A Short Ride in a Brass Machine
13-Jul-2010
Tongwynlais Temperance show they have come a long way in a very short space of time with their latest release.
Tongwynlais Temperance Band
Conductors: Philip Harper & David Griffiths
Soloists: Martyn Patterson, Morgan James, Robin Hackett
CD: TTB-CD201
Total Playing Time: 58.27
It’s hard to think of a band that has benefited as much from relegation from the Championship Section than Tongwynlais Temperance.
Not unexpected
Up until 2009 they struggled to make a lasting impact on either the Welsh or National contesting scene, despite the odd decent result, so the drop through the trap door, although disappointing at the time, was perhaps not unexpected.
What happened next certainly was though.
Within 12 months or so they had become National First Section champion (off a number 1 draw at Harrogate no less), won Pontins, qualified for the National Finals at the Royal Albert Hall and booked their place at the British Open.
Bursting at the seams
They are now a very solid top class band, bursting at the seams with a confidence that is not misplaced. Relegation was the best thing that ever happened to them.
This CD is something of a musical snapshot in the time line of their resurgence – recorded just after they won the Pontins title but before they booked their place at London and Birmingham.
Work in progress
It’s very much a work in progress, but one where the obvious signs of near polished completion are there to be heard in full: Not all the rough edges have been chamfered off, the ensemble balance not completely at ease, the occasional sounds of forced tonality still to be completely eradicated. It’s getting there though.
On top of that, Philip Harper (who has done so much to lead their resurgence) also brings us his own little touches of quirkiness too – a couple of which put a smile on the face for either the right or wrong reasons depending on your taste.
The concert inspired repertoire is varied, if not too demanding, and will appeal to the growing band of supporters and fans the band now attracts – although the insert sleeve is a real disappointment, telling us next to nothing.
Bravura
Andrew Baker’s title track opens in thrill a minute style, whilst there is plenty of bluff and bravura on display in almost equal measures with an untidy ‘Candide Overture’.
The three featured soloists are on fine form. Martyn Patterson’s own arrangement of Claude Smith’s ‘Rondo’ is a tad repetitive, but is played with a stylish swagger and razor sharp technique, whilst Morgan James is an appropriately light, but sure footed lead in the soprano solo ‘Capriccio’. Robin Hackett displays a viscous tonality to his rendition of ‘A Nightingale Sang in Berkeley Square’.
Contrasts
Contrasts are provided with an neatly oblique take on ‘Scarborough Fair’, and the toe tapping (or should that be curling) ‘Pasadena’ which was once used as a test piece at the post European Championship entertainment contest in 1991. Hearing it you can see why the event no longer takes place.
There is some fine playing on show with the melancholic ‘Pavane’ by Faure, and the slightly over complicated take on ‘Tonight’ from 'West Side Story’, whilst ‘Hora Staccato’ is whipped off with a fair degree of panache.
Plaid Cymru
The one substantive work featured is a well structured account of ‘A Celtic Suite’ by Philip Sparke, which will ensure the local branch of the Plaid Cymru Brass Band Appreciation Society is kept happy.
Any concert programme that is inspired by Philip Harper will of course have those moments when the head is scratched in enjoyable bemusement.
Blushed
And the MD doesn’t disappoint either, with an appropriately bonkers take on the Spanish paso-doble classic, ‘Amparito Roca’ (appropriate given that the ‘composer’ Jaime Texidor was in fact an army bandmaster called Reginald Ridewood and the closest he ever got to a bull ring in Madrid was Kneller Hall in Twickenham), which features a matador playing the xylophone solo halfway through.
The musical hob nob biscuit is taken however by the MD’s own take on Queen’s ‘Don’t Stop Me Now’, that is so deliciously camp that even Freddie Mercury would have blushed performing it.
Both pieces leave you smiling like a Cheshire Cat though - and that can’t be a bad thing to experience from any CD release.
Iwan Fox
What's on this CD?
1. A Short Ride in a Brass Machine, Andrew Baker
2. Candide Overture, Leonard Bernstein arr Howard Snell
3. Rondo, Claude T. Smith arr Martyn Patterson, Euphonium Soloist Martyn Patterson
4. Scarborough Fair, Simon and Garfunkel arr Francis Clifford
5. Pasadena, Harry Warren arr Goff Richards
6. Pavane, Gabriel Faure arr Gordon Langford
7. Capriccio, Philip Sparke, Soprano Soloist Morgan James
8. Hora Staccato, Dinici arr Jascha Heifetz, Goff Richards
9. Tonight, Leonard Bernstein, Mark Freeh arr Johnny Keating
10. Amparito Roca, Jamie Texidor arr Aubrey Winter
11. Don’t Stop Me Now, Freddie Mercury arr Philip Harper
12. A Nightingale San in Berkley Square, Maschwitz and Sherwin arr Howard Snell, Trombone Soloist Robin Hackett.
13. A Celtic Suite—Fanfare & Dawns Werin, Philip Sparke
14. A Celtic Suite—Suo Gan, Philip Sparke
15. A Celtic Suite—Men of Harlech, Philip Sparke
