Brackley opened this super concert with the aptly named ‘The Home of Legends’ - its rousing opening fanfare theme setting the scene for the Besson euphonium star to take to the stage. 

‘Neath The Dublin Skies’ allowed him to immediately showcase his technical skills, whilst ‘In Gardens of Peace’ was a wonderful example of warm tonal lyricism.

The first half also included ‘The Path to Peace’, ‘Marching Onward’ and ‘Procession to Covenant’ before closing with the colourful ‘Farandole’ from ‘L’Arlesienne’. 

Electrifying

The second half opened with ‘Pastime with Good Company’ followed by ‘Guardian of My Soul’, before Steven returned to perform ‘Carnival of Venice’ and ‘The Song of the Birds’. 

The band then performed ‘Backdraft’ before Micah joined Steven in an electrifying performance of the euphonium duet 'Timepiece' by Norman Bearcroft.

This was a performance with rich provenance – a reprise of a concert appearance 27 years previous with Micah’s father Geoffrey joining a youthful Steve in a concert with Coventry City Salvation Army Band.

This was a performance with rich provenance – a reprise of a concert appearance 27 years previous with Micah’s father Geoffrey joining a youthful Steve in a concert with Coventry City Salvation Army Band.

Vigour

Two movements of ‘Pearls’ by Roland Szentpali gave Steve the opportunity to show just why he remains a performer eager to expand the repertoire of the instrument; giving a phenomenal rendition with its strong electronic jazz influences.

‘Thrift Shop’ was the final band item - all hip-hop fun and games, before the Stowe School musicians joined for the massed band items; the first, ‘Under Two Flags’ with its references to ‘Rule Britannia’, ‘Men of Harlech’, ‘Bluebells of Scotland’ and ‘God Save The Queen’, and ‘Pound The Streets’ which was literally thumped out with perfect youthful vigour.

The finale was ‘Lincolnshire Poacher’, which got everyone clapping along to round off a tremendous concert in fine style.

Nick Wilson