*
banner

World of Dance

Household Division Music Festival 2019
Band of the Irish Guards
Conductors: Captain Craig Bywater & WO2 Jon Rockey
Guards Chapel
London
Wednesday 26th June

The Band of the Irish Guards pulled out all the stops for their 'World of Dance' programme with a woodwind section that included Eb and contrabass clarinets, cor anglais and two bassoons. 

They opened with Prokofiev's striking 'Montagues & Capulets', followed by 'Dance Macabre' in a new arrangement by Rodney Newton, who was present to hear its first performance. More modern harmonies were employed in 'Danceries', reworking traditional dance tunes.

Msn Gareth Trott was the featured soloist in 'Dance Zeibekikos' from Philip Wilby's 'Euphonium Concerto', coping manfully with its considerable demands – although we did miss the breaking plates at the end!

Colourful score

Samuel Hazo's 'Solas Ane' was a new setting of Irish music, with an effective duet between piccolo and bass clarinet in a very colourful score, followed by 'Shamrock Shore', which introduced three pipers as well as marking the first appearance of the contrabass clarinet. 

The first half closed with 'Breakout' from 'Cry of the Celts', enhanced by a keyboard standing in for the marimba, and young dancer Aoife Phelan, who enchanted the audience with her contributions.

The lively 'Dance of the Tumblers' opened the second half, leading into Peter Graham's 'Cossack Wedding Dance', featuring the alto sax.

More exotic sounds followed with the introduction of a recently-formed folk ensemble. The combination of five woodwind, violin, keyboard and drums presented contrasting sounds from Ethiopia, Ottoman Empire and Albania.

More exotic sounds followed with the introduction of a recently-formed folk ensemble. The combination of five woodwind, violin, keyboard and drums presented contrasting sounds from Ethiopia, Ottoman Empire and Albania.

Improvised

Samuel Hazo's 'Arabesque' displayed many elements of the Middle East, with an improvised opening, a wedding dance and a closing chorale, with flute to the fore. Etienne Crausaz's 'Balkan Dance' was much more intricate, with irregular metres, complex rhythms and solos for trombone, trumpet, tenor and alto saxes and clarinet.

The pipers returned for 'The Gael', which featured Sgt Helen Betteridge on violin. She was also one of the soloists in 'Riverdance', alongside soprano sax and two drummers and the return of dancer Aoife, this time employing her tap-dancing skills. 

'The Minstrel Boy' also highlighted violin and antiphonal drums, before an enjoyable concert closed with 'The Music Makers' and 'St Patrick's Day'.

Peter Bale

Support us for less than a cup of coffee...

4BR wants to ensure that the brass band movement remains vibrant and relevant. We also want to be able to question, challenge and critically examine those who run and play in it, producing high quality journalism that informs as well as entertains our readers.

So if like us you value a strong, independent perspective on the brass band world - then why not consider becoming a supporter and help make our future and that of a burgeoning brass band movement more secure.

So one less cappuccino then?

Support us    



Brass Bands England - Brass Band Week

Saturday 5 July • Nation wide


Besses Boys' Band - Besses Boys' Band Summer Concert

Saturday 5 July • The Derby High School, Radcliffe Rd, Bury BL9 9NH


Putney and Wimbledon Brass Band - Summer Concert

Sunday 6 July • Community Church Putney, Werter Road. SW15 2LL


Longridge Band - Anniversary Concert

Saturday 12 July • Longridge Civic Hall, 1 Calder Avenue, Longridge, Preston PR3 3HT


Haverhill Silver Band - Proms Concert - St Ives

Saturday 12 July • Hill Rise Park, St Ives PE27 6SP


Concert Brass Poynton

July 4 • Concert Brass Poynton: No Contesting - Not a learners Band. Rehearse on Wednesday Evenings between 8.00 to 10.00pm (short comfort break). We seek a front row cornet and a Tenor Horn and A Tenor Trombone and Bass Trom too..


Ocean Brass

July 4 • Ocean Brass are inviting applications for a kit player, as we prepare for an exciting schedule of concerts and contests in the second section through 2025 and beyond! We rehearse Thursdays 8pm-10pm, Banister Park Bowls Club, Southampton, SO50 9HT


Haverhill Silver Band

July 3 • Haverhill Silver Band (championship section) seeks a PRINCIPAL CORNET. This is a superb opportunity to lead East Anglia's premier brass band on the concert and contest stage (including the Senior Cup and Whit Friday).


Alan Fernie

DRSAM, Dip.NCOS
Arranger, composer, adjudicator, conductor


               

 © 2025 4barsrest.com Ltd