10 Years On
21-May-2009
4BR enjoys not a CD of the Labour Party in power, but a celebration of the amazing young performers of the Camborne Youth Band...
Camborne Youth Band
Conductor: Alan Pope
Soloists: Ben King, Amber Roberts, Rebecca Merritt, Samuel Eddy, Simon Kendall, Jessica Tredrea, Jeremy Taylor
Amadeus Recordings: AMSCD128
Total Playing Time: 64.37
There are not too many brass bands in the land that can boast a decade of achievement to match that of the Camborne Youth Band.
Raw material
From a starter point of just seven players in 1999 the band has grown into an unstoppable banding juggernaut: Prizes and titles have come thick and fast, but more importantly, a non stop conveyor belt of talent has been running to bring to fruition the raw material that has flourished under the guidance of perhaps the canniest musical miner in the world – conductor, Alan Pope.
He has hit upon a seam of such richness last seen in these parts with the discovery of tin, and his own ability to mould and temper these Cornish nuggets into performers of such astonishing composure and ability is just as remarkable as that of the young players themselves.
Flourish
Even with such a large turnover of players (over 100 members of all ages at different stages of development), the vast majority of whom are lost to the area as they head to university or work, the infrastructure which he has now put in place will surely enable an organisation with such a progressive and long term attitude to flourish for many decades to comes.
In tandem with the Youth bands progress has been the parallel development of the Camborne B Band – which in reality is this band cut in half and going on to take the scalps in the rough and tumble world of adult contesting (the band recently won the 2009 West of England Second Section title).
Ongoing
This release is therefore a celebration of an ongoing achievement – 10 years of unbridled success – and a commitment to the future too.
18 favourites – musical memories of development are showcased by this remarkable ensemble, with a clutch of soloists that are the shiniest of jewels in a band full to the brim with precious stones.
Story
Each piece has a story behind it – told very well in the programme notes – that enables the listener to follow the development of the 50 strong ensemble and its star performers over the last decade.
We therefore get plenty of cracking playing, with youthful enthusiasm and effervescence by the bucketful, tempered with a remarkable degree of control, balance and precision too.
Sparkling
The soloist are all on sparkling form too – all displaying the virtues of good teaching with well rounded tones and appreciation of phrasing, allied to secure techniques (and that includes the excellent xylophone player too).
The big stuff does get a little strident in places, there are a few untidy little edges and corners and stamina does wane too at times, but these are minor gripes in a well chosen selection that showcases a group of talented players to fine effect.
It’s a recording to very, very proud of in fact, by all concerned.
Iwan Fox
What's on this CD?
1. Fanfare and Flourishes, Curnow, 2.16
2. Glasnost, Stratford, 4.27
3. Donegal Bay, Lovatt-Cooper, 4.03
Baritone—Ben King
4. New York New York, Ebb & Kander arr. Richards, 3.26
5. Vitae Lux, Alnaes arr. Aagaard-Nilsen, 3.30
6. Over the Rainbow, Arlen arr. Richards, 4.29
Tenor Horn—Amber Roberts
7. 12th Street Rag, Bowman arr. Peberdy, 2.59
8. The Lost Chord, Sullivan arr. Childs, 3.39
9. Trumpet Voluntary, Clarke arr. Wright, 2.56
Trumpet—Samuel Eddy
10. The Cossack, Rimmer, 3.29
11. Carrickfergus, Trad arr. Roberts, 3.31
Euphonium—Simon Kendall
12. Born Free, Barry arr. Catherall, 4.23
13. Big Spender, Coleman arr. Fernie, 2.10
Cornet—Jessica Tredrea
14. Mack the Knife, Weill arr. Richards, 2.48
15. Pie Jesu, Webber arr. Smith, 3.48
Soprano & Flugel—Samuel Eddy & Rebecca Merritt
16. Praise My Soul, Goss & Lyte arr. Childs, 3.37
17. Taps in Tempo, Berenska arr. Newton, 2.38
Xylophone—Jeremy Taylor
18. MacArthur Park, Webb arr. Fernie, 4.47
Total Playing Time: 64.37
