The UniBrass Foundation is delighted to launch UniBrass: The Lockdown Collection, the first album of its kind.
The cross-university album features tracks from 14 university bands, recorded Covid-safely, individually at home (distance-banding style), and edited together into final tracks.
In light of lockdown restrictions meaning bands could not meet to rehearse or perform, and with the 2021 UniBrass contest in Sheffield having to be postponed, UniBrass wanted to provide bands with an opportunity to keep playing and give them a meaningful project to work towards, marking this unprecedented time in banding history.
Each university band was asked to submit a recording of a piece that means something to them; either a connection to their city, band, university, or UniBrass - however tenuous - and the results have been fantastic!
Southampton University recorded Chicken Run, the piece traditionally played on their summer tour which had to be cancelled. Keele University honour their favourite pub. Leeds University asked Philip Wilby to arrange a piece marking the turbulent year. Durham University recorded the march Barnard Castle - no explanation needed. And the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire celebrated the band's place as their ‘Hideaway’ from the hustle and bustle of daily life, with an arrangement of the iconic lovesong.
The full CD running order is as follows:
The University of Oxford Brass Band Blenheim Flourishes The University of Huddersfield Brass Band Jubilee The University of Bristol Brass Band The Chariot Race from Olympus The University of Southampton Brass Band Chicken Run Royal Birmingham Conservatoire Brass Band Hideaway The University of York Brass Band Mr Jums
The University of Birmingham Brass Band Old Joe
The University of Leeds Brass Band Cornerstone
Lancaster University Brass Band The Good, The Bad and The Ugly
Durham University Brass Band Barnard Castle
Bangor University Brass Band Men of Harlech
The University of Warwick Brass Band The Boney M. Mega Mix!
Keele University Brass Band The Sneyd Crest
The University of Sheffield Brass Band Stal Himmel
UniBrass: The Lockdown Collection is now available to listen on all major streaming platforms: Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon Music, and WobPlay, and to purchase on iTunes.