Black Dyke Director of Music, Prof Nicholas Childs has just returned from a trip to Japan where he once again linked up with the Senzoku Gakuen College of Music in Tokyo.
It was the latest trip in a 'British Brass' musical connection between the renowned college and the Queensbury band that stretches back to 1979, and which have been inspired and organised Distinguished Professor Takeo Yamamoto.
Vinter, Gregson, Arnold, Graham
The latest concert was held in the majestic Maeda Hall, with a capacity audience enjoying music as diverse as Gilbert Vinter's 'James Cook — Circumnavigator' and Edward Gregson's, 'An Age of Kings', to Malcolm Arnold's 'English Dances' and Peter Graham's 'The Red Machine'.
Speaking to 4BR, Senzoku's Brass Band Director Masanori Fukuda said: "It was honour to invite Pro Childs once again for the concert."
Remarkable
The Black Dyke MD led the college's Elite Band in a performance of 'An Age of Kings' supplemented by choir, piano, harp and mezzo soprano soloist, whilst Prof Yamamoto took to the podium with the Intermediate Band for Vinter's classic 'James Cook' and 'The Red Machine'.
The finale was provided by the remarkable sight and sound of 140 musicians performing Arnold's 'English Dances', before the foundations of the hall were tested with Elgar Howarth's masterly arrangement of Mussorgsky's 'Pictures at an Exhibition'.
I continue to be amazed at the talent, desire and progress made by students in the study and performance of brass band repertoire inspired by Distinguished Professor Takeo Yamamoto and his colleaguesProf Nicholas Childs
2019 return
Prof Childs told 4BR: "It is a privilege to be associated with Senzoku Gakuen College of Music as a Visiting Professor, and I continue to be amazed at the talent, desire and progress made by students in the study and performance of brass band repertoire inspired by Distinguished Professor Takeo Yamamoto and his colleagues.
The bond between the College and Black Dyke goes back almost 40 years and I'm delighted that the band will return to Japan in 2019 to celebrate the association with concerts already confirmed in Tokyo, Osaka and Sapporo."
