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Take 5: Special little moments of musicality to cherish

4BR picks five very special little moments of musicality to cherish from 2016...

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  4BR picks five very special little musical moments to cherish from 2016

There were many brilliant performances from bands as well as individuals during 2016, but these were five moments to cherish for us for very different reasons.

1. Peter Moore


RNCM Brass Band Festival recital

The whole recital performance by the LSO Principal Trombone was stunning, with the first few notes of Mahler's 'Urlicht' from 'Das Knaben Wunderhorn' as close to perfection as you could ever hear.

However, the little bit of extra magic came with his rendition of Arthur Pryor's 'La Petite Suzanne'.

So many modern day trombonists play his solos with an ineptitude based on speed and trickery. Here Moore delivered it with such capricious elan that it took the breath away. It was a sheer delight.


2. Principal cornet player of Redruth Town Band


Fourth Section West of England Championship

Not even Errol Flynn could have bettered this for swashbuckling brilliance. On the Spanish leg of 'The Journal of Phileas Fogg' this chap delivered a cornet cadenza that took 'ad-libbing' to a new level of interpretative genius. This was Zorro meets Eddie Calvert with a dollop of Wynton Marsalis thrown in for good measure.

Adjudicator Alan Fernie's tongue in cheek pre-results remarks paid tribute to this unique piece of musicality in what was a playful homage to the great Eric Morecambe when asked by Andre Previn just what he was doing in his rendition of Grieg Piano Concerto.

The man in question (we don't know his name even now) simply stepped forward, took the applause and revelled in his moment of glory. Simply brilliant.


3. David Childs


Cantata Memoria

The 50th anniversary of the catastrophic collapse of a colliery spoil tip behind the village of Aberfan, near Merthyr Tydfil in 1966, which sent debris through the classroom of Pantglas Junior School, killing 116 children and 28 adults, was marked in Wales by the premiere of 'Cantata Memoria' by Sir Karl Jenkins.

The nation was reminded of the poignant loss as well as the shameful aftermath of official denial which led one grieving father to state at the Coroner's Inquest that his child had been, "buried alive by the National Coal Board."

The 'Cortege' section saw Bryn Terfel sing 'Myfanwy' and David accompanied as the 'musical voice of the valley', leading the choir as they recited the names of all those killed to a backdrop of the scenes of the heartbreaking funeral processions.


4. Helen Williams


'Journey of the Lone Wolf' — National Championship of Great Britain

There are very few players whose individual contribution even to a National title winning performance immediately becomes the collective memory of victory for those who did and didn't hear it on the day.

That was certainly the case with the chillingly beautiful flugel spotlight, performed with such control and purity by Helen Williams that time very nearly stood still in the Albert Hall.

As adjudicator Philip McCann later told 4BR: "The icing on the cake from the winners came as soon as the beginning of the second movement — and especially from the flugel. There was so much space, atmosphere, textures and colours. It was the magic moment of the day."


5. Valaisia


'Goldberg 2012' — Swiss National Championship

At the heart of Svein Henrik Giske's remarkable work is a central core of deep, ice cold melancholy that reflects on the death of his father. It is transparent writing drawn from the heart — a paean of yearning loss that is almost troubling in its beauty.

For that moment in time in Montreux, Valaisia under the elegant direction of Arsene Duc chilled the marrow in your bones; sending your own memories spiralling into a recalled personal freefall. It was deeply affecting.

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Sunday 20 July • Hepworth United Sports Club, Far Lane, Hepworth, Holmfirth. HD9 1RN


Petworth Town Band - Ebernoe Horn Fair

Friday 25 July • Ebernoe Cricket Ground GU28 9LD


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Saturday 26 July • Dorset House School RH20 1PB


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Saturday 2 August • Foakes Hall, Dunmow CM6 1DG


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Rushden Town Band

July 18 • Second Trombone vacancy. A friendly Midlands 1st Section Band, Rushden are looking for a Second Trombone player to come and join us. Great repertoire and concerts plus contests twice per year. Every other year, the band goes on tour.


Welwyn Garden City Band

July 18 • We are a friendly & sociable Second Section Band with an exciting and varied summer season of concerts. Due to an employment relocation, we have an immediate vacancy for a FRONT ROW CORNET player.


Bedford Town Band

July 18 • Bedford Town Band have vacancies for 1st trombone, 1st horn, EEb and BBb bass. We have several concerts and Wychavon contest in the Autumn. In the last few years the band won the Butlins 2nd section , been promoted to 1st section then 3rd at Wychavon


Alex McGee

MA BMus PGCE
Conductor & Composer


               

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