A special ‘Yorkshire Prom’ featuring Black Dyke as part of the festivities for the Tour de France, saw the band lead over 700 people in the singing of the unofficial Yorkshire’s ‘anthem’ ‘On Ilkla Moor Baht’at’ in a recent concert at York’s Barbican Hall.

Baton Jaune

With the famous cycling race making a huge worldwide impact as it flowed through the Yorkshire countryside cheered by hundreds of thousands of supporters, Black Dyke helped it on its way aided by poet Ian Macmillan and cyclist Mike Hughes (above), who rode onto the stage to present Black Dyke Director Music, Prof Nicholas Childs with a special ‘Baton Jaune’.

The Black Dyke event was the climax of a weekend of concerts presented by Brassed On York Ltd, which showcased brass bands for the Yorkshire Festival 2014 — the first arts festival to precede the Tour de France in its 111 year history.

Sing, Sing, Sing

Broadcast on BBC Radio Leeds, the band opened with its famous signature tune, ‘Queensbury’, followed by ‘Ruy Blas’ overture and the hymn tune Crimond, whilst soloists Zoe Hancock and Gary Curtin wowed the packed audience. Dyke’s first half concluded with a big band set with a rousing version of ‘Sing, Sing, Sing’ to close.

In the second half the band joined poet Ian Macmillan for a welcome reprise of ‘Brass’, the evocative and humorous musical poem which was well received by a knowledgeable audience.

Blue Thunder

Also joining the musical festivities was the Yorkshire Youth Band, who played Jonathan Bates’ innovative ‘Old London Town’, before the talented youngsters led into Dan Price’s ‘Blue Thunder’, joined by cyclist Mike Hughes, who was riding in the Marie Curie Power Peloton ahead of the first stage of the Tour de France, ‘Grand Depart’.

Yellow Baton

After handing over the specially made ‘yellow baton’ he pedaled off, leaving Professor Childs to pick up the Yorkshire theme with ‘Haworth Impressions’ and ‘Flourish’, featuring Richard Marshall and the Yorkshire Festival song, ‘The Big Wide’.

The evening, closed with ‘Jerusalem’, ‘On Ilkla Moor’, and a gallop through the ‘William Tell’ overture, which received a standing ovation and was broadcast on BBC Radio York to round off the region’s Tour de France celebrations.

They were also absolutely blown away by what they heard. One of the themes for the festival was world-class talent, and Black Dyke certainly gave them thatBrassed On York director Kate Lock

Amazing

"It was an amazing event," Brassed On York director Kate Lock told 4BR. "People came who wouldn’t normally come because it was part of the Yorkshire Festival 2014, which gave it lots of additional exposure.

They were also absolutely blown away by what they heard. One of the themes for the festival was world-class talent, and Black Dyke certainly gave them that."

On route

The concert was the finale of the ‘Tour de Brass’ series of concerts by 22 brass bands in locations that were on, or close to, the two routes the Tour de France took through Yorkshire.