This contemporary take by Alex McGee on the Welsh folk song Men of Harlech will be an entertaining addition to concert programmes.
 
The arranger writes:
 
‘Men of Harlech is perhaps one of the most well known of all traditional Welsh folk songs, but not like this. This setting was inspired by a composer who I first encountered as a 14-year-old playing in his first regional brass band, Gareth Wood. Upon learning of the death of Gareth I felt compelled to honour his memory and his music in composition.  I struck upon the idea to do what he had done to the tune Sosban Fach to Men of Harlech, to take the tune as the raw material and try to craft it into something new yet recognisable, modern yet accessible.
 
The work attempts to highlight what for me are the underlying characteristics of we Welsh; prone to melancholy but quick to find joy, contradictory, inviting, welcoming and warm but capable of housing a fierce streak of nationalistic pride.
 
I dedicate this work to Gareth Wood and thank him for his music.’
 
To view a rolling score video of the work please visit: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YSoZnpnhEjQ
 
Duration: 3.30 minutes
 
Difficulty Level: 3rd Section +
 
PDF download includes parts and score. 
 
Sheet music available from www.brassband.co.uk
 
Instrumentation:
Soprano Cornet Eb
Solo Cornet Bb
Repiano Cornet Bb
2nd Cornet Bb
3rd Cornet Bb
Flugel Horn Bb
Solo Horn Eb
1st Horn Eb
2nd Horn Eb
1st Baritone Bb
2nd Baritone Bb
1st Trombone Bb
2nd Trombone Bb
Bass Trombone
Euphonium Bb
Bass Eb
Bass Bb
Timpani
Percussion 1-2