Salford University Brass Band
14-Dec-2004'Voice of the Vikings'
Conductors: Selmer Simonsen and Captain Pete Curtis RM
Peel Hall, University of Salford
Wednesday 8th December
Selmer Simonsen and Captain Pete Curtis conducted this concert by the Salford University Band which took place in the fine surroundings of Peel Hall at the University of Salford. Both men are currently continuing their educational development at Salford at the present time and this concert was an opportunity to put what they are learning into practice.
An ex-Salford graduate, Selmer is now the Musical Director of Stavanger Brass Band in Norway, and is taking a sabbatical from the band whilst he is a Visiting Fellow at the University that has a reputation that is second to none for the high standards it sets in all courses.
Selmer's contribution to the concert was Torstein Aagaard-Nilsen's – ‘Voice of the Vikings' - music that focuses on the legendary Nordic warrior, the Viking. It is a is a real showcase for band both visually and aurally.
Lasting around twenty-five minutes, the music is in six movements, (some more familiar than others) interrupted only on this occasion by spontaneous rounds of applause. The opening ‘Lokk' (from the Green Island) commenced with the powerful tenor horn voice of Aidan Smith before the band launched into ‘Introduction' which is the same piece that has been featured as a track of an early YBS recording.
The third movement (Reindeer) featured Simon Gray on soprano and the band's principal cornet, Alex Thomas, both of whom were on fine form. Time for the choreography really to have an effect in ‘Fra Borge' with the cornets stood left and right of the stage, the trombones at the back, all accompanying the flugel voice of Lizi Sawyer, who was extremely effective.
‘Norwegian Dance' is one of those pieces that has become popular in concert programmes, and it is the fifth segment of the whole work. Once again, cornets are stood and the drummers came to fore at the front of the stage. It was a fine effect, and mention must given here to Alex Thomas for some fine solo work.
The conclusion to the whole work is ‘Circius', exhilarating, bright, bold music that featured Brendon Wheeler on euphonium. This has been featured on its own many times, but as part of the whole it proved to be an even more effective finale. Moreover, the band responded magnificently to everything that Selmer had asked of them, and the standard of playing was as good as you would expect from the students, many of whom are established players in banding's top outfits.
Captain Pete Curtis will take up the role in May 2005 as Director of Music of the Band of Her Majesty's Royal Marines Commandos based in Devon, and prior to this is currently study conducting on the MA Performance Degree Course under the watchful eye of Professor King. Pete had the task of following Selmer on stage with a programme of folk-based tunes from Norway. Just as they had for Selmer, the students responded superbly. First up was the ‘Prelude' to the Holberg Suite by Grieg and performed without recourse to any fireworks in tempos, but enabling the clarity of sound to shine through.
The ‘Hjalar-ljod Overture' comes from the pen of Eivind Groven. The origins of the work for the composition is based on signature tunes sung by the shepherds in the mountains. As with Selmer, the empathy between band and conductor was once again in evidence.
The slow romantic ‘Hostvise' followed before flugel player Lizi Sawyer returned to play an arrangement by Tom Brevik of ‘Nordiskk Natt' which in English means ‘Nordic Light'.
Ray Farr is of course no stranger to Norway and its music. Getir Tveitt was a big enthusiast of Norwegian Folk Music and he spent a lot of time travelling around, collecting and notating various folk tunes. No surprise then that the band featured music from ‘Suite Number 1' from his ‘One Hundred Folk Tunes' entitled ‘Velkomne Med Aera'm arranged by the current Reg Vardy (Ever Ready) MD.
To conclude the whole concert, the band performed Frode Alnaes' popular ‘Vitae Lux' featuring Andrew King on trombone in the opening solo passage.
Team spirit is a key ingredient here with everybody encouraging everybody else. Not only do the students thrive on what they do on their respective courses, but the respect they have for the tutors who guide them is apparent.
With that in mind, it is no wonder that the quality of performance from both band and conductor's was excellent, and this was yet a reminder how lucky the banding movement is to have so many talented individuals within it, who all have bright futures not just in the brass band idiom, but in music as a whole. It was a thoroughly enjoyable and informative event.
Malcolm Wood
