One of the aims Dr Nicholas Childs made public when he took over the baton of Black Dyke almost fifteen years ago was to get the Queensbury outfit back into the heartland of Whit Friday country.

It's an objective that has since been met with the approval of the locals on numerous occasions, and it was no surprise that the audience came out in their droves to hear the English National Champion continue its pre-Regional preparations. 

Entertained

The programme may have mirrored the majority of that performed in Norwich a couple of weeks earlier, but when the audience left a couple of hours later, they'd been royally entertained by a band and conductor in relaxed mood; although with more than a hint of determination that they were also focussed in getting the Yorkshire Area title back in their grasp.

Dyke's signature tune, 'Queensbury', full of clear detail, kicked off the evening with an indication that the band was in good form.

Vibrant sonority

Many interested listeners will have also taken a great deal from the performance of Kenneth Downie's 'St Magnus' - played with vibrant sonority and precise technical execution.

The musical expression portrayed in the lyrical second variation was a real highlight - and the look of pleasure on the MDs face at the performance’s conclusion spoke volumes.

Quick wit

Richard Marshall certainly enjoyed himself on 'Tico, Tico', which led the MD to ask if the audience would like to hear him play another one?

The quick witted quip, '...please visit the CD stand then...' was a neat bit of banter. 

Mood change

The mood changed somewhat as Dyke delivered Peter Graham's arrangement of 'Crimond' which cleverly incorporates snippets of Ball's 'Resurgam', before newlywed Katrina Wheeler seduced the audience with her delightful baritone sound in 'Be My Love'.

To close a commanding first half there were two neatly portrayed movements from the Karl Jenkins’ 'Stabat Mater’ and a tasty rip through PLC's 'Vitae Aeternum'.

Centre stage

The second half commenced with the MD letting the band lead from the front in 'Softly, Softly', before a trio of excellent soloists took centre stage.

Brett Baker was first up with Alan Fernie's 'Brave', before solo horn Jonny Bates was quite at home in the fiendishly difficult finale from 'This Wicked Struggle' by Stan Nieuwenhuis.

Last by not least, and in the presence of his parents, Gary Curtin was in cracking birthday form as he delivered Jonny Bates' new take on 'Carnival of Venice'  - entitled 'Carnival of Venus'. 

Slick

A trio of big band music was choreographed in a slick and polished manner before Dyke closed with that most famous of 'pot-boilers', '1812 Overture', which was probably heard up the road in Dr Childs' home village of Denshaw.

Encores could have kept coming, but it was a lovely touch to send the contented audience home with the strains of the uplifting 'I'll Walk with God'.

On this form, this audience will want Dyke to return to the heart of Whit Friday country as soon as possible.

Malcolm Wood