Buy As You View Cory Band

Conductor: Robert Childs

RNCM, Manchester
10th February 2002

The RNCM Festival gives an opportunity to the invited bands to perform repertoire which wouldn't normally be the staple diet of a traditional brass band concert. With this in mind, The Buy As You View Cory, under Robert Childs took the opportunity on Sunday to put together a programme of music, which went back to brass-banding roots and through to the modern day.

BAYV Cory opened with the world premier of Dr Philip Wiby's 'Heritage' - The band had played this piece a couple of months previously and were taken with it to such an extent that Bob Childs asked permission from Dr Wilby that the piece be used in their concert. The answer of course was 'yes', but the fanfare had no title. Discussing the bands full RNCM programme, the name 'Heritage' was chosen to reflect the style of music played on the day. From the opening notes, one thing was for sure, the audience (disappointingly small it has to be said) was going to be in for a treat, the band was on form, and it would be an enjoyable afternoon's listening.

"Tydfil Overture" could well be the oldest original work for brass band. Written by Joseph Parry in 1860 for the famous Cyfarthfa Band, the music was unearthed by Trevor Herbert and was very skilfully arranged for the modern day band by Simon Wright. It is lovely flowing music and the operatic selections gave a reminder of overtures such as Rossini might of written. A real delight, and hopefully not the last performance of a fine overture which would fit in well in any concert programme. To think of players of 140 years or so ago getting to grips with this was mind boggling, as it certainly wasn't easy music and required a high degree of technical ability that would have tested players and more importantly, instruments to their limits.

"Fantasie" by Paul Gilson (pronounced Geelson) was arranged by Luc Vertormmen. Gilson was asked in 1866 by the Director of the Royal Conservatory in Brussels to set up and conduct a brass ensemble, which was known as the Wagner Brass Ensemble (the modern day equivalent would be say RNCM Brass Band and James Gourlay). Bob Childs commented that the music reminded him a lot of Edward Elgar. Once again, the music had been arranged for the band, and it was very melodious to listen to. Lasting approximately seven minutes, it was in style and substance much as the Parry work, yet felt more "modern" in musical construction and Luc Vertormmen has done a skillful bit of arranging on behalf of his friend Bob Childs in bringing this piece into being.

BAYV Cory's final offering in the first half and their last piece from days gone by, was "Symphony for Brass" by Oskar Bohme, very skilfully arranged by Stephen Roberts. The work is very much in a four movement symphonic form, lasting some seventeen minutes. Bob Childs talked freely of his knowledge of Stephen Roberts' previous masterful arrangements for brass band, highlighting Holst's "The Planets" which he performed whilst at Black Dyke. As a result, BAYV Cory had no qualms with commissioning Mr Roberts to make this arrangement and what superb scoring it is. More to the point, we were treated to some wonderful playing and some very fine directing, with Bob Childs, giving the music every opportunity to flow very easily.

The second half began with the band emerging in very smart white jackets ready for the challenge of Dr John Pickard's 'Wildfire' and a challenge it certainly was. Dr Pickard is now 'Composer in Residence' with BAYV Cory Band which last year played his composition "Men of Stone" at the Festival. Dr Pickard was present for this performance and gave the audience an insight to just how difficult this piece was to play and listen to. When putting the piece together in 1991, Dr Pickard, envisaged it being played by a single band. Eleven years on, and BAYV Cory rose to the challenge with some fine playing. 'Wildfire' begins with a what can only be described as a flicker and ends with a raging furnace. The opening of the piece, re-emerges half way through, but from a different direction. As the music is played, it is very easy to visualise the images that a fire produces and was not as tough on the ear as had been predicted. We would like to hear more of the good Doctor's works.

Professor Edward Gregson is the Principal of the RNCM and for many years had a strong affinity with the National Youth Brass Band of Wales. BAYV Cory chose to play Gregson's 'Concerto Grosso' The piece features four soloists - Cornet, Tenor Horn, Euphonium and Trombone. Standing up as an individual soloist takes a lot of nerve, but four at the same time, means that you have to be on your metal and make the piece work. This is exactly what they did and credit to all soloists and to the rest of the band for accompaniment. Not perhaps the composers greatest work, but still substantail enough to be musically satisfying.

The opportunity came to close the eyes for a few moments and reflect on the delightful composition by Jan Van der Roost, 'Canterbury Chorale'. Van der Roost of course, gave the Championship Section at the Albert Hall last October the challenging test of 'Albion'. However, this music is very tranquil and easy on the ear and would be a nice inclusion for a concert whether it be at Christmas, or in this case, in February. What a joy to listen to some lovely soprano playing within the piece and then one of the joys of the whole afternoon - a reminder to everyone that brass bands don't just play loud - the piece concludes with a gorgeous pianissimo that thankfully was fully observed. BAYV Cory has a huge range of dynamics, but does not often enough get to show that it can very comfortably play at the quiet end with such ease - more often please.

The programme concluded with a Philip Wilby masterpiece 'Paginini Variations'. Commissioned by Paul Hindmarsh by the BBC in 1990, Wilby has established himself as a master at composing testing music to play, but nevertheless, a sheer delight to listen to, and this performance was no exception.. The foundation of the piece is Paginini's 24th Caprice which is taken through a set of sixteen variations of both historical and contemporary musical form. The piece gave the audience a reminder (not that any was really needed) what a virtuso ensemble this band is - a few tired lips maybe, but some majestic playing and the infamous 'flugel solo' was delightfully played by their recent recruit, Joanne Deane.

A simply marvellous concert ended with another Wilby composition. Entitled 'The Bees Knees', it was a very lively tarantella and a reminder of the incidental music which accompanied cartoons such as 'Tom and Jerry' in days gone by. Neat and clever and a nice way to end what was a very enjoyable concert. It was evident from the performance throughout just how much BAYV Cory enjoyed what they were doing and without question that was conveyed to the unfortunately small audience, who appreciated it thoroughly. Just 140 hardy souls on my count, which meant that the hall was only a third full - a great pity.

Excerpts from the concert and the RNCM Festival as a whole will be broadcast on Radio 3 in June.

M. Wood

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