Tongwynlais strengthen Bond link with CD

Following their recent Royal Albert Hall National Final qualification, Tongwynlais Temperance has announced that it is to undertake a collaborative CD recording with conductor and Composer in Residence, Christopher Bond. The CD will feature not only his brass band music, but also works for chamber groups and soloists. KMJ Recordings will oversee the recording process, which will take place in Cardiff.

Christopher told 4BR: “For me, the opportunity to spend time with the band on my music, as well as a couple of other smaller groups and soloists, is invaluable. I’m really looking forward to producing something which represents me, my music and my work, much of which encompasses a huge variety of styles and collection of ideas.” 

Trombone Quartet work to receive London premiere

Christopher's latest work, a single movement piece for trombone quartet will receive its premiere tomorrow afternoon at St John's Smith Square; the prestigious concert hall in the heart of London as part of the annual Celebration of Brass Chamber Music in memory of Philip Jones.

Bone Appétit, who will be performing the new work 'Spiral Dreams', commissioned it earlier this year as a showcase for the quartet. Whilst structurally a single-movement work, it is presented in three clear sections, each of which is based on the inspiration behind the work - spiral galaxies - magnificent rotating disks in deep space, containing starts, gas and dust.

Tongwynlais to premiere new flugel horn work at Welsh Open

Christopher has spent the first six weeks of 2015 completing a number of composition and arrangement projects, one of which is coming to fruition this weekend when Tongwynlais Temperance Band and its flugel soloist, David James, will give the premiere performance of a new work 'Of Wind & Weeping'.

The new work, for flugel horn and brass band is based on the relationship between Achilles and Patroclus, two ancient Greek warriors, with the flugel horn representing Achilles and his mourning following the death of Patroclus. As such, the solo is slow and calm in nature, a beautiful reflection of the loss of a dear friend and comrade. 

David has been a member of Tongwynlais Temperance for seven years, where he has regularly been featured as a soloist. The band, of which Christopher holds the role of resident conductor, will perform the work alongside the rest of its entertainment programme at the Welsh Open Entertainment contest on Saturday.

Appointment as Associate Composer to the Cory Band

The world’s number 1 ranked band has announced the appointment of Christopher Bond as Associate Composer. He will provide Cory with a major commission every year for a period of three years, as well as being involved in a number of smaller creative projects. Christopher studied for four years at the Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama (RWCMD) during which he worked with a number of Cory players, culminating in the composition of ‘A New Dawn’, the title track Owen Farr's recently-released solo CD.

Cory MD Philip Harper told 4BR: “I'm so pleased to be able to announce this appointment and I look forward to working with Christopher, who is a talented composer with a wholly professional attitude to his work."