&Piano 2026 Event 2 | The Last Post

Lewis Barton (Trumpet), Andrew Randall (Baritone), Matthew Lam (Piano)*

Featuring:
George Butterworth - A Shropshire Lad
Cheryl Frances-Hoad - Magic Lantern Tales
George Enescu - Légende for Trumpet

As always, &Piano tries to showcase instruments that don't often get the chance to shine as a soloist, and this year is no different, as we showcase two instruments from the brass & wind families - starting with the trumpet!

&Piano is a celebration of instrumental and vocal music, and this year we've decided to mix the two together to create some really interesting and powerful programmes of music. It's been only relatively recently that the trumpet has been taken seriously as a solo musical instrument - it's more commonly been used throughout history for civic, religious and military purposes - particularly in the military, used for fanfares, marches and call to arms, with it's ability to grab people's attention and be heard over loud noise! There is perhaps no tune more recognisable on the trumpet than 'The Last Post' played annually across the country on Remembrance Day to honour those who have fallen in war.

Inspired by this connection, three exciting musicians from across Yorkshire, Derbyshire & Lancashire - Baritone Andrew Randall (Opera North, winner of the John Ireland Music Prize & Edward Brook English Song Prize), Rising Star Trumpeter Lewis Burton (Principal Cornet of NYBBGB and winner of the Harry Mortimer Solo Competition) and Pianist Matthew Lam (RNCM, BBC Philharmonic, LPO) - present a powerful programme of music exploring the tragedy of war, and the lives of soldiers lost or scarred by war over the years.

Featuring music written for the trumpet around the two world wars, just as it was starting to gain credibility as a solo instrument in it's own right, including one of the most poignant and iconic pieces ever written for the instrument - Légende by Romanian composer George Enescu. 

Alongside that, Andrew Randall will perform one of the most quintessential English Song Cycles ever written - 'A Shropshire Lad', setting poems written by A E Housman, reflecting on the lost lives of young soldiers. The composer George Butterworth died 5 years after writing it, killed in action during the 1st World War. We also present the first of two pieces by acclaimed contemporary composer Magic Lantern Tales. Written in 2015, setting poems by Ian McMillan to music, the songs capture true stories of people from across Yorkshire and their experiences during World War 1.

(Note the earlier start time of 6pm. This event is expect to finish around 8pm.)

*Unfortunately pianist Sid Ramchander has had to withdraw from this performance. We are grateful to Matthew Lam for stepping in.