On what proved to be a wonderful advert for the talents of the army’s trio of new brass bands, it was the Band of the King’s Division who opened the evening’s proceedings by marching onto ‘General Mitchell’, before being joined by their comrades.

The 28-strong fanfare team ranged at the top of the stage for ‘Young Pheasants in the Sky’ was an impressive sight and sound, whilst ‘Light Walk’ started off with basses and percussion, with the remaining players swapping instruments and headgear to join them, featuring C/S Stephen Craig as a classy flugel soloist.

Vocal contribution

2nd Lt Brenden Wheeler (well known to the civilian banding fraternity) took over the baton for ‘Finlandia’ with some nicely sustained playing, particularly from the lower brass and a lovely moment when a male voice quartet stepped forward to sing ‘Be Still My Soul’, followed by the whole band singing to a quartet accompaniment.

William German’s ‘The President’ had brought success for the Band of the King’s Division on Whit Friday, and once again it was delivered due swagger and precision.  Katrina Marzella was a glowing focal point to the moving ‘Alone With My Thoughts’, written in memory of a Royal Marine killed in the Falklands - the luminous accompaniment allowing the soloist to be heard throughout.

Varying styles

Robert Wiffin’s concert prelude on ‘Here’s a Health’ ranged from Elizabethan to modern idiom in style, with effective instrumental flurries and a grandiose finish, which proved a neat segue into ‘Feelin’ Good’, presented ‘a la Michael Buble’ by Musician Perry O’Brien, solo horn with the King’s Division Band.  Things just dipped however with ‘Silverado’ (a film more renowned for its score than its acting) which was a little hesitant in places.

‘Salsa No 2’ saw some lively work from the percussion section, supplemented by the back row cornets with solos on horn, baritone and soprano, before a rendition of the uplifting ‘Barnes Wallis March’ by Nigel Hess - an attractive mix of compound and simple time and Waltonian finish.

Moving tribute to the fallen

‘With Each Sunset’, in memory of a US victim of friendly fire, was an intriguing and engaging choice before Warren Barker’s ‘Sousa’ fantasia with some very un-Sousa-like shifts of key in a clever use of diverse material. Musicians Challoner and Rae were the whizzing xylophone soloists in the slickly presented ‘Liszteria’.

Classical finale

A contrasting ‘Polovtsian Dances’ really came to life towards the end, enhanced by a firework display and their conductor, resplendent in a ceremonial dress that could have come from ‘Arabian Nights’!

His declaration that he was ‘knackered!’ at the end brought a great show of appreciation from the highly entertained audience, before the final items of the Corps of Army Music march and National Anthem.

As showcases go, everyone went home to barracks or semi detached suburbia more than happy.

Peter Bale