The Band of the Welsh Guards continues to provide Wales with one of its most readily identifiable musical brands.   

Formed in 1915, the current Director of Music Major David Barringer is also keen to ensure that it is one that maintains a strong link to its motherland, with ambitious plans to make regular visits to further increase their musical as well as educational and recruitment profile. 

This St David’s Day concert will have done them no harm at all; the morning spent on parade through the military market town before well rested feet took to the stage for this enjoyable evening concert. 

Quality

The quality of the playing was evident from the start; a reserved ‘National Anthem’ leading into Paul Lovatt-Cooper’s fizzy ‘Walking with Heroes’, a waspish ‘Candide’ overture and the touching ‘And the Mother did Weep’.  

In between, guest vocalist Lucie Jones brought a real touch of pizzazz with her ‘Shirley Bassey Showcase’ and ‘A Million Dreams’.  She is some performer. 

There was also a brace of Tom Davoren works, with trombonist Sergeant Andrew Mercer delivering an accomplished ‘Diversions on Calon Lan’ and the band (under WO2 David Hatton) giving the world premiere of his descriptive work, ‘Riding to Olwen’, inspired by a mythical storyline from the Mabinogion, one of Welsh literature’s great treasures.

The quality of the playing was evident from the start; a reserved ‘National Anthem’ leading into Paul Lovatt-Cooper’s fizzy ‘Walking with Heroes’, a waspish ‘Candide’ overture and the touching ‘And the Mother did Weep’.  

Polished

The second half was polished easy listening fayre; the film score to ‘Silverado’ followed by excellent solo spots from Lucie Jones with ‘Out Here on My Own’ and ‘Let it Go’, a filigree ‘Carnival of Venice’ from flautist Lance Corporal Max Mason and a neat instrumental showcase for the trumpets, saxophones and percussion teams.  

A touch of Welsh nostalgia came with ‘David of the White Rock’ before a cracking finale of Chris King’s ‘Diversions’ was topped by the briskest of regimental marches ‘Rising of the Lark’.

It was reminder of just why the Band of the Welsh Guards is held in such high regard on both sides of Offa’s Dyke, especially as the throaty rendition of ‘Land of My Fathers’ was sung with patriotic vigour to send them back to their barracks.   

Iwan Fox