Black Dyke Band - Saddleworth Church

Black Dyke Band
Conductor: Dr Nicholas J Childs
Compere: John Maines
Saddleworth Church
Friday September 10th 2004

The idyllic setting of Saddleworth Church was the venue for another night courtesy of Phil Beck Promotions, and on the menu, the Black Dyke Band with Dr Nicholas Childs at the helm. 

You might think that eight days before The Open, 'Dyke' would solely want to concentrate on preparations for the day, but with British Open Solo Champion, Alex Kerwin taking the soprano seat at the contest, a concert was the perfect opportunity for the brilliant performer to acclimatise with her colleagues in the band.  In addition, Dr Childs lives in the area, and enjoys every minute of having Black Dyke on show in his own back yard - and he certainly enjoyed himself.

With some of the band in the pews, it was straight into Saint Saen's popular 'French Military March', with the sound being bold and confident but a little OTT, before the band got accustomed to the acoustic of the church.

Staying traditional, the overture slot came from Hector Berlioz and La Corsair.  Some wonderful playing on flugel from John Doyle, was just the beginning, as the performance was delivered with plenty of detail from within the band, some nice subtle touches on soprano, and the music was given the chance to breathe. 

The 'daddy' of cornet players, Roger Webster stepped forward to give one of those virtuoso performances that is nothing but incredible.  What makes it even more astonishing (although for many a cornet player, it would be frustration) is that at the conclusion of 'Carnival of Venice', Roger wasn't even out of breath.

As an encore, the other members of the cornet section joined Roger in a lightening fast rendition of 'Hora Staccato' - although he was a little out of breath at the end!

Two movements from Grieg's 'Peer Gynt' Suite were next, and a total change of mood.  The horn section and the sound of David Thornton on euphonium were sublime in 'Morning' and 'In The Hall of the Mountain King' sounded terrific in a church environment with the right touch of hobgobliny menace.

The assembled audience in Saddleworth got the opportunity to hear a sneak preview of a 'World Premiere' of "Earth's Fury" that would be given in full the day after The Open in Birmingham at the 'Brass on Sunday Gala Concert'.  The music comes from Paul Lovatt Cooper, the band's percussionist, and the soloist, Brett Baker.  Two out of the three movements were heard in this 'live dress rehearsal' in music that reflects natural disasters and all the emotions that goes with them in America.  From what was on offer here, this will be an enjoyable work for Brett and the band to play.  Although modern, the concerto is something that anyone can connect with, whether through personal experience or through visualisation.  Brett's playing was impressive, and on this offering, certainly something worth hearing in full.

To conclude the first half, music from Dr Peter Graham and 'The Red Machine'.  Originally written for The Coldstream Guards, the music was re-scored by Dr Graham for band, and it is something that really does leave you speechless.  The Coldstream Guard's nickname is 'The Red Machine' and is a tribute to the band's precision when playing and marching.  Quite literally, fasten the seat belts time, sit back, and marvel at great music, great playing.  No player gets away lightly in this piece, and the changes in tempo are similar to changing gears in the car; at times, it doesn't hang about. In a couple of words - fantastic piece and fantastic playing

The second half opened with 'Jupiter' from the Planets Suite which was made memorable for some super playing on bass trombone by Adrian Hirst.   Adrian was to feature again in the swing music Black Dyke chose to play.  Hopefully in time for Christmas, Dyke will release 'The Golden Swing of Black Dyke', and the three items were as performed at The Great Brass Arts Festival in Manchester, the weekend previously. 

Firstly, an enjoyable 'Opus One', before Adrian Hirst and John French only had eyes for oneanother in 'I Only Have Eyes For You', before rounding things off with 'Mack The Knife'.

The popular Soloist Showcase featured David Thornton, Lesley Howie and Joseph Cook (in that order) each displaying their own individual talents.  David's contribution was a euphonium masterclass courtesy of Edward Gregson's 'Symphonic Rhapsody' that is almost certain to feature on Dyke's tribute to Professor Gregson being 60 in 2005.  Lesley Howie was the soloist of the night though in a remarkable interpretation of the 'Finale' from 'Mendelssohn's 'Violin Concerto' - absolutely fantastic stuff.  To finish, bass player, Joe Cook, proving that 'anything the other soloists can do, so can I' in Monti's 'Czardas'.

To finish off, some Tchaikovsky, and the popular March Slav, which was probably just a touch loud if you were sat in the front row!  As an encore, lightening fast music by JJ Richards and his march, 'The Waltonian' bringing to an end a concert that of what is on offer from Black Dyke at present.  Soprano cornetist, Alex Kerwin had her moments, and no doubt with rest, plenty of rehearsals behind her, she would be a star for Dyke at Birmingham (and so it poved)

Thanks to Black Dyke, John Maines, who without doubt is one of banding's best comperes and Phil Beck for another night of top class banding entertainment.  Hepworth, Rochdale Youth, Brighouse & Rastrick are all on the agenda in the Autumn Season - details from www.championbrass.co.uk

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