The Night to Sing, Bramwell Tovey. Brass Band Score

A Night to Sing, Bramwell Tovey

The piece takes its inspiration from the VE Day celebrations of 1945. On 8 May 1945 the end of the war in Europe was celebrated in Great Britain. VE day (Victory in Europe day) gave rise to extraordinary public celebrations all over the country, from street parties to services of thanksgiving, to impromptu singing and community music-making. Contemporary reports mention Victorian ballads and Edwardian music hall songs, as well as the latest popular craze the Conga. Festivities continued until dawn whereupon, finally surrendering to fatigue, the remnants of the crowd headed home on foot, long after the last bus. Some felt the celebrations to be inappropriate much of Europe lay in ruins and war still raged in Asia. Almost everyone lamented the loss of somebody who had not survived.

Duration: 16:50