Blood Red Flag is a solo for xylophone and brass band, depicting a vicious battle at sea with marauding pirates. Contrary to popular depiction of the ‘jolly roger’ as a skull and crossbones on a black background, the classic colour flag flown by pirates was red. Indeed, the ‘jolly roger’ title is thought to stem from the French ‘joli rouge’ or ‘pretty red’, and the only surviving authentic ‘jolly roger’ is a skull and crossbones on a red background, displayed at the National Museum of the Royal Navy, captured in 1780. The red colour was intended to depict blood, intention of violence, and that no life was to be spared in battle.

The melodic material for Blood Red Flag is loosely based on the sea shanty The Coasts of High Barbary, the lyrics of which tell the story of a ship fighting off a pirate attack. A slow and sinister opening leads into a series of short but dramatic cadenzas for the soloist as the pirates approach, before launching into a menacing faster tempo as the battle begins in earnest. The soloist dances around the intense accompaniment, and launches into a sinister standoff with the solo euphonium. The music eventually builds into a combination of all the main themes, reaching a forceful climax as the pirates are finally defeated, and their ship slips away under the waves. A brief reprise of the opening cadenza heralds a triumphant final flourish.

Blood Red Flag was composed for, and dedicated to, David Pilkington-Crowe and Lydney Town Band.