The growing success of the annual Black Dyke Festival was summed up not so much by the packed audience that took to their seats on a humid Sunday afternoon, but by the widespread geographical mix of nationalities that were sat on the stage providing them with splendid entertainment.

Black Dyke, Armthorpe Elmfield and the Yorkshire Youth Band proudly flew the White Rose musical flag, but they were also joined by Royal Buckley from Wales, the Norwegians of Flora-Bremanger, Tanunda Band from Australia and members of the Mikeneko Ladies Band from Japan.  There was even a player from Washington DC who had flown over from the USA to take part.

Added bonus

A morning of masterclasses and tuition provided by Prof Nicholas Childs and Black Dyke players stars was an added bonus for the participants - topped it must be said by the concert appearance of the remarkable trombonist, Peter Moore.  His sumptuous rendition of Langford’s ‘Rhapsody for Trombone’ was met by the collective sound of audience jaws dropping to the floor in stunned admiration.

Snake, Rattle and Roll

Elsewhere it was the type of easy listening, balanced music making that has been a hallmark of this event over the past few years - from massed band items such as ‘I Will Follow Him’, with a Whoopi Goldberg nun’s chorus of no less than 35 trombonists, to the min-marvels of Wardle Junior Blast led by Lee Rigg giving it their all on ‘Snake, Rattle and Roll’.

Earlier, Black Dyke was in relaxed mood for their first half solo spot - delivering a wonderfully pompous ‘Knight Templar’ to open proceedings, followed by their usual Big Band set,

The emerging talents of the Yorkshire Youth Band players was amply displayed with their contributions of ‘Valdres March’ (conducted by Richard Marshall) and ‘Capriol Suite’, whilst the Victorian foundations of the hall certainly rumbled when the amazing 1858 Gray and Davison organ joined the massed bands for ‘The Lost Chord’.  ‘633 Squadron’, ‘March Slav’ and ‘Imperial Echoes’ to close could have been heard in Lands End let alone Elland Road.

Startling

Earlier, Black Dyke was in relaxed mood for their first half solo spot - delivering a wonderfully pompous ‘Knight Templar’ to open proceedings, followed by their usual Big Band set, Peter Moore’s startling contribution (including an elegant take on ‘Blessed Assurance’) all rounded off with ‘To Boldly Go’ by Peter Graham. 

Given the success of the festival in reaching out to encompass new brass band frontiers, it provided an accurate musical analogy of what this event has achieved over the past few years. 

Iwan Fox