Goff Richards
Three Saints
By Goff Richards
1996: Commissioned by The South West Brass Band Association, of which Goff was President, to mark their 50th Anniversary (Phillip Hunt)
“[Three Saints] describes three of the many saints who settled in Cornwall in times past. St Petroc, the patron saint of Bodmin, depicted by music which is sombre and devout, a mood which changes with the arrival of the Bodmin Riding Song but returns to close the section. St Breward, the latinised form of the name of the 6th century Celtic patron saint, Branwalader (meaning Raven Lord), is represented by an energetic middle section. Branwalader was an evangelist and something of his reputed vigour is inherent in the music. To end, Goff returns to his home village of St Minver and its patron saint St Manfreda. It was as a chorister in the Church of Santa Menefreda that the composer spent many hours and the influence of that formative experience shines through in the closing section of this intermingling of legend and history.”
Used as a contest test piece including:
1996: South West Brass Band (Third Section)
1998: Regional Championships of Great Britain (Third Section)
2008: West of England Bandsmen’s Festival (Class C)
2014: Butlin’s Mineworkers (Fourth Section)