St James's – A New Beginning

St James's - A New Beginning commemorates the 300th anniversary of the death of Sir Christopher Wren, the English architect who redesigned and rebuilt London after the Great Fire of 1666. It has been selected as a compulsory piece for the National Brass Band Championships of Great Britain (1st Section) in 2023.

The piece consists of four parts:

• I. THE GREAT FIRE
• II. AFTERMATH
• III. VISION (VISION)
• IV. RENAISSANCE (RECONSTRUCTION)

The bells sound the alarm, and as the capital is engulfed by flames, panic and despair spread. As the fire dies down, the consequences of the inferno must be dealt with. This is where Sir Christopher Wren comes in. His vision and courage have been instrumental in the rebuilding of London, helping it to reclaim its place as one of the world's greatest cities.