
Trigger Happy is a four-minute work for brass band. The term trigger in the title refers to the technical side of brass instruments – it is the mechanical lever that lengthens a slide when pressed in a contrary direction. Triggers are sprung in such a way that they return the slide to its original position when released. Another use of the term refers to when the length of tubing of brass instruments is altered to shift its playing range as in the case of the trombone.
In this work, Farr employs the top range of the higher register of the two euphoniums for the melody to cut through the repetitive, irregularly accented homophonic writing for the brass band, which in turn propels the music forward.