A ‘Triple Whammy’ of Releases As Life Begins At 40

The Wallace Collection is marking its approaching 40th Anniversary in 2026 through this triple release of recordings demonstrating its ongoing commitment to reach beyond traditional brass ensemble repertoire to break new ground. This approach is consistent with its ethos of exploration since its first concerts in 1986. These original concerts featured artists such as pianist John Ogdon and percussionist Evelyn Glennie in works by Janáček, Vačkář and Hindemith, and new works by young composers such as Paul Edlin.

These are the first issues of The Wallace Collection’s in-house label which will not be issued in physical form, but will, instead, be readily available on all easily-accessible streaming platforms and as digital downloads purchasable from The Wallace Collection Online Shop. Scores of some of the music will also be easy to access, free of charge so they can be followed by those who want to see the dots.

As much of our back-catalogue as possible will also be able to be consumed in this way. We also have a stream of releases, recorded during the pandemic and its aftermath, on standby in the wings awaiting issue over the coming year to our 40th birthday.

This ‘triple whammy’ of releases provides a comprehensive resumé of how The Wallace Collection continue to flourish at the midpoint of the Roaring TwentyTwenties!

THE ALBUMS

There is a backstory to all musical endeavour these days, but the Wallace Symphony issue, even so, is exceptional. The composition of this began in 1974, and was only completed in 2024, some fifty years later. This work is for brass band, brass quintet, double-belled solo trumpet, live electronics, organ and six natural trumpets.

This issue also includes the Martin Luther King-inspired ‘Where do we go from here?’ Written for the reserve band of the National Youth Brass Band of Scotland to play as the opening fanfare of the 2023 Edinburgh International Festival, it is played here by Kingdom Brass, conducted by Bede Williams. Bede also conducts the bands involved in the Symphony recordings between 2017 & 24 – Whitburn Band; the cooperation band; and, again, Kingdom Brass.

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Purchase the whole album and receive a digital copy of the score

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Watch and listen to John Wallace and Bede Williams talk about the journey of this work which “took half a century to finish!”.

As Above, So Below sprang from Sir James Macmillan’s Cumnock Tryst, which commissioned this work for brass band and quintet from Jay Capperauld in 2017. TWC recorded it in Govan & Linthouse Parish Church in 2024, along with companion piece, Concerto for Brass Quintet and Brass Band by Derek Bourgeois. TWC had previous history with the Bourgeois concerto, Derek having adapted it for orchestra for performances in Ukraine in 2000, notably with the Odesa Philharmonic conducted by Scots-educated, Venezuelan conductor Hobart Earle, in the fabulous Odesa Opera House.

Credits:
Jay Capperauld (composer) | The Wallace Collection | The cooperation band | Bede Williams (conductor)

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Purchase the whole album

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That leaves the final issue ‘The Centre of Things’, a song-cycle (for trumpet, tenor and piano on poems by Hugh MacDiarmid, Somhairle MacGill-Eain (Sorley MacLean) and Ruaraidh MacThòmais) composed between 2015 and 2019.

It was first performed in its entirety by tenor Jamie MacDougall, pianist Marianna Abrahamyan with Bede Williams on trumpet on October 30 2024, at the MacPherson Recital Room of the Laidlaw Centre at the University of St Andrews. Paul Mealor’s 5 Bagatelles rounded off the programme that day, and so too with this recording.

Credits:
John Wallace (composer) | Jamie MacDougall (tenor) | Bede Williams (trumpet) | Marianna Abrahamyan (piano)

Find out more about this release

Purchase the whole album and receive a digital copy of the score

Streaming platforms