The National Youth Band of New Zealand has provided its banding movement with a rich seam of talent for well over 50 years – players that have helped shape its past and hopefully, its future progress.

The current personnel have overcome the Covid challenges of the past two years with the type of dogged spirit the nation is noted for – this concert, the culmination of a week of musical inspiration led by MD Alan Spence (marking the end of his three-year tenure) and Tyme Marsters (the beginning of his).  

The featured soloists were former principal cornet Anthony Smith, the prestigious ‘Champion of Champions’ solo title winner at the recent National Championships, Liam Wright who won the Junior Cornet accolade and euph star Luke Spence.  

Anthony showcased his talents with the playful ‘The Hypnotist’  and tender ‘With His First Breath’, as well as with duets with Liam on a rapid ‘Quicksilver’  and ‘Ascension’  with Luke Spence, who also provided a tender rendition of ‘The Holy Well’. 

Anything but monochrome

Despite the austere stage set and their Eikangeresque black and white uniforms, the repertoire was anything but monochrome; the opening ‘Pukaea Waiata’, with traditional pupakapaka wooden trumpet solo, followed by the premiere of the richly scored ‘A Music Everywhere’  by former member Georgina Palmer.

Despite the austere stage set and their Eikangeresque black and white uniforms, the repertoire was anything but monochrome 

Kevin Houben’s dramatic 16th century battle of ‘Thyellene’  contrasted the quirky affection of ‘Slep’  by former member Dale Vail – a remembrance via ‘Les Mis’  of a much loved, sleepy pet, before the half closed with Stephan Hodel’s ‘A Lenda do Curupira’  – packed with mischievous Amazonian colours and evocative tonality.

Funky drive

The second half carried on with variety and verve; Tom Davoren’s effectively choreographed  ‘Living Power’, the funky drive of ‘Snarky Puppy Medley’  (with cracking cameo solo spots) and the atmospheric percussion quartet feature ‘Forest Echoes’.
 
The good time fun of Queen’s ‘Don’t Stop Me Now’, the bombast brilliance of ‘MacArthur Park’  and the whacky juice of ‘Thrift Shop’  provided a great way to round of a joyful concert.  

Iwan Fox    

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