Hubert Bath: Freedom for brass band

I do not often write about brass band music on my blog. So, it was a pleasure to come across a splendid ‘symphony’ uploaded to YouTube.

Many listeners will recall the name of Hubert Bath (1883-1945) for one work: the beautiful Rachmaninov-like Cornish Rhapsody. This was derived from the film Love Story released in 1944 and starring Margaret Lockwood and Stewart Granger. Other important film scores from Bath’s pen included Tudor Rose, A Yank at Oxford and Millions like Us.

Hubert Bath was born in Barnstaple, Devon on 6 November 1883. He entered the Royal Academy of Music and studied composition with Frederic Corder and piano with Oscar Beringer. His fellow students included Harriet Cohen, Myra Hess, York Bowen, and Arnold Bax. For several years Bath was musical advisor to the London County Council. During his lifetime he seemed to have most success with stage shows such as Bubbles, Young England, The Three Strangers, The Sire de Maletroit’s Door, and Trilby. He produced the film score for the first British ‘talkie’ feature film Blackmail directed by Alfred Hitchcock. Less well known are the orchestral works, suites and chamber music and songs.

As a part of his duties with the council he organised many brass band events in various parks and venues in London. Bath composed several works for the medium including the present Freedom and Honour and Glory, the test piece for the 1931 Championships. Hubert Bath died at Harefield, Middlesex on 24 April 1945.

Freedom is effectively a symphony in three movements condensed into about 11 minutes. It was composed for the 1922 National Championships. The composer has kindly provided a detailed programme note explaining his intentions for the music:

First Movement: Molto moderato e un poco maestoso.

In God’s fresh air, under the open sky, we stretch our arms to the great spaces, breathing the winds and contemplating the gentle sweetness of Nature itself. This is Freedom.

Second Movement: Interlude, Andante espressivo.

And then, the quiet interlude of Romance, the trees, the meadows, the scent of the flowers, the little drifting clouds, and - Love, This, too, is Freedom.

Third Movement: Scherzo - Finale. Allegro vivace e legeramente.

And then, again, that other insuperable gift of Laughter, fresh and light as the salt sea breezes over the hilltops which have fluttered their songs across the laughing waves. This is Joy, Love, Vigour, and - This, also, is Freedom.

The 4BarsRest reviewer of Brass Band Classics Volume IV (Doyen Recordings: DOYCD201) wrote that “Freedom, [has] delicious themes of romance, humour, and nature. Bath's tour de force is still a crackerjack of a piece to play and play well, with its immense technical challenges for sections of a band that don't usually get treated in such a manner.”

The work was also issued on the Sounds of Brass, Volume 12 featuring the Brighouse and Rastrick Brass Band conducted by James Scott. It included music played at the National Championships 1973. DECCA SB312 (1974)

Listen to Hubert Bath’s Freedom on YouTube. The Williams Fairey Engineering Band is conducted by Roy Newsome. The recording dates from 1987