Despite being held in the heart of Yorkshire, Philip Smith must have felt at home as he took to the stage at Morey Town Hall to lead the National Youth Brass Band of Great Britain for what was to be an excellent concert.
It was as cloyingly humid as the famous Masters golf tournament in Augusta, as the celebrated former principal trumpet of the New York Philharmonic Orchestra (now teaching at the University of Georgia) introduced the first couple of items in his deep, dry-witted drawl - like Norman Mailer reciting lines from a Tennessee Williams play.
Set the tone
It set the tone for a series of relaxed, focussed performances on well-chosen repertoire of style and substance; the opening fanfare prelude, ‘Into the Sky’ by Stephen Bulla, and crisp march, ‘Celebration’ by Leslie Condon played with an acute appreciation of dynamic variance.
The welcome musical contrasts also saw a colourful portrayal of Peter Graham’s early ‘Dimensions’ and a splendid take on Anthony Spurgin’s quirky ‘Deux Grotesques’ - with its ‘King & I’ rising motif in ‘Balletomane’ and the slapstick ‘March des Bouffons’ played with mature understanding.
Refreshing change
Smith’s personal take on Dean Goffin’s classic ‘Rhapsody in Brass’ may have raised an eyebrow or two from contest guise aficionados, but the considered tempos and leanly drawn sentimentality made for a refreshing change. Equally, his appreciation of Morley Calvert’s idiosyncratic ‘Suite on Canadian Folk Songs’ was a character-packed delight.
Elsewhere, there was a neat touch of individuality about ‘The Contestor’ march and an anarchic drive to ‘Folk Dances’ by Shostakovich, whilst ‘In Quite Pastures’ by Ray Steadman-Allen was shaped with a caring hand of cultured phrasing as the young players (especially soloists) responded splendidly to their MDs articulate direction.
Generous gesture
The American also made sure the audience was left in no doubt about his post-retirement playing talents. His beautiful flugal rendition of ‘His Eye is on the Sparrow’ alongside the generous gesture of the cornet duet ‘Quicksilver’ with the excellent Thomas Fountain were neatly directed by Mareika Gray, before the formal proceedings were rounded-off with a refined performance of Edward Gregon’s extended ‘Laudate Dominum’.
Mint julep
The encores were as tasty as Georgia mint julep cocktails: ‘The Cossack’, complete with joyful, wonky vocals, a whizz-bang ‘Malaguena’ and an emotional ‘Day thou Gavest’ to round off a concert led by an inspirational musician performed by equally inspired young players.
Iwan Fox
