It may have been four years since Brighouse & Rastrick last appeared at this Festival, but it was worth the wait.

Under guest conductor, Ian Porthouse, the West Riding outfit was in commanding concert mode to leave an appreciative audience in no doubt that it shouldn't be another four years before they next return.

Crisp

The Tredegar MD's sharply defined conducting manner brought the best out of the band with Heaton's idiosyncratically extended march, 'Glory! Glory!', delivered with a crisp ensemble sound and a nice touch of humour as the passing bugles of the Boys Brigade battled untunefully for the road side bragging rights with the local Sally Army Corps.

Mini masterpiece

Dean Goffin's 'Rhapsody in Brass' is all too rarely heard these days - a real pity as its compact symphonic structure (it’s not really a rhapsody in the true sense) is a mini masterpiece in the constituent elements of high class brass band contest playing.

The rolling motifs of the opening movement were played with just the right touch of musical momentum, whilst the elegiac central interlude, with its memories of lives lost (it is very much a war time composition) had a darkened sense of emotion.  

The spirited brio of the closing 'Allegro assai e giocoso' was energetic and carefree - a statement of future happiness built on the foundations of ultimate sacrifice.

Centrepiece

The centrepiece of the programme came in the form of the UK premiere by David Thornton of Paul McGhee's 'Kjeden'.  Norwegian for 'Chain' - it is a substantial work which draws upon an exploration of linked relationships between the soloist and ensemble.

McGhee’s gift of being able to draw the listener deeper and deeper into the musical miasma he projects makes for a thought provoking experience, enhanced on this occasion by the superb lead given by David Thornton from which the band was able to attach itself.

Bold

To close, a bold account of the original version of Elgar's 'Severn Suite' (as opposed to the Bram Gay arrangement used at the British Open in 1996) which was delivered with a lightness of touch and sense of restraint that kept the underlying pulse of the music flowing throughout.

It brought to an end a concert of substantial highlights from Brighouse & Rastrick on classy form.

Malcolm Wood