The Torchbearer

Five prize winning performances can't hide the fact that The Torchbearer is a cheap production at a premium price.

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Black Dyke, Tongwynlais Temperance, City of Cardiff (Melingriffith), Brunel Brass, St Breward Silver, Cory
Conductors: Dr Nicholas Childs, Philip Harper, Gareth Ritter, John Winterflood, Kevin Mackenzie, Dr Robert Childs
Doyen Recordings: CD268
Total Playing Time: 65.26

As a musical reminder of the National Finals at Harrogate and London, this CD does its job well enough. Whether or not that means it’s worth shelling out hard earned cash for the privilege though is a different matter.

Having the opportunity to listen once again to Black Dyke’s winning performance at the Royal Albert Hall does give the recording some historical cache.

Dry ink

However, given that Black Dyke also recorded ‘The Torchbearer’ for a second time, almost before the ink was dry on the cheque they received for winning their 22nd National title in October, it does make you wonder whether or not this is a bit of a marketing ploy to squeeze an extra few quid out of what in reality is a release of limited appeal.

Why not put the live recording on ‘The Peter Graham Collection’ CD that came out at roughly the same time? 

Flogging

Flogging this one with the title, ‘The Torchbearer’ is a bit rich too. What about the other four test pieces from the lower section bands from Harrogate? And why the front cover teaser line ‘…including the highlights of Cory Band’s pre –results concert from the Royal Albert Hall’?

An extra bonus, or just an extra bit of filler?

The PR department know too well: Dyke and Cory sell – St. Breward and Brunel Brass don’t.

Disappointing

What is disappointing though is that we don’t get to know anything about the winning bands either. Rodney Newton’s excellent sleeve notes surely should have been supplemented by at least some information about the 2009 champions?

That would have been real bonus filler.  And given that other recordings from the same stable cost the same amount and have more insert pages, what’s the excuse?

Interesting stories

There were interesting stories behind each of the champions apart from Dyke retaining their title – from Tongwynlais winning off the number 1 draw, to the revival of the great old Melingriffith name, the remarkable success story of Brunel Brass and St Breward’s victory under the direction of last minute replacement Kevin MacKenzie (so last minute his name didn’t appear in the programme).

It’s a pity, as there is much to enjoy from the winning performances at Harrogate, with Richard Scott’s excellent sound engineering breathing life into the dead acoustic at the International Conference Centre.

Tongwynalis produce a robust, colourful account of the Vinter work that created all sorts of problems for the bands on the day, whilst City of Cardiff (Melingriffith) deliver a rendition full of musical character on Alan Fernie’s idiosyncratic test piece.

Brunel Brass show themselves to be an impressive and confidant ensemble on Goff Richards testing ‘Oceans’, whilst St Breward were a classy winner on Bruce Fraser’s testing ‘Alta Vista’. 

Contributions

It’s a pity then that we don’t know more, because it rather dismisses their contributions  – even the middle page photo-montage has more pictures of Cory than any other band.

It all rather sums up the post production on the release – its reeks of being cheaply thought out, but still sold at a premium price.

The bands deserve better - and the customer too.

Iwan Fox

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