Goff Richards

 

View it on this youtube version

 

One of Goff’s most popular test pieces, it features traditional melodies from two different sides of the globe. The English town of Saddleworth nestles in the west side of the Pennines and was originally in the West Riding of Yorkshire, before becoming part of the Oldham Metropolitan District in the heart of the famous Whit Friday Marches area. The Australian town of Saddleworth, just north of Adelaide, was named after its English counterpart and when the towns twinned in 1985 Goff was commissioned to write a suitable piece to celebrate the occasion, which explains the combination of Yorkshire melodies such as Hail Smiling Morn and Pratty Flowers alongside Waltzing Matilda and Advance Australia Fair from down under. The overture demonstrates Goff’s mastery of weaving disparate and well known melodies seamlessly into a satisfying whole, which can be enjoyed by both the listener and the musicians performing the music.  (Phillip Hunt)

 

Published by Studio Music.

 

Used as a contest test piece including:

1985: National Championship of Great Britain (Fourth Section Final)

1986: Cornwall Brass Band Association Contest (Third Section)

1994: West of England Bandsmen’s Festival (Class C)

1994: National Mineworkers (Third Section)

1995: Pontins (Fourth Section)

1995: Australian Championships (D Grade)

2000: SWBBA Contest (Fourth Section)

2010: West of England Bandsmen’s Festival (Youth Section)

2012: National Youth Brass Band Championships – Intermediate Section

2013: Butlins Mineworkers (Fourth Section)

2016: SWBBA Contest (Fourth Section)

2019: Butlins Mineworkers (Fourth Section)

2019: West of England Bandsmen’s Festival (Fourth Section)