Penlee

Leyland's latest CD sees their former Australian MD sign off with a musical flourish.

~ Buy with 4barsrest shopping

The music of Simon Dobson and Kenneth Hesketh
Leyland Band
Conductor: Jason Katsikaris
Faber Music: CD ISBNO-571-52216-5
Tptal Playing Time: Approx 70 mins

If ever there was a CD that functions on several differing levels, this release from Leyland under Jason Katsikaris might just be it.

First

First and foremost it’s about the music of teacher and pupil Kenneth Hesketh and Simon Dobson, and serves as a welcome assessment and retrospective of the brass band works of both composers.

Secondly, the recording is a celebration of the all too brief relationship between Leyland and Jason Katsikaris; one that breathed an invigorating lease of life into the band, whilst also forging a spirit of inventive musical exploration that remains a beacon for others to follow.

Final level

Finally, the disc serves as a commercial vehicle for Faber Music and the brass music of two of its ‘in house’ composers.

Unlike other promotional discs, in this case the release can only be seen as a cause for celebration, especially as there is previously unrecorded music of exceptional quality on display.                    

Under exploited

In many ways the talents composer Ken Hesketh remain under exploited in the banding world - much of his music for the medium being based on re-workings of material written during the early years of his career.

Two works not included on the disc, ‘Masques’ and ‘Danceries’ remain popular test pieces however, whilst Paul Hindmarsh recently ensured that his output was extensively featured at the Festival of Brass in Manchester.

Ichabod Crane

Technically it is his ‘Infernal Ride’ that poses the greatest challenge: a devilish, seven minute hell for leather ride inspired by Ichabod Crane’s gallop on his horse, Gunpowder, in Washington Irving’s novel ‘The Legend of Sleepy Hollow’.

Adrenaline fuel

It’s exciting adrenalin fuelled stuff although ultimately it is Hesketh’s ‘Elegy' that makes the greater impression.

Created from the slow movement of his youthful ‘1985 Symphony’, the gradually embellished melodic lines progress through a multitude of metamorphic mood changes - from the almost bluesy hues of the intorduction to a central climax that more than hints at Shostakovich - and signals the beginning of the journey back to the haunting opening material.

Leyland’s atmospheric performance captures the shifting hues of the music with impressive subtlety.

Light hearted

‘Whirlegigg’ takes us into more light hearted territory and perhaps makes the lesser impression, whilst ‘Festive Overture’ is an exuberant concert opener, that although engaging and scored with characteristic brilliance in its use of texture and colour, doesn’t quite carry the same deep seated gravitas as ‘Elegy’ or the sheer excitement of the ‘Infernal Ride’.

The fact remains however. Hesketh is a composer with an international reputation and should be taken very seriously as a future composer for the brass band medium.

Milestone

Simon Dobson’s music needs little introduction these days and his welcome commission to provide the test piece for the Scottish Open later this year will be another milestone in his rapidly developing career.

Interestingly, it’s the two pieces that could be considered the most accessible and traditional amongst his works on the disc that make the strongest impression.

Native Cornwall

’Penlee’ and ‘Lyonesse’ are both rooted in his native Cornwall; albeit drawing their inspiration from very different sources. Both share the commonality of having been written for youth band without any sign whatsoever of “dumbing down”, either technically or musically

The latter is borne out by Leyland’s readings, which highlight the quality of the musical inspiration, with the programmatic elements of both pieces demonstrating Dobson’s vivid and colourful imagination, cunning ear for effect and impressive understanding ensemble.

Eerie

For anyone that has heard these pieces played live, the eerie effect of the drowned church bells in the sunken land of Lyonesse, or the touching, beautifully judged quote from Eric Ball’s ‘Resurgam’, that rises from the waters in the wake of the Penlee lifeboat tragedy will be brought back to life by Jason Katsikaris’s fine interpretations.

‘The Drop: Remixed’ is an expansion of the original shorter version of the piece that Dobson originally wrote for the B Section of the 2007 European Championships, and occupies very different musical territory to ‘Lyonesse’ or ‘Penlee’ in its drum ‘n’ bass inspiration.

There are some interesting effects on display that never outstay their welcome, although the expanded version is perhaps less effective than its shorter original. In terms of sheer originality though, this is Simon Dobson at his most innovative.        

Retro

‘The Dreaded Groove and Hook’ is pure entertainment in its acid jazz style and has some curiously ‘retro’ 70’s moments that lend quirkiness to the music.

It’s difficult to listen to the piece without thinking of Leyland’s ‘love it or hate it’ choreography when they first played the piece at Brass in Concert 2008, but as with ‘The Drop’, this is Dobson pushing the boundaries.                                                     

The inclusion of a ‘mystery’ bonus track (its presence is mentioned nowhere in the notes) in the form of Philip Littlemore’s skilful arrangement of Morten Lauridson’s ‘O Magnum Mysterium’ is something of an oddity - more of a personal gesture between conductor and band than anything else.

Dobson’s brilliantly individual march ‘Lock Horns Rage On’ might have been a more appropriate choice.

Glowing

Littlemore’s glowing transcription of the American composer’s choral piece is superbly done though, and having won the prize for ‘Best Arrangement’ at Brass in Concert 2009, it is once again given a moving performance.

This recording shows Leyland at the height of its powers, with both players and conductor performing on an entirely convincing level. It’s powerful stuff, and this is a CD that should be high on the list of top releases for 2010.   

New chapter

With Jason Katsikaris back in his native Sydney however another chapter is about to open in Leyland’s illustrious history.

Where new MD Philip Harper will take the band remains to be seen, but it is to be hoped that something of the Katsikaris legacy will remain in the spirit of progression and enterprise he has instilled in the band that he left behind in Lancashire.

Christopher Thomas

~ Buy with 4barsrest shopping

^back to top