The players of the Junior Guildhall Brass Band belied their young age with a mature and varied programme at Regent Hall; starting with the swaggering march 'Washington Grays' delivered with the six French horns prominent in the counter-melody.
The original version of Edward Gregson's 'Laudate Dominum', with a positive opening from the five-strong trombone section and sonorous basses followed.
The solo contributions from cornet, euphonium and tuba were first-rate, although the ascending scales on soprano and cornet got a little lost in the surrounding ensemble.
The percussion was crisp throughout and the driving quaver groups were well matched. The final fugue was taken at quite a lick but retained its clarity before the powerful appearance of the melody.
Macbeth
Peter Meechan's 'Macbeth' introduced the audience a very different sound world; from the basses grumbling in the depths through to the later rock-influenced sections. There was excellent solo work from the flugel, trombone and in Tom Nielsen's cornet cadenza, before the stirring battle music brought the music to a close.
There was some switching of instruments as euphonium players took to trombones and cornets were exchanged for trumpets ready for a brass ensemble rendition of Chick Corea's 'Spain'.
Tom Nielsen may have admitted he was out of his comfort zone in the lead trumpet chair but it didn’t sound as such as he finished way into the stratosphere.
Tom Nielsen may have admitted he was out of his comfort zone in the lead trumpet chair but it didn’t sound as such as he finished way into the stratosphere.
Cossacks
The concert closed with movements from Peter Graham's 'Call of the Cossacks’; starting with 'Procession of the Tartars'.
'Gypsy Dream' featured flugel and horns, the former also taking centre stage in 'Doyle's Lament'. 'Cossack Fire Dance', with its quotes from 'Czardas' and 'Flight of the Bumble Bee' allowed the players to let their hair down somewhat, although Tom's cadenza may have seemed a touch too cultured for vodka swigging Cossacks.
Peter Bale
