Commissions & Premiere Broadcasts
Lewis-Merthyr Band have been fortunate to work closely with a number of leading composers of music for brass, primarily under the tenure of longstanding former Musical Director Nigel Seaman
BBC Broadcasts
In 1982, the band gave the first performance and broadcast of Mervyn Burtch's Overture: Pinocchio together with the first broadcast performance of Peter Graham's Dimensions
A year later, in 1983, the band again worked with Mervyn Burtch giving the premiere broadcast performance of Burtch's Paean plus the first broadcast performance of John Golland's Sounds
In 1984, the band then gave the first broadcast performance of Goff Richards' Oceans under Denzil Stephens, and in 1985 of Stephen Hampton's Lacrymosa, in a performance conducted by the composer
BBC Broadcasts
In 1982, the band gave the first performance and broadcast of Mervyn Burtch's Overture: Pinocchio together with the first broadcast performance of Peter Graham's Dimensions
A year later, in 1983, the band again worked with Mervyn Burtch giving the premiere broadcast performance of Burtch's Paean plus the first broadcast performance of John Golland's Sounds
In 1984, the band then gave the first broadcast performance of Goff Richards' Oceans under Denzil Stephens, and in 1985 of Stephen Hampton's Lacrymosa, in a performance conducted by the composer
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Additional
In 1980, the band commissioned and premiered "Prelude & Dance" by Charles Barnes, then Leader of the BBC Welsh Symphony Orchestra, now BBC National Orchestra of Wales.
On 9th October 1983, Lewis-Merthyr also performed John Golland's "A Gloucester Psalm" for brass & voices at Gloucester Cathedral.
Later, in 1988, Lewis-Merthyr undertook the premiere performance of Stephen Hampton's "Overlord", commissioned by the Friends of Rhondda Heritage Park for the opening of a new museum in the former pit head baths. The performance was captured by BBC Wales and broadcast on television.
In 1980, the band commissioned and premiered "Prelude & Dance" by Charles Barnes, then Leader of the BBC Welsh Symphony Orchestra, now BBC National Orchestra of Wales.
On 9th October 1983, Lewis-Merthyr also performed John Golland's "A Gloucester Psalm" for brass & voices at Gloucester Cathedral.
Later, in 1988, Lewis-Merthyr undertook the premiere performance of Stephen Hampton's "Overlord", commissioned by the Friends of Rhondda Heritage Park for the opening of a new museum in the former pit head baths. The performance was captured by BBC Wales and broadcast on television.
Recent Broadcasts
In 2017, the band worked together with Welsh composer Christopher Painter to give the premiere performance and broadcast of a new setting by composer Arwel Hughes of the traditional hymn Cwm Rhondda. The resultant recording with the band and Sir Bryn Terfel was broadcast nationwide on S4C television on Christmas Day 2017 and Christmas Eve 2018
Current Projects
In 2018, the band worked together with Dr. Owain Arwel Hughes and the composer Dr. Christopher Wood to undertake the first performance and recording on brass of Wood's Aberfan. Aberfan was originally written for the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra and premiered by the orchestra at the Welsh Proms in 2017, a performance which was subsequently broadcast on Classic FM.
In Spring 2018 the work was arranged for brass band and featured on the Brass & Voices of Wales disc, and given a premiere performance at the 2018 Welsh Proms by the massed bands of Lewis-Merthyr & RAF St Athan Bands, conducted by Owain Arwel Hughes.
For 2020/21, the band is in discussion on a number of additional projects with composer Christopher Painter, further information on which will be made available here in due course. The band is also in discussion with Music Centre Wales, Ty Cerdd regarding a piece of music which was commissioned in collaboration with Ty Cerdd (then the Welsh Amateur Music Federation), John Golland's "Te Deum" for brass band, soloist and choir. The premiere performance was due to take place at the Llandaff Festival in 1984 but regrettably the piece was never performed, the choirs having failed to adequately prepare the work. The current Lewis-Merthyr Band is now working towards a premiere and recording of the Te Deum - 25 years after it's completed composition.
