Less than 24 hours after the British Open had been won, a near capacity audience returned to be entertained by a trio of fine bands on excellent form.

Foden's

Foden’s had chosen pieces with an American connection; opening with Robin Dewhurst’s lively arrangement of ‘Get Happy’, before moving onto Charles’ Ives ‘The Unanswered Question’, written in 1908.  

As the bottom half of the band (all muted) intoned a slow-moving chorale, Mark Wilkinson asked the musical ‘question’, whilst an off-stage group of cornets tried to produce the answer; becoming more frenetic as the piece went on.  

It was a challenge for both players and listeners alike, but well worth its inclusion.

Brillante

2015 Radio 2 Young Brass Musician of the Year, Grant Jameson delivered ‘Brillante’ in appropriate fashion, before Foden’s completed their set with music from ‘West Side Story’; bringing Bernstein’s music to life with vivid realisations and particularly fine work from the percussion team.

Cory

Cory, playing with four trombones, commenced with a fizzing ‘Malaguena’ before an equally sparkling rendition of the overture ‘Poet and Peasant’.  

With excellent use of dynamics, the restrained opening was interrupted by a sudden blaze of sound, and the menace and aggression of the gallop contrasted with the calm of the gently lilting waltz.

Steve Stewart shone on Norman Bearcroft’s ‘High Fidelity’ - delivered with a twinkle in his eye and showing great rapport with the audience - although even he was unable to prevent spontaneous applause at the end of the central section.

There was some wonderfully sustained playing in ‘O Magnum Mysterium’ before Chris Thomas showed his virtuosic skill in the finale from Derek Bourgeois’ ‘Trombone Concerto’ - playing that brought the house down.

Cory’s finale from Puccini’s ‘Tosca’, with Glyn Williams set as the villain, Scarpia, the tolling of church bells and the ‘Te Deum’ ringing out, made for a splendid finish. 

Black Dyke

Black Dyke took to the stage after the interval with ‘Let’s Face the Music and Dance’, full of character and style, continuing with the overture to ‘The Marriage of Figaro’, brimming with subtlety as well as panache.  

Katrina Marzella then brought an elegant rendition of ‘Be My Love’ - unfussy, but totally commanding.

The ‘Black Dyke Spooktacular’ may now be a little hackneyed, but played so well it would be churlish to complain, before ‘Shine as the Light’, closed things off with fine contributions from Richard Marshall and Gary Curtin, as well as the assured work of Andrea Price on xylophone.

Cory then returned to join Black Dyke for the march ‘The Medallion’, conducted by Bram Gay, the artistic director for the Sunday concerts.  

A majestic ‘Nimrod’ was followed by a stirring ‘Marche Slav’ and ‘William Tell’ with Tom Hutchinson and Richard Marshall combining to play the cornet solo to stunning effect.

Peter Bale