Peter Bassano Masterclass

Salford University Brass Band
University of Salford
Wednesday 20th October

The Salford Band Room was the setting for Peter Bassano to give a masterclass to the current incumbents of the university band for a masterclass lecture that was geared around the theme, "The influence of the voice on brass band style and repertoire."

Through the use of personal experiences, CD recordings from various musical genre's, Peter got the assembled to think about the thought processes and influences of how different types of music come about.  In addition, Peter used people such as Luciano Pavarotti and Philip McCann as examples of how easy it can be to recognise an individual's voice through a distinctive style.

The band played selected parts of pieces under Peter's direction and before a note was blown, an insight was given into the piece, its origin, and the students were asked to think about the music they were playing,

Flecther's 'Labour & Love' for example comes from operatic styles; an overture, a recitative, a lyric soprano tune in the style of Verdi, a soprano cadenza and the grand operatic finale - all for good measure of course.  Hence, the students immediately were able to relate to the music and as a result, play with that sense of feeling and understanding.

In complete contrast, Peter Bassano also utilised music where the musician  can often perform without words or text - giving them not much understanding as to what the composition is about in the first place, and without proper understanding, the need to give that convincing performance without additional help.

Ball's Resurgam was used as an example of drawing real understanding from both the music and text.  The work has a written preface in the form of a quote from the Apocrypha: The Book of Wisdom, and Peter encouraged the players to think about the words as they played.  Likewise, in the famous adagio cornet solo, Ball suggested the words, 'Death took my love away', and this section was also included in what was an intriguing afternoon.

Wilby's 'Masquerade' was also featured during the masterclass.  The work is of course based on the opera, Falstaff and this was the perfect modern day piece for Peter to demonstrate the influence of the voice on the brass band style and repertoire.  Wilby's composition is transformed almost out of recognition from the original opera, but the words remain fundamental to parts of the composition process.

Again working with the band, Peter focussed on the famous euphonium solo and its understanding, firstly with the instrument, then removing it, and making the point without that instrument that it is hard to understand the real sense of meaning of the music.

Peter also concentrated on the famous cornet solo within Masquerade, playing the operatic aria on CD first, and encouraging understanding as to this was where the thought process for the solo had come from.

Through a journey of different pieces, Peter Bassano had given an insight into not just how composition had changed and influenced the brass band scene through voice, but also how the technical abilities of the bands had changed as well, which directly influence the composition in the first place. Peter clearly enjoyed the experience and was looking forward to working with Foden's Richardson Band, not long after this event.

Salford University Brass Band has within it some of the finest young musicians around, many of who already play in the UK's top bands.  This masterclass encouraged the students to think of the music they play and perform from another angle, and one that can only benefit them as players and potential conductors in the future.  Recitals, masterclasses and concerts to name just three are all part of the continuous educational development for the band's personnel as part of their respective courses, all under the watchful eye of Professor David King.

Malcolm Wood

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