The impressive Guards Brass presented the afternoon concert at Regent Hall directed by WO1 Andrew Porter, although they also showed their versatility by performing a number of pieces without their conductor at the helm.
Gabrielli's 'Sonata Pian' e Forte' opened proceedings; two quartets situated in the gallery to the left and right of the platform.
The playing was subtly controlled, with tempered observance of the dynamic markings from which the piece derived its title.
Sophisticated
'Airs and Dances' by Dowland transposes well for brass, and featured amongst others the outstanding Ralph Brill, now approaching the end of his time with Guards Brass, on piccolo trumpet, and Andrew Mercer on trombone.
Dance featured strongly in the first half with Dvorak's 'Slavonic Dance No 8' and a bit of fun with the sophisticated 'Tahiti Trot' - Shostakovich's take on 'Tea for Two', with a comical bass trombone cameo from David Lockwood and Ralph Brill a classy presence on flugel.
The first half drew to a close with movements from the opera 'Carmen'; including the famous 'Habanera' and 'Dance Boheme' played with colour and exciting brio, before closing with the pulse of 'Beat out that Rhythm on a Drum'.
Striking playing
Perhaps the most striking playing came at the start of the second half with 'Homenaje a Don Luis de Victoria'.
A rather staid quartet of trumpet, horn and two trombones was set against the remainder of the ensemble - the latter group, playing in a brash, Mariachi style, proceeding to disrupt the former’s sedate offerings to humorously sparkling effect.
A rather staid quartet of trumpet, horn and two trombones was set against the remainder of the ensemble - the latter group, playing in a brash, Mariachi style, proceeding to disrupt the former’s sedate offerings to humorously sparkling effect.
The Canadian horn player Danae Eggen was featured in 'Stardust', with effective hand-stopped phrases, whilst the ensemble tango 'Jealousy' received a bold reading; with wide vibrato and bending of notes from the trumpet soloist. Light-hearted trumpet interjections punctuated a horn solo, before the up-tempo finish reminiscent of Spike Jones and his City Slickers.
The second featured soloist was the excellent Nick Mott, who produced a warm, full flugel sound in a lovely performance of 'Send in the Clowns'.
'The Cenotaph' from Gordon Langford's 'London Miniatures' conjured up suitably solemn images, complete with trumpet fanfares and the 'Last Post', before an expertly delivered concert ended with Ray Premru's 'Blues March', capturing the required style down to a tee.
Peter Bale
