Hear The Call - Liz Lane

Lane, Liz

Abstract

Commissioned by Brass Bands England for the first NHS, Social Care and Frontline Workers' Day, July 5 2021.

The brief was to compose a celebratory and uplifting anthem, which as Pageantmaster Bruno Peake said in our initial conversation 'the whole nation can get behind' - and would be suitable both for this year’s first NHS, Social Care and Frontline Workers' Day and also forthcoming years. I wanted the musical ethos to portray something of the incredible and diverse work encompassed, to give gratitude and remember, as well as look forward. The concept is a journey of one person (the solo at the beginning) who is supported by frontline workers so that they are able to return to family, friends and community.

The brief also requested Hear the Call to be playable by as many people as possible, and it is written for 4th section/youth band upwards. If there isn’t a full band, it will work for a minimum ensemble of six parts (cornet, flugelhorn, tenor horn, baritone, euphonium and Eb bass - please see the cover pages) and others can be added. Feel free to put together combinations (but these six parts are crucial to make it work properly); the addition of a small drum kit would work especially well. There is the option to add vocals - at the briefing meeting Elgar’s Pomp and Circumstance March No. 1 was suggested as a model. Hear the Call is in a different style and modern-day context of course but like the march, the melody is heard first in the band and repeated with voices; these could be solo, choir or even audience. The opening is a slow, solo version of this melody - it would be especially suited to flugelhorn but any soloist could play it; the choice can be quite personal.

I am indebted to friends who helped collaborate with this in a number of different ways. Tracey Moss (nurse), Trevor Moss (policeman) and Zeph Churchill (nurse) gave up their time to share what it meant to them to be on the frontline, and as brass players, they also had an understanding of the musical perspective. Their thoughts were invaluable to both concept and lyrics; Andy Rashleigh, with whom I've worked for several years, wrote the words and the front cover was designed by Georgia Lowe with an illustration by Gary Andrews.

• Other Type: Composition
• Deposit Date: Apr 29, 2024
• Public URL: https://uwe-repository.worktribe.com/output/11930074
• Additional Information: Photo: Barbara Hepworth at work on the plaster for Oval Form (Trezion) 1963. ; Photo: Val Wilmer © Bowness, Hepworth Estate