There was a glimpse as to what fine talent may well emerge through the RNCM in the next few years as players from the Junior RNCM Band delivered an enjoyable afternoon concert.
The youngsters come to the RNCM each Saturday as part of their personal development - a day that includes tutoring, performance on a secondary instrument, group rehearsals and full band practice. If that's not enough, they also get the opportunity to turn their musical talents to composition, as was heard from young trombonist, Edward Percival.
Anthem
Dean Goffin’s march 'Anthem of the Free', originally written for the 4th Brigade Band of the New Zealand Armed Forces (which he conducted during the Second World War) and containing the gospel song ‘Ring the Bells of Heaven’, got the concert off to a rousing start.
Welcome reprise
As he had been throughout the weekend, composer Joseph Horovitz was present to hear a welcome reprise of his darkly witty 1975 commission for the Kibworth Band, 'The Dong with a Luminous Nose' - inspired by the famous ‘nonsense’ poem by Edward Lear.
It captured the eerie mystery perfectly - ‘a single lurid sight’, ‘to meet with his Jumbly Girl again; Lonely and wild - all night he goes... ‘...The Dong with a Luminous Nose!’
Refined
It was followed by an equally refined performance by principal cornet, Pippa Scourse. The exceptional young player from Anglesey has really made an impression on listeners over the past couple of years, and she did so again with Peter Meechan's 'Song of Hope' - played with such lyrical assuredness and beautiful phrasing.
Fascinating
Edward Percival then took centre stage to deliver a brief synopsis of his short three-movement work, 'Multiverse'. The sound world was a fascinating one as the players were challenged with the emerging variations on connected motifs. Like Pippa, he is a talent to keep an eye on.
To close, music from the Brighton band, The Go! Team, with ‘Bust Out Brigade’.
The six piece group combine indie rock and garage rock with a mixture of blaxploitation and Bollywood soundtracks; a chance too good to miss then for Simon Dobson to transform it into a brass band version that thumped and pulsated with energy and groove.
It was funktastic.
Malcolm Wood
