2005 World of Brass Gala Concert

BAYV Band, Dr Robert Childs
Reg Vardy Band, Ray Farr
Guest Soloist: Alan Morrison
The Sage, Gateshead
Saturday 19th November

When introducing the judges for Sunday's contest, host Frank Renton reminded the audience that Stan Lippeatt was Grimethorpe's flugel player when they performed ‘The Good, The Bad and The Ugly' around twenty years ago at the Granada Band of the Year Contest.

Saturday's Gala Concert was the appetizer to Sunday and to be honest, it had some good, some bad and (instead of ugly) indifferent moments about it that the organisers will no doubt have observed and would have given them food for thought for next year.

The good definitely came from BAYV Band under Dr Robert Childs, whilst the bad was that the hall was no more than a third full. The indifferent came with the choice of programmes performed by BAYV and especially Reg Vardy.

You suspected those who'd travelled to Gateshead for Sunday anticipated that Saturday's concert would feature items by the bands that were to be performed at the contest.  How right they were, but only David Danford and BAYV in ‘Tongs and Bones' had really been aired as to be given a premiere. The rest was in the event mostly what both bands had prepared for the contest the next day. You can't really fault them for that – as it gave both bands a chance to try out their programmes on stage, but it left you feeling a little short changed nonetheless.

The reason why the turn out was lower than expected may have been due to the fact that the concert was not the only one taking place in the area either. Grimethorpe and Sellers weren't too far away from Gateshead on the night, so the paying public may have been a bit selective where they had chosen to go and listen.
 
A solution for future years could be to ask the previous year's winners to perform the Gala Concert the night before with a pre-requisite not to perform their programme in full for the following day.  Giving the concert over to this years winners Grimethorpe would just about ensure that the hall would be full anyway, but if a discount was offered (10% perhaps) for the Saturday night on the premise you purchase for Sunday, the hall could just about be guaranteed to be full – and isn't that what everyone wants?

BAYV took the opportunity to run through their programme for Sunday morning, (two performances in under 15 hours as some timekeeper noted) although they started with a fine performance of Sir Dean Goffin's ‘Rhapsody in Brass' that was dedicated it to the memory of his wife, Lady Majorie who died recently. 

Of particular interest though was the World Premiere of ‘Tongs and Bones' by Derek Bourgeois performed by David Danford.  Commissioned jointly by the Welsh Arts and BAYV, this music is typical of the composer, with a somber opening, that party feel that he portrays so well, before concluding in a ‘tongue firmly in cheek' style.  The soloist did superbly well moving around the various instruments and seemed quite at home with the music that will appeal to fellow percussionists as much as it did to the audience. It was a welcome and different major solo spotlight and congratulations to the performance from the soloist.

As mentioned previously, the remainder of BAYV's programme was that performed in the contest on the Sunday.  The undoubted highlight was David Childs' performance of ‘Benedictus' from ‘The Armed Man' by Karl Jenkins.  David's father, Bob spoke with so much warmth and appreciation of his son's talents and how he is opening up new avenues for the euphonium, and he wasn't wrong.  Saturday's performance was class but David lifted the same piece up a notch or two higher on the Sunday morning – just jaw dropping stuff. 

The remainder of the programme (‘Toccata in F', ‘Liberty Bell', ‘Hora Staccato', ‘Finale' from ‘Firebird Suite') was very much on a par with what was to be heard the following day. It was great playing indeed, but knowing that it really being used as a run through left you feeling more than a little disappointed.
 
Reg Vardy appeared with Guest Soloist Alan Morrison in the second half, and it's fair to say both band and soloist were not on top form.  Alan's major contribution was Ernest Tomlinson's ‘Cornet Concerto' and it certainly wasn't the Alan Morrison that took the ‘Best Cornet' award at the contest the next day for sure. There seemed to be a very tenuous link between soloist and band at times and as a result the tempos sounded stilted and dislocated and the middle section lacked flow. There were some breathtaking moments, but far too many insecurities that were enhanced by that break in connection between performer and ensemble.

‘Somewhere Over The Rainbow', rapidly becoming Alan's signature piece, was more like it however - beautifully executed.

The band and conductor also took the opportunity to perform ‘Flight' by Philip Wilby, originally written for flugel player, Mark Walters, but this time performed on the electronic violin by Dr Mieko Kanno.  Sadly, amplifier problems before hand detracted from the soloists performance and even on her second attempt you sensed her unease that the technical gremlins would return.

‘Peel Park' and ‘The Red Machine' were the two other offerings that would be heard on Sunday from Reg Vardy, before closing with ‘Sabre Dance'.

'Peel Park' was a mess – taken at too fast a tempo and overblown to boot and the bass trombone player seemed intent on parting his MD's hair – as he was standing directly in front of Ray Farr and blasting it out like a jet engine. It was not good to listen to. ‘The Red Machine' was also scrappy and overblown too, and at the time you did wonder how on earth the band were going to come anywhere near the prizes the next day if they played like this.

Thankfully for them, Ray Farr must have taken them aside and given out a real roasting as the next day they sounded 100% better – much more compact and balanced.

The final ‘Sabre Dance' was well choreographed but was once more a bit of a free for all in terms of tempo and dynamics, although the crowd liked it.  It gave things an up-beat finish, but it was a crying shame the whole evening didn't leave those in attendance with that same sort of feeling.

Malcolm Wood

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