Beethoven’s ‘Battle of the Band’ – special performance
Wed, 08 Feb 2017 16:12:00 GMT
It’s England v France as an unusual composition by Beethoven is centrepiece of an ambitious University concert
► Conductors for the concert Mike O’Farrell (left) and Jonathan Beatty
ONCE again, the French and the English face each other in battle. But this time their weapons are trumpets, trombones and clarinets in place of muskets, cannons and cavalry.
On Thursday, 16 February (6.15pm), the University of Huddersfield’s Symphonic Wind Orchestra gives a special performance of one of Beethoven’s (pictured below) most bizarre compositions, in which he marshals tunes including Rule Britannia to recreate a famous battle between the Duke of Wellington’s soldiers and the army of Napoleon.
The 15-minute work is known in English as Wellington’s Victory. Composed by Beethoven in 1813, it commemorates the Battle of Vittoria in 1812, when the British inflicted a serious defeat on the French during the Peninsular War.
Critics have been condescending towards the work. “And I think Beethoven himself had his tongue in his cheek when he wrote it!” said ensemble director Mike O’Farrell, who co-directs the Symphonic Wind Orchestra, alongside Jonathan Beatty, who will conduct the performance.
But for the 50 student musicians, Wellington’s Victory is a big technical challenge, as they form into English and French “armies” to face each other across the stage, playing Beethoven’s arrangements of national airs such as God Save The King and Malbrouck s'en va‐t‐en guerre – later popular in England as For He’s A Jolly Good Fellow. Battle sounds are provided by the percussionists, who must simulate cannon fire.
The original version of the piece included string parts, so for the University of Huddersfield performance an all-wind arrangement dating from Beethoven’s time was adapted by bassoonist Robert Percival, a member of the period instrument ensemble Boxwood and Brass.
On February 16, this critically-acclaimed group – which includes oboes, clarinets, horns, bassoons and double bass – is hosting a day of events at the University titled Boxwood, Brass and Battles. This includes a 1.15pm concert on the same day at St Paul’s Hall in which Boxwood and Brass perform a wind ensemble version of Beethoven Symphony No.7, as part of part of an Arts Council England-funded project.
At 6.30pm, the Symphonic Wind Orchestra – directed by Mike O’Farrell and Jonathan Beatty – give their concert in the same venue. In addition to Wellington’s Victory, it includes Charles Ives’s Variations on America – based on the God Save The King melody, also used as a patriotic air in the USA.
There is to be a pre-concert talk at 5.30 by Robert Percival, discussing the fascinating history Wellington’s Victory – which was one of Beethoven’s most popular works. Also, before the midday concert, at 12:30, there is to be a talk by the University of Huddersfield’s Dr Steven Jan , who will discusses the fashion for harmoniemusik (wind music) at the turn of the 19th Century.
The Boxwood, Brass and Battles day – which includes talks and masterclasses – has been devised by clarinettist Emily Worthington. In addition to her performing career, she also lectures in Music Performance at the University of Huddersfield.
The student players of the Symphonic Wind Orchestra will perform on modern-day instruments, but they have been given insights into the instruments of Beethoven’s day, including the valveless trumpet and horn (pictured right).
- Tickets for the 1.15pm and 6.15pm concerts at St Paul’s Hall on 16 February can be reserved online or by calling 01484 471873.
