The National Youth Brass Band of Wales rounded off their annual course with a trio of concerts in Neath, Newtown and here at the Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama – a venue that many on stage may well become more familiar with in the coming years if they choose to focus specifically on their brass banding education.
Working under the baton of Philip Harper certainly inspired them to provide a fine concert; the Cory MD drawing out confident individual and ensemble playing throughout – especially with the brace of major test-piece works.
Unblemished aura
‘Resurgam’ retains an unblemished aura despite its familiarity; and it was one that was maintained by a passionate performance enhanced by refined solo interventions and a sense of building drama that led to peaceful subsidence and tender tranquillity.
And whilst the technical demands of Philip Wilby’s ‘The New Jerusalem’ occasionally cracked its more earthly tabernacle, the growing fervour and triumphant affirmation of prophetic faith was captured with bold resolution - aided by the outstanding solo playing of principal cornet Owain Llestyn Thomas.
Elsewhere, the premiere of Tom Davoren’s ensemble version of ‘Legacy’ - inspired by the founding of the NHS 70 years ago, flowed with intensity - the opening conflict between its founder and those opposed to it evoked by a steady pulse of growing necessity.
‘Resurgam’ retains an unblemished aura despite its familiarity; and it was one that was maintained by a passionate performance enhanced by refined solo interventions and a sense of building drama that led to peaceful subsidence and tender tranquillity.
Majestic
Guest soloist Daniel Thomas was a majestic soloist; all lean musical muscularity in the Golland ‘Euphonium Concerto’ with its opening echoes of Peter Yorke’s ‘Shipbuilders Suite’, before he shaped such elegant phrasing in the MD’s ‘In the Garden of Peace’ to contrast with the staggering pyrotechnics of the old pot boiler ‘Endearing Young Charms’. His future musical ambitions seem limitless.
With the neat march ‘The Spaceman’, a warmly textured ‘Myfanwy’ and an intoxicating rendition of ‘East Meets West’ that was only missing a whiff of saffron to transport us from Cardiff to Calcutta, it was left to an equally colourful encore of ‘Balkan Dance’ to send the full house audience to its feet in appreciation of a highly enjoyable Sunday afternoon treat.
Iwan Fox
