Journey Into Freedom, Eric Ball

Eric Ball was commissioned to write Journey into Freedom for the 1967 National Championships of Great Britain. Geoffrey Brand won the contest conducting the Black Dyke Mills Band. The work is rhapsodic in form, but divided into six identifiable thematic sections, it represents the ‘journey’ from short term, soulless materialism to transformative eternal inner freedom; the minor keyed mechanical drive of the opening finally resolved in a majestic ‘love theme’ major key cadence to close – ‘freedom’ of body and mind secured in all its glory.

The National Youth Brass Band of Great Britain under the direction of Guest Conductor Dr Robert Childs.