Brighouse & Rastrick made a welcome return visit to Norwich to perform at the East Anglian Brass Band Association’s 79th Annual Gala Concert - an event in memory of Donald Palmer, a long standing Association trustee who had given over 40 years of dedicated service.

In the audience were a significant number of young brass musicians from Norwich and the surrounding areas. With support from Norwich Town Close Estate Charity and the Norfolk Music Hub, the Association had been able to offer free tickets to give them the opportunity to hear a world class brass band in concert.

Thrilling

Under Musical Director David Thornton Brighouse commenced with a Spanish theme with Rimsky-Korsakov’s ‘Capriccio Espagnol’, followed by the thrilling Rossini overture ‘La Gazza Ladra’. Sheona White delivered a beautiful rendition of ‘Ballade’ by John Golland before more tastes of the operatic exotic with ‘Carmen Fantasy’.

Association Chairman Ian Clarke addressed the audience to talk about Donald Palmer and his dedicated work, and was delighted that the band was to play a special request of the march, ‘The Standard of St George’ in tribute to Donald’s memoryStephen Wade

Association Chairman Ian Clarke addressed the audience to talk about Donald Palmer and his dedicated work, and was delighted that the band was to play a special request of the march, ‘The Standard of St George’ in tribute to Donald’s memory.

‘In Perfect Peace’ by Kenneth Downie and Tchaikovsky’s, ‘March Slav’ rounded off a splendid half.

Real sparkle

Following the break, Peter Graham’s, ‘Pentium’ elicit a sheen of real sparkle, before another classy solo feature saw Ryan Watkins give a commanding rendition of ‘Dance Sequence’ by Gareth Wood. 

A trio of ‘swing’ items were a neat contrast with ‘Strike Up The Band’, ‘April in Paris’ (featuring a suave flugel soloist in Mike Eccles) and ‘Sing, Sing, Sing’ before a reflective moment came in ‘Hymn to the Fallen’ by John Williams.

To round things off, ‘Abide with Me’ by William Monk was followed by a the colourful and evocative ‘Vita Destructa’ by Todd Smith to end to a fine concert that was expertly encored by the band’s signature tune, ‘The Floral Dance’.

Stephen Wade