DOCTOR OF MUSICAL ARTS PERFORMANCE PORTFOLIO ...

three keyboard pieces by William Bird for orchestra which he later re-arranged for
concert band; the William Bird Suite. This was later expanded to six pieces. A few
years later, Jacob composed his first substantial work for wind band, An Original
Suite, which became a classic, this was the start of a long a illustrious career as one of
the most influential composers, alongside Holst and Vaughan Williams, of orijinal
wind band repertoire this country has ever seen. Jacob ranks as one of the foremost
contributors to the expanding repertoire of original works for military
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band. This
recording is a tribute to a composer who, over a period of more than 50 years,
changed forever the concept of original compositions for military band and influenced
a whole new generation of British wind band composers such as Richard Rodney
Bennett, Philip Sparke and Martin Ellerby.