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, a professional violinist with 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, the premiere recording of which can be found below
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 of the recently closed colliery. The performance was captured by BBC Wales and broadcast on television.
In 1980, the band commissioned and premiered "Prelude & Dance" by Charles Barnes, a professional violinist with 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, the premiere recording of which can be found below
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 of the recently closed colliery. 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
Other Recent 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, the performance of which was then subsequently broadcast on Classic FM.
In Spring 2018, the work was then arranged for brass band and featured on the Brass & Voices of Wales disc, and given its premiere performance at the 2018 Welsh Proms in the national concert hall of Wales, St David's Hall, Cardiff, performed by the massed bands of Lewis-Merthyr & RAF St Athan, conducted by Owain Arwel Hughes
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, the performance of which was then subsequently broadcast on Classic FM.
In Spring 2018, the work was then arranged for brass band and featured on the Brass & Voices of Wales disc, and given its premiere performance at the 2018 Welsh Proms in the national concert hall of Wales, St David's Hall, Cardiff, performed by the massed bands of Lewis-Merthyr & RAF St Athan, conducted by Owain Arwel Hughes
Current Projects
Through the latter part of 2020, with the support of the Arts Council of Wales, the band will undertake a project called New Directions, which will see Lewis Merthyr commission and workshop a number of short works from composers and other professional musicians.
The band will work on these pieces, at the rate of one work per month, initially in isolation or collectively as lockdown lifts. The band will then record these works and make them available for public consumption online. The works will then be retained for performance at concerts in 2021 and beyond.
This project continues the strong history Lewis Merthyr has of commissioning, recording and promoting new music.
Further information on the project can be found at www.lewismerthyrband.com/new-directions
The band will work on these pieces, at the rate of one work per month, initially in isolation or collectively as lockdown lifts. The band will then record these works and make them available for public consumption online. The works will then be retained for performance at concerts in 2021 and beyond.
This project continues the strong history Lewis Merthyr has of commissioning, recording and promoting new music.
Further information on the project can be found at www.lewismerthyrband.com/new-directions
