News - February 2008 [From http://www.petemeechan.com/]

[From http://www.petemeechan.com/]
News - February 2008

At the end of January, the Royal Northern College of Music held their annual Festival of Brass, where I received two performances of large scale works. On the Saturday morning the RNCM Brass Band accompanied Dave Thornton performing Requiem Paraphrases, and in the evening Brighouse and Rastrick Band, conducted by Alan Morrison, performed Macbeth.

I really enjoyed both performances and would like to thank Dave Thornton, Alan Morrison, B&R and RNCM Brass Bands, as well as the Festival Director, Paul Hindmarsh.

Two pieces of mine have been given their premiere recordings, and have both recently been released. These Mist Covered Mountains is a solo for soprano cornet and brass band, which was commissioned by Keith Johnson/KMJ Recordings especially for Glossop Band's CD, Anything Goes. For further information about the CD, please click here.

The second release is featured on a CD called Baritones to the Fore!, which has been put together through a tremendous amount of effort from Pat Herak. Pat commissioned a work for his wife, Diana, for their 10th wedding anniversary, and it is Diana who has recorded the piece, Alu, on the CD. Further information on this CD can be found here.

Both recordings are really enjoyable to listen to, and I would like to pass on my sincerest thanks to all involved in the projects, but especially to Keith Johnson, Mandy Crowther, and Pat and Diana Herak. Both Alu and These Mists Covered Mountains are available from http://www.petermeechanmusic.co.uk/.

I have recently completed a brass quartet, titled Manchester Sketches, which was kindly commissioned by the Swiss National Committee for the 2008 National Brass Quartet Competition. It is around 8 and a half minutes in length, and in three movements. Each of the movements depicts a different aspect of life in my home city, Manchester.

Manchester Sketches is only available to competing quartets at the moment, but will be on general release through Peter Meechan Music at the start of May.

Curtain Call is a short work written for and commissioned by Mark Bousie and the Sellers International Youth Band, who premiered the piece at the Action Research contest in Blackpool,
and they came an excellent 3rd overall - congratualtions to Mark and to the band.

Take care,

Pete

My first post!

Welcome to my new blog!

I am a composer based in Manchester, UK, and this is my random, and some not so random, thoughts, as well as information about performances, and also releases of new music through my own publishing company, Peter Meechan Music.

Take care

Pete