Even the weather smiled benevolently on the families and friends of the National Youth Brass Band of Great Britain as they took to the open-air marquee stage for their end of course concert at Repton Hall.

It was a super show of well-prepared support (with plenty of umbrellas, jackets and blankets on hand just in case the odd spit of rain turned into something heavier) that echoed the underlying ethos of what had been put in place by a rejuvenated organisation that has tackled its own Covid-19 challenges with inventive inspiration.

Major test-pieces

PhiIip Harper was determined this wasn’t just going to be a fun packed course (although unofficial sources said the players had one heck of a time) with an ambitious programme based around three major test-pieces in  ‘Destination Moon’,  ‘The Triumph of Time’  and  ‘Variations on an Enigma’.

In addition, there was a neat nod to Tokyo with the opening ‘Olympic Spirit’, touches of Norway and Wales in  ‘Nordic Polska’, the flashy big band oomph of Stan Kenton’s  ‘La Suerte de los Tontos’  and Broadway inspired Sammy Davis Jr in  ‘I’ve Gotta be Me’. A musical tribute to former NYBBGB Administrator Phillip Biggs came with  ‘By Water and the Word’  by Jonathan Bates.

PhiIip Harper was determined this wasn’t just going to be a fun packed course (although unofficial sources said the players had one heck of a time) with an ambitious programme based around three major test-pieces in  ‘Destination Moon’,  ‘The Triumph of Time’  and  ‘Variations on an Enigma’.

Cory tuba player Simon Howells was the guest soloist – another well-chosen move to showcase low brass, and one grasped with aplomb to showcase both sides of its scope with a cultured rendition of Rodney Newton’s  ‘Capriccio for Tuba’  and a much more rumbunctious  ‘Largo Al Factotum’.

Mature outlook

The organisation’s commitment to new repertoire sources came with Lucy Pankhurst’s  ‘Where She Sings Freely’, which provided the foundation soundscape for Clara Price’s melancholic, but ultimately hopeful, poetic character portrait of the struggles faced by a miner’s wife who dreams to take flight of her own personal ambitions. 

It was a work of mature outlook, written and narrated by the author with touching thoughtfulness.

Peter Graham’s demanding  ‘Triumph of Time’  also proved to be a triumph of individual and collective skill - with notable solo cameos from all corners of the band and an ensemble drive full of atomic clock precision and energy.

Storybook character

The same could also be said of the band’s performances of the trio of major works – although Sparke’s  ‘Enigma’  in the second half was perhaps just a stamina challenge too far.  

Earlier though, ‘Destination Moon’  was packed full of Hergesque storybook character, complete with a great ‘out of contact’ ending, whilst Peter Graham’s demanding  ‘Triumph of Time’  also proved to be a triumph of individual and collective skill - with notable solo cameos from all corners of the band and an ensemble drive full of atomic clock precision and energy.

The encore flythrough of  ‘William Tell’  may have been powered by adrenaline fumes, but it still left a scorch mark or two on the well-manicured lawns of the school.

Iwan Fox