There was a feeling of well earned celebration in the air as Brighouse & Rastrick marked 70 years of their famous massed band concerts at Huddersfield Town Hall. 

Having enjoyed a successful autumn contest season, with runner-up finishes at the British Open and National Finals (the latter gaining a second successive European invitation), it was little wonder that they were in determined mood to give their home fans a top class evening of entertainment.

Septuagennial landmark

In addition to the septuagennial landmark, the hosts and their guests, The Band of the King’s Division - both on very good form - gave a respectful nod to the wonderful work of the Royal British Legion and especially to those who lost their lives in war and conflict.

With the protocol of the 'National Anthem' observed, the trumpeters of the Kings Division led the ensembles in the fanfare 'Young Pheasants in the Sky', before the guest conductor for the evening, Rob Wiffen OBE, led the bands through a real good romp of 'Old Comrades'.  

Happy tradition

Keeping the traditionalists happy, the march was followed by an overture and a solo: Shostakovich's vibrant 'Festive Overture' and 'Shout' written by the conductor.

The MDs enjoyable composition includes a couple of unaccompanied sections; with its Latin-jazz style also featuring a 'shout' chorus towards its end. It's a piece that needs a soloist of agile dexterity - and in Lance Corporal Tom Challinor it certainly had one.

Upbeat

The upbeat mood continued with 'Sing Thing' and 'Salsa Number 2' which sandwiched Eric Whitacre's beautifully thought provoking 'Lux Arumque'.

To conclude the first half, the MD acknowledged not just the musical contribution of Eric Ball, but the man himself, with his iconic ‘Resurgam’. Ball had fronted the first ever massed bands concert here with B&R in 1945.

Sacrifice

Percy Fletcher's 'Heroic March' from 'An Epic Symphony' and a melody of 'Songs of the Great War' centred minds ahead of Remembrance Sunday on the sacrifice made by so many.

All of the old favourites were included to get the audience’s feet tapping, whilst there was some fine contributions from Kyle Lawson on cornet and solo euphonium Phillippe Schwartz amongst others.

George Butterworth's 'The Banks of the Green Willow' was originally written for orchestra, but the tranquil composition arranged by Duncan Wilson, suited the occasion well. Based around two folk melodies from the early 1900s, the composer acknowledges the influences Vaughan Williams and Percy Grainger had on his writing.

Memories

Brighouse's flugel, Lucy Cutt delivered a subtle rendition of 'Share my Yoke', before the dynamics were cranked up in splendid fashion firstly with 'Malaguena' followed by a no-holds barred finale from Stravinsky's 'Firebird'.

To close, music performed at the very first massed bands concert; Elgar's 'Pomp & Circumstance March Number 4', full of patriotism and emotion.

Not content, the audience demanded an encore, and were given a real zinger in the form of a flashing 'Lezghinka' to send them home with plenty of musical memories as good as anything heard in the last 70 years. 

Malcolm Wood