Brass on Sunday

Fodens Richardson Band
Conductor: Garry Cutt
Symphony Hall
Birmingham
Sunday 22nd May

The Foden's Richardson Band returned to the venue of their great triumph in winning the 2004 British Open last September to give this concert in front of a large and enthusiastic audience at Symphony Hall.
 
Conducted in exemplary fashion throughout by Garry Cutt, they opened with the march, ‘The Champions', a slightly predictable, but nonetheless enjoyable choice, which took a little while to settle down but soon it became evident that this is a great sounding band, full of balanced and warm tones. It was a good lively opening to the concert.
 
Hector Berlioz composed some fine overtures and his ‘Le Corsair' arranged by Geoffrey Brand almost 40 years ago remains one of the best and most successfully realised for brass band.  It also featured some superb playing in the slow movement with Helen Fox on flugel horn producing some wonderfully secure playing right out of the top drawer which led to some excellent work all round the band with sensible tempo allowing the detail to come through. Garry Cutt didn't opt for too fast a tempo (as many MDs do in a vain hope of creating excitement) and as a result there was a real majestic feel to the final full throated sections.
 
The beautiful ‘Arioso' by Bach arranged by Howard Snell followed which featured the horn section along with the baritones and euphoniums. This was a nice contrast and resulted in some finely controlled playing, with a warm timbre of sound and near perfect balance.
 
Mark Wilkinson has led the cornet section for thirteen years and he chose as his solo spot, music by the Salvation Army composer William Himes. ‘Jubilance' is without doubt one of the finest solos in the band movement and the soloist was on top form all the way through. The music gives the soloist the chance to show how to play in a lyrical style as well as showing excellent technique in the quick passages, and the reception from the audience told its own story – it was a pleasure to hear.   The rest of the cornet section then joined in with the lively ‘Hora Stoccata' which was neat and feisty with a special mention to the young the lady on tambourine.                                                                                   
 
Music from the pen of Malcolm Arnold in his very descriptive ‘Four Scottish Dances'  kept a nice flow to the concert and some fine bass trombone playing in the second dance was a feature of this piece. The beautiful third dance drew some super sounds from the band, and it was a pity that the last couple of bars were insecure. However, the band just sailed through the fourth dance to end a most vibrant performance.
 
The first half of the concert ended with music by John McCabe in what is one of the finest descriptive pieces composed for brass bands in its long and proud history. ‘Cloudcatcher Fells'  takes its inspiration from places in the Lake District like Grassmoor, Catstyecam, Angle Tarn and  Striding Edge was first used in 1985 for the National Finals in London and his still as fresh today as when it was first performed.

Foden's gave a performance of real quality with some superb soprano cornet playing from Alan Whycherley throughout.  ‘Angle Tarn' was so controlled and right through to the exciting ‘Helvellyn' at the end the band was on top of this music. This is the test piece for the Masters in Cambridge on Sunday the 29th of May and it will take a top show from someone to beat this band on the quality of this performance.
 
The second half opened with music by Peter Graham in ‘Shine As The Light', the first of three pieces from Salvation Army composers in this half. This music has lovely melodies and is very popular with audiences where ever it is played, and the band did the music justice.

The second piece was Kenneth Downie's superb ‘In Perfect Piece' . A gentleman sat just in front of me remarked it was worth the price of the ticket alone to hear such beautiful emotional playing, and you couldn't disagree.
 
In a more lively mood Wilfred Heaton's march ‘Praise' was taken at a good quick tempo, but still managed to retain the quirky style for which it has become famous. It ended the music from the Salvation Army repertoire, which was showcased together, although for this reviewer, it could have been spread out more over the concert. That's a personnel view and not intended as a criticism of the programme planning.
 
Over the years there have been many fine euphonium players who has graced the instrument, and none more than the current principal euphonium of Fodens, Glyn Williams.

In a quite breathtaking performance of Hartman's ‘Rule Britannia' he showed what great control he has of the instrument with some nice subtle touches along the way he retained the authentic feel of the piece, which not all players do with it nowadays. Any young or old brass player for that matter who has not had the chance to hear this player, I suggest you rectify that as soon as possible. He is a class act that's for sure.
 
Mark Landon then enthralled the audience on the xylophone with a piece aptly named ‘Xylomania' and  this young man makes it look and sound so easy. He is another of the many talented players with this fine ensemble, and his playing has a lovely sharpness to it that clearly defines to notation even at very high speed.
 
The finale to the concert was in a new arrangement by Sandy Smith of Respighi's  ‘Orgiastic Dances from Belkis Queen of Sheba'.

This opera first performed in Italy in 1934, is full of great rhythms and ever changing tempo in which the band and conductor pulled off in style. This is the first time myself that I have heard this piece and I am sure it will be a favourite among band audiences. Respighi suits a brass band, although the lack of colour tends to make the music a slightly less spectacular event than the original. It certainly takes a top band to give it the respect it deserves, and that is what Fodens did to a tee.
 
As an encore the band played ‘Entry of the Gladiators' with a great swagger and sense of pomp.
 
Overall this had been a first class concert by one of the world's finest bands. In Garry Cutt they have a fine musician to lead them from the middle, and once again on the night he showed himself to be in just as good form as the excellent ensemble under his control. Fodens are on fine form at the moment, and it will not be a surprise that they add to their silverware at the Masters at the weekend. This was a highly enjoyable exhibition of all their talents.

David Tinker.

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