Scottish based composer marks royal celebration

Composer Thomas Brown composed a piece to mark The Queen's 90th birthday.

THE celebrations have continued for Her Majesty the Queen after she received a musical birthday gift from a Scottish-based composer.

Thomas Brown, a student at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, wrote a piece to mark The Queen's 90th birthday after receiving an invitation to do so by Councillor Jason Brook on behalf of Holme Valley Parish Council in Yorkshire, where Thomas hails fom.

Entitled Yon Green Garden - Music for a Royal Celebration, the piece quotes the Holmfirth anthem Pratty Flowers (from which the title is taken) and the Hallelujah Chorus from Handel’s Messiah, rumoured to be one of Her Majesty’s favourites.

Thomas, also a cornet player with Kirkintilloch Band, said: "It was an honour to write a piece for this special occasion. 

"As a resident of Holmfirth, it was wonderful to be asked by Holme Valley Parish Council to mark this milestone and and I hope it finds favour with Her Majesty."

In April Thomas came together with school friend, sound engineer and University of Surrey Tonmeister student, Jamie Philokyprou, to conduct the Hade Edge Brass Band (where he began to learn the cornet 15 years ago) in a recording of the piece, which has now been delivered to the Queen.

The work was also performed on May 1 at the parish chairman’s civic luncheon and the recording was played on May 14 at the parish council’s tea party, which they threw for local 90-year-olds.

A spokesman for Holme Valley Parish Council said: "It was wonderful to hear a new piece created by such a local musical talent, and its blend of modern and traditional themes seemed a very fitting tribute to the changes seen by the tea party attendees and Her Majesty over the last 90 years.”