The Heaton Collection

Black Dyke Band and The International Staff Band
Conductors: Nicholas Childs and Stephen Cobb
Soloists: Roger Webster and Rob Gill
SP&S Recordings: CD SPS158
Total Playing Time: 2 hours 6 mins

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This is a magnificent CD and a true musical testament to one of the greatest composers of religious and secular brass music of the 20th century.

Wilfred Heaton was born in the last year of the "Great War" and died in the year 2000. Throughout his life he was devoted Christian first, a great composer second, yet these two aspects of his creative and spiritual life combined to such an effect that his musical legacy will remain with us for ever. Although never a prodigious composer (he scarcely wrote anything for nearly 30 years) his output has been one of a quality few, if any brass composer has ever matched.

His works were ahead of his time and in essence belonged to the European classical mainstream, and not that of the Salvation Army itself, and many of his works were thought to be too radical and advanced for the Salvation Army brass bands to perform. His influences seem to belong to the likes of Bartok, Hindemith or William Walton rather then the traditional composers of the Salvationist movement. He composed works for orchestra, vocal and chamber music, but it was for brass that he found his metier.

Although he worked for many years in an instrument repair business, he later became a professional horn player and peripatetic brass teacher and with a move to work in the West Ridings of Yorkshire he found his lasting home with his wife Olive in Harrogate. During this period he became a respected teacher and musical director of both the Leeds Symphony Orchestra and for a period of several months in 1971, the Musical Director of the Black Dyke Mills Band.

This CD brings to us many of his finest works for the medium – works written from the 1940's right up to his death and although the music is not laid out in chronological order it does unfold in a way as to reveal Heatons development as a composer. The CD includes all his music which has been published to date, so hopefully there will be a further release in the near future to encompass his works such as his "Trombone Concerto" and "Variations" – his final musical statement.

Both Black Dyke and the International Staff Band give immensely satisfying performances of the works on show, with the CD split to feature both separately. This however doesn't give rise for comparison as the works themselves transcend such meaningless correlation. Both are on their finest form, and both MD's have ensured the performances are true reflections of the composer's intentions rather than their own immense abilities.

Heaton has a clear and precise sense of musical style allied to a cornucopia of textures and colour. There is immense wit – ironic wit maybe in many of his works, whilst he is able to communicate a masterful gamut of emotions from the dark and almost suppressed to the glorious and exultant. The pictures he creates all have a meaning, a sense of direct correlation to his beliefs and as such become powerful musical messages. It is as if he uses the words of Christian texts, hymns and passages from the Bible as a musical libretto. The purely secular works, such as "Contest Music" are no less powerful though, as they too retain a sense of commitment that is at times nearly overwhelming.

Throughout this CD we are reminded of Heatons talents to the full – from the immense "Contest Music" – given a fine eloquent and controlled account by Black Dyke, to his "Partita" – an extended 4 movement work that explores facets of technique and musicianship that is quite breathtaking. Dyke again come up trumps.

The listener is also rewarded by some sublime playing from the ISB and each of their 11 contributions is superbly crafted and delivered. The soloists play with a fine sense of lyrical style and the works reveal themselves in all their beauty. Stephen Cobb ensures that nothing becomes too overdone or sentimental (Heaton never uses a cheap trick to convey emotion) and his players make each work vibrant and meaningful.

The sense of wit and even self mockery surface in many of the pieces (especially in Glory! Glory!) and there is an almost dislocated sense of the absurd in the marches, whilst the duet between Roger Webster and Rob Gill is played with consummate brilliance. The final "Toccata" is a powerfully controlled exercise in commitment, whilst "Celestial Prospect" has a middle section that will make the hairs on the back of your neck stand on end. The Regionals in 2003 will have at least one work that is simply outstanding to listen to as well as play.

From the very start of "Le Tricot Rouge" to the last balanced chord of "Toccata, Oh The Blessed Lord", "The Heaton Collection" gives the listener the opportunity to hear two of the very best bands in the world playing some of the finest brass music to a standard that is quite outstanding.

Everything about this release has been done with one thing in mind – to produce a monument that does justice to a truly great man and great composer. SP&S have done this with a superb release – complete with inserts that give biographies of the composer, the music and the performers and a quality of production that makes this as good a release we have heard for a very, very long time.

Wilfred Heaton has at last been given the accolade he has deserved.

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