Hepworth (Persimmon Homes) Band

Conductor: Mark Bentham
St Pauls Hall
Huddersfield
Staurday 29th January

Planning any concert programme to suit all tastes is not an easy task but on this occasion the Hepworth Persimmon Homes Band and Mark Bentham decided to publish the programme to the media before the event, giving concert goers the chance to see what was on offer before deciding if it suited their musical tastes.                                
                                
This is done by most orchestras and many of the top bands have recently began to do the same, and it could be a way forward if bands wish to ensure there are no more of those recent "Grimethorpe" moments when the audience turn up with their own expectations and getting something totally different and not to their liking. With that in mind, a large audience turned up at St. Paul's Hall in Huddersfield and were presented with a very demanding programme chosen to extend Hepworth's technical ability as well as their stamina and concentration.

The concert opened with Copeland's 'Fanfare to the Common Man', which certainly has plenty of majesty about it. The composer dedicated the music to the people of America who through the Second World War found living standards hard with high taxes leaving many on the breadline. It wasn't quite as bad as the Depression years, but still it wasn't as rosy as many people thought (especially the British who thought the USA to be a land of plenty judges by the false impression gained by the troops that came to Britain). The opening fanfares from the cornets and trombones with excellent work from the percussion section got the concert off to a fine start.

Music from the Scottish composer Hamish McCunn, in his very descriptive overture 'The Land of The Mountain and Flood' followed, with some nice sounds throughout the band. This music has lovely melodies and the euphonium and horn sections in particular shone in a perormance that had a fluent musical quality about it. 

Phillip Sparke is one of the great composers for brass band and in his superb 'Cornet Concerto' it tests not only the soloist but the band as well. The music in three movements has everything you could ask for in any extended solo work and the bands principal cornet Rob Westacott once again showed why he is so highly regarded in the band movement. Excellent technique in the allegro movement was followed by sensitive playing in the beautiful second movement, whilst the lento in which his control in the high register was a feature led to an exciting finale. This was quality playing from both soloist and band though at times the accompaniments tended to be on the heavy side. It gained a very well deserved reception. 

Puccini composed some lovely music, none more so than the aria 'Nessun Dorma' and this slightly more unusual arrangement gave every single, player in the band the chance to shine as each in there turn stood up to play there own few bars. Not quite a Pavarotti, but enjoyable nonetheless. 
 
The first half ended with music by the Russian composer Rimsky -Korsakov in 'Capriccio Espagnol' composed originally as a string quartet. This music really captures the requisite Spanish feel and in this exciting music the band were certainly on top form, showing good technique and style, with a tempo that never slackened and made for a rousing end to the first half.
 
The overture to the opera 'Rienzi' by Wagner opened the second half, and like most of Wagner's music it is dramatic in style and a real test of stamina. The opening bars call for great control and the band gave a good account of this music, although we are sure the MD would have identified plenty of further work prior to the Bradford Contest.  All the nuts and bolts were in place, but it still sounded a little ‘undercooked', although with five or more weeks to the Area it sounded in pretty good shape.
 
Edward Gregson has written many fine works for band and it was his classic 'Symphonic Rhapsody for Euphonium and Band' that featured next. The music shows of the full range of the instrument and the bands principal euphonium player Brenden Wheeler certainly did that. This young soloist who has reached the final of Radio 2's 'Young Brass Musician of the Year' plays with a confidence that all Australians people seem to have, and with good backing from the band he gave a most satisfying performance of this difficult music. A rising young star for sure.
 
Music from the pen of Edward Elgar in his descriptive 'Wand of Youth Suite' followed and the band chose two movements from the five-movement piece - the 'Tame Bears' and the 'Wild Bears'. The music was well thought out and in the Wild Bears some super work from the horn section was evident along side a good tight ensemble.
 
The concert came to its conclusion with music by Stravinsky in the 'Finale from the Firebird Suite'. This music is based on two Russian fairy tales and begins with a dance, then lullaby and finally a hymn of praise. Hepworth seemed totally at ease in this superb music with excellent work from Yvonne Embury on solo trombone and some fine work from the cornet section as the piece built up to a exciting climax.

As an encore the band played the finale from 'Orpheus in the Underworld', which rounded off a very fine concert presentation.

This had been a demanding programme in which the large audience gave the band a prolonged ovation, and Mark Bentham deserves great credit for picking such a varied and challenging programme. The playing overall was of the standard you would expect from this band and I am sure the players woke up the next day with some pretty tired lips! It was well worth it though for a most rewarding and enjoyable concert.
 
David Tinker

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