The Regionals 2003

Black Dyke, Besses o' th' Barn, Williams Fairey, Eikanger Bjorsvik Musikklag
Conductors: Nicholas Childs, Lynda Nicholson, Howard Snell, James Gourlay
Doyen Recordings: CD143
Total Playing Time: 57.52

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With the fiasco of the time keeping debacle of Torquay but a distant memory (even Alex Ferguson couldn't complain about the amount of extra time) and the identity of the new 2002 Champion Band of Great Britain yet to be decided, comes the new releases from the slightly battered and bruised Music Panel of the BFBB for the Regional Championships of 2003.

Although they would be unaware at the time (an apt choice of phrase) of the complete mess they inadvertently created at Torquay, they have still none the less been brave enough to once again stick their necks on the chopping block and have gone for a clean sweep of contemporary compositions for the Areas.

Paul Hindmarsh, the Chairman of the Panel states that he feels the works are both challenging and contemporary and that is 100% true. However, he lets the cat out of the bag somewhat in also stating that the music to be used later in the year at both the Lower Section and National Finals in London will look back somewhat into our rich heritage with a tribute to the musical genius that was Eric Ball. So there you have it - from a Balls Up to Balls for Everyone in under 12 months. Some trick.

The choice of five works such as these will also cause more than a few headaches for players, conductors and audiences alike - although after listening carefully to the CD itself, everyone should be in for an interesting and enjoyable experience. There are even timings on the sleeve notes to help the organisers ensure lightening doesn't strike twice.

The main talking point around bandrooms will surely centre on Judith Bingham's "Prague", a work written and first performed in 1995, and one that is given a superb workout by Williams Fairey and James Gourlay - "live" no less at the 1996 BBC Festival of Brass. The amount and volume of the applause at the end of this performance may give more than a fair indication of how the work may or may not be received by come March next year.

It is a work that Bingham herself has described as one that reflects the turmoil, adversity and finally the triumph of the human spirit that the Czech city has been subject to over the last 400 years. It is therefore in turns brutal, vivid, barbaric, colourful and technically demanding - features that accurately reflect the cities history in the four clear sections that the work breaks into. It takes some getting used to, but if you take the time to read the extensive transcript that Bingham herself has given in the sleeve notes, the music makes clear sense and becomes an enjoyable music portrait of a city that has been a cauldron of both political and social upheaval through the ages.

The inclusion of Arthur Butterworth's "Passacaglia on a Theme of Brahms" as the First Section set work is most welcome and is a worthy tribute to a composer who has been rather overlooked in recent years. This recording from Black Dyke comes from the "Butterworth" CD that we voted as 4BR "CD of the Year" in 2001 and it is a scorching performance of a very difficult, but immensely satisfying piece of writing. It will take a good band to make come off, but if they can - it is a real treat. On the occasion of his 80th year in 2003, it is a overdue opportunity to celebrate one of the movements finest composers.

Wilfred Heaton's death in 2000 was an immense loss to the brass banding world. For far too long his output was almost criminally overlooked by the secular banding movement and it was only at the end of his life that his genius was rightly recognised. What a mistake it was. His "Celestial Prospect" is a beautiful work, based on the Salvationist song, "Come, comrades dear" and is essentially a symphonic work that develops from this simple theme. At its heart is an elegy of immense beauty - a paean of heart wrenching pathos that only a very few bands of Second Section standard will be able to create. It is a work however that will give satisfaction in both technical and musical terms to everyone who plays it and listens to it - and you cannot ask for anything more from a brass band composition.

Third Section bands will be challenged to the hilt by Peter Graham's "Northern Landscapes" - a work of four movements that was originally written for the Ulster Orchestra Brass Quintet and was later revised and commissioned as a full brass band work for the Boarshurst Greenfield Band. Each of the movements is something of a musical picture of the North - from the grim mechanical portrait of the first movement entitled "Industry", through the expressive beauty of the "Seascapes", the almost menacing treatment of "Earth Dance" which sounds like a surreal clog dance, and through to the final uplifting "Fight". It is a satisfying work and one that will be a challenge for sure.

Finally, the Fourth Section gets a real treat in the form of Simon Dobson's "Lydian Pictures". This is a young man with a real future ahead of him as he brings a welcome individualism of musical thought to his compositions. His talent is abundant and has been recognised in winning the 2001 European Composers Competition in Brussels - and with this work you can really see why. It takes its inspiration from the "Lydian Mode" - a musical scale that includes an augmented 4th, not a form of computer text. It makes for an interesting dislocation from the norm and each of the three movements explores the mode to the full. The first entitled "Fanfares and Dances" will demand full sounds and balanced tones from the bands, whilst the second, "Romance" seems almost Ravel like or the second movement odd movement from Derek Bourgeois, "Concerto Number 1" which was used a few years ago at the National Finals. The final "Folk Song" is a joyous little romp - with hints of Celtic reels and Cornish energy. Bands and audiences are sure to enjoy a fine work from a fine young talent, whilst Besses under Lynda Nicholson give a fine account of themselves and the music.

The BFBB Music Panel should therefore be congratulated on their choices for 2003 - difficult and challenging, interesting and listenable - isn't that what it's all about. We'll find out if their bravery has been justified come March next year for sure.

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