On one of the hottest evenings of the year, an expectant audience gathered to hear the Central Band of the RAF, conducted by Flt Lt Richard Murray. 

The concert was arranged by John Davie of Maidenhead Corps in memory of his wife Cath, with the proceeds divided between Alzheimers Dementia Support and the RAF Music Charitable Trust.

Following the ‘National Anthem’, the band presented 'La Forza del Destino', producing a well-balanced sound with a rich full bass in both brass and woodwind choirs.  

Dambusters

It was no surprise that they included the 'Dambusters March', the raid having taken place 70 years ago this year,  with the woodwind displaying a particularly light touch.
Soloists to the fore

Clarinettist Corporal Graham Jones, deputising for his section leader, incapacitated following a cycling accident was on excellent form all evening, especially in the Gershwin selection 'Fascinating Rhythm', 'Embraceable You' and 'I Got Rhythm', even if on occasions he was swamped by the accompaniment in the central section.  

Adam Gorb's intriguing 'Eine Kleine Yiddish Ragmusik' combined the ragtime of Scott Joplin with 1920's Kurt Weill, featuring many of the band's principal players.

Cpl Jonathan Pippen gave the premiere of Andrew Mackereth's rhapsodic trombone solo 'Song of Joy' in the presence of the composer, showing excellent control as he made light work of the challenging with its wide-ranging solo line.

Reflection to spectacle

'For the Love of a Princess' provided a reflective interlude, with fine playing on oboe and cor anglais, before a rousing brass quintet rendition of 'Amazing Grace’ and thrilling music from the film 'Taras Bulba', combining vigorous Ukrainian Cossack music with the sensuous allure of Turkey rounded off the first half.

As the music rose to a climax it was easy to picture Yul Brynner marshalling his forces across the rolling plains.

Barnes Wallis tribute

Nigel Hess wrote the 'Barnes Wallis March' as part of the Dambusters commemoration, featuring some bravura playing from the trombones and horns in phrases rather reminiscent of 'Ein Heldenleben'.
 
SAC Dan Floyd then appeared as vibraphone soloist in 'Round Midnight' – and although some of his four-stick work at the start was swallowed up in the overall wash of sound, he dominated the texture more in the later more extrovert passages.  

It was then the timp player's moment in the spotlight with 'Lawrence of Arabia' , effectively doubled up on tom-toms in the opposite corner of the church.

Thrilling soloist

Lewis Musson, former BBC Radio 2 Young Brass Player of the Year has recently joined the band, and he thrilled with 'Neath the Dublin Skies'.

Playing from memory, the four diverse sections gave him ample scope for both lyricism and fireworks, with the reel and jig setting everyone's feet tapping. 

Colourful finale

The conductor's arrangement of 'Home Away from Home' preceded two movements from 'The Old Man of Dark Lochnagar'. 

Based on the children's book by HRH Prince Charles, Nigel Hess has conjured a colourful score, contrasting dark passages in the lower band, with prominent use of bassoon and bass clarinet, with lively flourishes in the upper winds.

As the concert closed with the traditional 'RAF March Past' the audience showed their appreciation to the hard-working players who had coped well in the difficult conditions.

Peter Bale