Yorkshire Building Society Band

The Central Theatre, Chatham
5th July 2003

The eagerly anticipated concert by the Yorkshire Building Society Band at The Central Theatre, Chatham did not disappoint the enthusiastic audience. The varied programme chosen by guest conductor Ray Farr had a Salvationist slant in that several classics of Salvation Army band repertoire were featured.

The opening march, Praise (Wilfred Heaton) was always going to be a popular choice of non-SA bands once their library was available to all. After an uncertain start, the band settled well into this finely crafted march.

The overture, The Force of Destiny (Verdi arr. Wright) was performed with such aplomb that it was hard to believe the arrangement taxed Championship section bands in years gone by. Ray Farr brought principal players to their feet but seemed to omit the excellent flugel horn, Iwan Williams.

The band presented four soloists, Stuart Lingard, cornet (The Bells of Peover) Sheona White, tenor horn (Demelza)Gavin Pritchard, xylophone (Black & White Rag) and Peter Roberts on soprano. All four performed with characteristic assurance although special mention needs to be made of Peter Roberts who 'brought the house down' with his immense performance of Ray Farr's arrangement of On with the Motley.

At the request of the hosts, Chatham Citadel Band, YBS closed the first half of the programme with Ray Steadman-Allen's The Holy War. Before inviting 'RSA' to introduce his own composition, Ray Farr paid tribute to the influence that the man and his music had had on his life during the time he was Bandmaster of Chalk Farm Salvation Army Band. YBS gave a powerful account of this landmark composition which was greeted with sustained applause from the delighted audience. However, there were a couple of moments of uncertainty which can be put down to limited rehearsal time.

Ray Farr's arrangement of Indiana Jones & the Temple of Doom has been a firm favourite of audiences for some time. After a lengthy introduction from the arranger the band gave an exciting account of this well-known film music. Slightly less convincing was Quincy Jones's Soul Bossa Nova arranged by Andy Duncan. This didn't quite seem to come off like the John Williams number.

The band included three pieces that could be described as being of a more reflective nature. In Perfect Peace, Londonderry Air and The Irish Blessing all demonstrated the total qualities and fine control at lower volumes that YBS possess.

For the finale, Ray Farr chose to present Eric Balls The Kingdom Triumphant and to acknowledge the 100th anniversary this year of the composers birth. This Salvation Army 'classic' is now featured by SA and non-SA bands alike and has, unfortunately, received its fair share of mediocre performances over the years. YBS gave a magnificently majestic reading of this music. Tempi were well chosen and potential problems with balance in this music, particularly the dominance of trombone sound, were avoided.

An encore would have been demanded if it hadn't have been given and the offer of 'one more' from the conductor was met with a shout of 'how about two more?' from someone in the cheap seats!

It is some years since Chatham has been host to a band of the quality of YBS. Those that were present were treated to a brass band concert of immense variety played by a wonderful band. Ray Farr, in his first concert with YBS, proved to be an excellent presenter without having to resort to some of the tedious 'joke' telling that some conductors seem to think they are good at.

A fabulous concert that will be remembered fondly by all who attended.

Carl Woodman

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