Nigel has been commissioned by the Central Band of the Royal Air Force and Principal Director of Music, Wing Commander Duncan Stubbs to write a new work to commemorate the 70^th anniversary of the Battle of Britain.

Nigel’s commission will take the form of a short energetic overture entitled `Their Finest Hour’. The overture’s title is taken from  a speech  given by Winston Churchill on 18 June 1940. Allied pilots known as the `The Few’ numbered 2353 British and 574 from overseas. The battle saw 544 lives lost with a further 791 lost before the end of the war.

The premiere of `Their Finest Hour’ will be given by the Central Band of the Royal Air Force under the baton of Wing Commander Duncan Stubbs and will take place on 1<sup>st</sup> October 2010, RAF Northolt and will be broadcast on BBC Radio 2 as part of Friday Night Is Music Night tribute concert to `The Few’.

The Castle of Lavaux-Sainte-Anne

Eynsford Concert Band under the direction of John Hutchins are to perform Nigel’s `Heritage Suite’ (What Hope Saw) in the historic Castle of Lavaux-Sainte-Anne, Belgium on October 30th. Other composers to be featured are Adam Gorb, Martin Ellerby, Guy Woolfenden, Roger Cichy and Richard Wagner. Eynsford Concert Band member David Chapman (French Horn/Piano) wrote an article for `Winds Magazine’ (Winter 2009) about  the bands collaboration with Nigel on this work and how they saw `Heritage Suite’ grow over the weeks. The premiere recording of `Heritage Suite’ made by the band  will soon be available on ITunes.

To read David Chapman’s article,  go to: http://www.nigel-clarke.co.uk/?page_id=648

The World of Brass will be issuing a CD in August of highlights from the 2010 European Brass Band Championships that include Brass Band Buizingen’s performance of Nigel Clarke’s `Earthrise’ conducted Luc Vertommen.

Tracks featured are: Spiriti and A Tale As Yet Untold (Cory Band); Concerto Grosso (Eikanger-Bjorsvik Musikklag); Earthrise (Brass Band Buizingen) with extracts from the Gala and Farewell Concerts.

Pre-order Highlights from the European Brass Band Championships 2010 on CD now!

Special price for pre-orders received before 1st July!

Price before 1st July; £15.95. (Price from 1st July; £17.95)

CD available August 2010. To order now, see link:

www.worldofbrass.com/acatalog/25047.html

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Presentation photograph by Lut Mois

Conductor Luc Vertommen and Brass Band Buizingen presented Nigel Clarke with a specially deigned photograph to thank him for composing `Earthrise’. The presentation took place before the Euro Brass Championships. The collage was designed by Lut Mols the wife of a previous member of  Brass Band Buizingen. After the presentation the Band gave yet another stunning performance of `Earthrise’ in the Euro Brass Championships, Drachten, Netherlands.

Linda Merrick and the Navarra Quartet

British Clarinet Quintets

Contemporary Excellence

The clarinet quintet format has inspired many composers, which encouraged top player, Linda Merrick, to record works by four contemporary British names: Edwin Roxburgh, Kit Turnbull, Nigel Clarke and Martin Ellerby. This release displays them in absorbing light, with contrasting styles adding to the overall effect of groundbreaking writing and intense performance. The Navarra Quartet are an ideal foil, with Clarke’s Equiano capturing the imagination in particular.

Review: The Musician, Summer 2010

Naxos CD – BRITISH CLARINET QUINTETS (9.70122)