I chose the Boar's Head Carol as the basis of a set of variations because of the carol's age (it can be traced back to the 15th century) and because it is a piece of music that is often overlooked by the brass band movement.
I have written a piece that I expect will be playable by 2nd section bands though they will have to be prepared to spend some rehearsal time on it.
The first variation that was written was variation 5. I had in mind a gigue fugal motif against which the carol would appear in the bass line in an augmented form. This now forms the basis of variation 5 at letter M. The melody at M is not the first subject of the fugue, that appears at N, the letter M figure is a counter melody that gives the gigue feeling.
After completing the fifth variation, I wrote the first variation at letter C based on the fugue's first subject from letter N rather than the carol. This gives the work a sense of returning to base during the final variation as well as providing extra material.
The introduction uses snippets from the carol in the trombone section in unison then, after A, in the cornets and trombones answering figure.
Figure D is a bridge passage that re-iterates the introduction down a semitone.
The second variation appears at figure E. It is a passage reflecting the chase and kill of the boar that forms the centre-point of the stew mentioned in the words. The variation is in ABA form and is full of diminished seventh and minor ninth chords as the music moves forward.
In variation 3 at letter J, the bass melody is derived from the second line of the carol, its simplicity and naiveté is offset against the second variation.
Variation 4 at letter K is a chorale. Do not be put off by what at first glance may seem two slow variations in juxtaposition. The chorale is a large sounding variation coning out in volume, depth and height as the basses and soprano are held back towards the end.
The coda at letter Q forms the first time that the carol is introduced in its original form and closes the work.
Total playing time: 7 minutes.
Price £40