Although Black Dyke’s worldwide reputation has historically been built on contesting success, it is their concert performances that continue to keep fans flocking in to hear them year after year.
And although the current ensemble has gone through a relatively lean period of prize winning success of late, Dr Nicholas Childs has kept the worldwide Pondasher fan club more than happy with the quality of the concert inspired CD recordings that the Queensbury band has produced - as this latest release more than shows.
Clever mix and match
As always, the MD cleverly mix and matches the repertoire to satisfy the eager demands of young and old, occasional listener and cognoscenti fan.
For instance, this third volume of ‘Black Dyke Gold’ opens with three neatly selected ‘golden oldies’; John Carr’s ‘Glemdene’ march gaining a welcome outing, whilst the classic ‘Ruy Blas’ overture is dusted off from the archive to be buffed up with a deep sheen of lustrous polish.
Pick
The pick though has to be Richard Marshall’s excellent rendition of ‘Kim’ - a solo he has recorded before on his ‘Debutante’ release with Grimethorpe some years back, but here, played with such mature ease and eloquence. It’s an almost perfect example of tasteful virtuosity.
Brett Baker is also in fine form with a resplendent rendition of Alan Fernie’s ‘Brave’; a clever hotchpotch of well known Scottish tunes (and perhaps even an oblique reference to ‘The Acrobat’ at the end), that certainly lives up to its name.
Eloquent sonority
It’s also good to hear Zoe Hancock on the premiere recording of ‘Dreams and Dances’, written especially for her by Philip Harper. On a personal note though, the soloist seems rather ‘distant’ in the studio - which is a great pity as it is an exquisite and exciting performance, full of eloquent sonority and technical precision.
Dan Price’s cracking ‘Mallard 4468’, (renamed ‘Blue Thunder’), powers along its tracks with pulsating, steam driven energy, whilst the three movement suite from Karl Jenkins ‘Stabat Mater’ is expertly recorded to reflect its ‘live’ concert performance delivery - with cornets arranged across the band and the quartet of soloists to the right of stereo.
Depth and balance
The lovely arrangement of ‘Crimond’ by Peter Graham - coupling the last few bars of ‘Resurgam’ with the hymn tune is a wonderful piece of brass band writing given a performance of rich depth and balance.
As with most Dyke concerts, the opportunity is never lost to showcase a major original work - in this case George Lloyd’s much underrated ‘Diversions on a Bass Theme’, which the band played to such stunning effect in winning the last English National Championship in 2013.
It’s a great performance, aided by the MDs free flowing interpretation and startling dynamic contrasts, which provide a timely reminder of Dyke’s historic contesting heritage; and one that rounds of this enjoyable release in commanding fashion.
Steve Jack
Contents
1. Glemdene, John Carr, 5.18
2. Ruy Blas Overture, Felix Mendelssohn, arr. William Rimmer, 7.35
3. Kim, Allan Street, cornet soloist Richard Marshall, 5.22
4. Crimond, Jessie Irvine, arr. Peter Graham, 5.26
5. Blue Thunder, Dan Price, 4.47
6. Dreams and Dances, Philip Harper, flugel soloist Zoe Hancock, 6.14
Suite from Stabat Mater, Karl Jenkins, arr. Andrew Wainwright and Robert Childs
7. I. Sancta Mater, 2.47
8. II. Cantus Lacrimosus, 3.22
9. III. Paradisi Gloria, 2.46
10. Brave, Alan Fernie, trombone soloist Btree Baker, 7.14
11. Diversions on a Bass Theme, George Lloyd, 11.38
