Commissions & Premiere Broadcasts
Lewis-Merthyr Band have been keen innovators and exponents of new music for brass throughout its history. The band has been fortunate to work closely with a number of leading composers of music for brass, with particularly notable and prolific periods during the tenure of former Musical Director Nigel Seaman in the 1980s, and now again at the present time under current Musical Director Craig Roberts
You can read more about the band's many commission below, plus our current Arts Council of Wales supported "New Directions" project, and our current major work projects Tonypandy 110 "Fulling Mill Lea" by Chris Marshall; our Ty Cerdd supported "Under Milk Wood" commission "Rum & Laverbread" by Gareth Wood; and our 2022 project "Eastern Horizons" by Gareth Trott
You can read more about the band's many commission below, plus our current Arts Council of Wales supported "New Directions" project, and our current major work projects Tonypandy 110 "Fulling Mill Lea" by Chris Marshall; our Ty Cerdd supported "Under Milk Wood" commission "Rum & Laverbread" by Gareth Wood; and our 2022 project "Eastern Horizons" by Gareth Trott
Lewis Merthyr Band Commissions To Date
1980
Nigel Seaman - Fanfare: LMB
Charles Barnes - Prelude & Dance
1982
Mervyn Burtch - Overture: Pinocchio
Peter Graham - Dimensions *West Glamorgan commission | Lewis Merthyr premiere broadcast / recording
1983
Mervyn Burtch - Paean
John Golland - Sounds *premiere broadcast
John Golland - A Gloucester Psalm *Cinderford commission | Lewis Merthyr premiere recording
1984
Goff Richards - Oceans *premiere broadcast
Stephen Hampton - Lacrymosa
Stephen Hampton - Overlord
John Golland - Te Deum
2017
Arwel Hughes | Trans. Christopher Painter - Cwm Rhondda
2018
Christopher Wood - Aberfan
Helen Woods - Man Engine Anthem
2019
Mervyn Burtch | Trans. Craig Roberts | Ed. Keith Griffin - Deep Harmony
Arwel Hughes | Trans. Craig Roberts - Arwelfa *Welsh Proms commission & premiere
Arwel Hughes | Trans. Craig Roberts - Sanctus *Welsh Proms commission & premiere
2020
Steve Bingham | Trans. Chris Marshall - Ascension
Chris Marshall - Homecoming
Andrew Powell - The Curious Case of The Wolf & The Hawk
Grace Williams | Trans. Christopher Painter - Mountain Scene (from The Blue Scar)
2021
Grace Williams | Trans. Christopher Painter - Fanfare: Hen Wlad Fy Nhadau
Chris Marshall - Fulling Mill Lea
Gareth Wood - Rum & Laverbread
2022
Gareth Trott - Eastern Horizons
Lewis Merthyr Band are indebted to the following organisations for their support of the above commissions
- Arts Council of Wales
- British Broadcasting Corporation | BBC
- Friends of Rhondda Heritage Park
- National Lottery
- S4C
- Ty Cerdd
- Welsh Amateur Music Federation
- Welsh Government
- Welsh Proms
Nigel Seaman - Fanfare: LMB
Charles Barnes - Prelude & Dance
1982
Mervyn Burtch - Overture: Pinocchio
Peter Graham - Dimensions *West Glamorgan commission | Lewis Merthyr premiere broadcast / recording
1983
Mervyn Burtch - Paean
John Golland - Sounds *premiere broadcast
John Golland - A Gloucester Psalm *Cinderford commission | Lewis Merthyr premiere recording
1984
Goff Richards - Oceans *premiere broadcast
Stephen Hampton - Lacrymosa
Stephen Hampton - Overlord
John Golland - Te Deum
2017
Arwel Hughes | Trans. Christopher Painter - Cwm Rhondda
2018
Christopher Wood - Aberfan
Helen Woods - Man Engine Anthem
2019
Mervyn Burtch | Trans. Craig Roberts | Ed. Keith Griffin - Deep Harmony
Arwel Hughes | Trans. Craig Roberts - Arwelfa *Welsh Proms commission & premiere
Arwel Hughes | Trans. Craig Roberts - Sanctus *Welsh Proms commission & premiere
2020
Steve Bingham | Trans. Chris Marshall - Ascension
Chris Marshall - Homecoming
Andrew Powell - The Curious Case of The Wolf & The Hawk
Grace Williams | Trans. Christopher Painter - Mountain Scene (from The Blue Scar)
2021
Grace Williams | Trans. Christopher Painter - Fanfare: Hen Wlad Fy Nhadau
Chris Marshall - Fulling Mill Lea
Gareth Wood - Rum & Laverbread
2022
Gareth Trott - Eastern Horizons
Lewis Merthyr Band are indebted to the following organisations for their support of the above commissions
- Arts Council of Wales
- British Broadcasting Corporation | BBC
- Friends of Rhondda Heritage Park
- National Lottery
- S4C
- Ty Cerdd
- Welsh Amateur Music Federation
- Welsh Government
- Welsh Proms
Current Projects
New Directions
Through the latter part of 2020, with the support of the Arts Council of Wales, the band undertook a project called New Directions, which saw Lewis Merthyr commission and workshop a number of short works from composers and other professional musicians through the 2020 covid-19 lockdown
The featured works and artists were:
- Steve Bingham | Chris Marshall: Ascension
- Mervyn Burtch: Fanfarette for Northop
- Gareth Wood: Concerto for Harp with Claire Jones
- Chris Marshall: Homecoming
- Andrew Powell: The Curious Case of The Wolf & The Hawk
- Gareth Trott: Eastern Horizons
- Grace Williams | Christopher Painter: Mountain Scene (from The Blue Scar)
- Grace Williams: Fanfare - Hen Wlad Fy Nhadau
- Mick Wilson: Concerto for Six String Electric Violin
Further information on the project can be found at www.lewismerthyrband.com/new-directions
The featured works and artists were:
- Steve Bingham | Chris Marshall: Ascension
- Mervyn Burtch: Fanfarette for Northop
- Gareth Wood: Concerto for Harp with Claire Jones
- Chris Marshall: Homecoming
- Andrew Powell: The Curious Case of The Wolf & The Hawk
- Gareth Trott: Eastern Horizons
- Grace Williams | Christopher Painter: Mountain Scene (from The Blue Scar)
- Grace Williams: Fanfare - Hen Wlad Fy Nhadau
- Mick Wilson: Concerto for Six String Electric Violin
Further information on the project can be found at www.lewismerthyrband.com/new-directions
Christopher Marshall - Fulling Mill Lea: Tonypandy 110
With the support of a second cultural recovery grant from the Arts Council of Wales, Lewis Merthyr have commissioned a new major work for brass band from Chris Marshall, based on memories of the Tonypandy Riots and strike of 1910/11
Suitable for use in both competition and concert performance, a feature of the work is optional scoring for groups of additional world or classroom percussion, enabling the band to perform and work together with youth music groups, plus additional, optional parts for male voices
"Fulling Mill Lea" will premiere in autumn 2021, in partnership with the Rhondda Arts Festival (RAFT), 110 years on from the Tonypandy miners' return to the Cambrian Combine collieries
For full information on the project and premiere, visit www.lewismerthyrband.com/fulling-mill-lea
Suitable for use in both competition and concert performance, a feature of the work is optional scoring for groups of additional world or classroom percussion, enabling the band to perform and work together with youth music groups, plus additional, optional parts for male voices
"Fulling Mill Lea" will premiere in autumn 2021, in partnership with the Rhondda Arts Festival (RAFT), 110 years on from the Tonypandy miners' return to the Cambrian Combine collieries
For full information on the project and premiere, visit www.lewismerthyrband.com/fulling-mill-lea
Gareth Wood - Rum & Laverbread
With the support of Ty Cerdd, Arts Council of Wales, National Lottery and Welsh Government, Lewis Merthyr will work together with the highly respected Welsh composer Gareth Wood, on a new work for band based on scenes from Dylan Thomas' Under Milk Wood
"Rum & Laverbread" was originally a four movement suite for 40 piece orchestra, commissioned and premiered by Camerata Wales for the Dylan Thomas centenary concert, held at the Queen Elizabeth Hall, Southbank London on the eve of the great poet's 100th birthday in 2014. The work was narrated by Jonathan Pryce and the orchestra conducted by Owain Arwel Hughes CBE
Gareth will realise a new version of the work, which will also be designed to be performed with narration, in commemoration of the 75th anniversary of the completion of this iconic poem (originally entitled "Llareggub Hill") in 1951
The physical premiere of the work will take place in Spring 2022, in conjunction with International Dylan Thomas Day
The orchestral original, recorded by Camerata Wales | Cymru as part of the orchestra's Arts Council of Wales supported "Penblwyddi | Anniversaries" project, can be heard below
"Rum & Laverbread" was originally a four movement suite for 40 piece orchestra, commissioned and premiered by Camerata Wales for the Dylan Thomas centenary concert, held at the Queen Elizabeth Hall, Southbank London on the eve of the great poet's 100th birthday in 2014. The work was narrated by Jonathan Pryce and the orchestra conducted by Owain Arwel Hughes CBE
Gareth will realise a new version of the work, which will also be designed to be performed with narration, in commemoration of the 75th anniversary of the completion of this iconic poem (originally entitled "Llareggub Hill") in 1951
The physical premiere of the work will take place in Spring 2022, in conjunction with International Dylan Thomas Day
The orchestral original, recorded by Camerata Wales | Cymru as part of the orchestra's Arts Council of Wales supported "Penblwyddi | Anniversaries" project, can be heard below
Gareth Trott - Eastern Horizons
Lewis Merthyr is delighted to be working with the emerging Welsh composer Gareth Trott on an exploration of world music of the east
A graduate of the Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama and member of the Band of the Irish Guards, Lewis Merthyr is delighted to be formally commissioning Gareth's "Eastern Horizons", an five movement exploration for brass band of music inspired by India, China, Turkey, Iran and Egypt.
The 18 minute work is scheduled for exploration by the band in autumn 2021 and will be premiered in February and June 2022, in collaboration with the Rhondda Arts Festival (RAFT)
The initial draft of the full work can be found below
A graduate of the Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama and member of the Band of the Irish Guards, Lewis Merthyr is delighted to be formally commissioning Gareth's "Eastern Horizons", an five movement exploration for brass band of music inspired by India, China, Turkey, Iran and Egypt.
The 18 minute work is scheduled for exploration by the band in autumn 2021 and will be premiered in February and June 2022, in collaboration with the Rhondda Arts Festival (RAFT)
The initial draft of the full work can be found below
Recent Projects
Arwel Hughes | Arr. Craig Roberts - Arwelfa
Arwel Hughes | Arr. Craig Roberts - Sanctus
Mervyn Burtch | Trans. Keith Griffin / Craig Roberts - Deep Harmony
In July 2019 and 2018, Lewis Merthyr Band featured in Wales' national classical music festival, the Welsh Proms Cymru at the national concert hall of Wales, St David's Hall, Cardiff. Conducted by Proms Artistic Director & Founder Owain Arwel Hughes CBE, the band performed together with 250 voice Massed Male Choir, RAFT St Athan Band and, in 2019, organist Robert Court
Excerpts from the 2019 performance are available on the band's YouTube channel, and include the below premiere performances of Craig Roberts' settings of Arwel Hughes' "Arwelfa" and Sanctus, plus a setting by Mervyn Burtch of Handel Parker's "Deep Harmony", adapted for brass band & organ by Craig Roberts & Keith Griffin from the composer's original manuscript arrangement for brass band and male choir. The work was performed in celebration of the composer's 90th birthday, in the presence of Rita Burtch
The band's "Brass & Voices of Wales" album, produced in partnership with the Welsh Proms, conducted by Owain Arwel Hughes CBE, and also featuring the Massed Male Choirs of Bridgend & Pendyrus, is available for download at www.lewismerthyrband.bandcamp.com Physical copies of the CD are also available by mail order from
www.lewismerthyrband.com/cd
Arwel Hughes | Arr. Craig Roberts - Sanctus
Mervyn Burtch | Trans. Keith Griffin / Craig Roberts - Deep Harmony
In July 2019 and 2018, Lewis Merthyr Band featured in Wales' national classical music festival, the Welsh Proms Cymru at the national concert hall of Wales, St David's Hall, Cardiff. Conducted by Proms Artistic Director & Founder Owain Arwel Hughes CBE, the band performed together with 250 voice Massed Male Choir, RAFT St Athan Band and, in 2019, organist Robert Court
Excerpts from the 2019 performance are available on the band's YouTube channel, and include the below premiere performances of Craig Roberts' settings of Arwel Hughes' "Arwelfa" and Sanctus, plus a setting by Mervyn Burtch of Handel Parker's "Deep Harmony", adapted for brass band & organ by Craig Roberts & Keith Griffin from the composer's original manuscript arrangement for brass band and male choir. The work was performed in celebration of the composer's 90th birthday, in the presence of Rita Burtch
The band's "Brass & Voices of Wales" album, produced in partnership with the Welsh Proms, conducted by Owain Arwel Hughes CBE, and also featuring the Massed Male Choirs of Bridgend & Pendyrus, is available for download at www.lewismerthyrband.bandcamp.com Physical copies of the CD are also available by mail order from
www.lewismerthyrband.com/cd
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Arwel Hughes | Trans. Christopher Painter - Cwm Rhondda
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
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
Christopher Wood - Aberfan
In 2018, the band then worked together with Owain Arwel Hughes CBE and the composer Professor 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 CBE
In 2018, the band then worked together with Owain Arwel Hughes CBE and the composer Professor 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 CBE
Previous Commissions
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.
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.
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
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
Mervyn Burtch: Paean
Premiere recording & broadcast
Lewis Merthyr Band
BBC Radio, 1982
https://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/0739c1f593774aeb8793e6cb2f8af6fc
Premiere recording & broadcast
Lewis Merthyr Band
BBC Radio, 1982
https://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/0739c1f593774aeb8793e6cb2f8af6fc
Peter Graham: Dimensions
Premiere recording
Lewis Merthyr Band
Centennial Brass, 1981
https://www.discogs.com/Lewis-Merthyr-Brass-Band-Centennial-Brass/release/12850474
Premiere recording
Lewis Merthyr Band
Centennial Brass, 1981
https://www.discogs.com/Lewis-Merthyr-Brass-Band-Centennial-Brass/release/12850474
John Golland: Sounds
This performance is the winning performance by Brass Band Berner Oberland conducted by James Gourlay at the 1993 European Brass Band Championships
The first UK performance of Sounds was given by Lewis Merthyr on October 6th 1983 for BBC Radio Wales
https://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/0739c1f593774aeb8793e6cb2f8af6fc
This performance is the winning performance by Brass Band Berner Oberland conducted by James Gourlay at the 1993 European Brass Band Championships
The first UK performance of Sounds was given by Lewis Merthyr on October 6th 1983 for BBC Radio Wales
https://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/0739c1f593774aeb8793e6cb2f8af6fc
Early Works - The Cymmer Band
One of the antecedent bands of the modern day Lewis Merthyr Band was the Cymmer Colliery | Military Band. The band was a pioneer of its time
Dating back to at least 1855, the band was one of the earliest British style brass bands and, somewhat unusually, converted at some point from all brass to mixed brass and woodwind. Typically bands would convert the other way, from wind to brass
Many of the early works for bands were written or arranged by their Musical Directors. The Martyn Family had a long association with the Cymmer Band. Richard and George Martyn conducted the band for a period of 44 years from 1882 to 1926, and James V Martyn from 1939 to 1942. Other family members also played in the band. In addition to directing and performing in the band, the family's musical output was also known to be prolific
"The Devil's Own" is a march composed by James V. Martyn. A published record of the march can be found at www.lewismerthyrband.com/history The band is currently searching for manuscripts and works composed or arranged by the family. Should you have any information, please contact us here
Dating back to at least 1855, the band was one of the earliest British style brass bands and, somewhat unusually, converted at some point from all brass to mixed brass and woodwind. Typically bands would convert the other way, from wind to brass
Many of the early works for bands were written or arranged by their Musical Directors. The Martyn Family had a long association with the Cymmer Band. Richard and George Martyn conducted the band for a period of 44 years from 1882 to 1926, and James V Martyn from 1939 to 1942. Other family members also played in the band. In addition to directing and performing in the band, the family's musical output was also known to be prolific
"The Devil's Own" is a march composed by James V. Martyn. A published record of the march can be found at www.lewismerthyrband.com/history The band is currently searching for manuscripts and works composed or arranged by the family. Should you have any information, please contact us here
