Featuring: Williams Fairey Engineering; Black Dyke Mills, Cory Band; GUS Band
Conductors: Roy Newsome; Major Peter Parkes; Philip Harper; Dr Nicholas Childs; Christopher Bond
Doyen Recordings: CD437
Five very different works of inspiration will test around 500 bands (hopefully) across eight different parts of the UK early next year.
They span different eras: Morley Calvert’s ‘Introduction, Elegy & Caprice’ the first European Championship set test-piece in 1978, Andrea Price’s ‘I, Daedalus’ brand new out of its cellophane wrapper.
If ‘Harrison’s Dream’ was anything to go by at the Royal Albert Hall, then Championship bands will find Derek Bourgeois’ ‘Diversions’, (used at London in 1986 and won as shown, with a performance of great elan by Williams Fairey), equally difficult to master.
Wily
Its mix of sardonic elegance and academic wit sits in stark contrast to the nihilistic drive of his earlier National work ‘Blitz’; wily in character and shape, the outer movements studies of character and temperament.
An opening of jaunty inflection and detailed scoring is followed by a central section of cold, tender expression (sure to send a shiver or two down a soprano player’s spine). The finale, breezy with its rhythmic echoes of his ‘Serenade’ and mixed highland drive brings a work of very deceptive challenges to a close.
The same can certainly be said of the First Section test (and as shown by the performance by Black Dyke the event); the Canadian composer stripping away any needless weight or complexities to display the bare bones of his compositional thought processes.
Bare bones
The same can certainly be said of the First Section test (and as shown by the performance by Black Dyke the event); the Canadian composer stripping away any needless weight or complexities to display the bare bones of his compositional thought processes.
There is a measured rigour to the thematic derivation of his writing – from the imposing chords and sinister allegro development of the opening which leads to a recitative led ‘Elegy’ of poised reflection. The dry capriciousness of the finale has a waspish sting in its tail.
Twists and turns
Oliver Waespi’s ‘Friendly Takeover’ (2016) can be seen as part of his ‘urban’ series of works in its distinctive architectural structuring linked to rhythmic underpinnings of groove and pulse.
Once again though the deceptive writing is infused with academic character as smooth lyrical flow is increasingly overlapped by the vitality of modernistic twists and turns – like a Mies van der Rohe building being engulfed by a something built by Frank Gehry.
Once again though the deceptive writing is infused with academic character as smooth lyrical flow is increasingly overlapped by the vitality of modernistic twists and turns – like a Mies van der Rohe building being engulfed by a something built by Frank Gehry.
‘Arkansas’ (2009) is a distinctly non-urban musical landscape; its triptych form based on a trio of well known folk tunes from America’s ‘Natural State’, with the composer’s own little nods to classical formations. A resolute opening of optimism leads to a lyrical ballad of pioneering spirit with a brisk, vivacious finale bringing the work to a bold end.
Ingenuity and hubris
Andrea Price’s ‘I, Daedalus’ is the only work with a narrative underpinning – in this case the familiar tale of ingenuity and passion meeting hubris and consequence.
It’s a super episodic tale – five sections brought together with skill and understanding of Fourth Section needs and aspirations. The best can be both ambitious and successful, whilst some (as in the other sections) may be fooled to fly too close to the sun.
As with all the choices this year, nothing is downplayed with the challenges both obvious and opaque – from the mysterious to the determined, the inventive (with clever effects) to the reaching, and finally a lesson learnt.
Iwan Fox
To purchase:
CD: http://https://www.worldofbrass.com/102181
Download: https://www.worldofbrass.com/102181-download
Wobplay.com: www.wobplay.com
Play list:
1. Diversions (Derek Bourgeois)
Performed by Williams Fairey Engineering
Conductor: Roy Newsome
2. Introduction, Elegy & Caprice (Morley Calvert)
Performed by Black Dyke Mills Band
Conductor: Major Peter Parkes
3. Friendly Takeover (Oliver Waespi)
Performed by Cory Band
Conductor: Philip Harper
4. Arkansas (Jacob de Haan)
Black Dyke Band
Conductor: Dr. Nicholas Childs
5. I, Daedalus (Andrea Price)
Performed by GUS Band
Conductor: Christopher Bond
