Rhythm and Brass - A musical feast for the senses

Rhythm and Brass - the Gala Concert after the Australian National Band Championsips - was a sumptuous feast for the senses.

2006 Australian National Championships Gala Concert, sponsored by Yamaha Music Australia.

What a stunning way to celebrate the Australian Championships! The Gala Concert on Sunday evening, 16th April, 2006 was a feast for the senses. A star lineup, headed by percussionist extraordinaire Simone Rebello, gave the 1,000-strong audience a spectacular evening of "Rhythm and Brass".

The concert was held in the stunning main auditorium of the Brisbane City Hall. This unique, heritage-listed building, was constructed in the 1920's and has been an icon of the city ever since. The world-class facility was also the main venue for the A Grade and B Grade brass events.

Brisbane City Hall at night

To commence the evening at 7.30pm, and in honour of the presence of the Governor of Queensland, Her Excellency Ms Quentin Bryce AC (who is also the Patron of the Queensland Band Association), the massed bands of Dalewool Auckland Brass, Brisbane Excelsior Band and Osaka Harmony Brass played an abridged version of the Australian National Anthem. This alone was an exhilarating performance - and the concert hadn't even commenced. This was followed by a didgeridoo solo by Stephen Bond (I'll never understand how anyone can circular breathe!)

The concert opened with Dalewool Auckland Brass in stunning form playing Peter Graham's Gaelforce. This Irish-inspired piece in three movements was energetic, and featured 2006 Open Champion of Champions Mason Elliot on flugel in the middle movement.

The band contnued with a stirring rendition of Selections from Harry Potter (arr Steve Sykes) before Simone Rebello took the stage for the first of her solo numbers - Summer Storm - on the big Yamaha marimba. This was a captivating solo performance accompanied by Dalewool. The piece is based on Summer from Vivaldi's The Four Seasons.

This was followed by Flying Mallets, which was a very exciting, artistic and expressive performance on both the xylophone and marimba.

Dalewool continued their set with a gorgeous and uplifting performance of I'll Walk with God, which was dedicated to the wife of a Dalewool band member - Margaret Needham. This was just beautiful playing. It was interesting to note that adjudicators Garry Cutt and Simone Rebello, together with banding icon Bryan Hurdley, sat captivated through the performance.

Caravan (Duke Ellington, arr Steve Sykes) was next on the menu, and this was a top number, featuring terrific solos from Dave Wright (trombone) and harmon muted solo cornet (Andrew Large) - with a big fat band sound (the duke would have been proud!)

To round out their part of the concert, MD Nigel Weeks and the Dalewool Band performed the classic Wagner composition from Lohengrin, Procession to the Cathedral (arr Howard Snell). The solos were sublime, with particular note of the stunning soprano playing by Kay McKenzie. The audience was captivated by this piece. Euphoniums and baritones were stunning, and there was exhilarating playing from soprano, flugel, trombone and Andy Williams on tenor horn.

Following the interval, special guests Osaka Harmony Brass took to the stage. It was an absolute treat to have this band with us in Australia. Okamoto-san and his musicians were courteous and respectful ambassadors and brought a disciplined dimension to the contest that was both refreshing and inspiring.

Osaka commenced their bracket with Harmony in Brass (Goff Richards). This was a great sound, and the band had a lot of fun. The trombones in particular were a highlight.

A special composition followed entitled Furusato, which translated means Home Town in my Heart. This piece by Teiichi Okano (arr Hiroshi Yamagishi) had a lovely cornet solo by principal cornet player, Etsuyo Ueda.

Osaka was then joined by special guest, Simone Rebello, to perform Hora Staccato (Dinicu). This was just stunning on the big Yamaha marimba. The band, too, was very sensitive to Simone's virtuosic playing.

Simone Rebello at the big Yamaha marimba with Osaka Harmony Brass

Simone Rebello then followed up with Badinerie (Bach), and this was also a delightful performance which demonstrated her technical mastery of tuned percussion.

Simone Rebello at the Yamaha vibes

One of the beautiful memories of this concert was the way that Osaka Harmony Brass engaged and connected with the audience. Their next item, the 1960's pop hit Sukiyaki, was simple, yet moving, particularly as the band sang in Japanese to the audience. This moment was the absolute highlight for me, as it was delivered with intimacy and heartfelt thanks to the Australian banding movement who had hosted them for the week. The dynamic contrast had the audience enthralled. Arigato gozai-mas!

Osaka Harmony Brass singing - a beautiful moment!

March! March! (Bin Kaneda) was in very bright style. Cornets and trombones were very tight and Naoko Ozaki on soprano was outstanding.

As a sign of respect to their Australian hosts, Osaka Harmony Brass finished their set with the popular Gordon Langford arrangement of Waltzing Matilda. This was played with style and flair. Thank you Osaka Harmony Brass for sharing your music with us at the Australian National Band Championshps.

To keep the momentum between the bands, the Queensland Conservatorium Griffith University Trombone Ensemble, under the direction of world-renowned composer/trombonist Bill Broughton (if you didn't know, he has many Hollywood credits), performed a special arrangement by Bill Broughton of Australian Fantasy No 1 for Trombone Twelvetette (although there were thirteen on stage - come on - who doubled up?) This arrangment included Click Go the Shears, Bound for South Australia and Waltzing Matilda, all done a la Hollywood trombones!

Bill Broughton and the Queensland Conservatorium Griffith University Trombone Ensemble

Newly-crowned Australian Champions, Brisbane Excelsior Band, then took to the stage. The band commenced with Jubilee (Paul Drury). This rousing circus style march was electric - technically brilliant and very stylish.

After Stingray (Barry Gray, arr Sandy Smith), Howard Taylor and XLCR welcomed back Simone Rebello to play Zimba Zamba (Goff Richards) on the marimba. Again, Simone was in stunning form.

Brisbane Excelsior continued with Such Love (Graham Kendrick):
Such Love
Pure as the whitest snow
Such Love
Weeps for the shame I know
Such Love

This was extremely expressive, with gorgeous cornet playing by Paula Russell.

A cheeky little interjection was The Muppets (arr Phillip Harper). Actually, one could have thought that PolySteel Band from the UK was on stage for a brief moment, as the animation was uncannily similar to their on-stage antics!

Another real highlight of the concert (and a particular favourite of Helen Hoy's) was All the Things You Are (Oscar Hammerstein and Jerome Kern), which featured the quartet of Ash Gittins, Riki McDonnell, Brad Hosking and Julie Woods. What a fantastic, entertaining piece and the band again in stunning form.

One could have heard a pin drop as Simone Rebello played unaccompanied, the very sensitive and moving A Little Prayer (Evelyn Glennie). This was just spellbinding!

A stage and screen spectacular, West Side Story (Leonard Bernstein), came to the Brisbane City Hall, complete with dancers. The combination of dancers and band was captivating, although at times a little distracting as coordination wasn't always spot on. This was, however, a bold highlight in the concert, and XLCR Band played with the style that Bernstein intended - big and brassy, and tender when required.

West Side Story

The 2006 Australian Nationals Gala Concert - Rhythm and Brass - was an outstanding success. The 1,000-strong audience was captivated throughout.

As an encore, Simone Rebello playing the xylophone was joined by Brisbane Excelsior Band for Helter Skelter. This was just superb and a terrific number to round out a top night of brass band entertainment.

Congratulations to the producer, Pam Schryver; compere Jason Barry-Smith and designer Paula Russell. Thank you to Yamaha Music Australia (for the provision of percussion) and all of the musicians of Dalewool Auckland Brass, Osaka Harmony Brass and Brisbane Excelsior Band.

Chris Bowman

^back to top