*
banner

Brass Gala Concert

Cory Band & Black Dyke Band
Conductors: Philip Harper & Prof Nicholas Childs
Symphony Hall
Birmingham
Sunday 12th September


Two bands that would have held realistic heavyweight ambitions of claiming the British Open title, instead left Symphony Hall on the weekend with deserved plaudits for their somewhat more lightweight concert programme efforts.

An enthusiastic audience, many of whom didn’t cancel their Birmingham weekend following the postponement of the 2021 contest, certainly appreciated the upbeat entertainment on offer.

Covid-19 concerns remained though. As a result, the triptych of band sets was admirably compact; adequate interval times allowing for a stretch of the legs, fresh-air and hand sanitising.

Tone set

Cory set the tone with a bubbling ‘Brass Machine’  opener followed by Philip Harper’s injection of metaphorical optimism into Elgar’s ‘Severn Suite’

Shaped with engaging idiosyncrasies, especially in the ‘Toccata’, which had a Sisyphus-like endeavour in Elgar’s uphill biking exertions linked to its Geraint Thomas freewheeling descents, it was refreshing to hear its familiarity explored with musical instinct rather than contest premeditation.

Shaped with engaging idiosyncrasies, especially in the ‘Toccata’, which had a Sisyphus-like endeavour in Elgar’s uphill biking exertions linked to its Geraint Thomas freewheeling descents, it was refreshing to hear its familiarity explored with musical instinct rather than contest premeditation.

A tender ‘Fugue’  and delicate ‘Minuet’  led into a ‘Coda’  that held the rapt attention of the listener right to its close – so much so that it took a good 5 seconds before the applause started.  

Polished reprises of the elephant, snake and monkey elements of their Brass in Concert winning ‘Jungle Book’  set rounded things off with ensemble and solo panache.

Queensbury fayre

Black Dyke’s bite-sized offerings were a sugar-coated afternoon treat for an audience more than happy with the familiar Queensbury fayre. 

Prof Nicholas Childs was in relaxed mood knowing which buttons to press with Paul Lovatt’s Cooper’s ‘Home of Legends’  and emblazoned ‘Fire in the Blood’  which bookended a ‘Big Band Suite’  that fizzed, subsided and fizzed again like a Sunday afternoon Prosecco. 

Prof Nicholas Childs was in relaxed mood knowing which buttons to press with Paul Lovatt’s Cooper’s  ‘Home of Legends’ and emblazoned ‘Fire in the Blood’ which bookended a ‘Big Band Suite’ that fizzed, subsided and fizzed again like a Sunday afternoon Prosecco. 

Meanwhile, Daniel Thomas and Brett Baker provided the amuse-bouche ornate flamboyance on ‘Zigeunerweisen’  and ‘Stardust’  to add to the enjoyment.

The 20-minute break was a well-considered appreciation of current Covid-19 concerns before the massed bands returned for ‘Liberty Bell’, ‘Procession to the Minster’, and  ‘The Lost Chord'  encore.

After 18 months or so of almost complete concert inactivity from the bands, the latter was an apt way to remind people of what they have been missing from them.

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    



Regent Hall Concerts - Royal Greenwich Brass Band

Friday 8 November • Regent Hall. (The Salvation Army). 275 Oxford Street. London. . W1C2DJ


Longridge Band - The Houghton Weavers

Saturday 9 November • Longridge Civic Hall, 1 Calder Avenue, Longridge, Preston PR3 3HJ


Contest: 47th Brass in Concert

Saturday 16 November • The Gladhous International Centre for Music, St Mary's Square, Gateshead NE8 2JR


Regent Hall Concerts - The Band of the Royal Air Force Regiment

Friday 22 November • Regent Hall. (The Salvation Army). 275 Oxford Street. London W1C2DJ


Longridge Band - Christmas Concert

Saturday 7 December • Longridge Civic Hall, 1 Calder Avenue, Longridge, Preston PR3 3HJ


Wakefield Metropolitan Brass Band

November 6 • Looking for a Euphonium to complete the section.


Bilton Silver Rugby Band

November 5 • Bilton Silver (Rugby) requires an Eb bass to join our Championship Section band. Under MD Brad Turnbull we have a varied programme of events. Rehearsals are held on Monday and Friday at 7-45pm in our own purpose built bandroom.


Besses o'th' Barn Band

November 5 • Under the direction of David W Ashworth, we are making every effort to complete the rebuild of this very famous brass band. We require three percussionists , a Bb Bass and one Back Row Cornet to complete our line up for the North West Area Contest.


Gordon Eddison

B Ed (Hons). Member AoBBA.
Conductor and Adjudicator.


               

 © 2024 4barsrest.com Ltd