Brass Band

Letter from Home

Grade 4 | 6 Mins

Letter From Home was commissioned by the JMU Brass Band (Kevin Stees, director) for their tour of England and Wales in June and July 2008.

James Madison University is in Harrisonburg, Virginia, and its brass band is at the forefront of the ever-growing US brass band movement, enjoying significant success in the annual NABBA Championships.

Philip Sparke visited the band for their 2007 Festival of Brass and was asked to write a piece specially for their tour of England and Wales the following summer. The request was for something slow and intense and in Letter from Home, Sparke has aimed aim to capture the emotions that can be experienced when away from home; a letter or phone call can bring both happy and sad emotions and music is perhaps unique in being able to express these subtle and paradoxical feelings.

Starting calmly, the piece develops with a decorative euphonium solo (and then duet) and but the peace soon turns to turmoil before feelings of resignation lead to a calm chorale which brings a more positive mood.