Brass Band Classics Volume 2

Buy As You View Cory Band
Conductor: Dr. Robert Childs
Doyen Recordings: CD155
Total Playing Time: 65.03

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This CD is the second in the series undertaken by BAYV Cory and Robert Childs to assemble a linked progression of performances of some of the best loved and mostly widely respected brass band "classics" in the repertoire. Given that if you put together any three people over a pint in a pub and try to come to some sort of agreement to what would be the top 10 in such a list, the task is not as easy as many may think it seems. One persons "classic" is some one else's "second rater" - some like arrangements, others brass band originals, some like the test pieces of yesteryear, others more modern compositions of a contemporary genre. You can imagine the arguments.

Working on the basis that you can't therefore please all the people all the time, this second collection – the decisions of a trio of forceful personalities behind the success of the Buy As You View Company and Band is therefore a very "conservative" (with a small c indeed) in nature. Five major works for the medium – two originals, three arrangements. However, on closer inspection there is quite a wide chronological span - one is pre Second World War, one from the late 1950's, another from the late 1960's and the conversion to low pitched instruments and two that although older than any of the others in musical content, are renovation and restoration jobs Grif Rhys Jones and the BBC would have been proud of.

The decision to perform such major works in this manner also gives the Musical Director something of a dilemma as well. Each work was written or arranged primarily as a "Test Piece" and so the conductor must surely decide which of two approaches to the music he must take. Play them as if they were "Contest" performances and go for a tighter, more technically perfect approach, or treat them as "Concert" performances, invest more in musical interpretation and give his players the opportunity to take more risks in striving to produce a more meaningful reading. Thankfully, BAYV Cory and Robert Childs (like their first CD of the series) have chosen the latter and it makes for a cracking release.

The brass band movement is too hamstrung by contesting at the best of times and as such performances of major works are invariable judged technically rather than musically. You must of course get the notes right, but at this level that is a given anyway - it's the music making that counts and although Robert Childs does take some liberties in each of the works, they are tasteful almost reverential liberties none the less – well thought out and always within the context of the composers intentions.

The order of play on the CD therefore comes in no pre-determined form – that would surely have tested the patience of Job - so we are treated to the five major works on a "As they Come" basis, and so the first one to be performed is Percy Fletcher's "An Epic Symphony".

There is little doubt that this is a "Classic" in anyone's terms when discussing original brass band works, although the title itself is rather misplaced. It is neither a Symphony, nor particularly "Epic" in character – it's three movements more suggestive of mood and spirit rather than any poetic licence. That said it is still a work that warms the soul and on this occasion BAYV Cory perform it splendidly. All three movements have tremendous ensemble and solo playing (especially the trombones) and the musical interpretation from the MD has a strong correlation to the pieces historical time and place. It is a very fine performance indeed.

For this reviewer, "Le Roi d'Ys" is perhaps the weakest choice as a "Classic" – arranged for the 1959 National Finals by Frank Wright it is a rather hackneyed, colourless arrangement of a fairly non -descript overture even in it's orchestral form. During the 1950's and early 1960's Frank Wright's arrangements of many overtures provided the contesting world with its staple diet of test pieces for major contests, and although popular then, and now, not all of them were particularly fine examples of the arrangers craft - and "Le Roi d'Ys" for us is one. That said, the famous euphonium solo is played by David Childs with a delivery Bryn Terfel would be proud of and the final triple tongued finale is not too fast to be incoherent (a fault of many a latter day performance both on a contest and concert platform). It is a sleekly powerful rendition.

"Benventuo Cellini" is a brass band test piece of myth and legend – the Frank Wright arrangement that is. As with "Le Roi d'Y's", the 1970 World Championship and 1978 British Open test piece in it's first brass band incarnation was not a great arrangement for band. Very difficult, yes – but a mish mash all the same. This new arrangement by Christian Jenkins is rather more faithful to the colours and timbres of the original (including full orchestral percussion parts) and makes for a much more satisfying listening experience. It is brilliantly brought to life by the band, especially when it is really going full pelt and there is some cracking soprano work from Stephen Barnsley (the 2003 Best Instrumentalist at the National Finals) riding the band with an enviable ease. This is one arrangement 4BR would like to see used again at a Major Championship for sure.

There have been a numerous recordings of "Journey Into Freedom" over the years – some good, a couple great and more than their fair share totally missing the point of the composers intentions. This is a real good ‘un. The technical prowess of the band make much of the challenges sound so very easy, but nothing is over done and there is a wonderful sense of balance to the ensemble – especially at the start where the triplet horns are not overpowered. It is a wonderful work given a wonderful performance.

Finally, Bram Gay's fine arrangement of "Les Preludes" (the first recording of the 2001 British Open test piece we think). This is a real corker and benefits from some excellent solo playing from all around the band (again Stephen Barnsley on sop shines the brightest). Robert Childs eschews the contest approach totally and delivers a reading that demands of his players to make the most of themselves and the musical material in front of them. There are nuances aplenty - some working for us better than others, but this is real "tour de force" playing of the highest class and leaves you mightily impressed. On a contest platform this performance would either win by 5 clear points or split the adjudicators right down the middle. This is music first – contest winning second, and for us we would have given it 197 points even off a number 2 draw.

All in all then another very fine release from BAYV Cory and their MD, a combination who are certainly not afraid of putting their collective necks on the line with performances of "classic" repertoire that are refreshingly relevant in terms of interpretation and execution. Sometimes, even the best loved icons need a scrub down and shiny new coat of paint. As for "Brass Band Classics Volume III"? We are sure the arguments are being aired in the Rhondda as we speak.

Iwan Fox

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