*
banner

Guards Brass

Galleries
Household Division Music Festival
Conductor: WO Class1 Andrew Porter
The Guards Chapel, London
Thursday 28th June

The music of Bliss, Tallis, Gabrieli, Dowland and Mussorgsky appropriately framed this excellent Guards Brass ‘gallery’ exhibition of repertoire skilfully curated by WO Class 1 Andrew Porter.

High quality ensemble playing, as warm as the early evening air, permeated the immersive acoustic of the evocative surroundings; the fanfare ‘A Salute to Painting’ providing a finely judged opening - its stature bold and imperial.

Absorbing experience

Following its recent world premiere by Tredegar at Llandaff Cathedral in Cardiff, the ensemble was joined by a quintet from the Welsh band for ‘Spem in Alium’ - the 40 ‘voices’ astutely amended from Chris Davies’ brass band arrangement to accommodate personal from all four Household Division Bands and guests. 

Positioned throughout the nave, the stereo effect, full of nuanced dissonance and emerging, intertwining lines that glowed with subtle intensity, made for an absorbing experience - the music building to a glorious, emotive climax. 

Gabrieli’s delicate ‘Sonata Piane’ Forte’ and Dowland’s cheery ‘Air and Dances’ were performed with accomplished polish - the personnel showcasing precise, lightened technique to give the music its required clarity, whilst the MD kept the pulse flowing without ever losing its sense of cultured poise.

Positioned throughout the nave, the stereo effect, full of nuanced dissonance and emerging, intertwining lines that glowed with subtle intensity, made for an absorbing experience - the music building to a glorious, emotive climax. 

Exuberant intent

To close, a rather rambunctious excerpt glimpse of Mussorgsky’s famous ‘Pictures at an Exhibition’; played with stylish, if occasionally exuberant intent. 

The quality of the individual contributions was marked - even if the odd blob of pigment occasionally dropped a Jackson Pollack moment onto the canvas; the mysterious ‘Catacombs’ and pecking viciousness of ‘Baba Yaga’ leading into a well judged ‘Great Gate’ that only occasionally displayed a squeaky hinge or two.  

The tasty 'Tahiti Trot’ encore whetted the lips for a cool post-concert snifter - the performers deserving of an extra round or two for a concert of classy musicality.

Iwan Fox

Support us for less than a cup of coffee...

4BR wants to ensure that the brass band movement remains vibrant and relevant. We also want to be able to question, challenge and critically examine those who run and play in it, producing high quality journalism that informs as well as entertains our readers.

So if like us you value a strong, independent perspective on the brass band world - then why not consider becoming a supporter and help make our future and that of a burgeoning brass band movement more secure.

So one less cappuccino then?

Support us    



Brass Bands England - Brass Band Week

Saturday 5 July • Nation wide


Besses Boys' Band - Besses Boys' Band Summer Concert

Saturday 5 July • The Derby High School, Radcliffe Rd, Bury BL9 9NH


Putney and Wimbledon Brass Band - Summer Concert

Sunday 6 July • Community Church Putney, Werter Road. SW15 2LL


Longridge Band - Anniversary Concert

Saturday 12 July • Longridge Civic Hall, 1 Calder Avenue, Longridge, Preston PR3 3HT


Haverhill Silver Band - Proms Concert - St Ives

Saturday 12 July • Hill Rise Park, St Ives PE27 6SP


Concert Brass Poynton

July 4 • Concert Brass Poynton: No Contesting - Not a learners Band. Rehearse on Wednesday Evenings between 8.00 to 10.00pm (short comfort break). We seek a front row cornet and a Tenor Horn and A Tenor Trombone and Bass Trom too..


Ocean Brass

July 4 • Ocean Brass are inviting applications for a kit player, as we prepare for an exciting schedule of concerts and contests in the second section through 2025 and beyond! We rehearse Thursdays 8pm-10pm, Banister Park Bowls Club, Southampton, SO50 9HT


Haverhill Silver Band

July 3 • Haverhill Silver Band (championship section) seeks a PRINCIPAL CORNET. This is a superb opportunity to lead East Anglia's premier brass band on the concert and contest stage (including the Senior Cup and Whit Friday).


Stephen Tighe

ARCM, LDBBA, (Dip)PFS.
Adjudicator / Music Director / Arranger


               

 © 2025 4barsrest.com Ltd