021 for release in Spring 2022
Additional Works by Burtch for Brass
Major Works
- A Revolt in the Valleys (1993)
- Beowulf & Grendel (1997)
- Concerto for Piano & Brass Band
Works with Oriana Publications
- Coryscations (MS) flugel;ten hn;bar;Eb bass
- Divertimento (MS) brass band
- Fanfare for Band (TR) brass band
- Fanfarette for Northop (PC) brass band
- Five Pieces for Horn Trio (TR) 3hn
- Flourish for Brass (TR) Ebcrt; Bbcrt; Ebhn; 2trb
- Full Circle (PC) brass band
- Hiraeth (MS) brass band
- Hiraeth (PC) 4tpt; hn; 3trb; tba
- Panache (MS) brass band - Vanderbeek
- Partita for Brass (TR) 3tpt; 2hn; 2tentrb; btrb; tba - Oriana
- Suite for Brass Band (TR) brass band
- Terzetto (PC) 3 Trumpets
- Three Piece Suite (TR) 2tpt; hn; trb; tba
- Triptych for Trombone Quintet (MS) 4 ten trb; btrb
Other Recordings
- Christian Morris
- Mervyn Burtch: A Celebration
Major Works
- A Revolt in the Valleys (1993)
- Beowulf & Grendel (1997)
- Concerto for Piano & Brass Band
Works with Oriana Publications
- Coryscations (MS) flugel;ten hn;bar;Eb bass
- Divertimento (MS) brass band
- Fanfare for Band (TR) brass band
- Fanfarette for Northop (PC) brass band
- Five Pieces for Horn Trio (TR) 3hn
- Flourish for Brass (TR) Ebcrt; Bbcrt; Ebhn; 2trb
- Full Circle (PC) brass band
- Hiraeth (MS) brass band
- Hiraeth (PC) 4tpt; hn; 3trb; tba
- Panache (MS) brass band - Vanderbeek
- Partita for Brass (TR) 3tpt; 2hn; 2tentrb; btrb; tba - Oriana
- Suite for Brass Band (TR) brass band
- Terzetto (PC) 3 Trumpets
- Three Piece Suite (TR) 2tpt; hn; trb; tba
- Triptych for Trombone Quintet (MS) 4 ten trb; btrb
Other Recordings
- Christian Morris
- Mervyn Burtch: A Celebration
