The Trumpets of the Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra

Huddersfield University Brass Band,
Conductor: Phillip McCann
Wednesday 18th January
St Paul’s Hall
Huddersfield

Opportunities to hear the sound of Martin Winter perform these days are a rarity with the talented brass virtuoso now being based overseas.   Martin is well-known to the brass band idiom of course having performed with numerous bands, and whether you listen to him live or on a recording, he rarely disappoints.

Martin was part of the trumpet section from the Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra whose sound rang out in St. Paul's Hall, Huddersfield, where they shared an evening of contemporary music with the Huddersfield University Brass Band, conducted by Phillip McCann.

Martin was joined by Gary Peterson, Allan Withington (who is a talented brass player never mind MD) and Jon Behncke who all performed a programme that was challenging, both for them as musicians and for the audience, which it has to be said, was a little disappointing. 

In all honesty, you had sympathy for the University Band and their Norwegian guests who had invested a lot of time and effort in putting the concert together, yet despite a contingent from Brighouse who came to listen to their former MD, for some unknown reason, people weren't persuaded to attend on a night when there wasn't much going on elsewhere.

David Cleary's ‘Bilbies II' featured the players standing with their backs to the audience before turning 180 degrees to perform contrasting musical statements. The quartet then played one of five ‘Fanfares for the Uncommon Woman' composed by Joan Tower.

Stefano Scodanibbio's ‘Plaza' was wonderfully executed before the most bizarre, but nevertheless extremely skilful piece, of the whole evening – a musical picture of life on ‘The Waltzer'. Secure in harnesses, the four trumpeters ran around the stage blowing into their mouthpieces, which were attached to piping and funnels.  Interesting and enjoyable in equal measure.

Zwillich's ‘Clarino Quartet' provided another opportunity for the audience to hear some fine playing, both collectively and individually, before the final contribution of the night when the trumpeters were joined by Phillip McCann (on cornet) in ‘Fantasia Brasileira' – music that required the quintet to perform in a variety of musical forms.

Prior to this, the University band performed music from the pens of Aagaard-Nilsen and Philip Sparke, whilst current and former players enhanced their own reputations with some fine performances.

Aagaard-Nilsen's ‘New Waves' is composed in the jazz-rock style that is familiar to the band movement and it was performed with confidence by the band, as was the Norwegian's identifiable ‘Arctic Funk'. 

For this reviewer though, the band's finest piece of the evening was Philip Sparke's ‘Between the Two Rivers'. In four continuous movements, the music maintains the theme of ‘Ein Feste Burg', with Phillip McCann bringing the best out of the musicians in the lovely slow third movement and the finale, written in fugue style.

Carolyn Ramsbottom is now a graduate of the University and the flugel horn player from the United Co-op Yorkshire Band was in fine form during her performance of Richard Peaslee's ‘Night Songs', a piece that gives the soloist the opportunity the show both the lyrical and technical sides of the instrument.

Hessica Storey gave an insight into the humour of Gilbert Vinter in ‘Hunters Moon' whilst euphonium soloist, Toni Howden performed ‘Song and Dance' from Wilby's ‘Euphonium Concerto' with the final section really capturing the mood of the music.

The final soloist of the night was cornet player, David Morton, who chose Martin Ellerby's ‘Freewheeling'. This is music performed by unaccompanied soloist, thus giving him complete licence in musical values, dynamics and style. Clearly, on the evidence of this performance, the soloist felt at home with the music, also demonstrating a fine technique throughout.

All in all though, a cracking night's playing from the Students and the Bergen trumpeters – hopefully they will make a return to trip in the near future and get a much bigger audience that they're worthy of receiving.

Malcolm Wood

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