The National Children’s Brass Band of Great Britain may only take place one week each year, but its annual end of course concert once again displayed proof positive that the banding movement in the UK is bursting with remarkable pre-teenage musical talent.
It brought to a close seven days of inspirational teaching and tutoring for the 60 strong ensemble (balanced by plenty of fun, games and even creative art work) under the direction of Prof Nicholas Childs, Owen Farr and an array of renowned brass and percussion stars. And with Gary and Monica Walczak leading the outstanding pastoral care, it also meant that parents could enjoy their own week of quiet relaxation safe in the knowledge that their loved ones were expertly cared for.
Making musicians tick
In musical terms the same goes for Paul Lovatt-Cooper - a composer who understands just what makes young musicians tick.
His Swiss train-ride inspired 'Streamline Peaks' gave leading players the opportunity to showcase confident solo talents to sparkling effect, before James Curnow’s 'Appalachian Mountain Folk Song Suite' revealed that the ensemble playing was as equally secure and well-balanced.
Gobstoppers
Cory’s cornet virtuoso Tom Hutchinson thrilled everyone at the compact Repton School hall as the featured guest soloist, with a trio of gobstoppers either side of the interval; the volcanic brilliance of 'Charivari' contrasting with the touching lyricism of 'The Sultry Swan' and the karate-kicking 'Green Hornet'. The old favourite, 'Trumpets Wild', aided by the energised accompaniment from the front row cornet section, was a fizz bomb.
Unmistakable stamp
The first half also saw the world premiere of Alan Fernie's 'Waterfront Sketches' - another of his expertly realised descriptive suites that on this occasion depicted the nautical cities of Belfast, Glasgow, Cardiff and Portsmouth. The composer was on hand to enjoy the engaging test of musicality and emerging technique that also bore the unmistakable stamp of a work with a long competitive shelf life.
The second half was bookended with Edward Gregson's early work 'Patterns'; a rhythmically pulsating blueprint of future ideas from the early 1970s, and Peter Graham's 'The Journal of Phileas Fogg', of much later vintage - both played with a well defined sense of character and no little swagger under the direction of the Black Dyke MD.
Smiles
With the presentation of individual and section awards along with an equally deserved acknowledgement of the contribution principal cornet, Will Thomas (a veteran of five courses!) the concert ended as it had begun - in upbeat fashion.
After an enjoyable choral item, led by Owen Farr, Fucik's colourful 'Entry of the Gladiators' was followed by 'The National Anthem', before proud families linked up once again with siblings all still wearing smiles that told the story behind yet another superb week of musical education.
Malcolm Wood
