by Guy Woolfenden

Grade 5 duration c.10 minutes       I Toccata   II Aubade   III Scherzo     Click the movement titles above for 30 second samples   Many of the principal musical ideas for Divertimento for Band are derived from music Guy composed for a documentary film called Country Camera, celebrating the work of the earliest photographers who had recorded a way of life which vanished at the outset of the first World War. The three movements are played without a break. Divertimento for Band was commissioned by Birmingham Symphonic Winds with financial assistance from The John Feeney Charitable Trust and the first performance was given by BSW at the conference of the World Association for Symphonic Bands and Ensembles in Killarney, Eire on 13th July 2007 conducted by the composer. Divertimento for Band is affectionately dedicated to Keith Allen, Jayne Rollason and Birmingham Symphonic Winds. While it is relatively easy to find exciting and energetic music for the less experienced band, too many composers drop into sentimentality all too easily. A movement which I found quite beautiful was the second movement of Guy Woolfenden's new Divertimento, a traditional three movement work with a slightly contemporary feel to the first and a cheerful bounce to the third. Guy came to BASBWE and WASBE and wore his seventieth birthday lightly, conducting a wonderful performance in Killarney of his first wind work, Gallimaufry. If you only know Illyrian Dances, try Gallimaufry, Divertimento or Mockbeggar Variations, all containing movements of sheer lyrical charm. Timothy Reynish   Recording Mark Records 7221-MCD: WASBE 2007 Birmingham Symphonic Winds conducted by Guy Woolfenden

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