Salute to Youth

National Youth Brass Band of New Zealand, conducted by Kenneth Young, guest soloist John Lewis, Marlborough Centre, Blenheim, New Zealand, Friday 27th January, 2006.

Right from the first note of the appropriate and popular opening number "Blenheim Flourishes" (James Curnow) we could tell this was a well disciplined band; tight ensemble work and well directed by maestro Young.

This group of musicians (all under 23 years) had only been together for six days and in that time recorded a CD in Wellington. This concert was the first of a short tour of the top of the South Island ending in Greymouth.

The second item was "Spring" (Grieg arr Pat Ryan) a highlight was the safe playing of Principal Cornet, Anthony Smith, and sweet sound of Soprano Cornet Katie Blair. The band was nicely in tune. Following this was the first of the New Zealand compositions featured. "Down the Brunner Mine" (Anthony Ritchie) was commissioned by Helen Aldridge, then the musical director of Evening Post Onslow Brass Band of Wellington. Some fine playing was to be heard, particularly in the lower register for the front row cornet team.

The guest soloist was the recently returned cornet player, John Lewis, of Dunedin. John has been in the UK playing for the Brighouse and Rastrick Band as Assistant Principal Cornet. He certainly proved that his professionalism and melodic style have been enhanced by the time he spent in England. "Slavische Fantasy" was immaculately played at the highest level with sensitive accompaniment from the band.

In 1988, the late Peter Zwartz commissioned Ken Young to compose a major piece for the Evening Post Onslow Brass Band. "Enchanted Dance Hall" was the result and is a depiction of the many and varied events, and sounds, that might have happened in this old hall. It includes a charming series of dances, some slow and melancholic, others boisterous and irreverent. The playing was very secure throughout and the band obviously enjoyed playing a piece by their director.

The second half began with another major piece, and what better than an Eric Ball epic – "Journey into Freedom". This is not an easy piece but the detail came through and all soloists shone. It was well directed by Young with some lovely sounds from the horn section.

"Shenandoah" (Mid all the Traffic) was the warm down into John Lewis' "My Love Is Like a Red Red Rose".  This was shaped beautifully by Lewis with faultless production. "El Cumbunchero" was a lighter piece to end John's contribution for the evening.

The middle movement of "Cross Patonce – The Sweet Shepardess" (Goff Richards) was well controlled but tiredness did show through a little. The cornet section feature of "Hora Staccata" (Goff Richards) is an old chestnut that the crowd always love and the players rose to the occasion. The final piece, "Dancing Fever" (Kenneth Downie) shows off all the sections and we were impressed – a stunning finish to a most entertaining concert. It was only fitting that the audience rose to their feet for a standing ovation – well deserved. Encores were "Londonderry Air" (arr Kenneth Young) and "Sweet Georgia Brown" (Goff Richards) and the audience clapped the band off the stage. Our fine young ambassadors worked hard and professionally, learning valuable musical lessons from the best tutors, team work and the pressures of touring.

Some of these items will be included in the upcoming CD and we look forward to a quality recording.

Well done to Marlborough District Brass in promoting the concert. They should be proud of an audience of 400 at this time of the year.

You can pre-order the CD by contacting the BBANZ office: http://www.brassnz.co.nz

Kevin Dell and Owen Melhuish

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