our conductor plays for laganvale metal technology band in Northern Ireland and they played this song and our conductor plays solo trobone and he won best soloist 3 times in a row. he is truely talented and possibly in the top 5 soloists in the UK
The tempo does change, but this isn't a March. Does Sparke state specifically that it should remain the same tempo from beginning to end? There are some rubato sections in this piece from what I can hear.
Weird, my other comment wouldn't post. I'll try again. Very impressive brass playing. The technique and intonation are amazing. I was also impressed with the french horns and trumpet solos when they sounded like the woodwinds during the parts the woodwinds would play in the concert band arrangement.
Fab playing - BUT! Listen through to about 3 minutes in then immediately skip back to the beginning of the track. Just see how much tempo they lose as the movement goes on!
The year of the Dragon was commissioned for the centenary of the Cory band as was the test piece for the European Brass Band Championships held in Cardiff in 1982, and if my memory serves me correctly Desford Colliery Band won that year.
Like everyone else it seems, I've played the clarinet part in a band (music centre) when I was school age, and it was one of the hardest pieces we did (I certainly never played it well, although neither was I the best clarinettist there).
When I heard the intro I thought the wind band one was better, then when I got to the end I thought this was better, and now I can't decide. Noooooo I'm going to have to buy a recording of both now. Love it!
Played this a few years ago. What makes this recording special is that the notes always seem to have space no matter how fast the tempo. Fabulous band.
Sorry I dont have the score but it is available to buy from england.
Well about the other clip I stopped commenting there because there was no point.
"It didnt sound good at all when my highschoolband played it faster so it is supposed to be played slower" if all highschoolbands should be able to play everything I quit...
Buy a Cory Band CD and you will be blown away and never play anything other than brassband anc cornet from now on :D
Ive been playing trumpet for about 15 years, and in my high school we played this song (poorly might i add, it was way beyond us at that point) But I have never heard an all brass rendition of this song, and this is purely incredible! Wow, and btw, in response to the woodwinds on the post that this was a reply to, they have nothing on u, at all, no questions asked, this has gotta be much much much more difficult to play on euphonium. Do you need special springs to keep up with your fingers?!?!?!
Hi! Thanx for the comment! No I have the original type of springs in my euph but I change them frequently. Yes the woodwind guys propably dont realise the skill it takes to play a piece like ths. The euphguy in this clip is one of the best in the world (David Childs) and even he does some mistakes in this clip maybe that tells a little of how hard it really is...
I haven't played this piece and I listen to it with open mouth. But all that rubbish like "my part is harder than yours" should not have been posted. I play the alto saxophone and I don't wat to see what would be my part, and your part I couldn't play, but I'm pretty sure that you couldn't play my part either. What I'm trying to say is that every instrument has its difficulties. And in this thing I guess you're right, the piece is nicer when it's faster.
Sorry for that... I got triggered by the people saying that the euph part is probably not as hard as the other and so on. I still think that the amount of air and the lip-precision makes brass instruments overall alot harder to play fast on. And the bigger the instrument the harder it gets. Ive played some tuba and its alot harder than euph. Ive also played some tenor-sax and clarinet enough to know the difference. Those instruments have its difficulties yes but its not speed in my opinion
Fantastic! I played it with the danish champs Lyngby-Taarbaek Brass Band. Great music!
lommelygte 4 months ago
Amazing playing all round cept a lot of these bands are taking it so fast there's no real accel in the end
teale16 8 months ago
I remember when our band played this. I always dreaded this movement!
After months of hard work, I mastered this!
Well I had to being principle clarinettist!
cragnoll 1 year ago
This has been flagged as spam show
I prefer Fodens' performance from the Europeans in 1992. :) But still, Cory's version is awesome too.
aireX90 1 year ago
I prefer Fodens' performance from the Europeans in 1992. :) But still, Cory's version is awesome too.
aireX90 1 year ago
our conductor plays for laganvale metal technology band in Northern Ireland and they played this song and our conductor plays solo trobone and he won best soloist 3 times in a row. he is truely talented and possibly in the top 5 soloists in the UK
LFCfanintown 1 year ago
i struggle majorly in this!
i play TUBA!!
cazasaurusrex 1 year ago
The tempo does change, but this isn't a March. Does Sparke state specifically that it should remain the same tempo from beginning to end? There are some rubato sections in this piece from what I can hear.
sr14225 1 year ago
I can't post
sr14225 1 year ago
Weird, my other comment wouldn't post. I'll try again. Very impressive brass playing. The technique and intonation are amazing. I was also impressed with the french horns and trumpet solos when they sounded like the woodwinds during the parts the woodwinds would play in the concert band arrangement.
sr14225 1 year ago
@sr14225 no french horns in a British brass band, they don't blend!
bass49man 1 year ago
Fab playing - BUT! Listen through to about 3 minutes in then immediately skip back to the beginning of the track. Just see how much tempo they lose as the movement goes on!
welshwilly 2 years ago
My pants are moist.
chrisfactoryboi 2 years ago
@chrisfactoryboi agreeed!!!!!!!!!!
ilovepachelbel 2 years ago
The year of the Dragon was commissioned for the centenary of the Cory band as was the test piece for the European Brass Band Championships held in Cardiff in 1982, and if my memory serves me correctly Desford Colliery Band won that year.
andyhudd 2 years ago
Nearly right. Cory Band's centenary was 1984. The European was 1986. Original was in 4 movements. 1st movement "recycled" into London Overture.
melmau1 2 years ago
That Euph player makes me embarrassed.
OfCanada 2 years ago
@OfCanada You mean David Childs?:) World's best euphist?:)
helburr 2 years ago
Comment removed
olliea123 2 years ago
Thats amazing ... they can play it in pitch black. Are things that bad in Wales these days.
brasswithclass1 2 years ago 34
Excellent recording!
Like everyone else it seems, I've played the clarinet part in a band (music centre) when I was school age, and it was one of the hardest pieces we did (I certainly never played it well, although neither was I the best clarinettist there).
When I heard the intro I thought the wind band one was better, then when I got to the end I thought this was better, and now I can't decide. Noooooo I'm going to have to buy a recording of both now. Love it!
jmp0987 2 years ago
Sounds very much like Sparke, that's for sure! It's sure got his "signature"! I love his music.
euphfellowship 2 years ago 3
Played this a few years ago. What makes this recording special is that the notes always seem to have space no matter how fast the tempo. Fabulous band.
hotlips296 2 years ago
You have hit the nail on the head! Very observant of you and I couldn't have put it better myself. They certainly deserve their No. 1 spot!
maestosomajestico 2 years ago
And i would kill for a copy of this score
Chimeraphim 2 years ago 5
Sorry I dont have the score but it is available to buy from england.
Well about the other clip I stopped commenting there because there was no point.
"It didnt sound good at all when my highschoolband played it faster so it is supposed to be played slower" if all highschoolbands should be able to play everything I quit...
Buy a Cory Band CD and you will be blown away and never play anything other than brassband anc cornet from now on :D
DavidOnBass 2 years ago 3
Ive been playing trumpet for about 15 years, and in my high school we played this song (poorly might i add, it was way beyond us at that point) But I have never heard an all brass rendition of this song, and this is purely incredible! Wow, and btw, in response to the woodwinds on the post that this was a reply to, they have nothing on u, at all, no questions asked, this has gotta be much much much more difficult to play on euphonium. Do you need special springs to keep up with your fingers?!?!?!
Chimeraphim 2 years ago
Hi! Thanx for the comment! No I have the original type of springs in my euph but I change them frequently. Yes the woodwind guys propably dont realise the skill it takes to play a piece like ths. The euphguy in this clip is one of the best in the world (David Childs) and even he does some mistakes in this clip maybe that tells a little of how hard it really is...
DavidOnBass 2 years ago
I haven't played this piece and I listen to it with open mouth. But all that rubbish like "my part is harder than yours" should not have been posted. I play the alto saxophone and I don't wat to see what would be my part, and your part I couldn't play, but I'm pretty sure that you couldn't play my part either. What I'm trying to say is that every instrument has its difficulties. And in this thing I guess you're right, the piece is nicer when it's faster.
Dahro1993 2 years ago
Sorry for that... I got triggered by the people saying that the euph part is probably not as hard as the other and so on. I still think that the amount of air and the lip-precision makes brass instruments overall alot harder to play fast on. And the bigger the instrument the harder it gets. Ive played some tuba and its alot harder than euph. Ive also played some tenor-sax and clarinet enough to know the difference. Those instruments have its difficulties yes but its not speed in my opinion
DavidOnBass 2 years ago