Wildfire

Buy As You View Cory Band
Conductor: Robert Childs
Doyen Recordings: DOY CD 144
Total playing time: 68.25 mins

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"Wildfire" is the third major CD of the summer from the Buy As You View Cory Band and its conductor, Robert Childs, and is as welcome an addition to the market place as both their "Brass Band Classics" and "Heritage" releases.

Just as both of these other CD's explore differing musical territories, "Wildfire" is a determined and well thought out attempt to enhance new repertoire from established yet not so "readily available" composers to the brass band fraternity. The result is a fine release of contemporary brass music – compositions of real integrity and substance, and works that develop existing ideas and compositional form to excellent effect.

John Pickard is the current "Composer in Residence" to the band and has produced two works for this release – one a short and brilliant introductory blaze of musical mischief and the other a most substantial work of real note. "Invocation" was premiered at the "Best of Brass Bands" festival that took place on the Sunday after the 2001 British Open, and just as at that debut, the music captures your attention right from the start. Pickard however, has a musical glint of mischief in his eye and draws the listener into the music (just 2.28 minutes of it) as rapidly as he drops the guillotine at its premature end. It's a terrific aperitif.

His "Wildfire" is something totally different though – although he still has the priceless gift of engaging the listener almost immediately with his ideas, use of timbres, shades and easily identifiable musical forms. It is a work that forms part of a massive four work cycle that takes its premise from the four classical elements; earth, air, fire and water. This section was written in 1991 and forms the second part of the work that has already been partially completed; "Men of Stone" (earth) has already been performed after being written in1995, whilst "Tsunami" (water) had a well-received premier this year by the National Youth Brass Band of Wales. The last section, "Aurora (air) will be completed in 2003, and it is hoped that the complete cycle will be recorded in full after this date. It should be well worth waiting for – this is top rate brass writing – exciting, detailed and dramatic. This is a composer who should be encouraged to write more by the banding movement as a whole.

Nigel Clarke has already written exciting works for both brass bands and solo instruments and this latest work, "Gwennan Gorn" is another work that shows a talent for brass composition that is exciting and individual. The music is idiomatic in that it takes inspiration from the legend of Prince Madoc, who allegedly in myth sailed to America in the 14th century. The provenance of his claims are debatable, but the provenance of this work cannot be questioned; it is a superb bit of writing, a one movement work divided into three main sections – fast, slow, fast which has faint echoes of native Mandan Indian music as well as medieval fanfares. It is very impressive indeed.

David Bedford has been a prominent wind ensemble writer for many years and in fact some of his output has already been set on CD (The Music of David Bedford – Doyen recordings, CD 082). As with the works on that recording, "Requiem" is a composition of dignity, from a composer with an almost classical understanding of form and structure. It is modern and at times challenging, but when listened to with an understanding of its premise and inspiration (the death of a young girl in a traffic accident, that Bedford himself initially reacted to with irritation and guilt) it becomes a moving, paean.

Rodney Newton is perhaps better known than the other composers on this CD, as many of his works have been recorded on other well-received releases by both bands and soloists. He has a keen and clear musical ear with his ideas developed in an accessible manner for the listener. "The King of Elfland's Daughter" was commissioned by BAYV Cory, and will receive its first public performance early next year – it should be an occasion to book early for as the music is set out in a most enjoyable way. It is not perhaps the most difficult work here, but it would be ideal as a test piece with plenty to challenge the players and conductors alike. An enjoyable musical ride through the musical territory of "middle earth".

The final work is "Salome" by Gareth Wood – a composer who we have heard little of in recent years. The work was commissioned by the Welsh Arts Council and first performed by the Parc and Dare Band some years ago. It is of course based upon the story of the wicked "Salome" of the title – the beguiling, manipulative nymphette who demanded, and finally received, the head of John the Baptist on a salver. The work cleverly intertwines musical motifs that identify the main characters of the complex plot – Herod, Tetrach, Herodias and Salome herself. The music builds, ebbs and flows in sympathy with the feelings of main players, as Salome finally gets what she wants, and what she finally deserves for her actions – crushed to death by the shields of Herod's guards. It is a climactic end to a superb piece of descriptive writing.

"Wildfire" is a fine release, and more than justifiably shows that there are composers out there who can write with individual style and individual musical thought for the brass band medium. Check them out, for we hopefully should here more of all of them in the near future.

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