The Royal Northern College of Music's Festival of Brass will once again take place at the end of January next year.

Festival to go on

Professor Edward Gregson who steps down as Principal of the college later this year announced over the weekend that the festival is in safe hands and will return once again next year.

Speaking at Black Dyke's concert on Friday evening, Professor Gregson was full of pride and praise for the way the RNCM had embraced the festival whilst he had been Principal and acknowledged the bands for their contributions.

Return to composing

Professor Gregson also announced that he will now be returning to composing for brass bands and his next composition will no doubt be eagerly awaited.

The 70s, Vinter and Wilby for 2009

The Artistic Director for this year's festival, Paul Hindmarsh announced on Sunday evening that the proposed themes for 2009 will be music from the 70s, music from the pen of Gilbert Vinter, marking the 100th anniversary of his birth and the modern day music of Professor Philip Wilby who will be 60 in 2009.

Epic weekend

Seven ensembles and over fifteen hours of serious music was to be heard at the RNCM Festival in what can only be described as an 'epic weekend'4BR

The RNCM Festival of Brass was another 'epic weekend' of the best of brass. Black Dyke opened the weekend on Friday evening in a concert that included three World Premieres. Throughout the weekend, the music of Ralph Vaughan-Williams and Philip Sparke were performed whilst their was a strong focus on lower brass from the soloists present.

Spooky

Saturday's offerings included another World Premiere from Elgar Howarth in the form of a composition entitled Spooks performed by RNCM's Intercollegiate Brass Ensemble with Mark Frost as the soloist.

The British Open Champion, The Cory Band performed a programme with strong links to the Principality. Highlights included the World Premiere of Gareth Wood's Actaeon and Philip Sparke's Year of the Dragon.

James is alive

Alan Morrison directed Brighouse and Rastrick's offering on Saturday night. The Yorkshire Area Champion performed a programme that included Ireland's Comedy Overture and Sparke's Harmony Music, tubist James Gourlay returned to the college he knows so well and sporting a shirt which read 'I'm not dead yet' gave a stunning performance of Bruce Fraser's Tuba Concerto.

Super Sunday

Sunday's final day, showcased Leyland Band conducted by Howard Evans in excellent form and Fodens (Richardson) conducted by Bramwell Tovey and Garry Cutt.

Highlights of Leyland's programme included Katrina Marzella's performance of David Gillingham's Vintage and Hermann Pallhuber's Titan's Progress; music that was performed at the Europeans in Birmingham last May for the first time.

Neish is Salt of the Earth

Fodens maintained the standard set by Leyland earlier in the day with a programme that included Life Divine, Contest Music and an epic performance by Leslie Neish of Andy Scott's new tuba concerto entitled 'Salt of the Earth'.

Vintage Grimey to close

The defending English and National Champion Band of Great Britain, Grimethorpe Colliery led by its Principal Conductor, Allan Withington brought the festival to a close. The Yorkshire band's programme included Steven Mead performing Cosma's Euphonium Concerto and Rydland's Song in addition to giving a reprise of the piece that gave them the National title last October, Sparke's Music for Battle Creek.

To a raptuous ovation, the whole weekend closed with some Vintage Grimethorpe although slightly out of character from the weekend's other repertoire; music that includes the lyrics, 'Someone left the cake out in the rain', MacArthur Park, Allan Withington style.

Reviews to come

4BR's team of Iwan Fox, Malcolm Wood and Chris Thomas were at the RNCM over the weekend and reviews of the festival in addition to the Brighouse and Leyland concerts already published will appear during the week.