Heritage

Gresley Colliery Band, David Hutchinson
Gresley Colliery Youth Band, Fay Bayliss
TFR-100-1

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One of the most intriguing CD recordings to land through the 4BR post box towards the end of 2006 was Heritage by The Gresley Colliery Band.  Whilst the recording celebrates 150 years of the band, the real fascination comes with the inclusion of a recording of six pieces from the Gresley Colliery Youth Band.

One of the things that was discussed in particular at the Brass Herald Forum as part of the RNCM’s Festival of Brass in January 2006 was Youth Banding and encouraging some of the UK’s premier bands to create Youth Bands to maintain their longevity and future within the movement.

There are bands that already have this in place (Sellers immediately comes to mind) whilst Black Dyke’s initiative to create the Yorkshire Youth Band gives aspiring player within the White Rose county that opportunity to learn from some of the best players around.

More often than not though, the bands that don’t have Youth Bands directly attached to them, do plenty of work with youth and lower section bands, with the majority of the work only known to those involved.

Gresley could have quite easily released this recording using the Senior Band only but they can only be commended for making the statement that both bands are important to them and that both should celebrate 150 years of the Gresley Colliery being in existence.

The repertoire on both recordings is light and entertaining; the sort of music you’d be happy to sit and listen to on a summer’s day down at the local bandstand complete with an ice cream and your newspaper.

There really is something for everyone, whether it be music from Cry of the Celts through to some of the latest film music, in this case, Chicken Run, Conquest of Paradise and the tune that every football team on the brink of relegation plays before a match, The Great Escape.

A fair number of the bands soloists are featured:  Bass Trombonist, Fay Baylis and euphonium Karl Eames duet in I Only Have Eyes For You; the trombone team join forces for I Will Follow Him whilst Solo Trombonist, Chris Smith clearly enjoys himself in Can’t Take My Eyes Off You.

Dave Shipley takes the percussion solo with Siebert’s Drummer’s Delight and the cornet soloists are not left out either with a mixture of individual solo’s and duets.

You wouldn’t mind betting that Youth Band that was formed in 2002 not only had enormous fun with their contribution to the release, but a fair number of sleepless nights to go with it.

The fun element comes across right the way through the six tracks that aren’t over taxing for the players; a lot of the music is in a similar style and perhaps an inclusion of a march within their capabilities would have brought a touch of contrast.

Fair play to Gresley though, the two bands provide plenty of enjoyment on a recording that acknowledges their past with a big look to the future.

Malcolm Wood

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