*
banner

Aldbourne Band

An Evening of English Music
Conductor: Glyn Williams
St. Michael's Church, Aldbourne
Saturday 6th April

This concert collaboration with the Ralph Vaughan Williams Society, Vaughan Williams Charitable Trust and Holst Society, saw Aldbourne along with respected folk singer Jonathan Causebrook chart a musical journey of ‘Englishness’ over a span of 800 years or more.

The historic roots lay deep in the soil of the local villages of Ramsbury, Aldbourne and Ogbourne St. George, the flowering branches courtesy of the great composers inspired by the people and their surroundings.

Exquisite

The first half was dedicated to Ralph Vaughan Williams; opening with his regal overture, ‘Henry V’, played with brilliance and pomp, followed the exquisite ‘Fantasia’ on ‘Greensleeves’ which enabled the band to display tonal warmth and broad, textured phrasing.    

The ‘Prelude’ from the wartime propaganda film, ‘The 49th Parallel’ contrasted with his ‘English Folk Song Suite’ - both bucolic and bravura, with the MD expertly giving the music time to find its flow and stylish pace.

The second half featured his contemporaries; Holst’s ‘Second Suite in F’ played with simple appreciation to enhance evocative musical imagery, whilst the ‘Cortege’ from Herbert Howells’ ‘Pageantry’ was full of melancholic pathos.  

The ‘Prelude’ from the wartime propaganda film, ‘The 49th Parallel’ contrasted with his ‘English Folk Song Suite’ - both bucolic and bravura, with the MD expertly giving the music time to find its flow and stylish pace.

Tender

John Golland’s tender arrangement of Vaughan Williams’, ‘Sine Nomine’ was finely textured, before the concert was rounded off with a robust rendition of Holst’s ‘A Moorside Suite’. 

In between the band’s performances, the audience was treated to some wonderful folk singing from Johnathan Causebrook, whilst the concert was preceded by a lecture from John Francis, Vice Chairman of the Ralph Vaughan Williams Society, entitled, ‘Vaughan Williams and the Soul of the Nation’.

In all it made for a memorable event.
 
Ashley Jones

Support us for less than a cup of coffee...

4BR wants to ensure that the brass band movement remains vibrant and relevant. We also want to be able to question, challenge and critically examine those who run and play in it, producing high quality journalism that informs as well as entertains our readers.

So if like us you value a strong, independent perspective on the brass band world - then why not consider becoming a supporter and help make our future and that of a burgeoning brass band movement more secure.

So one less cappuccino then?

Support us    



Brass Bands England - Brass Band Week

Saturday 5 July • Nation wide


Besses Boys' Band - Besses Boys' Band Summer Concert

Saturday 5 July • The Derby High School, Radcliffe Rd, Bury BL9 9NH


Putney and Wimbledon Brass Band - Summer Concert

Sunday 6 July • Community Church Putney, Werter Road. SW15 2LL


Longridge Band - Anniversary Concert

Saturday 12 July • Longridge Civic Hall, 1 Calder Avenue, Longridge, Preston PR3 3HT


Haverhill Silver Band - Proms Concert - St Ives

Saturday 12 July • Hill Rise Park, St Ives PE27 6SP


Concert Brass Poynton

July 4 • Concert Brass Poynton: No Contesting - Not a learners Band. Rehearse on Wednesday Evenings between 8.00 to 10.00pm (short comfort break). We seek a front row cornet and a Tenor Horn and A Tenor Trombone and Bass Trom too..


Ocean Brass

July 4 • Ocean Brass are inviting applications for a kit player, as we prepare for an exciting schedule of concerts and contests in the second section through 2025 and beyond! We rehearse Thursdays 8pm-10pm, Banister Park Bowls Club, Southampton, SO50 9HT


Haverhill Silver Band

July 3 • Haverhill Silver Band (championship section) seeks a PRINCIPAL CORNET. This is a superb opportunity to lead East Anglia's premier brass band on the concert and contest stage (including the Senior Cup and Whit Friday).


Gary Davies


Conductor, Band Trainer, Adjudicator


               

 © 2025 4barsrest.com Ltd