Brighouse and Rastrick Band and Foden Band

Conductor: Richard Evans

Huddersfield Town Hall
16th March 2002

Every brass band has events in their calendar, which have special significance. For Brighouse & Rastrick band, their twice-yearly massed bands concerts are always special. Now in their fifty seventh year, these concerts are renowned for their quality, and the reason they are so successful, is that the format is simple. The men from West Riding, invite a top class band as guests, along with a conductor (who doesn't conduct either band on a regular basis) who chooses a theme for the night, and as a result, the packed audience, always gets something different from the standard brass band concert. As a result, Brighouse invited the newly-crowned north west champions, the Foden Band as guests, Richard Evans to conduct, and the theme 'A Royal Celebration' - an acknowledgement of HM Queen's fifty year reign. Anyone that has ever seen Mr Evans in concert before will know that he is one of banding's 'traditionalists', and the theme for the night with Richard at the helm, was the perfect combination, as every piece of music chosen was right up his street.

Having commenced proceedings with Frank Wrights arrangement of The National Anthem, the bands moved into the Ord Hulme arrangement of Safroni's 'Imperial Echoes' - it was clear from the outset that both bands were putting the regional competitions behind them, and were going to relax and enjoy the nights music. The Merry Wives of Windsor overture was next up and the playing was well balanced and the tempos of this conductor came off superbly. Ronald Binge is well known in the banding world for 'Cornet Carillon', but in this concert, the choice was his Elizabethan Serenade, and from the excitement of the overture to a gentle and refreshing tempo, which produced, some lovely controlled playing.

Richard Evans explained that some of the choices for the evening's music had tenuous links to 'royalty' and Foden's individual item featured Principal Euphonium player, Glynn Williams. The choice of solo was Napoli. Belstead of course was the 'king' of cornet players so this choice was definitely slipped in via the back door. Nevertheless, Glynn demonstrated what a wonderful musician he is with a marvellous rendition of this popular aria.

Henry VIII could well have been having some fun when he penned 'Pastime with good Company', and this piece is a regularly included on many banding programmes. Some delightful playing from within the middle of the massed bands was very noticeable, and the music was respected by the players, and as a result, a charming performance was given.

One of the key ingredients to any musical concert is the compere - some of us have it and some don't. Richard Evans certainly does and throughout the evening, he was truly in his element as he linked the music with jokes and anecdotes. The rapport that was built up with the audience was an example for any would-be conductor/compere of how to do it. From the start of the evening, Mr Evans had the audience in the palm of his hand and he loved it.

This was evident in Henry Wood's 'Fantasia on British Sea Songs' where memories of 'Last Night of the Proms' were prominent. In the Sailors Hornpipe, musicians, audience and Richard had fun in a competition to discover who could reach the end of the piece first. As a result, the capacity crowd was given a second chance to compete with band and following 'Thine be the glory' and with no flags in evidence, were persuaded to wave their programmes in Rule Britannia. On a night of royal music, Handel's Fireworks had to feature somewhere and the delightful 'Rejoicings' was chosen and gave everyone the chance to relax again after the exertions of the previous piece.

To close the first half, we had a link to French royalty before the revolution with Berlioz's March to the Scaffold from Symphonie Fantastique. You only have to listen to the music to remind yourself what a wonderful composer Hector Berlioz was and this is a fine arrangement by Salvationist, Keith Wilkinson.

The second half commenced with Brighouse now taking the 'lead' in this joint concert, and we were treated to a lively rendition of Meyerbeer's Coronation March. The House of Hanover was the 'Royal' link to the overture 'Light Cavalry' by Suppe and once again, this was played at a marvellous tempo. Elgar Howarth is a wonderful arranger as well as conductor, and his scoring of the Kings Hunting Jig was next. This is music which links us to Elizabeth the First and special mention here must be made of the whole cornet section who shone in this item.

A theme night about 'royalty' could not have passed without having some music from Elgar. A number of pieces could have been chosen, but Richard decided to opt for the rarely played Pomp & Circumstance March Number 4' - this was music at its best. Next, we had a chance to slow the temp right down with the traditional - Greensleeves - memorable for the lovely horn playing of Brighouse's Melvyn Bathgate.

Some of the royal links during the evening had been tenuous, and Brighouse's solo item went completely above our heads here. It featured tuba soloist, David Hebb playing Monti's Czardas and soloist, band & conductor (with help from timps) brought more comedy to the evening, but Mr Hebb demonstrated what a fine player he is and produced an enjoyable solo performance.

We never see the Queen in public walking on her own do we? Her Majesty always has someone close by, and with that reasoning, 'You'll Never Walk Alone' sneaked into the programme. This arrangement by Howard Snell is truly wonderful and without doubt this performance brought the odd tear to the eye with Neil Hewson, deputising in the Brighouse flugel chair, producing some wonderful playing.

It is the centenary of Lancastrian William Walton's birth and the evening just could not conclude without his Crown Imperial. If ever music for brass band was written for a 'massed' occasion, this was it. Once again, Richard Evans was right at home with his authoritive conducting and the bands responded in producing some marvellous playing and a fine end to the evening. The audience wanted and got an encore, which was March of the Peers from Iolanthe, and there we had it, the Queens Golden Jubilee celebrated in a very traditional way.

2002 is also twenty-five years since the B & R version of Floral Dance hit the airwaves and so in October, the men from West Riding will celebrate with the band from 1977 and those involved currently. It will be a one-off and an event not to be missed, but it will give Brighouse as much pride as acknowledging The Queen's Golden Jubilee.

Malcolm James

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