Fairey (FP Music) Band

Major Peter Parkes
Stockport Town Hall
Friday 14th May 2004

When you're the Double National Champion Band of Great Britain there is always going to be plenty of interest whatever the band does, and wherever it plays.  This concert had been in the 4BR diary for a while and as things have evolved in the past couple of weeks, it had the makings of a very interesting night.

Strangely though, Fairey fans and general brass band enthusiasts mustn't have been aware of the event, as the hall was almost empty (we counted just over 30 people in the audience on Pter Parkes' first downbeat) , and instead of a concert hall buzzing with anticipation, the atmosphere was flat.  It was a travesty, as Faireys (with a number of 'deps') played exceptionally well.  Changes? Well, if you'd walked into Stockport Town Hall and heard the band, you wouldn't have known any different - although the band might have thought differently.

The reason for the poor turnout though was not the fault of the band. Stockport Council had failed to advertise the event due to an administrative oversight, so there were no flyers, posters or advertising drops either through the Council, at the Hall or to the general public. It doesn't matter who is performing, if you don't give the coverage you don't get the crowds.

Under Major Peter Parkes, things got under way with Gordon Langford's  Famous British Marches, and a nice clean sound that filled the hall from the band.  Next up was the overture from Gilbert & Sullivan, The Yeoman of the Guard and there was a beautiful warm, 'English' sound so eloquently portrayed within the band.

Nick Walkley, the bands newly appointed principal cornet, was the first soloist of the night, and what a fine display he produced.  Nerves?, well if any were in existence as the young man performed Philip McCann's signature piece, 'Rusalka's Song to the Moon' with plenty of maturity beyond his years, it didn't show.  A nice warm tone, lovely control of the instrument, it was as though nothing phased him at all, and he looked very much at ease.

The concert continued with another piece that a number of bands seem to be playing at the moment, Andrew Duncan's Cartoon Classics, featuring the vocal talents of Brian Taylor. We knew he was a talented cornet player all right, but now you can add a bit of Rory Bremner mimicking. Rimsky Korsakov's The Dance of the Tumblers, was performed with consummate ease, before Let's Face the Music and Dance - the Irving Berlin classic - impressive stuff, with a real sense of fun about the performance.

The first half concluded with Shostakovich's Festive Overture and once again it was impressive stuff, based on a great tempos and with Nigel Fielding, deputising on soprano from Grimethorpe, outstanding.

Another march, Midwest, opened up the second half of the concert.  Once again, Major Parkes wasn't holding back on the tempos, and the chromatic scales were 'water of a ducks back for the cornet section. The small audience were certainly getting their monies worth. Von Suppe's, The Beautiful Galathea had some beautiful ensemble playing, before Nick Walkley and Nigel Fielding were delightful in the 'Romance' from the Gadfly. 

The band turned to Langford's Three Howarth Impressions with Three Bells and the Worth Valley Railway, and once again, Faireys demonstrated that whatever the style of music performed, they can adapt with no problems at all, again, Nick Walkley was impressive on his debut in the principal's chair.

Neil Hewson was the second soloist of the night and he demonstrated why he is one of the top flugel players around in his performance of Concerto D'Aranuez, affectionately (but stupidly) known as 'Orange Juice'.  Mussorgsky's Gopak from Sorochinsky Fair caused no problems for the band, before the item that stood out above anything else, Wilfred Heaton's meditation, Just As I Am.  This was marvellous stuff and Peter Parkes milked some exquisite playing for all it was worth.

To finish off, Howard Snell's great arrangement of music from Wagner's Lohengrin in Procession to the Minster.  Neil Hewson's flugel solo was divine and the band really did let rip producing a fantastic sound.

As concerts go, this was really good stuff, and the band deserves credit for putting on such a good show in a hall that should have been full.  News is expected soon on signings for the band, and come Whit Friday (4th June) when the band is not expected to be in Saddleworth & Tameside, it will be interesting to see who is playing in the positions that need to be filled.  Those who deputised on the night including Mark Wilkinson & in the cornet ranks, Shaun Crowther & Daniel Sinclair in the Bass section and a 'dead-ringer' for Richard Brown on principal trombone (apologies to Richard it wasn't him, but it certainly looked like him) did a sterling job.

One thing for certain though is come September 18th at the British Open, Faireys will go on stage in determined mood with some new faces in their ranks, aiming to take the title before going for a hat-trick of wins in London.  Interesting times ahead, to say the least and 30 plus people could be able to say in years to come - I was there when the new Fairey FP (Music) Band took to the stage.

Malcolm Wood

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