The sun glowed and the waters of Swansea Bay glistened as if flecked with silver thread as the players of the IBBSS lined-up to make their entrance to this end of course concert.
No wonder Prof Nicholas Childs was in loquacious mood; even the only thing he didn’t have control of during a week of hard work and plenty of fun had come good - and bang on the moment he picked up the baton to lead the Sovereign Band through ‘March Prelude’.
120 delegates
It provided the ideal start to an enjoyable concert showcasing the ensemble progress of the 120 delegates from 14 countries - including Japan, New Zealand, USA, and for the very first time, players from Lithuania.
That mix of accents and language was expertly brought together by the Black Dyke Director of Music and his team of tutors; from a celebration of the National Day of Switzerland to a trip to enjoy the legendary Gower ice-cream delights of Verdi’s. No wonder bookings for the 2017 course have already been inked in before delegates left for home.
Light and engaging
The music was light and engaging, but also just the right side of challenging to test talent, ambition and the competitive spirit (they had earlier delved into sight-reading tests on the likes of Edward Gregson’s ‘Connotations’).
The Sovereign Band tackled ‘Mack & Mable’ and PLC’s ‘Vitae Aerternum’ with brio, energy and determination in the first half, whilst the Prestige Band took to the stage in the second with gusto-filled renditions of ‘Prelude for an Occasion’, ‘Stage Centre’ and ‘Fire in the Blood’. Guest soloists Owen Farr and Brett Baker gave displays of laid-back languid musicality on ‘Autumn Leaves’ and ‘Stardust’ that were as rich and tasty as the local lava bread.
Special guest
The finale was provided by a massed band that could have been heard above the student din in Swansea town centre: A swaggering ‘Liberty Bell’ march, followed by the 18 strong trombone section with a super-charged evangelically ‘happy-clappy’ ‘I Will Follow Him’ and a concentrated ‘Laudate Dominum’ under the baton of welcome special guest Edward Gregson that earned prolonged applause from a healthy-sized audience.
Happy faces, tired lips and a host of memories to take back home were topped off with ‘I’ll Walk With God’, before the announcement of the ‘Section of the Week’ (the splendid cornets) were left to enjoy the bragging rights in the bar for the late night celebrations.
Iwan Fox
