Black Dyke Band and ISB

150th Anniversary Concert
Supported by World of Brass
Conductors: Dr Nicholas J Childs and Stephen Cobb
York Minster
Saturday 1st October

If you've just won the British Open for the first time in a decade and with the defence of your National title just around the corner, any top class band could excused for being a little pre-occupied.

That's certainly the case at Black Dyke at the moment, but despite the sport of contesting, this concert in the splendour of York Minster was the second ‘major' concert of the year (the other being in Manchester in June) that paid homage to the band's 150th Anniversary.

On this occasion, Black Dyke were joined by the International Staff Band of the Salvation Army under Bandmaster Stephen Cobb for a night of double celebrations – it was their first UK engagement after the British Open weekend, with the pride of having the European, Open and National trophies on display visible to everyone.

This was also reflected in the band's individual contributions to the night not just having that celebratory feel about them, but a real sense of swagger too; no more so than in the opening march, ‘Queensbury' that included some delightful cornet playing from Roger Webster.

Shostakovich's ‘Festive Overture' was polished off in the blink of an eye with plenty of detail to be heard if you were close enough.  Within the Minster itself some of the detail was lost to those who were sat a distance away from the stage – mind you, you can hardly blame the architects for not making the old place a bit more user friendly for a brass band when it was being built nearly a thousand years ago!

However, modern technology was used to help those who were sat with either a restrictive view and/or away from the band, by screens either side making sure they never lost any of the atmosphere.

Two items within Dyke's segment demonstrated what a magnificent acoustic York Minster has though.  Firstly, the sound of Roger Webster's cornet was sensitively heard in Giulio Caccini's ‘Ave Maria' including some delicate soprano playing from Peter Roberts, before the popular ‘Deep Harmony' (complete with that famous Dyke bass sound that has been a feature of the band for years, in between verses) which was dedicated to the Pondashers in attendance, as well as stirring numerous souls amongst the sixteen hundred people seated in the vast precinct of the Minster.  

Brett Baker's persuasive interpretation of ‘Annie Laurie' was followed by an invigorating rendition of ‘Pines of Rome', bringing Dyke's individual contributions to a close.

For those that hadn't learnt about Black Dyke's new book compiled by Dr Roy Newsome, they got an insight into how it all came about from the author courtesy of Nicholas Childs' questions.  This kept the audience entertained whilst the adjustments to the stage were made.

When the ISB performed, their programme maintained the ‘celebratory' theme under Bandmaster Stephen Cobb. Leslie Condon's lively march, ‘Celebration', composed to mark the seventy-fifth anniversary of the band a few years ago, included some fine work from Kevin Ashman on principal cornet. 

In complete contrast was Himes' ‘Cause for Celebration' which includes musical references to the ‘Old Hundreth' and ‘He Found Me'.  All of these items were an indication that Dyke's counterparts for the night were in good form, and all those within the band, that's taken from nearly five hundred SA bands around the UK, cherish the experience and the honour that's bestowed upon.
 
They may have had the odd personnel change recently (the most high profile being the Trevor Caffull's decision to step down from his Bb bass position after fifteen years) but the replacements are of the highest quality and all have knitted into the band with ease. The sound of the ISB, is without doubt lighter in character than Black Dyke, but the balance and the sense of warmth is no less immediate. 

The band brought its set to a conclusion with Downie's ‘King of Heaven' featuring the well-known hymn tune, ‘Praise my Soul, the King of Heaven'; a composition that give various sections of the band to showcase their talents.

The significance of performing for Black Dyke in this historic year, the level of performance on the contest and contest stage isn't lost on any of the players or the conductor.  An example of this was in evidence when the most anticipated item of the whole evening finally arrived.  Dr Nicholas Childs could hardly contain his excitement at the prospect of listening to four great Black Dyke euphonium legends' perform together.

Resplendent in uniforms from their respective ‘Dyke eras', Robert Childs, John Clough and Denzil Stephens were joined by the current incumbent of the hot seat, David Thornton to perform ‘How Great Thou Art' conducted by that other legend of Dyke euphonium players – Geoffrey Whitham.

Between them, they have CVs of winning titles that just take the breath away and to hear them play together – it was just fabulous, absolutely fabulous.  Whilst James Morrison's contribution to Dyke's Bridgewater Hall concert in June was savoured by those present, this trip down memory lane (nor the quality of the playing) won't be forgotten either.  It was reminiscent of the four ‘cornet legends' who graced the British Bandsman Centenary Concert in 1987.

That moment of nostalgia was part of the massed bands finale that included another Downie offering in the form of a tribute to Wilfred Heaton, the whole cornet section in a tranquil rendition of Ronnie Binge's' ‘Cornet Carillon' whilst David Thornton, the current holder of the Stanley Wainwright Memorial Trophy from the British Open gave a virtuoso performance of ‘Theme and Variations' (Rossini arr. Brennan).

The night's proceeding's came to a conclusion with Himes' ‘Procession to the Covenant' followed by a meditative performance of ‘Crimond'; a most appropriate way to bring the night to its conclusion in the setting of York Minster.

Malcolm Wood

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