Wingates Band

Roy Curran
Warrington Male Voice Choir
Russell Paterson
Parr Hall, Warrington
Saturday 20th December

One hundred and thirty not out - and still going strong. No, not a reference to the kind of score that the English cricket team could have done with from one of its leading batsmen in Columbia, the weekend before Christmas, but to one of the most famous names on the banding scene, the Wingates Band.

It's been a year of celebrations and back in March the band were in party mood as former players, conductors and other people connected with the organisation gathered in Bolton for their main celebratory concert. In addition to that fine shindig though a new CD has been produced, and the band has returned to fine form in recent months on the contest platform as well. Good excuses then for 4BR to take our first ever look at the Bolton-based band in concert.

Wingates were guests of the Warrington Male Voice Choir for their Christmas concert and over two nights (the other being Friday 19th) made a big impression on both choir and audience with their quality of performance. Way back in 1975, the band created a few ‘fireworks' when it won the last of its British Open titles under Richard Evans, and in recent years, have gone through various highs and lows. On the evidence of this concert, the band is certainly on the up again, and can look forward to a promising 2004.
Under Roy Curran, the band has had a few personnel changes, but have come out smiling with a good mix of experienced players (not necessarily household names, but very good solid performers) which compliment the rest of the band, and that has been a key factor in their recent successes. The potential is there for the band to build on, as long as it can keep hold of the players in the ranks.

Performing four pieces in each half, the band got its part of the concert off to a bright start with the Shostakovich "Festive Overture". The fanfare opening had a touch of nervousness about it, but the players settled down quickly. The tempo was controlled and not overdone with Roy Curran bringing out plenty of musical detail from within the band, whilst making sure the players were not the bosses with the tempos.

This was followed by a traditional Swedish "Christmas Song" which featured some lovely ensemble playing from the horns including ex-Faireys man, Robbie Cargill, and some delightful playing from cornet player, Susan McDonald. Christmas music would not be the same without "The Holy City" being performed by a choir or other musical ensemble. Susan's husband Andy is the band's Principal Cornet player, and he took centre stage to perform the well-known solo. Andy's tone was controlled and sensitive and brought out all the beauty of this lovely tune.

James Curnow is no stranger to brass bands and Wingates closed their first half-solo slot with music from his "Christmas Triptych". Written in 1990, it is three short movements based around familiar carols. "Joy to the World" and "Westminster Carol" feature in the first movement, "Silent Night", and "The Coventry Carol", in the second. Wingates chose the third movement that highlights "Good King Wenceslas". Bright and very brief, the band could have played the middle movement as well (if not all of the suite) to conclude their set. It had one of those touches of an anti-climax to it, but the band were performing on times geared by their hosts, so only a miniature grumble.

The choir is certainly one of the best MVC's in England if not the whole of the United Kingdom. Under the jovial direction of Russell Paterson, they put on a programme which was in keeping with the season, whilst they demonstrated male choral singing at its best with a rendition of Parry's ‘I was Glad When They Said Unto Me'. Mr Paterson in his younger days always liked the anthem written for a coronation and arranged it for the choir. For this reviewer though, a stark reminder of spotted dick, lumpy custard and school days. Parry's anthem was part of my music coursework and just one of those things, that when you have to know every word, and everything else about it, you just want to forget about it afterwards, especially when you could never tolerate it in the first place!

That said, I have to confess that what I heard from the choir had a more desired affect on me than a few years ago. It is dignified music, composed for a King, not a dinosaur, and while dinosaurs collapse under their own weight, there's no reason why kings should. This was always how the music came across to me. The choir's rendition though was certainly brighter and moved forward in a more purposeful manner from what has always stayed with me since school days. That said, it wouldn't bother me too much if it were a few years before I hear it sung again.

Next year will be an interesting one for the choir. On Friday 12th March, they will appear at the Bridgewater Hall in Manchester, where accompanist, Anthony Whittaker will get the chance to play the organ in a concert in aid of charity. Not long after that, a trip to Northern Ireland awaits them as they compete at the Bangor International Choral Festival, before they go to the International Eisteddfod in Llangollen in the summer. If you like your MVC's and are anywhere near any of those venues, give them a listen, because if they were a brass band, they are in the Black Dyke, Fairey's & YBS bracket.

Wingates kicked off the second half with Anderson's "Christmas Festival Overture". The playing was solid but some of the tempos seemed a touch laboured at times. A sensitive rendition of "When a Child is Born" was performed, before without question, the highlight of the night in the form of yet another outstanding euphonium player.

Matt Hall has recently joined the band. Matt is studying at the RNCM in Manchester and you could hear immediately how being under the guidance of the likes of Steven Mead has rubbed off on him. Matt performed the Adolphe Adams classic, "O Holy Night". What a lovely, lyrical, sensual tone this lad has - at times, just like listening to Steve Mead. The choir's Russell Paterson spoke warmly about Matt as he had taught him at school. Without doubt, this is a young man that could certainly make an impression in the banding world as other euphonium players have done in recent times.

To finish off the band chose a Sandy Smith arrangement of seasonal music. In the typical style of Mr Smith, it's a pretty lively and up-tempo medley with numerous favourites. The band certainly enjoyed themselves and got a standing ovation from their hosts as a result. For an encore, a trip on Leroy Anderson's "Sleighride", before the band joined forces with the choir at the end of the concert in an arrangement by local boy, Goff Richards in "Schneewalzer". A lively participation piece between band, choir and audience, to finish the night off.

Sometimes you can attend concerts not really knowing what to expect, but the trip was well worth it. The band is certainly back on the up again, and if they play anything like they did on this occasion in the contesting arena, they will certainly raise more than a few eyebrows.

Malcolm Wood

^back to top