This work for brass quintet was arranged from the original tune by D. J. Marshall and was set as a series of variations by eight members of the Central Composers´ Alliance as part of the Millennium celebrations. The number after each name indicates which variation they wrote: Peter Crump [6], David Fisher [10], Kenneth Gange [8], Kerry Milan [3], Robert Ramskill [1 & 4], Frank Stiles [5], Terence Thompson [9] and Adrian Woolliscroft [Fanfare & 7]. Variation 1 is built around the intervals of the 4th & 5th, in tribute to the 45th Foot.
The Young May Moon was suggested to the CCA as a possible these for a set of variations by Captain Barnwell, since it had been the regimental march first of the Sherwood Foresters and then of the Worcestershire and Sherwood Foresters Regiment [29th/45th Foot] following the amalgamations of 1970. Nearly a century earlier, in 1881, the 29th Foot [Worcestershire] had been amalgamated with the 36th Foot [Herefordshire] to form the Worcestershire Regiment. while the Sherwood Foresters similarly drew out of the merger of the 45th [Nottinghamshire] and the 95th [Derbyshire].
Thomas Moore (28 May 1779 – 25 February 1852) was an Irish poet, singer, songwriter, and entertainer, now best remembered for the lyrics of The Minstrel Boy, The Last Rose of Summer and The Young May Moon. He was responsible, with John Murray, for burning Lord Byron´s memoirs after his death. In his lifetime he was often referred to as Anacreon Moore. His words were set to a traditional Irish air and many arrangements have been made over the years including the one shown here by C H Lloyd published by Novello in 1909.
Although played by brass quintets since, the recording of this work by Quintessential Brass was at its first public performance at Birmingham Conservatoire on St Cecilia’s Day [November 22nd] 2000 with Rob Smith [Trumpet 1]; Andrew Harris [Trumpet 2]; Joy Evans [French Horn]; Christopher Hickman [Trombone] and Joanne Sweet [Tuba]. The Central Composers´ Alliance is grateful to Kerry Milan for preparing the original demonstration CD of the work. The full live recording of these "Variations for Brass Quintet " is accessible by clicking here: The Young May Moon. The complete recording of the synthesised version of The Young May Moon prepared by Kerry Milan for the publication of the score in 2000 may be accessed by clicking here.