Brass Band

Lakeland Variations

Grade 4.5 | 11 Mins

Lakeland Variations was commissioned by the Seeländer Jugend Brass Band to celebrate their 20th Jubilee course, which took place in the summer of 2022. The premiere was conducted by Michael Bach.

The region of Seeland (Lakeland) lies in the north-west part of Switzerland and is famous for its three lakes (Morat, Neuchâtel and Bienne). Composer Philip Sparke used this as the starting point of Lakeland Variations, which comprises an introduction and 5 variations based on motifs contained in the opening bars. The three lakes are represented by the three notes of the opening timpani solo, the intervals of which, a fourth and a second - together with a cornet figure in bar 4 - form the basis of all the following variations.

Variation 1 revolves around an opening cornet solo based on the three timpani notes over a ‘Vinteresque’ accompaniment (the notion of a set of short variations was inspired by the form of Vinter’s Variations on a Ninth).

Variation 2 develops the cornet figure in bar 4 of the introduction into a moto perpetuo, again based on the ‘timpani’ intervals, both melodically and harmonically.

Variation 3 is a short interlude featuring a euphonium cadenza, which serves as an introduction to Variation 4, a slow movement opening with a cornet solo, again based on the ‘timpani’ intervals. This builds to a full-band climax and subsides to herald Variation 5, which opens with a short fugue, whose theme is again based on the same intervals. Material from Variation 1 is reintroduced before the cornet solo from Variation 4 reappears majestically, decorated by elements of the fugue. More material from Variation 1 returns to close the work.