The Leyland Band & Smithills School Senior Brass B

Conductor John Hinckley & Christopher Wormald

Victoria Hall, Bolton
Saturday 22nd February 2003

"The people's choice" was the theme of the evening's concert. It gave the opportunity for both conductors to present a varied programme, chosen by the public, which in John Hinckley's words, had very nicely turned into an evening of classic brass band favourites.

Smithills started the concert with the march Lynwood by J. Ord Hume. This band plays with a maturity that belies their tender years. Their sound is full and accurate. Hymn to the Fallen was arranged by their conductor for a tour to Japan and recently used in the National Youth Band Championships. Their soloist was Philip Gornall, Euphonium. He chose the Matt Monroe classic – Portrait of My Love. Philip coped admirably with the occasion. In context, in this programme a hymn tune is ideal and Deep Harmony fitted the bill.

The Gladiator film score has been arranged many times over the last few years. This is the best "snap shot" arrangement of the score by Chris Wormald. You hear the best of the music, already "borrowed" by Hans Zimmer. The band concluded with the favourite "Irish Blessing". The Smithills School Senior Brass Band is a credit to the children who play in it, to their school, to their conductor and teaching staff. They represent music for youth very well and hopefully will continue to do so for many years to come.

If anyone had thought that The Leyland Band may be suffering at all without the support of JJB, BNFL or DAF etc.etc then on this evidence they will be forced to think again. From the very first chord of Suppé's "Morning, Noon & Night" overture it was obvious we were in for a real treat. Bill Millar's version of the ‘cello solo just oozed class. Using the acoustic perfectly the band set about the concert with great aplomb. John Hinckley was immaculate throughout showing superb musical awareness and demanding the same from the players under his charge.

Their attention to the various styles required in the programme was perfect all night. Salut d'Amour was beautifully played with a lovely sense of the Elgar miniature. Leon Renilson played superbly in a now little heard solo "Il Bacio" by Arditi and another request from the audience was Cornet Carillon by Ronald Binge. This piece will never go out of fashion. Why should it, it's just brilliant. Donna Lewis (Solo Horn) improves at a pace. She now has a command of this instrument that compares with the very best.

Unfortunately the arrangement of "I dreamed a dream" did not match her ability. Chord progressions and other "small details" had been changed, which did nothing for the music at all. They ended the first half with Samum by Carl Robrecht. So very infrequently heard today but very popular in the 60's and early 70's. Leyland breezed through the technical problems of this piece as if they didn't exist.

Introduction to Act III started the second half, another brass band arrangement which will always be played. Followed by a wonderful small piece by possibly the best British light music composer – Ernest Tomlinson's Little Serenade. The final solo spot went to Bill Millar. He had shone all through the concert and his reputation as one of the very best Euphonium players there has ever been, is truly well founded. A request had arrived for him to play "Blaydon Races". He readily obliged.

In the ‘70's Billy Millar made this solo his own. He certainly hasn't lost anything over the years, in fact maturity in the right dose, can be a great benefit. Executed perfectly, the simple solo was a delight to hear. However, the piece de resistance was yet to come. In tribute to his friend and former colleague, he gave a moving rendition of "Sunshine of Your Smile" for Len Withington, his partner for many years at Wingates. Len sadly died on April 30th 2002. They had played together many times in this very hall. The band brought their individual section to a close with a very slick reading of Slavonic Rhapsody No2.

The finale was for massed bands, Leyland were joined on stage by Smithills and they played A Swedish Folk Song arranged by Peter Graham, Soul Bossa Nova which was requested by the band! The theme from Austin Powers just made the audience realise just what a feast of classical brass band pieces they had heard. In it's place a good piece, but not for this type of concert! The final piece was another traditional piece, but in new clothes. As mentioned by John Hinckley, "if ever we needed a new arrangement of an old classic, the piece to be looked at needed to be Finlandia." John had recently been working in Norway and came across the Michael Antrobus version. Excellent! Which just about sums up the whole evening. One nice touch, which needs repeating at other concerts, was that the soloists and conductors were given floral tributes in recognition of their achievements.

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