Gareth Churcher

Gareth was born in Falmouth in 1983 and has a flourishing career as a conductor and composer primarily in the world of brass and voice.

His works have been performed locally, nationally and internationally. He has had works performed by the Virtuosi GUS Band, Brett Baker and various other ensembles.  His compositions for brass bands have been chosen for national competitions and his compositional and arranging skills are becoming highly sought after.

2018: Festival Artistic Director of Cornwall International Male Choral Festival.

2023: Gareth is the Lead Officer of Cornwall Music Service Trust.

 

Some of Gareth Churcher’s Music

Titles in blue are links to that music’s page

 

A Bit of Cornish

(arrangement)

Pub: PP.

 

A Candle Shines

 

Five years ago I was commissioned by Tim Smithies to write a Dawn Fanfare for the RNAS Culdrose Volunteer Band. This commission and subsequent premiere was given at 06:00 on the King Harry Ferry on a beautifully still early summer morning to celebrate a previous Jubilee. I remember vividly how the sounds of the musicians were carried over the water and what an amazing space both acoustically and more generally the River Fal was and still is. This experience motivated me to work on another musical composition, in collaboration with Abigail Reynolds that involved Tremayne Quay, the Helford River, St Keverne Brass Band and a solo vocalist. Fast forward five years and upon receiving a call from Tim Smithies again I have been able to draw on these previous experiences and learning and offer “A Candle Shines”.

Instead of replicating the Dawn Fanfare of five years ago, Tim mooted the concept of a Dawn Chorus to include a Brass Band and Choir that would celebrate Her Majesty The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee. The remit for this commission has been very open. In fact I have been left completely free to create any type of musical composition that I see fit.

Nature’s Dawn Chorus, if you take time to really listen and witness it, is a mesmerising event that happens every single day. This is particularly true when at the site of the King Harry Ferry on the River Fal. We emerge from darkness to the development of birdsong which eventually gives way to the hustle and bustle of everyday life only for this to mirror itself at the end of the day. Birdsong itself is awe-inspiring and when you really research this (sometimes having to slow the various calls and songs down) the tonal qualities that are produced can understandably be drawn on for compositional reference and have been by composers such as Mozart and Messiaen to name a few.

Referencing the above with shoreline Trumpeters, a Brass Band, Percussion, Mixed Choir and sounds from the natural environment I hope that I have created a musical soundscape that is atmospheric, uplifting, exciting, celebratory and inclusive. With all of these ambitions it has required creative compositional and directorial practices which I feel enhance the sense of occasion.

My sincerest thanks go to Bob Willmott who I have worked with collaboratively. Bob’s poem provides the lyrics for the work and adds another dimension to the work. At any given point in our lives we will all have challenges and worries. These will vary in terms of how big or small the challenges are but when they are big we need something to help us through. For some this may be sport, exercise or other recreation but for many of us it is music and song. Bob captures this sentiment beautifully and I am so glad that I am able to use his words for this work.

 

Anthem from Chess

(arrangement)

(cornet solo)

Pub: PP.

 

 

Ad Undas (To the Waves)

Descriptive music about the Titanic.

Pub: Kirklees Music

Used as a contest test piece including:

2013: Butlins Mineworkers (First Section)

2013: Brass At The Guild (Preston) Contest (First Section)

2019: West of England Bandsmen’s Festival (Class B)

 

 

Ave Maria

(arrangement)

Pub: PP.

 

Bridge Over Troubled Water

(arrangement)

Pub: PP.

 

 

Celtic Banner

(concert march)

Pub: Kirklees.

 

 

Charol: Intrada

Pub: Kirklees.

 

England

(arrangement)

Commissioned by Ralph McTell.

Pub: Leola Music.

 

 

Episodes for Brass

A depiction of various episodes in the life of the composer who penned it for his wedding to capture the excitement and majesty of the day. The piece is in three movements: Fanfare and Bells of Celebration, Solenne (dedicated to the late Shaun Thomas), and Finale, which starts with a wake-up call, followed by a fanfare for cornets and trombones.

Pub: Kirklees.

Used as a contest test piece including:

2001: SWBBA Contest (Fourth Section)

2006: Pontins (Third Section)

2008: SWBBA Contest (Third Section)

2014: French Open (Third Division)

2018: National Championship of Great Britain (Third Section Final)

2019: IABCB National Band Championships (Section 1 Brass)

 

 

Evening Hymn

Pub: PP.

 

 

Gaudete

(arrangement)

Pub: Kirklees.

 

 

Invasion

(arrangement)

(march)

Pub: Kirklees.

 

 

Love Shine A Light

(arrangement)

Pub: PP.

 

 

Music

(arrangement)

Commissioned by the Liss Band.

Pub: PP.

 

 

My Dearest Dear

(arrangement)

(Cornet solo)

Pub: Kirklees.

 

 

O Come All Ye Faithful

(arrangement)

Pub: PP.

 

O Holy Night

(arrangement)

(cornet solo)

Pub: Kirklees.

 

 

On My Own from Les Miserables

(arrangement)

(Soprano solo)

Pub: PP.

 

 

Rondino Pathetique  from Mozart’s Suite Pathetique

(arrangement)

Pub: Kirklees.

 

 

Straighten Up And Fly Right

(arrangement)

(trombone solo)

Pub: PP.

 

 

The Rother

Written for the Liss Band.

Pub: Kirklees.

 

 

Troheaul

Pub: Kirklees.

Commissioned by Kestle Barton Contemporary Fine Art Studio.

First Public Performance was at Kestle Barton in collaboration with Abigail Reynolds.

 

 

Twinkle, Twinkle, You Little Star

(arrangement)

(Air and Variations for tenor horn or Eb bass)

Pub: Kirklees.

 

 

Way of the Warrior

Pub: Kirklees.

Four movement work.

First Publc Performance at RNCM Festival of Brass.

 

 

You Raise Me Up

(arrangement)

Pub: Kirklees.