Thanks very much, guys!
Together, you not only were able to narrow down the search, but also convinced my wallet to be less strict with me. Several musics are now on order that I've long known I had to buy, such as Richard Rodney Bennett, Kenny Wheelers "Music for Large & Small Ensembles, Peter Gabriel's "Up", as well as some Mogwai. Thanks!
My wallet though hates you right now.
As to the narrowing down, Graham's proposition of Frank Turner surprisingly came closest to the style that I am after right now, so I'd be very grateful or any pointers as to composers or names of certain styles.
Just as surprising was that Barber's Adagio came so close. I do have several versions of the Adagio already, but would never have thought of using it as an example of what I roughly am after.
However, an example I did find in my head would be Pat Metheney's "Last Train Home" if played subduedly by a bass ensemble. Not exactly like this English style, but close enough to give an impression.
WoT, genius! Atom Heart Mother must have been the first album that taught me I could like brass music a lot, and for decades I used to smuggle little tidbits of AHM into my church organ improvs.
BetaFunk, I guess you're right about the term "test pieces", Idunno. It's just the boasty stuff with a lot of bling and effects that they tend to play in competitions, and then the Corys win again. Really not what I'm after right now. As said, I long for simple, subdued, slow music right now.
I hope you find it as funny as I did that your assuming I may need to open my ears maybe is a trifle assuming too much, seeing as that I'm a former electronic music teacher at music college, and had people like Penderecki and Xenakis as teachers myself.
Gareth, good question. I failed to say something about that. The music I'm after is probably typically not written by classical composers, but is firmly based in tradition, as in 4/4, strictly diatonic, limited rhythmic scope, limited chord structures, limited in dissonance.
More like the non Christmas music one could still play in a Christmas setting as it were.
In fact one of the clearest memories I have of such music was in a Miss Marple style crime drama set at Christmas time.
Again, thanks a lot to all of you!
If anyone can come up with a pointer as per the Frank Turner example, you have my [s]eternal[/s] limited time offer gratitude!
bert