Sacred, Woolston Brass

New Zealand Community Trust Woolston Brass, conducted by David Gallaher, Christ Church Cathedral, Christchurch, New Zealand, Friday 18th November, 2005.

A feast of sacred music by New Zealand Community Trust Woolston Brass greeted a good audience for the evening of Friday 18th November at the most appropriate, but lively, venue of Christ Church Cathedral in central Christchurch City.

Timed to launch their latest CD entitled "Sacred" and in support of the Christchurch City Mission, the band, under David Gallaher, were in top form. Even with three key players in the audience, all of whom are current National Band members, there was the great depth in this band.

"A Psalm of Praise" (James Curnow) opened the concert with a full band sound, followed by Kenneth Young's popular arrangement of "Abide with Me". Written for his parents 50th wedding anniversary it has some lovely harmonies that demonstrated how well balanced the band is across the sections.

The only soloist for the evening was Principal Horn player Bill Vail playing a standard cornet solo, "Life's Pageant" arranged by young New Zealand composer Grant Pitcher. The venue did not quite do justice to some fine playing and sensitive accompaniment. This piece, on tenor horn anyway, required a dryer acoustic.

The band has played the hymn tune "I know thou art Mine" many times and this was the best playing so far this evening.

Star Soprano player Colin Clark moved to Canterbury this year and along with his wife Amanda they have transferred from the Royal New Zealand Navy Band to the New Zealand Army Band based at Burnham Military Camp. They have both joined Woolston at the same time. Colin has some hidden talents which were exposed this evening. As well as being a world class Soprano Cornet player he premiered his composition "The Battle Within" and also conducted it most professionally. A warm applause was deserved for this piece that has a range of full band and smaller ensemble work with touches of Ray Farr, and featured the hymn tune "Repton" (Dear Lord and Father of Mankind). Also noted during this piece was second cornet player Katie Blair moving to soprano while Colin conducted and his wife Amanda moving to percussion from second cornet. This band has more depth than the Benmore Dam!

"Highly Prized" was another contribution from composer Grant Pitcher. Grant is the Band Master of the Central Band of the Royal New Zealand Air Force in Wellington and wrote this piece following the tragic death of his young child. A lighter piece that has a lot of appeal, welcoming after the more heavy numbers in the concert.

The Euphoniums were featured in the hymn tune "St Clement" (Philip Wilby) with "Laudate Dominum" ending the second half, conducted by deputy conductor Bill Vail. There was lovely tight control and articulation throughout with the trombones showing great confidence and great balance. The Bass team from heaven, led by Phil Johnston, took the honours here in the final section.

The second half began with Wilfred Heaton's "Toccata" – so suited to the venue with front row cornets working particularly well as a team. The Joseph Parry hymn, "Aberystwyth", arranged by Rotorua musician Jim McGregor, was followed by "Hymn to the Fallen" from the movie "Saving Private Ryan".

The major piece in the second half was Eric Ball's "The Kingdom Triumphant", most fitting as we approach Christmas as it includes several tunes such as "O Come Emanuel" and "Lo here he comes with clouds descending" -  both popular Christmas carols for Advent next weekend. Good detailed work was heard here in all three movements.

No concert with this theme is complete without "Crimond" and this band, like no other, performs hymns so well. Finally we enjoyed "Suite Gothique" (Leonard Boellman, arr Eric Ball) with once again controlled and sensitive playing with organ-like tones in places. With a big blow of over 100 minutes of playing – no encore was expected.

The only disappointment was that the band was not raised and it was hard to see many players at all from several rows back.

The echoing acoustics of the Cathedral were handled most sensitively and there was no over blowing.

The CD, "Sacred", is due out any day and will be well worth purchasing for some reflective music and outstanding ensemble work from one of the worlds foremost brass bands, under one of our finest conductors.

Owen Melhuish

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