Camborne Band are delighted to be competing in the 2013 Spring Festival on May 11th at the Blackpool Winter Gardens. The band will be competing in the Senior Trophy where the set test piece is Eric Ball's wonderful 'Journey Into Freedom'. Below is a insight into his masterpiece.Journey into Freedom was commissioned for the National Brass Band Championships for 1967 and was won in that year by Black Dyke Mills Band conducted by Geoffrey Brand. The mood for the first part of the Rhapsody is set by the threat to the free spirit by a materialistic society with the use of triplets in a driving and fierce pattern. Freedom is sought from this increasing tyranny and this is eventually portrayed in solo melodic lines however this is not achieved with some difficulty. The finding of inner freedom and the conquest of fear is confirmed in the concluding transformation of the love theme.
The piece is written in one complete movement divided into six sections and played without a break.
1. Moderato e feroce (Violence & Materialism) Cruel, mechanical and controlling the atmosphere of the music is of inflexible and rigid materialism. (E minor)
2. Alla Marcia (March of Protest) This section has music of both bravado and fear as it creates a mood of protest and revolt. (G minor modulating through further keys)
3. Moderato e molto feroce (Violence Returns) The opening mood is replayed but even more harshly and rigid. The dynamics are turned up and biting sounds interject. (E minor)
4. Andante con espressione (Human Love) Solo voices sing of love in an effort to escape and gain freedom. (F major)
5. Allegro scherzando (Spectacular Waltz & Return of Violence) A release is sought in spirited and playful music before a darkness returns. (B flat major)
6. Andante cantabile (Love Theme Transformed) Contemplation of ‘The Eternal Spirit’ and perfect love bring with them inner freedom as a transformed ‘love theme’ returns. (G major).