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• John Rimmer: A Cambridge Canzona - hardcopy score & parts 

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• John Rimmer: A Cambridge Canzona - downloadable PDF 

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• Dixon: Canto Fermo; computer-set 

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Written for the 2004 Douglas Lilburn Trust Composition Prize competition, Fanfare of the Earth dates from my second year of undergrad at the University of Auckland. The première was by a scratch ensemble in the Prize Gala Concert. Due to the difficulty in scheduling and assembling 11 brass players (an unwieldy task I set myself mostly to prove I could), the one and only rehearsal finished 55 minutes before the gig. The performance was, as I remember, functional to put it kindly; dodgy to put it honestly; a bit shit, to be blunt.

Losing nearly all of my Sibelius files in a hard drive crash the following year, it was only on paper that this piece languished in my archives (a Bernadino wine box in my parents’ attic). But when Lee Martelli, Education Manager of the Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra, mentioned to me that she’s always on the look-out for brass music, I saw a chance to literally dust off and figuratively resuscitate it. Inputting it into Sibelius again (and reflecting on how that software has changed – what wonders Dynamic Parts and Magnetic Layout are!) I’ve made revisions, mostly to articulation, phrasing and dynamics.

The piece itself then? I suppose I should say something about it. So…
It’s a fanfare… and it’s written for brass… kind of does what it says on the tin, really. No complex layers here.

• Ellis: Fanfare of the Earth; computer set 

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• Ellis: Fanfare of the Earth; computer set 

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• Ellis: Fanfare of the Earth; computer set 

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• Ritchie J: Introduction and Allegro; computer-set 

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In writing this trio I was inspired by “Mury” (meaning “Walls”) a protest song by Polish singer Jancek Kaczmarski, the Chorus reads:

Wyrwij murom zeby krat! Zerwij kajdany, polam bat! A mury runa, runa, runa I pogrzebia stary swiat!

Pull the bars from the walls!
Loose the chains, break the whip!
And the walls will fall, fall fall!
And will bury the old world!

The song was adopted as an anthem for the Polish Solidarity movement in the 1980s, which went on to form the first non-communist government in Poland since the Second World War. The success of Solidarity lead to anti-communist uprisings across the eastern block. As when the trumpets sounded at Jericho the walls eventually fell, but in peace not war.

• Simon Eastwood: Jericho (Walls) - hardcopy score 

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• Simon Eastwood: Jericho (Walls) - downloadable PDF 

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This work was written for a group of students at New Plymouth Boys’ High School. All were brass band players, hence the unusual combination of instruments. The requested score was to be “not too difficult, not to slow” and with “one fast movement and one slow movement”. In the end, the work became a four movement work, giving the players a choice of material.

The opening fanfare is the most dissonant movement, and features a lyrical melody idea that seems unable to properly assert itself. Every time it gets going it is overwhelmed by other ideas.

The Slow Tango uses a simple syncopated idea that moves around the various instruments during the course of the movement. The Waltz allows the 1st cornet and baritone a chance to take the limelight. The Rondo finale is a lively exploration of a simple melodic idea. The music includes a fugal section in the middle, before dashing to a energetic conclusion.

• Hamilton: Quartet for Brass; computer-set 

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Riffs ’n Ructions is a fun piece for brass band. As the title implies repeated rhythmic patterns(riffs) are subjected to interruptions(ructions). In the fast sections the percussion section provides the ructions. In the first slow, lyrical section a quintet of instruments is interrupted by loud chords from the larger band.

The piece is rhythmically charged with quasi- ragtime patterns contrasted by dramatic textures. In the latter, repeated regular rhythmic patterns are disturbed by irregular ones.

Riffs ’n Ructions opens out on two occasions for improvisations by the solo cornet and solo euphonium. Both players are asked to improvise on previous rhythmic ideas.

This work was created with support of the Centre for New Zealand Music (SOUNZ) Community Commission.

It was first performed by 100 brass and percussion players from the Nelson Brass Academy conducted by Nick Sharpe at the Nelson School of Music on 10 April 2011.

• Rimmer: Riffs 'n Ructions; computer-set 

  Score and parts | Pdf - computer set
  

• Rimmer: Riffs 'n Ructions; computer-set 

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• John Rimmer: Riffs 'n Ructions 

  Digital sound file - MP3
  

• John Rimmer: Riffs 'n Ructions 

  Digital sound file - MP3
  

Stellar Meditations is a series of musical meditations on “Ave Maris Stella” (Hail O Star of the Ocean) a popular liturgical chant of unknown origin. It can be dated back to at least the 9th century for it is preserved in the Codex Sangallensis, a 9th century manuscript now in the Swiss Monastery of St. Gallen.

Two sound images permeate the piece. One is an ocean image of gentle wave surges and is heard in the introduction. The other is a bell sound which appears in the mallet percussion instruments with resonances in the harmony of muted cornets and trombones. This harmony consists of perfect intervals; fourths and fifths which are subsequently spiced by bell-like tone qualities which create colourful brass sounds.

Structurally, Stellar Meditations consists of an introduction and three chorales separated by two interludes and followed by a coda. The chorales feature the full brass while the interludes and coda are delicately scored in a contrapuntal texture.

• Rimmer: Stellar Meditations; computer-set 

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• Rimmer: Stellar Meditations; computer set 

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• Rimmer: Stellar Meditations; computer set 

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