Philip Sparke (1951-) – Flowerdale

Philip Allen Sparke is an English composer and musician born in London, noted for his concert band and brass band music. His early major works include The Land of the Long White Cloud – “Aotearoa” – written for the 1980 Centennial New Zealand Brass Band championship.

Flowerdale is a forest in Wester Ross, Scotland, which is well-known for a beautiful waterfall. This piece, for solo soprano cornet, is one of the movements from Hymn of the Highlands. It depicts the tall trees swaying gently in the wind with the serenity of the area being reflected by the subtle accompaniment of the band.