In an innovative new approach, the Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama Brass Band will be making its first concert appearance at one of Wales’s foremost museums this weekend.
Saturday evening
The evening concert will be performed at Swansea’s impressive Waterfront Museum, which attracts thousands of visitors each year to find out more about the story of Welsh industrial and maritime history over the past 300 years.
Connection
And as MD Dr Robert Childs told 4BR, the programme he has chosen for the concert starting at 7.30pm on Saturday evening, certainly connects with the exhibitions that will be seen on display around concert goers.
"Wales has such a rich industrial heritage, that I felt it was an ideal opportunity to reflect this in the music we have chosen to perform," he said.
Evocative
"This will include Simon Dobson’s evocative ‘Penlee’, as well as another chance to hear one of the earliest original works for brass band, ‘A Tydfil Overture’ by the great Welsh composer Joseph Parry."
Seafaring and iron making
He added: "It seemed appropriate given Swansea’s seafaring history and the amazing industrial story of the Cyfartha Band and the Merthyr iron barons to include these wonderful works, as well as celebrate Welsh musical excellence with William Mathias’s ‘Vivat Regina’ and ‘The Armed Man’ from Wales’s greatest living composer Karl Jenkins.
We will also feature Hannah Drage in the Gareth Wood ‘Horn Concerto’, as well as give a few lollipops to round off the evening too!"
It seemed appropriate given Swansea’s seafaring history and the amazing industrial story of the Cyfartha Band and the Merthyr iron barons to include these wonderful worksDr Robert Childs
Outreach
The new outreach feature of the student brass band is one that Bob feels will be of great benefit to the players, whilst also showcasing their talents to audiences throughout South Wales.
"Welsh banding is on such a high at present and a great deal of that success has come from the contribution these talented students are making.
I hope this concert will be the first in many new ventures that will showcase their talents throughout the Principality on a more regular basis."
Venue:
7.30pm
National Waterfront Museum
Oystermouth Road
Maritime Quarter
Swansea
SA1 3RD