World-Class Brass
Cory BandCory Band has held the number one spot in the official brass band world rankings for 15 years uninterrupted, and today’s concert is a celebration of this ongoing achievement by the Welsh ensemble. In the grand venue of Oxford Town Hall, Cory performs a programme of major works for band as well as highlights from its recent concert repertoire.
In 2022 Cory successfully defended its European title, and will reprise its stunning performance of Saints Triumphant by Philip Wilby, which the judges described as ‘so complete – with delicacy and power, warmth and sonority’. A tribute to Ralph Vaughan Williams, the piece is based on the hymn tune For All the Saints.
To complete the programme Cory will dazzle and entertain you as only the band which has been the winner of the Brass in Concert Entertainment Contest for seven of the last nine years can do – be prepared to be moved, dazzled and left uplifted!
‘The musical alchemy revelled in its ostentation; high octane, risky and thrilling.’ Iwan Fox, 4barsrest
About the artists
Cory Band is regarded by many as the finest Brass Band in history as a result of being the most consistently successful band in all competitions over the last 15 years, and achieving an unprecedented two ‘Grand Slams’ in 2016 and 2019. They are the current Grand Slam champions having won the European, retained the British Open, won the National Championships of Great Britain, retained their Brass in Concert crown and won the newly formed UK Band of Year contest.
The Cory Band is recognised as one the Principality’s finest and most innovative music ensembles. Its numerous CD recordings and live concert performances have received worldwide acclaim.
Philip Harper became Musical Director of the Cory Band in 2012. Since then he has won all the major trophies, including an unprecedented Grand Slam of major titles in 2016: the European, the British Open, the Nationals and Brass in Concert, all won in a single calendar year. As well as becoming the only living conductor to have achieved a conventional Grand Slam, he became the only ever conductor to achieve what has since become known as the ‘Harper Slam’. Philip won the coveted 4barsrest.com Conductor of the Year Award in 2013, 2015, 2016 and 2019. In recent years he was a guest conductor of the Manger Musikklag Band in Norway, the National Youth Brass Band of Wales and the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra Symphonic Brass, amongst many others.
Programme
Philip Harper
The Field of the Cloth of Gold
Dean Goffin
Rhapsodic Variations: My Strength My Tower
Wilfred Heaton
I Will Follow Thee
Philip Wilby
Saints Triumphant
Barry Gray, arr. Edrich Siebert
Thunderbirds are go!
John Huges, arr. Philip Harper
Viva Cymru - Variations on Cwm Rhondda
Trad. arr. William Broughton
Deep River
Philip Harper
The Rings of Saturn
Henry Geehl
Romanza
Liam Sternberg, arr. Philip Harper
Walk like an Egyptian
Ron Grainer, arr. Philip Harper
A Doctor Who Fantasy
Performers
Ensemble
Cory Band
Conductor
Philip Harper
Venue Information
Oxford Town Hall
St Aldates
Oxford
OX1 1BX
01865 252 195
townhall@oxford.gov.uk
www.oxfordtownhall.co.uk
