Abbey Brass Concert To Feature World Premiere Of New Isle Of Wight Composition This Month

A fundraising concert in Cowes by Abbey Brass will include the world premiere of a new composition about life on the Isle of Wight.

Island Life has been written by the band’s composer-in-residence Mary Lillington and will be performed during the band’s concert at Trinity Theatre on Saturday September 28.

The ten-minute descriptive work depicts several features of the Island, from sunrise on Tennyson Down to carnivals, sunsets and seascapes.

Abbey Brass musical director Phillip Littlemore said the band was looking forward to performing Island Life for the first time in public.

He said:

“It’s a wonderful piece from a burgeoning young composer, which I think captures the essence of life on the Island.

"Mary has a knack for writing lovely melodies from the opening sunrise at the start, to the closing sunset - there are some fairly rousing elements too.

"We have drafted in extra percussion players to cover all the parts which include timpani, tam-tam (a big gong), wind chimes and even a vibraphone.

"It should prove to be an exciting addition to the band repertoire and I’m sure the audience will enjoy it.”

Mary, a former Ryde School pupil now studying music at Cardiff University, was appointed the band’s first composer-in-residence in March.

The rest of the programme includes music from the classical and pop repertoire alongside film and Broadway numbers. A number of soloists will also feature.

Admission is free, with a retiring collection in aid of the theatre’s appeal to fund much-needed repairs to its roof. Curtain up is at 7.30pm.