Gwerz á la Drone
Erin Thomson
Description
Instrumentation Genre Ensemble (with conductor)
Tag brass band
Duration 7 minutes
Instrumentation Horn [1 player]; Trumpet [4 players]; Trombone [3 players]; Bass trombone [1 player]; Tuba [1 player]
Throughout history, there have been strong roots formed between Brittany and Scotland. From the days of Mary Queen of Scots, to the First World War.
In Gwerz à la Drone (Ballad to a Drone), I have taken the iconic drone from the Scottish bagpipes and the traditional melodies of Breton music Kan ha diskan and brought them together in this immersive brass piece. The music was initially composed to be performed in the 2020 RCS Brass Concert with the theme “Auld Alliance”.
Instrumentation Genre Ensemble (with conductor)
Tag brass band
Duration 7 minutes
Instrumentation Horn [1 player]; Trumpet [4 players]; Trombone [3 players]; Bass trombone [1 player]; Tuba [1 player]
Performances of this work
| Date | Venue | Performer | Link |
Upcoming events
- 22 Oct 2026, 18:00
[Neil Smith: Try Try Try (soundfestival 2026)] - 28 Oct 2026, 18:00
[Composing for Media - NMS Peer to Peer session 3] - 29 Oct 2026, 19:30
[BBC SSO: Enrico Chapela's 'Antiphaser' (Concerto for electric violin and orchestera)] - 30 Oct 2026, 18:00
[James Weeks: weatherworld quartets (soundfestival 2026)] - 31 Oct 2026, 18:00
[Mimi Doulton (soprano): No Man is an Island (soundfestival 2026)]
Recent updates
Works
- Ransacking, by Tom Macfadyen
- Les Mélodies Nutritives, by Julien Lonchamp
- Sòlás Collective - Improvised, by Tom Macfadyen
Events
- Late Night soundsession: Tom Macfadyen
- Composing for Media - NMS Peer to Peer session 3
- Neil Smith: Try Try Try (soundfestival 2026)
Projects
- Pete Stollery conducts Joe Stollery premiere
- Aides... mémoires... Project album launch
- On a Wing and a Prayer
Opportunities
- Red Note Factory Weekend – 17 & 18 October 2026
- Noisy Nights – Call for Scores
- Nordic Music Days 2027: Call for Works
