Great Northern Brass Arts Festival 2003

Sponsored by Salvationist Publishing & Supplies Ltd.
Supported by Yamaha-Kemble Music (UK) Ltd., Besson Musical Instruments Ltd. and BBC GMR

The Bridgewater Hall, Manchester
Saturday 6th September 2003

The forerunner to the British Open in was yet another day to remember for Brass Band enthusiasts. Twelve hours of non-stop high quality music-making from some wonderful ensembles ranging from Rochdale Borough Youth Band, The Household Troops Band, Fodens, Faireys & Black Dyke, and some of the most extraordinary solo playing that was a privilege to hear from David Daws and Roger Webster.
The day commenced with entertainment outside The Bridgewater Hall from Household Troops Band, North Central Divisional S.A. Band, who were joined by Ashton Under Lyne & Longridge Bands' respectively.


Rochdale Borough Youth Band (Eric Landon)

The only way to describe the opening concert in the splendour of Manchester's superb concert hall is ‘absolutely superb'. The Action Research Champions put on a performance, which left the audience speechless with the level of professionalism that was being displayed. It was ‘Grimethorpesque' in the choreography department, and without doubt, everybody present heard musicians who will be playing at championship levels in years to come.

The first part of their programme was themed around the circus with conductor Eric Landon, relishing in his role as compere in the form of ringmaster. Commencing with Fucik's Entry of the Gladiators, only those that had seen the band before, knew was about to unfold. Dressed in clown outfit, Soprano player, Michael Goulding stepped forward to give a Peter Roberts level of performance of Leoncavello's, ‘On With The Motley', all from memory as well. The percussion section came forward to have some fun and games in Comedian's Galop before trombone player, Fay Wilson, demonstrated her skills as a fine soloist in The Acrobat. Not to be outdone, the bass section entered stage-right dressed as elephants, whilst playing homage to ‘Nellie', before each of the stars on stage took their bows as a reprise of The Gladiators March was heard.

The audience got a chance to get its breath back with a diversion from brass in the form of The Manchester Youth Steel Band, who performed two numbers, before joining forces with Rochdale for the World Premiere of ‘Water Music' – commissioned by Philip Biggs Brass Festivals Limited, and it depicts everything connected with the flow of water.

Rochdale concluded the first concert with a selection of music from Peter Graham's ‘Call of The Cossacks'. No sign of the fear-factor of playing in the prestigious hall from any of the musicians, who simply loved every single minute of the experience. The standard for the day's playing had been set, and everything thereafter, would be a tough act to follow.
Household Troops Band (Major John Moot, Guest Soloist, Alan Morrison)

The Household Troops Band made a welcome to the Festival having first appeared in 2002. The band is drawn from various Salvation Army centres around the UK, and they come together, rehearse, before undertaking a summer tour. The band commenced their programme with a strong and confident rendition of Kevin Norbury's march, ‘Glorious & Free', before tackling the march from The Nutcracker, by Tchaikovsky. Their next offering was the reflective and thought-provoking, ‘In This Quiet Moment' which was written to commemorate Summer Music Camps in the UK'

The mood changed completely with the day's first soloist, in the form of Cornet player, Alan Morrison. Alan, of course, needs no introduction, and he chose three solo's of which two can be described as typical ‘Alan Morrison' – Kathryn Louise – written in the style of Cleopatra and Pandora, (and taking the title given to his daughter) with some beautiful melodic lines, before the quicker stuff with goodness knows how many notes played comes in.

A laid-back performance of ‘Somewhere Over The Rainbow' followed, before Mr Morrison gave the large audience, a show-stopping rendition of ‘Hello Dolly' A real super show from banding's great players and the accompaniment from The Household Troops Band during Alan's spot deserves acknowledgement.

In the year when the banding world marks the centenary of the birth of Eric Ball, Major Mott and the band chose as their main offering, Ball's ‘King of Kings'. The music depicts various parts of Ball's life, and this performance was top draw. The band produced a performance from within themselves, as they paid tribute to a man, who has left a legacy of music that will never stop being played, and enjoyed.

Barrie Gott's arrangements always get the feet tapping, and The Household Troops Band, gave the audience his ‘Swingtime Religion'. Their penultimate item was once again reflective and thoughtful. Leslie Condon wrote Gifts For His Alter in 1983 to mark 100 years of The Salvationist Editorial Department. The band concluded their programme with the title track from its latest CD ‘ On A Mission' which is up-tempo and brought reminders of film music such as Star Wars. For the second year running, the band had shown what a set of musicians they are, producing a programme in the very best of the Salvation Army tradition.


Healey & Smithy Bridge Primary School Bands, Wardle Year 8 Band (Lee Rigg)

An astonishing 90 players as young as six years old, made a huge impression on the festival. Under the guidance of Fairey's corner player, Lee Rigg, the three bands combined to perform a programme of four short pieces which included Breakdance Brass, Floral Dance, and a tribute to the cult figure of ‘Mr T' from the 70s show, ‘The A-Team' The enjoyment was visible for everybody to see, and everyone connected with the band deserves acknowledgement, and no doubt whilst their names are un-known at present, they will be the names of the future. Congratulations to Lee Rigg and his countless helpers, and keep up the good work.


Fodens Richardson Band (Bramwell Tovey & Thomas Wyss, Guest Soloist, Derick Kane)

Amongst the music from the reigning North West area champions were items that paid tribute to the British Open and its connections with Belle Vue. Under Bramwell Tovey, the Sandbach-based band, got things going with their signature tune, Rimmer's march, ‘The Cossack, a performance that the great Harry Mortimer would have approved off. The tone poem, Lorenzo by Thomas Keighley has been used as the test piece for The Open on two occasions. In 1928, under William Halliwell, the band completes a hat trick of wins, and then in 1964, Rex Mortimer deprived The Fairey Band of their fourth successive win.

The 2003 performance under Mr Tovey was in keeping with the Fodens Band from days gone by. The Foden sound at times was sublime, and it brought back memories to people in the auditorium who were present in 1964 when the band played off number seventeen on that day.

Euphonium Soloist, Derick Kane is celebrating twenty-seven years this month as the Principal Euphonium player with ISB. Mr Kane was in excellent form as he displayed his virtuoso skills in Peter Graham's ‘Bravura', followed by another Graham arrangement of the Choral work, ‘The Name' – beautifully played and very reflective in style. The final solo came from the pen of Eric Leidzen, and features the song ‘When You and I Were Young Maggie'. This is a solo written in the theme and variations mode, and was once again performed to a high standard. Thomas Wyss and the band let their hair down a bit, with the frantic Howard Snell arrangement of ‘Perpetuum Mobile', but the real gem of their programme was Eric Ball's ‘Song of the Morning' which featured some wonderful playing from Mark Wilkinson, Alan Wycherley & Helen Fox on flugel.

Profesional Conductor, Bramwell Tovey, took the band in their two other featured pieces. Firstly, a trip down memory lane to 1953, when The Three Musketeers by Hespe was the challenge for the day. On that occasion, the winners were The National Band of New Zealand. The performance was rich in quality and extremely musical. Fodens concluded their programme before heading off into Saddleworth for an evening concert with the tone poem, Finlandia by Sibelius. Anyone who saw Men O'Brass under Harry Mortimer will no doubt remember that this music was used by ‘HM' to conclude many of his concerts. Written in 1899, it is Finland's equivalent to ‘Land of Hope and Glory'.

The performance on this occasion was perhaps just a touch harsh in the volume stakes, which was a real shame. As an encore, the march Midwest by JJ Richards, and a demonstration for all to see that you should never take your eye off the conductor. Bram Tovey kept a tight reign on both the tempo and volume (as he should) giving the audience a more conservative rendition than they are used to when hearing a march by Mr Richards.

The festival is not just about the featured concerts though. The Groves Brass Ensemble which comprises of students from the RNCM in Manchester and the female quartet under the name of Eup4ria, kept the crowds entertained with some marvellous playing at various times during the day.


The Fairey FP (Music) Band (Bryan Hurdley, Stephen Cobb Guest Soloist, David Daws)

The National Champion Band of Great Britain gave an indication that they are in great form on the eve of The Open. They commenced their programme with Ray Farr's arrangement of Agincourt Song, before rolling back the years with a modern day performance of the Overture that brought them The Open title in 1979. Carnival Romain is the Prelude to Act II in Berlioz's opera, Benvenuto Cellini, which was used itself as the test piece at Belle Vue the year previously.

In 1979, under Walter Hargreaves, they took the title with a superb rendition of the Frank Wright arrangement for band. Saturday's performance was simply magnificent, with Morgan Griffiths shining in the euphonium solo, and the tempo was slick, and extremely effective with a dramatic and exciting close. Without doubt, WB Hargreaves would have approved of a performance as to the one given on this occasion.

David Daws was making a return to Manchester having appeared with Fodens at the Great Northern Spring Concert in May. David once again showed that he is simply in a different class with a performance of his signature solo, Golden Slippers that just left the audience shaking their heads in disbelief. David remained laid back and at ease with a jazz-style rendition of ‘This is My Story' and with Stephen Cobb still at the helm, encored with ‘When I Remember'. It has been said before and will be said again...'If you have never heard this man in action, take the chance when it arises, as it is worth every penny.

Whatever people's opinions on the choice of The Enigma Variations for the RAH in London, come October, it is great music, that will prove a stern test. Fairey's gave the capacity audience a little taster with WN, which leads into Nimrod. This was such a delightful contrast from the show-stopping David Daws, and brought total calmness on the auditorium.

The day as a whole had numerous highlights, and the playing of Principal Cornet, Ian Porthouse in WN & Nimrod was one of them – gorgeous tone, and some lovely delicate playing.

‘What is our life but a succession of preludes?" wrote the 19th Century French poet Alphonse de Lamartine. Those words are part of a preface to Les Preludes, Franz Liszt's most popular symphonic poem, which was arranged for brass band by William Rimmer, and was Fairey's other major contribution to the Gala Concert. This is one of those pieces where the tempo is in the hands of the conductor, and on this occasion, Bryan Hurdley and the band produced a performance that was conservative in terms of tempo, but that did not detract from any of the excitement which comes from the scoring Soprano player Kevin Crockford was in top form, supported once again by Ian Porthouse, and a nice orchestral sound right the way through the band.

With rapturous applause ringing in their ears, Fairey's changed tack completely and went into the Sandy Smith arrangement of ‘Birdland', before demonstrating their vocal skills in ‘Nothing Like A Dame' – the classic hit from the musical, South Pacific.

Fairey's brought their programme and the first half to a close with a splendid rendition of the march, which acts as their signature tune, Beaufighters, by Maurice Johnstone


Black Dyke Band (Dr Nicholas Childs, Guest Soloist Roger Webster)

The Queensbury-based band performed a programme that was a good mix of classical music, some Beatles, a touch of Peter Graham, and the music of Harry James, courtesy of Roger Webster.

Mozart's Marriage of Figaro was the first of the great man's operas that he wrote in Italian. The popular overture has been a feature of Dyke programme's in 2003, and it commenced their programme, and as with Fairey's they too gave an indication that they were in good form.

Roger Webster took centre stage, and gave the audience his version of Harry James' Trumpet Concerto, demonstrating that whatever style of solo he plays, it is made to sound so easy. The whole of the cornet section left their seats and blitzed their way through Trumpet Blues and Contible, before Roger changed cornets and performed an impeccable ‘Carnival of Venice' Harry James style – terrific stuff!

The Barry Forgie arrangement of The Beatles classic number ‘Lady Madonna', received the Black Dyke treatment, before Peter Graham's ‘How Great Thou Art' was beautifully presented.

Bass player, Matthew Routley came forward as narrator in Tchaikovsky's 1812 overture that just took the audience's breath away. The Dyke sound filled the hall and gave one of those spine-tingling moments. A complete rendition of Gaelforce was the encore given by Dr Childs and Black Dyke bringing an exceptional day's music making to a close.
The whole event was superbly compered by John Maines from BBC GMR, and would not have been possible without the support of Salvationist Publishing & Supplies, Besson Musical Instruments, or Philip Biggs who puts the whole event together.

Malcolm Wood

^back to top