Yorkshire Building Society Band

Professor David King
Honley Male Voice Choir
Alan Jenkins
Huddersfield Town Hall
Saturday 13th December

Time never stands still does it? No sooner has one Christmas gone the next one is upon us and two of Yorkshire's finest musical ensemble's got into the Christmas spirit to produce a cracker of a concert.

Honley Male Voice Choir conducted by Brass Band World's Alan Jenkins, hosted the European & British Open Champions, Yorkshire Building Society, conducted by one of the few Australians who is still smiling in England, (something to do with a rugby match apparently) Professor David King.

This was very much the typical band/choir concert. Individual items from both parties, joining together occasionally, and involving the audience for the obligatory carols when required. YBS' selection of music was in keeping with the time of year and no surprise that all of their seasonal offerings can be found on the band's latest CD, Simple Gifts. In addition, the religious theme was continued with a couple of items, and a solo or two for good measure.

Anyone familiar with Huddersfield Town Hall will know that the players come from below the stage and people do say that first impressions count. When Professor David King walked out, the first thought was ‘What on earth is he is wearing?' Initially, it looked like a traditional "penguin" suit, but on closely inspection, you could say that the Australian would have no problems getting a position in a top hotel as a porter, dressed very smartly in a suave black jacket which complimented the waist coat and trousers. If Susannah Constantine and Trinny Woodall from ‘What Not to Wear', had been in the audience, they would have gone back stage afterwards, to offer a few comments and compliments – everyone likes to dress to impress at Christmas and this certainly caught the eys of the large female contingent in the audience. Celebrating twenty years in the UK, David has certainly made an impression alright - not just last night either.

David King revels in YBS playing at Huddersfield Town Hall. David made the point that it does not matter where the band plays during the year; it is always a great experience to perform in Huddersfield's Town Hall. The acoustic is terrific, and when the hall is full (as it was on Saturday), the atmosphere is special. In addition, the hall is close to where the band rehearses, so it is like a home concert with plenty of local support.

The thought that had been given to the night's programme was impressive. Structuring the order of music is important and YBS certainly worked on the old adage of making sure the audience wanted more. A lively opening number, total contrast in the middle, and another lively one to finish.

I have been lucky enough to cover a number of events for 4BR this year, and I have to say, that the playing of the band in their individual items was some of the best I have heard all year in the concert arena. The playing was tight, almost flawless at times, and some of the ensemble stuff, with so much detail pulled out of the music by the MD had a stunning effect.

YBS got things underway with James Curnow's "Psalm of Praise". From the opening bars, it was clear for all to hear that the band was in form. The hymn tune "Praise my Soul the King of Heaven", is what the piece is composed around. Stuart Lingard was impressive on cornet (as he was all night), whilst Mike Kilroy on euphonium showed all he experience and class.

Thank goodness for a touch of calmness with ex-Desford man, Chris Jeans, giving the Barrie Gott's version of "Silent Night" a lovely liquid performance, before the first of two versions of the ubiquitous "Sleigh Ride". First up, was the Leroy Anderson classic to close the first spot. Unintentionally, the choirs part in the concert was forgotten, as everybody was gripped to what they were listening too.

The other ‘sleigh ride' is known as "Trokia" by Prokofiev arranged by Ray Farr. Fair enough, another impressive opener required again, and this version allows for a touch more panache and swagger from the band, but two versions? One would have been adequate and in fact, I wrote the words "Spirit of Celebration" that the band has performed in the past as an alternative here. That said, its the sort of piece where the band can go up a level and play without any problems. Richard Clough kept everything moving along on drums and the energy from David King (all night) was something to behold.

In total contrast, up stepped Peter Roberts & Iwan Williams to perform the duet, "Pieu Jesu". This was included as a tribute to Les Clegg who was known to the band and Honley MVC. Soprano and flugel is a nice blend, but when played by two players such as these two, the effect is (and was) stunning.

YBS closed their first half performance with "Gaudete" by Kevin Norbury. It's a good mix of mediaeval carols, which includes the aforementioned "Gaudete" and "The Coventry Carol". Not only that, but its a real test for any band, with plenty going on, and very little respite. It was the sort of performance that you expect from YBS and David King. The tempos, the sounds, just hitting you right between the eyes and leaving the audience breathless, never mind the players.

The choir was also in good form. Some of the stuff sung was a touch highbrow, but it was impressive, nonetheless. Just as in banding, it does not matter which side of the Pennines choirs come from, they always insist they are better than their rivals over the other side of the M62. The audience also enjoyed their chance to sing a couple of carols. With all the carols to chose from, it baffles me why so many organisations include "Christians Awake", on the run up to 25th December. It is after all, a carol that includes words specific for Christmas Morning itself. A small quibble though for Honley are a quite excellent ensemble.


The second half got under way with Wilfred Heaton's, festival march, "Praise". From the Salvation Army number to Peter Roberts and his eagerly awaited solo number. David King knows how fortunate he is to have the great man in his band. In the build up to the solo, David talked about the man in general, his forthcoming CD, and his autobiography that was released in September. As for the solo? Well, Peter did not get applause, or prolonged applause; he got an ovation for "On with the Motley".

You can listen to discs with Peter on all day, but you really forget how good he is until you listen live. It is almost effortless the sound that is produced from the lips of the Yorkshireman, but what a sound. Like many others, I have heard Peter play the solo countless times in various venues, but he had the hairs on the end of my neck standing to attention. At the end of the performance, I could not help thinking that repiano player; Alex Thomas is one of the luckiest people in banding today. Can you imagine what Alex can learn from sitting next to the great man about making music?

To round off their third spot, a touch of the Caribbean at Christmas with Sandy Smith's mix of seasonal tunes. "Mary's Boy Child", "The Virgin Mary had a baby boy" and others are all included. By this time, you'd expect the band to be tiring, and losing a touch of that zest, but not a chance, they were still cooking on gas.

The final three items from the European & British Open Champions commenced with Peter Roberts putting his mark on the Mark Freeh arrangement of "Santa Claus is Comin' to Town" - not quite as good as Bruce Springsteen or the Jackson Five, but still pretty good. The piece starts with the lazy laid back cornet playing of Stuart Lingard, and some beautiful stuff from Iwan Williams, all is calm until Santa arrives in the form of the aforementioned, Mr Roberts. This, is just one of the items on the Simple Gifts disc, and it is worth it just for that track.

No Christmas concert would be complete without Irving Berlin's "White Christmas", even though they are few and far between now in much of the UK. To finish, YBS chose the "Christmas Festival Overture". I mentioned at the beginning that the band's programme was cleverly orchestrated, up-tempo, contrast, and back to leaving everybody wanting more. No one would have cared if YBS had given an encore. The overture was as crisp, clean and tight, as their opening number, and yes, a touch of showboating, but they have the personnel along with a MD that can do it.

So many times during the night, the band's performance went from the sublime to the fantastic, whilst Honley were an excellent musical foil. The event was recorded by Huddersfield Hospitals Radio for transmission on the run up to Christmas. Being in hospital at any time of the year, is never pleasant, and certainly not at this time of the year. One thing for sure though, is that to hear this concert will put a smile on a few people's faces, at a time when they wished they were with their families.

Thanks to Honley MVC, Alan Jenkins, Yorkshire Building Society and Professor David King, on behalf of everybody in Huddersfield Town Hall, for a night of quality music making, this Christmas season.

Malcolm Wood

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