Yorkshire Building Society Band

Conductor: Nigel Boddice

The Borders Festival, Innerleithen
27th September 2003

The Borders Festival of Brass came to Innerleithen last Saturday (27 September) when YBS graced the stage under Guest Conductor, Nigel Boddice, as guests of St. Ronan's Silver Band…

The slang expression "blown away" meaning "excited by" is a case of pun very much intended when applied to those lucky souls fortunate enough to attend a superlative concert held in Innerleithen's Memorial Hall on Saturday 27 September. (What follows is a blow by blow account of the events of that evening.) "Mind-blowing", another phrase suggestive of air movement, can also safely be applied to the supreme skills of the brass musicians, known collectively as the Yorkshire Building Society Brass Band, filling the bill. Seven times and current European Champions, the Band can justly claim to have been "at the forefront of success" in the decade following 1993 when the Yorkshire Building Society became the band's sponsor. Among the silverware at the front of the stage on Saturday night stood the massive British Open Championship shield won by the band in 1998, 1999, 2001 and 2003. They have also won the All England Masters title in 1999 and 2000.

Any group of musicians, no matter how good they are individually or as a team, are all the better for some direction. Guest conductor Nigel Boddice, currently the Principal Conductor of the Royal Norwegian Navy Band, proved just the man to wield the authoritative baton – a bit like putting Michael Schumacher behind the wheel of a Ferrari.

Days before this eagerly anticipated event tickets were like hens' teeth and many in the audience travelled considerable distances to be present in a jam-packed Memorial Hall. The excitement and the heat was already rising when St. Ronan's Silver Band Chairman Kenneth Brotherstone, by way of introduction, came forward to welcome all and to express his joy and pride that, after playing as an amateur for forty years, at last he had "appeared live on stage with the European Champions!"

From the first flourish of Nigel Boddice's baton it was clear why the Yorkshire Building Society Band are European Champions. Flawless renditions of what their conductor rightly described as "a fantastic array of music" delighted an extremely appreciative audience from the start of a varied programme of music until the very last note played.

From the first musical sound uttered top brass bands have the knack of commanding the attention of everyone in the audience. Item one is invariably a lively march (in this case, "Knight Templar" by Allen), which allows you to adjust to the volume and to the initial impact which tends to rock you back in your seat. Then you breathe again and begin to admire the supreme skill of the musicians before you. Visually, despite having his back to the audience, the conductor is the most eye-catching member of the ensemble. He is perpetual motion - bobbing, twisting, stretching, gesturing and wielding. The Yorkshire Building Society Band's response to Nigel Boddice was so precise the musicians almost seemed to anticipate his every direction.

Classical music invariably features prominently in brass concerts. "Carnival Romain" by Berlioz, likened by Mr Boddice to "a wild Saturday night in Innerleithen," proved an excellent vehicle for the musicians to demonstrate their artistry. They even succeeded in capturing the sound of violins on brass! The "night on the town" atmosphere was admirably evoked in the powerful melodic passages interspersed with some lively but controlled bursts of ferocity. Later on, the band performed Shostakovitch's "Folk Festival", a loud and jolly piece played at a skelping rate requiring considerable dexterity and speed of movement. Even more frantic was the pace of Snell's arrangement of "Czardas" by Strauss, evocative of Cossacks and their way of keeping fit.

Film themes provided two items on the programme. In introducing "For the Love of a Princess" from "Braveheart", Nigel Boddice paid tribute to the most famous "Scotsman he knew of" – Mel Gibson! This theme, arranged by Duncan, seems to be quite a favourite with brass bands but few, if any, could have bettered this interpretation by the Yorkshire lads and lasses. The music, periodically enhanced by amazing vibrato sounds, flowed and ebbed through the hall in a soaring tide of emotion. The range of instrument "voices" was further exemplified during the band's rendition of American composer John Williams' classic theme from "Indiana Jones", arranged by Ray Farr.

Always high points in band concerts, the five solo spots, were naturally very well received. In fact, the audience response to every item on the programme varied only slightly the whole evening: either very loud or thunderous and always prolonged. The soloists, who must be regarded as the crème de la crème, included Stuart Lindgard on cornet who played flawlessly through the poignant folk song "Lark in the Clear Air." Flugel Horn soloist Iwan Williams provided a superb rendition of "Over the Rainbow," brilliantly complemented by the rest of the band in its "big band" mode. Mr Boddice expressed himself "over the moon" at the performance.

"Maestro" Peter Roberts on soprano cornet demonstrated exactly how sweet and sublime this instrument could sound in a wonderful and powerful performance of one of Lloyd Webber's best – "Memory". Even with the band in loud support every pitch-perfect note could be clearly heard. A rare treat was the brilliant performance of Gavin Pritchard on xylophone of Snell's arrangement of "Black White Rag". Those who remember this old snooker programme theme tune with its multiple rhythms and humorous phrases will appreciate the speed and dexterity required in its rendition. It was difficult to tell if the reception accorded this delightful and faultless performance was ecstatic or merely rapturous.

Brass instruments can be great fun, especially a trombone in the hands of Chris Jeans, soloist with the Yorkshire Building Society Brass Band. With his colleagues sounding once more like a "big band," Chris fronted with a masterful performance of the Hoagy Carmichael classic, "Stardust." Not content with musical wizardry, however, this jolly musician (the only way to describe him!) left the stage to promenade in front of the stalls, then up the centre aisle before ascending the stairs to the balcony, never once missing a note or beat. This time the audience was rapturous and ecstatic!

Composer and arranger Percy Grainger was represented on Saturday's programme in the form of "Molly on the Shore". This was a jaunty and rhythmic piece in which the percussion section featured prominently and where a troupe of leggy Irish dancers would not have seemed out of place! On a more serious and sonorous note and just before the interval was the band's rendition of Eric Ball's great work "Resurgam". Stately and dignified, rhythmic ebb and flow, staccato bursts, ear-splitting crescendos and final calm – what music!

Traditionally concerts have to end with a "big finish" and, needless to say, the Yorkshire Building Society Brass Band had one. "Dundonall" from "Hymn of the Highlands" by Philip Sparke was the aptly chosen vehicle for the grand finale of a truly excellent evening of musical entertainment. Before going to work with his energetic baton Nigel Boddice thanked both the audience and the members of the band for making the event a memorable occasion. Then followed a stunning performance of magnificent music redolent of the grandeur and drama of the Scottish Highlands as the band shot off at full throttle and firing on all four. Suddenly, in the midst of apparent mayhem, emerged the familiar strains of "Highland Cathedral," a fitting climax to one of the finest programmes of music ever to grace the Memorial Hall. The audience expressed their extreme delight, rapture and ecstasy by according the musicians a spontaneous, long standing ovation that speech-making politicians can only dream about.

This was a minimum requirement for the Yorkshire Building Society Band to play an encore, apparently. We must have done well for they played two. Well, blow me!

Following the Concert, both Bands retreated to the Traquair Arms Hotel (main sponsors of the event) where an enjoyable evening was had by all. The following day, principal YBS players led workshops for St. Ronan's Band before heading for home.

^back to top