Dobcross Band 130th Anniversary Concert

Conductors: Dennis Hadfield and Les Beevers
Compere: Ian Gibson
Uppermill Civic Hall
Friday 4th November

The Dobcross Band has been celebrating one hundred and thirty years in existence with associated events during this year, and this concert brought those celebrations to a close with a night of nostalgia.

Players connected with the band down the years reformed for the occasion, whilst the current Dobcross Band produced the lion's share of the music.  The ‘reunion' Band though deserves nothing but praise for their efforts (on limited rehearsal as well) with a reminder of how band concerts used to be when they were in their pomp.

Under former MD, Les Beevers, they opened up with (most appropriately) ‘Old Comrades' , with the band commencing the march before the conductor was on the stage; the tempo's, dynamic contrast had a feel of how the MD had played marches under the likes of Walter Hargreaves, James Scott and Derek Broadbent to name just three in his playing days, and the ex Brighouse stalwart was about to demonstrate how to get the best out of the ensemble in front of him - attention to detail, clear and precise gestures with the minimal amount of movement.

Derek Ashmore's delightful, ‘Pastarole' was almost effortless in its execution with some beautiful dynamics and ‘Light Cavalry' was like a trip down memory lane when orchestral transcriptions formed a major part of any band's programme.

After the current band's spot, the old band, many of whom are now retired from full time banding retuned to feature former British Open Solo Champions, Angelo Bearpark and Dave Morris in ‘Ida & Dot', a chance for a sing-song in ‘Calamity Jane', Sullivan's ‘Lost Chord', that had class all the way through (and it was the perfect example of how bands can perform quietly; concerns expressed by the 4BR Editor in June of this year) before finishing things off with the ‘Heroic March' from Epic Symphony and the encore, the ‘Can-Can'.

In between these two spots, the current band took to the stage under Dennis Hadfield with a programme that was ‘in your face' a little bit too much.  Looking at the pieces played, you suspected that the band is gearing its projection of sound to the Royal Concert Hall in Glasgow in three weeks time and the Scottish Open, which is fine, but this was Uppermill Civic Hall where the acoustic is completely different. 

Preparation for the future is important, but it's all about tailoring the programme for the night in question and in hindsight, perhaps it could have been constructed differently.

Andy Duncan's arrangement of ‘Lawrence of Arabia' was a purposeful opening number giving plenty for the percussion team to do (that included Dave Wycherley, depping from Fodens), before the pace continued with an up-tempo ‘Sing, Sing, Sing'. 

The first soloist from the band was flugel player, David Moore, who performed the popular, but considerably overplayed, ‘Children of Sanchez'.  David is studying at Chethams in Manchester and has produces a wonderful sound and on this showing, has a bright future within the movement.  His solo playing was the individual highlight of the night, but the accompaniment was a touch forceful at times, whilst Christina Saunders seemed very much at ease in ‘The Piper of Dundee'.

Three flugels joined the trombones in a lovely arrangement of ‘Sunshine of My Life' that provided some lovely ensemble playing.  Andy Duncan's ‘A Manchester Tale' would have been an appropriate item to close their spot with, but after Christina's solo, Carl Davis' challenging ‘Galaxies'  was just a little too much on the ear after what had gone previously.

Dobcross Band is one of a number of bands who have players and conductors well known within the banding world; its commitment and dedication to the movement is such, that the Youth and Junior Bands are an integral part of the whole set up, and like many other bands, they have numerous ‘un-sung heroes' without whose help the running of the bands wouldn't have been possible. This was a night to pay tribute to them; a chance for old friends to reminisce on days gone by and to celebrate one hundred and thirty years of music making.  It was a night that they won't forget in a hurry.

Malcolm Wood

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