Brighouse & Rastrick Band

Durham Brass Band Festival
Conductor: Ray Farr
Soloists: Alan Morrison, Steve Miles
The Gala Theatre, Durham
Saturday 25th June

A year after performing a programme of music that didn't meet with the audience's approval here, Brighouse & Rastrick returned to Durham to conclude this mini-series of concerts at The Gala Theatre as part of the Durham Brass Band Festival; but this time the large audience went home content (even if some of the programme wasn't to their liking) after hearing some fine playing from the band, including some cracking solo performances from Alan Morrison and Steve Miles respectively.

Alan Morrison led the band superbly through the serious programme of English music and was in a class of his own during his performance of Ernest Tomlinson's ‘Cornet Concerto'.  As with his namesake, James, in Manchester two weeks previously, Alan's technique and control of his instrument produced some jaw-dropping moments, particularly in the final two movements (Adagio espressivo and Molto allegro) that were executed with consummate ease. 

Steve Miles was making his farewell appearance with B & R before emigrating to New Zealand in July.  When Ray Farr asked Steve what he wanted to play as a major work at this concert, his choice was Wilby's ‘Euphonium Concerto'.

Steve demonstrated that the British bandings scene's loss will be New Zealand's immense gain, with a highly charged performance with the second movement, ‘Zeibekikos' finding favour in particular.  Hopefully, it won't to be too long before this talented euphonium player is playing again on British soil

The programme was published in advance and Howell's ‘Pageantry' opened the night's proceedings.  B&R produced an assured and confident reading of the work that will decide who becomes the National Champion Band of GB for the First Section at Harrogate in September.

Steve Miles' replacement on euphonium, Brenden Wheeler, produced some beautiful tender playing in his solo lines, whilst Alan Morrison's opening solo at the start of the final movement (‘Jousts') was solid and secure.

Elgar's ‘Severn Suite' was the other major work in the first half and under Ray Farr; the band explored much of the beauty of this fine work, with the ‘Fugue' and the concluding ‘Coda' standing out.

George Benjamin was seventeen years old when he composed ‘Altitude' in 1977 for Grimethorpe and Elgar Howarth.  This is a challenging work for players and conductor to contend with (let alone the audience) in terms of concentration, and despite some fine playing from Nigel Fieding on soprano, there seemed a sense of relief at its conclusion, as there was one or two uncomfortable moments around the stand.

After Steve Miles' farewell performance, Brighouse concluded this contemporary programme with a powerful account of Heaton's four-movement work, ‘Partita'.  Despite the demands of the programme, Ray Farr pulled everything from the band who responded superbly with the opening ‘Prelude' and concluding ‘Rondo' standing out.

Rimmer's march, ‘Ravenswood' was polished off in fine style as an encore, bringing to an end an excellent evening from a band whom on the evidence of this night's work is in good form - and it appears they enjoy the challenge of working with different conductors on the contest platform since David Hirst's departure.

The three concerts at the Gala Theatre as part of the Durham Festival has been embraced warmly by all the participants.  The standard of playing during the diverse repertoire from three highly esteemed bands leads to the question why bands struggle to get the recognition deserved at the BBC Proms, which this year, once again has no brass band to provide a promenade concert of music that is within the genre required. This though was a fantastic substitute – and no one over the past three weeks could have cause for complaint.

Malcolm Wood.

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