Alexandra Palace (Overture) Gordon Jacob

Alexandra Palace in North London stands as an enormous landmark boasting a history of concerts and events to match its huge structure.

During the 1930s it became the first home for BBC Television and was still being used for transmissions in the 1950s.

In 1975, as part of the centenary celebrations for the Palace, the Greater London Council commissioned Gordon Jacob to write a work to be performed at the Palace. His response was the Overture: Alexandra Palace, first heard in the great hall played by The Royal Marines Massed Bands plus a fanfare group on 25 May 1975. Such large forces, and the grandeur of the music, was entirely in keeping with the building's lofty architecture.

Over the years Alexandra Palace became affectionately known as Ally Pally, and this was the composer's original title for his overture.

Subsequently the overture, like the palace itself, was almost forgotten until, by happy chance, discussion relating to the centenary of Gordon Jacob's birth in 1895 acted as a reminder.

Under its new title and with the fanfare parts incorporated into the main score, Overture: Alexandra Palace is now available to everybody to enjoy, as a tribute to a remarkably gifted musician, composer, teacher.

A flow of lively ideas, succinct structure, sureness of orchestration, all are present as a reminder of Gordon Jacob's special skills, which he employed daily right up to his death in 1984.

Besetzungsliste / Instrumentation:

Full Score
C Piccolo
Flute I-II
Oboe I-II
Bassoon I-II
E-flat Soprano Clarinet
B-flat Soprano Clarinet I-II-III
E-flat Alto Clarinet
B-flat Bass Clarinet
E-flat Alto Saxophone I-II
B-flat Tenor Saxophone
E-flat Baritone Saxophone
B-flat Cornet I-II-III
B-flat Trumpet I-II
Horn in F I-II-III-IV
Trombone I-II-III
Euphonium
Tuba
String Bass
Timpani
Percussion I-II