Rococo Variations

Foden's control their tour de force intentions with their latest release - but it still has the ability to thrill.

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Foden’s Band
Conductors: Garry Cutt & Bramwell Tovey
Egon Recordings: CDSFZ148
Total Playing Time: 63.31

Any release that features major works from the pens of four of the giants of brass band composition, played by one of the finest bands in the banding world is always going to be a recording to savour – and ‘Rococo Variations’ doesn’t disappoint.

Self assuredness

The Fodens of 2009 is some band, and under the direction of Garry Cutt and Bram Tovey they display a remarkable degree of self assuredness in each of the works on display.

In fact, that assuredness is perhaps the one, minor disappointing aspect of this particular release – that extra frisson of excitement that the band invariably generates on the contest stage is at times missing here, despite the wonderful displays of technical proficiency and cultured musicality.

Playful

It hard to put your finger on – although the recording acoustic is a little playful and makes for a lively ambience when the band opens up on all cylinders. The darker hues of the Fodens sound, the bedrock of their matchless tonality, are lost on occasions, as the brilliance of the cornet work at times becomes over prominent. 

You are left deeply impressed by the delivery of each of the performances, but sensing that there was still something to give, a little touch of their inherent musicality left to be revealed.

That may also sound as touch odd given the two men at the helm, but Foden’s musical appeal has always been that they do not walk the same, almost antiseptically secure test piece musical path as say Cory or Black Dyke. 

Visceral

Like Grimethorpe in their pomp, when Foden’s are in full flow there is something visceral about their playing – a heartfelt desire to make the music come to life direct from their emotional core. At times they are prone to occasional unpredictability, but what they produce is never shallow edifice. 

Restraint

Gilbert Vinter’s ‘Variations on a Ninth’ is played with a musical restraint that provides the opportunity to revel in Garry Cutt’s appreciation of the composer’s dark edged wit and casual lyricism. The soloist’s restraint is obvious too – especially the way in which they deliver the series of cadenzas with almost matter of fact aplomb. It’s a performance of authenticity.

So too, ‘In Memoriam R.K.’, played with a broad orchestral feel complimenting the complex palette of austere tonality. The emotional context is never lost – especially in the closing moments when beautifully subtle moments of musicality are realised – a lingering dense of loss that never becomes misplaced pathos.

Razor sharp

Bram Tovey’s approach to Philip Wilby’s ‘Paganini Variations’ is a refreshing joy – a kaleidoscopic interpretation of colour and style. Here we get to hear the work revealing its usually hidden layers of detail and nuance, helped by some razor sharp technical work from the full ensemble as well as the individual sections.

Spacious

Finally, a superb rendition of Gregson’s ‘Rococo Variations’ – one that is also given a degree of spacious musicality that allows the score to reveal many of its hidden secrets.

Each of the six variations is played with a stylish appreciation of Gregson’s affectionate homage to the chosen composers – from a surprisingly dark Eric Ball 'waltz', a breezy Howarth ‘toccata’, flowing Steadman-Allen ‘siciliano’, a fiery ‘perpetuo’ of McCabe, an austere Heaton ‘lament’ and full throttle Wilby 'fugue'. 

It is a controlled tour de force performance that rounds off a controlled tour de force release.

Iwan Fox

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