Philip Sparke
Euphonium Concerto
A large-scale three-movement concerto that has entered the core repertoire, written for and closely associated with Steven Mead.
| Composer | Philip Sparke |
|---|---|
| Composed | 1995 |
| Era | 20th century |
| Type | Original |
| Difficulty | advanced |
| Available scorings | Piano, Brass Band, Wind Band |
| Duration | ~16 minutes |
| Clef | bass, treble |
| Originally for | Euphonium |
| Technical demands | high register, flexibility, multiple tonguing, endurance |
| Good for | competition, advanced recital, concerto performance |
| Publisher | Anglo Music (1995) |
Sparke’s concerto is a full-scale statement of what the modern euphonium can do: brilliant outer movements framing a songful slow movement, all written with the composer’s characteristic idiomatic ease. It has become a staple of the international solo circuit and a frequent choice for competition finals, demanding secure high register, flexible lyricism, and real endurance.
Recordings
- Steven Mead ; Royal Northern College of Music Brass Band; Howard Snell — Euphony
Sources
- Lloyd Bone & Eric Paull, Guide to the Euphonium Repertoire (2007)
- https://www.philipsparke.com/euphonium-concerto-no-1
- https://music.amazon.com/albums/B0G26ZDVBM