Composer Andy Scott on the making of Roar!

Thank you to all the wonderful musicians of Maidstone Wind Symphony for your dedication in preparation and performance for this recording, countless hours of fundraising and great playing! Special thanks to Vicky, Kathryn, Russell and Helen.

Personally I would like to thank Jonathan Crowhurst. Without him this recording simply wouldn’t have happened. Not only a fine conductor, Jonathan has a passion for new music, supporting commissions and recordings, coupled with imaginative and creative programming. The music world needs more JCs.

To have absolutely world-class soloists featured on this recording is no coincidence, with musical collaborations and friendships established between MWS, Jonathan, myself and the soloists over a number of years.

Andy Findon is Europe’s most recorded flute player, a leading London session player for many years, stalwart of the Michael Nyman Band and simply an astonishing musician. Featured on this recording playing Fujiko, Andy recorded in one complete take with MWS, displaying seemingly effortless control, nuance and musicality.

Steven Mead is a force of nature!A globe-trotting euphonium soloist and teacher with countless recordings, world premieres and publications to his name. Steven and MWS had collaborated prior to him recording my Concerto for Euphonium and Wind Band, and I know Steven via my work in the brass band world.

The three-movement concerto was originally a commission from Glyn Williams and Foden’s Band, and has been expertly arranged for wind band by Jonathan Crowhurst. Steve displays incredible technical agility in the outer movements coupled with absolutely masterful control and sensitivity in the slow movement.

Les Neish does nothing for my music sales, as very few tuba players can play anything that I write for him! He commissioned and gave the world premiers of Salt of the Earth with Foden’s Band at the RNCM Festival of Brass in 2008, and has performed the piece worldwide since. Arranged by Urs Bamert and edited by Jim Fieldhouse, Les displays supreme musicianship, musical dexterity and range of colours and effects.

Rex Richardson is one of the most virtuosic and versatile musicians that I know, and it was both a challenge and pleasure to write Freedom of Movement for him with wind band!

From reading and interpreting virtuosic notated music to improvising over complex harmonic structures, the sound worlds created and understanding of the different musical feels that are required demand an experience and musically open-minded soloist. Rex and I worked together on my piece Spirit of Mingus in 2012 and I love the fact that he displays what they don’t teach you at most music colleges or in books – feel and groove - and Rex has that in bucket loads!

Freedoom of Movement was composed in the summer of 2016, commissioned by Virginia Commonwealth University in the United States and composed for American trumpet soloist and jazz artist Rex Richardson. Available both for wind band and brass band.

Maidstone Wind Symphony performed wonderfully on the stand-alone band pieces on this disc, Madiba and Paquito, both as an ensemble and soloists with the band. I am fortunate that Jim Fieldhouse was able to expertly arrange these works, along with this beautiful arrangement of Fujiko.

Dave Rowell has captured the recorded sound superbly, and in addition has great ears when it comes to editing and mixing. Thanks Dave!

It took a lot of work from everyone involved making this recording, and we’re all proud to present it to you. We hope you enjoy listening to Roar!