A New Beginning

Hoover Band (Bolton)
Conductor: Christopher Wormald
Amadeus CD060
Total Playing Time: 75.13

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This is a band with a long history dating back to 1838.  Known as The Bolton Borough Band, the one thing that stood out when reading the cover sleeve, was the name of Warbutons - the high quality bakers, who sponsored the band during the 80s.  Since 1992 however, the band has received sponsorship from the Hoover Foundation (GIAS UK) and hence, the band proudly carries that name - and very successfully too.

In July 2002, the band appointed Chris Wormald, the man behind the success of Smithills School Band as their MD, and ever since, the band has had an upturn in fortunes.  Qualification for Dundee last year has been matched by having the opportunity to have a crack at the Third Section title in Harrogate come September, and now, the band's first commercial recording, appropriately entitled, 'A New Beginning' that is seventy-five minutes of enjoyment has been released.

Sixteen tracks are included of which ten are arrangements from the MD, and the opening track, Punchinello, sets the standard for the whole CD; impressive is an understatement.

One of the successes of Smithills School is the fact that a number of players in the band are hooked into brass playing for life and want to play with bands away from the school whilst still studying and after they have left secondary education.  Three examples are soloists Lynsey Hayes, Janet Gill and Gary Talbot.  Lynsey is the band's principal cornet and performs with great maturity throughout, none more so than in her solo items Guess I'll Hang My Tears Out To Dry and Pie Jesu.  Flugel player, Janet Gill is equally as impressive in Saving All My Love For You, and bass player, Gary Talbot has a lot of fun as Nellie the Elephant.

The other soloist is soprano cornet player, Chris Seddon, a student at the Birmingham Conservatoire studying trumpet.  A player to look out for in the future as well - listen to a lovely voice of the soprano in Bring Him Home, before he serenades Lynsey Hayes in the familiar duet, Pie Jesu.

Film music is featured in Harry Potter and A James Bond Tribute, and an impressive performance of Hymn to the Fallen from Saving Private Ryan.  In addition, enjoy Gershwin's A Foggy Day, Moonlight Serenade, and no disc is complete without a hymn tune, in this instance, Parker's favourite, Deep Harmony.

Mars from Holst's Planets is played with plenty of enthusiasm as is Aagaard-Nilsen's rendition of Fra Borge.  Two real highlights that stand out though are the Redhead composition, Reflections in Nature and the Chorale from Symphony No.3 by Mahler arranged by the conductor, demonstrating that band are quite at home in any musical style.

This is a disc that won't challenge you too much musically, but will give you plenty of enjoyment with the standard of the playing and enthusiasm that is evident from the players and MD on this recording.  On this evidence, the band has a really good future in front of them, and congratulations to the band, Chris Wormald and Amadeus for an insight to what has become A New Beginning for The Hoover Band (Bolton).

Malcolm Wood

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