*
banner

Fairey Band

RNCM Brass Band Festival
Conductor: Garry Cutt
Soloist: Steven Mead
RNCM, Manchester
Saturday 28th January

Paul Hindmarsh’s expert curatorship of the festival has enabled Fairey to become the historical touchstone of the RNCM weekend.

This year, three of the works utilised 19th century hymn tunes reaching as far back as the early 1800s, with the lineage connection ending in 1995 with Martin Ellerby’s ‘Euphonium Concerto’. Like Black Dyke the night before, it was a programme that perfectly suited the band’s persuasively blended sense of musicality.

Lucid simplicity

That was immediately apparent with Brougton’s elegantly framed ‘Covenant’, based on the well known tune ‘Cleansing Fountain’ - the lucid simplicity of the writing building in dramatic momentum to it close.

Garry Cutt was in his musical element in a persuasively shaped rendition of ‘Variations for Brass Band’ by Vaughan Williams; each of the eleven interlinked sections enhanced by subtle stylistic nuance and a luscious timbre to the ensemble sound that revealed the innermost delicacy of the ensemble writing with remarkable clarity in what was a lively acoustic.

Heroics

Ellerby’s fearsome ‘Euphonium Concerto’ has certainly not lost any of its bite in the two decades since it was written - and neither has the soloist Steven Mead, despite on this occasion, not being in 100% robust health.

The contrasts in converging tempo in the opening, linked by capriciously virtuosic bridge to the passion the third and the jazz inflections of the finale were splendidly realised - the band a sympathetic counterbalance to the soloist’s heroics.

Textural gem

It was followed by an early, idiosyncratic exploration by Wilfred Heaton of the Welsh hymn tune ‘Aberystwyth’ was revealed as a textural gem – revealing the elemental DNA of Joseph Parry’s melancholic writing in all its variant glory; the triumphant apotheosis reassembling the intriguing constituent parts in a stunningly graceful climax.  
 
The cleverly realised musical circle was completed with Curnow’s ‘Trittico’ - split evenly like a musical pie-chart with its trio of creative variations on the early American hymnal tune ‘Consolation’. 

Garry Cutt expertly paced the growing momentum to the flourishing finale with the whip hand of Kentucky Derby jockey - his band straining the sinews to hit the coda furlong with a pulsating display of energy and power.  

Iwan Fox

Support us for less than a cup of coffee...

4BR wants to ensure that the brass band movement remains vibrant and relevant. We also want to be able to question, challenge and critically examine those who run and play in it, producing high quality journalism that informs as well as entertains our readers.

So if like us you value a strong, independent perspective on the brass band world - then why not consider becoming a supporter and help make our future and that of a burgeoning brass band movement more secure.

So one less cappuccino then?

Support us    



The Hepworth Band - A Summer Proms Concert

Sunday 20 July • Hepworth United Sports Club, Far Lane, Hepworth, Holmfirth. HD9 1RN


Petworth Town Band - Ebernoe Horn Fair

Friday 25 July • Ebernoe Cricket Ground GU28 9LD


Petworth Town Band - Dorset House School Fete

Saturday 26 July • Dorset House School RH20 1PB


Haverhill Silver Band - A Nightingale Sang... (an evening concert)

Saturday 2 August • Foakes Hall, Dunmow CM6 1DG


Haverhill Silver Band - East Anglian Beer & Cider Festival

Sunday 24 August • St Edmundsbury Cathedral, Bury St Edmunds IP33 1QX


Moorlands Brass

July 15 • We are a new community band based in Staffordshire moorlands, and are looking for players of all abilities in all sections.So come along and give us a try you will be made very welcome.


Chinnor Silver

July 15 • Our COMMUNITY BAND is meeting again on Monday at 11am (21st) and we would welcome any player (all abilities welcome) to join us.We are a friendly group who just love playing together and chatting during our cake and coffee break.. BONUS its all free


Haverhill Silver Band

July 13 • Haverhill Silver Band (championship section) seeks a SECOND HORN. This is a superb opportunity to join East Anglia's premier brass band on the concert and contest stage (including the Senior Cup and Whit Friday).


Jack Capstaff

Bmus (Hons)
Conductor | Composer


               

 © 2025 4barsrest.com Ltd