To Be A Pilgrim

DIFFICULTY: 3rd+

DURATION: 4'00"

Vaughan Williams’ stirring hymn tune Monk’s Gate was adapted from an English folk song he collected in Sussex and paired with John Bunyan’s words, He Who Would Valiant Be. In To Be A Pilgrim, this new brass band arrangement explores the tune’s distinctive strength and nobility, moving from moments of reflection to a broad and uplifting climax. Rich brass sonorities and changing textures bring fresh colour to Vaughan Williams’ memorable melody, while retaining the directness and character of the original. The result is a celebration of courage, resolve and the enduring spirit of the pilgrim’s journey.