Listen to the Band - 02/04/2010

Eric Ball is probably the most popular composer of brass band music, whether for the Salvation Army or for the wider brass band world. He provided the Salvation Army with some of its most memorable music and wrote several competition test pieces which provided new challenges to the championship bands of the time. He had great success as a conductor leading both Brighouse & Rastrick and the CW Manchester Bands to victory in the National Championships. Add to that the fact that he was editor of the influential band magazine The British Bandsman for nearly two decades and it's not hard to appreciate the affection and respect that his names still generates in the band world. Tonight Frank Renton celebrates both his music and his influence in a programme that includes Festival Music, Tournament for Brass, his famous Star Lake march and a classic for Good Friday, The Kingdom Triumphant.