Wantage Band
Conductor: Chris King 
Guests: Wantage in Harmony Gospel Choir
The Beacon
Wantage
Saturday 13th July

Wantage may be known by historians as the birthplace of King Alfred (he of cake burning fame), but these days it is perhaps more noted for its varied and vibrant community music scene. 

This is in part down to the Wantage Silver Band organisation – right bang in the heart of the Oxfordshire town, who in 2023, after some serious fundraising (led by stalwart supporters Eileen and Alan Sykes) were able to further extend an impressive rehearsal home into a hub of musical activity.

For this enjoyable concert the band joined forces with the Wantage in Harmony Gospel Community Choir for an uplifting evening thoroughly enjoyed by an audience jam packed to the rafters.

Appropriate opener

‘Enter the Galaxies’  was an appropriate opener (the concert was titled ‘Fly Me to the Moon’), especially as MD Chris King (on fine conducting and compere form all night) wittily reminded everyone that the event may not have been so well attended if held 24 hours later due to a certain football match in Berlin.

‘Enter the Galaxies’ was an appropriate opener, especially as MD Chris King wittily reminded everyone that the event may not have been so well attended if held 24 hours later due to a certain football match in Berlin.

Fly Me to the Moon

The impressive impact was made with their first few bars – the standard set and maintained all evening. Philip Sparke’s ‘Jubilee Overture’  neatly contrasted the running semiquavers and the legato melodies, with the MD drawing musical phrasing from the ensemble, whilst principal cornet Richard Selvidge was the lush lead on Gordon Langford’s ‘My love is like a red, red rose’.

The Beatles medley ‘Echoes of an Era’  closed the first half – a communal singalong of classic 1960s hits – none more so than when soprano showman Brian Thomas replicated the famous obilgato piccolo part on ‘Penny Lane’. 

The dry acoustic of the venue was a challenge for brass and choir alike at times, but led by Mark Stanley, the Gospel Choir was terrific - the joint numbers of Leonard Cohen’s ‘Hallelujah’, ‘Fly Me to the Moon’  and ‘Skyfall’  working so well. 

The Beatles medley ‘Echoes of an Era’  closed the first half – a communal singalong of classic 1960s hits – none more so than when soprano showman Brian Thomas replicated the famous obilgato piccolo part on ‘Penny Lane’. 

Funky crowd pleaser

The funky, disco version of ‘Star Wars’  was the perfect crowd pleaser opener to the second half, before James Adcock and Sam Wyne (euphoniums) delivered a lyrical rendition of Bizet’s iconic ‘Pearl Fishers’  duet which brought the house down.

Grace Hancock was the musically mature lead on the jazzy trombone solo ‘My Favourite Things’  played with quirky wit and delicacy, aided by an impressive cornet section.

The band/choir match up for ‘Fly Me to the Moon’  was classy - a real team effort and one which saw the audience clicking their fingers and tapping their toes.

An old favourite in ‘Riverdance’  closed things in upbeat fashion. Flugel player Sam Atherton shone and each of the sections played with a touch of Euro-sparkle (hopefully like the footballers 24 hours later).

Queen’s ‘I Want to Break Free’  was the encore to round off a terrific community evening. 

Fiona Bennett and John Heritage