Fairey FP Music Band

Conductor: Major Peter Parkes
Formby Hall
Atherton, Wigan
Sunday October 30th

This Charity concert organised by the rotary club of Worsley was to raise money to alleviate worldwide suffering in so many Third World countries. The concert was a sell out with an audience of over seven hundred packed into this well known north west venue.

To entertain the audience we had one of the countries finest brass bands, the Fairey FP Music Band, under the inimitable direction of Major Peter Parkes who got the evening under way with one of the great marches from the golden years of the movement in ‘Punchinello' by William Rimmer .This had the audience tapping their feet as the band soon got into their stride with a real swagger and compound feel. It was a cracking opener.

The overture ‘Poet and Peasant' may seem to many as a little long in the tooth but when it is played with the freshness and vibrant style as it was this evening it still has that magic about it. The opening was so well shaped by Chris Pannell on solo horn followed by some lovely soprano cornet playing by Becky Crawshaw, whilst the Major certainly let the music flow. The audience loved it.
 
William Himes has a fine pedigree Salvation Army background and has composed many fine works for all types of ensemble, and the bands principal cornet player Steve Wilkinson chose his ‘Jubilance'. This solo calls for stamina, control and great dynamic contrast not just for the soloist but band as well and the end product was one in which all concerned could feel proud. This player certainly has talent and although towards the end it became a little strained, it was a fine performance all the same.

Music from the pen of Faure arranged by Gordon Langford in the stately dance ‘Pavanne' showed the band at its best. Warm ensemble with plenty of detail was a feature of this beautiful music and there were some lively touches both in the ensemble and the lead lines, whilst the ending had a superb control and delicacy.

The bands solo baritone player then thrilled the audience with a sparkling performance of the old favourite ‘Napoli' arranged by Geoffrey Brand. Rob Richardson is a fine player and it was good to hear this instrument getting the spotlight in a real virtuoso performance.

Fairey's horn section of Chris Pannell, Chris Hague and Ian Howarth then performed melody's from the opera in a piece called ‘Trio Con Brio' arranged by Gordon Langford, and it was a piece that had a real fresh and surprising feel to it. Someone likened them to the ‘Three Tenors' although one wag in the band remarked they were more like the ‘Three Fivers'. All joking aside, this was a well played piece with the balance just right between the three soloists and the ensemble.

Ernest Tomlinson's beautiful ‘Little Serenade' followed in exquisite fashion before the first half of a very enjoyable concert ended with music from Russia with the exciting ‘Festive Overture' by  Shostakovich arranged in this form by Peter Kitson This was taken at a fast pace but not at the expense of clarity and the bands technique shone through in a thrilling show. 

The old stomper of a march ‘Florentinier' opened the second half followed by the music of Andrew Lloyd Webber in the superb ‘Pie Jesu' played by Becky Crawshaw on soprano and Mike Eccles on cornet. They complimented each other perfectly in a well shaped performance.

Music from ‘The Mikado' and ‘Pirates of Penzance' were obvious favourites in Gordon Langford's clever and witty ‘Sullivan Fantasy' – it was nice to hear his arrangements so well played on the night – a reminder of a talent now sadly neglected by many bands. It kept the concert moving along before in complete contrast we heard the music of John Williams in the moving ‘Schindler's List'. The band drew out every emotion possible in this very moving music and the tremendous applause spoke for itself.
 
Music from Strauss arranged so cleverly by Howard Snell in ‘Perpetuum Mobile' gave way to the final soloist of the evening when Chris Pannell on solo horn provided a fine rendition of Neil Sedaka's ‘Laughter in the Rain' where the soloist gave the music time and space and produced some fine phrasing in what was not a particularly good arrangement for brass.

The dramatic ‘Pines Of Rome' by Respighi arranged by Howard Snell brought what had been a splendid concert to a close followed by the obvious crowd pleaser ‘Radetsky March' as an encore with the audience joining in – just about in time.

Well done to Fairey's for their playing on the night – they were exemplary, and all the soloists were first rate as well. The audience gave them a rapturous ovation at the end and it was well deserved. Fairey's are back to their best.

David Tinker

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