Essential Dyke Volume IV – The Pondashers

Black Dyke Band
Conductor: Dr. Nicholas Childs
Doyen Recordings: DOY CD167
Soloists: Roger Webster, Brett Baker, David Thornton
Total Playing Time: 62.42

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This CD completes a quartet of releases that have expertly tried to capture what the producers believe is the essential characteristic that makes the Black Dyke Band so unique.

As with the previous well-received recordings, the aim has not been to deliver any groundbreaking musical explanation into the bands enduring appeal, rather, they showcase examples of the type of musical ingredients that continue to prove immensely popular with audiences (Dyke coming to town invariably means the "Full House" signs go up the length and breadth of the country), and which the band deliver in such a commanding manner.

Black Dyke are of course able to encompass any genre of brass band music making, but perhaps their strongest virtue is that they remain in the eyes and ears of the general public, the custodians of the traditional values of the British Brass Band; quality, refinement, brilliant soloists, warm sonorous sounds and an essentially conservative progressive musical outlook. These are the essential ingredients that have served them so well in the past, and which of course, will serve them so well in the future. Volume IV further enhances this hard earned reputation and the general public will be immensely pleased that they continue to do it – Dyke are on top form here.

MD. Dr. Nicholas Childs has chosen carefully from the archives (there are more than a few of the musky old, nicotine yellow treasures here) and he has picked an eclectic mix of pieces that are easy on the ear, and essentially appeal to a very broad band of listeners. They do though make some substantial demands on the players.

Volume IV has a direct correlation to what has gone before in Volumes 1 – III and also maintains the standards set by the predecessors (two of which came under the baton of James Watson). It may not be cutting edge stuff, but it is certainly finely played and directed – and of course, will deservedly sell by the bucketful to fans and casual banding enthusiasts. That is what makes Dyke so essentially different – and popular.

The eleven items on this release include three cracking marches – the first of which is the "Queensbury" inspired "The Pondashers" which the great Major George Wilcocks wrote as a homage of sorts to the band he led so splendidly to three major victories under his baton in the late 1950's early 1960's. "Pondashers" is of course the nickname given to the legion of fans of the band, although it does have a rather more sinister origin of sorts as the name given to one of the anonymous, but slightly biased correspondents that reported on the Yorkshire brass band scene at the turn of the 20th Century.

The other two marches on show are the exemplary and ubiquitous Whit Friday winner, "Knight Templar" by the Geordie "King of the March", George Allan and the pompous old potboiler "March Slav" which is given a real authentic airing.

The three soloists – and some trio they are, fairly sparkle with their contributions. Roger Webster makes "Silver Threads" sound as if they are really spun with gold, whilst David Thornton is wickedly inspired with his spankingly good rendition of the Rossini "Variations on a Theme". Brett Baker meanwhile reprises the great Arthur Pryor's "Thoughts of Love" in virtuositic style – although we continue to wonder whether Rogers and Hart pinched the tune for "O, What a Beautiful Morning" from it. If they were alive today a good lawyer would make a fortune out of a copyright case for sure.

There are also two finely structured and controlled quieter items in "All in the April Evening" and "Prelude to La Traviata", whilst it is nice to hear a top notch Gordon Langford arrangement resurface in the shape of his clever and witty, "Sullivan Fantasy". Gilbert and Sullivan suits a brass band that can master the deftness of this type of music – Dyke can.

The only disappointment for us is the Hazelgrove arrangement of the Mozart "Marriage of Figaro" – this is too heavy handed a transcription that gives the essential breezy nature of the original a dull matt finish. No one as yet has really been able to capture the vibrancy of Mozart's writing and transfer it to the medium of brass writing – this certainly isn't an example.

Brahms on the other hand suits the brass band very well indeed, and this superbly constructed and executed performance of his "Academic Festival Overture" is the highlight of the disc for us. It is a rendition that builds with real intensity (and benefits from the Arthur Butterworth string insertions) and sends a real shiver up the old spine. It may well be an old warhorse (it was used for the 1937 Open), but on this airing it is one that has plenty of life left in it's forelocks and is not yet due a visit to the musical glue factory.

This is a really enjoyable release from Black Dyke – they do make a lot of CD's, but they do the vast majority of them rather well. This is a good example of giving their audience what they want (plus excellent sleeve notes and production) – and more importantly, what they expect. They do it with a hell of a lot of class.

Iwan Fox
Copyright 4BR

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