In one of its final concerts of the academic year, the RNCM Brass Band welcomed the current European, National and British Open champion Black Dyke to their Manchester home, for what was a classy evening of high quality music making.

Free flowing

It was the students under Professor Childs who opened proceedings with a free flowing, subtly shaped rendition of 'Academic Festival Overture’ - that still retained just the right sense of staid pomp.  

The presentation of a RNCM fellowship to the respected trombonist, Adrian Morris by Professors Linda Merrick and John Miller provided just the right breathing space before delivering two movements from Arnold's 'Scottish Dances' that contained excellent contributions on cornet, flugel and bass trombone respectively.

Pulsating

Black Dyke's Richard Marshall delivered the world premiere of Martin Ellerby's 'Cornet Concerto' at the 2014 RNCM Festival of Brass at Bridgewater Hall.

Once again (and in the presence of the composer) he delivered a commanding reading of a highly rhythmic and jaunty composition, before the students rounded off the first half with Peter Graham's pulsating 'Shine as the Light'.

Performance high

It was clear from the opening bars of Paul Lovatt Cooper's 'Enter the Galaxies' that Black Dyke was still on something of a performance high after their European triumph.

The familiar 'Soloist Showcase' featured Jonathan Bates on tip top form on Stan Nieuwenhuis's 'This Wicked Struggle', before Christopher Binns gave 'Londonderry Air', a lovely languid run through.

Zoe Hancock and Daniel Thomas were balanced contrasts in the 'Benedictus' from 'The Armed Man' by Karl Jenkins, after the fun and games were provided by Gary Curtin on true virtuoso form in 'Carnival of Venus'. 

Cracking reprise

Dyke were not going to miss the chance to show an appreciative audience just how they won the European title in Freiburg, with a cracking reprise of  'Metropolis 1927' that sparkled with high class solo work and terrific ensemble playing.

The response from the packed hall was a mixture of shock and awe.

All that was left was for the two bands to join together to test the foundations of the renovated hall with two movements from Respighi's 'Pines of Rome'.

It was a good job the concrete mix was up to it.

Malcolm Wood