Brighouse & Rastrick Band

Conductor: Ray Farr
Soloists Alan Morrison & Jonathan Pippen
Durham Brass Band Festival
In association with MUSICON
The Gala Theatre,
Durham
Saturday 17th June

How things change?  It was a couple of years ago that Brighouse & Rastrick performed a programme of music at this festival that didn't meet with the audience's approval.

Then they were expecting the traditional concert; marches, overtures, solo's and that most familiar of Brighouse pieces, The Floral Dance.  When they didn't get it and were given an evening of serious repertoire, they weren't very happy and audibly gave their opinions about what they were listening too.

With plenty of PR from the organisers, Brighouse returned last year to receive a much more favourable response, and the same can be said for 2006. As long as the festival is maintained it seems B & R will appear as artistes, because not only were they in good form here once again, but they displayed real class that was once more enjoyed by a receptive audience.

The choice of repertoire for this concert was a blend of music from days gone by and from more recent times, and whilst the audience did have programmes giving them an insight into the music, it was a shame that there was no real interaction between the MD and audience (apart from the introduction of the soloists). It would have given them an idea why the music was chosen, not to mention giving the band a bit of a breather between items. 

Led once again at this event by Ray Farr, the concert opened with a nicely paced account of John Ireland's ‘Comedy Overture' that was enhanced by excellent solo cornet work by Alan Morrison in the opening sections and a lovely euphonium cadenza by Michael Howley, who was in great form all night. The fine start brought confidence to the band with the ensemble playing being self-assured along with some effective percussion.

Alan Morrison was the first soloist of the night in Dr Denis Wright's ‘Cornet Concerto'. Alan's technique and control of his instrument captivated the audience throughout with the opening two movements almost effortless in their execution.

Having commenced with a classic from the banding repertoire, the first half concluded with another one, Sir Arthur Bliss's ‘Kenilworth'.  Once again, the performance benefited from some fine solo work from Alan Morrison and Michael Howley, not forgetting Nigel Fielding on soprano.

Henze's ‘Ragtimes and Habaneras' takes into account not only the dance steps of the title, but also a Tango, Foxtrot, and a Rumba in 11 short movements, some of which are a touch sinister, but always tuneful and enjoyable with plenty of humour (some of it quite dark).  Brighouse seemed to enjoy the challenges of the work, which was originally written for brass band and performed at the BBC Proms in 1975.

Jonathan Pippen was the band's Principal Trombone between 1998-2000, winning the National, European and All-England Masters titles during that time. The Welshman lapped up ever minute of his performance of ‘Bone Idyll' by Derek Bourgeois with conductor Ray Farr commenting that if he'd known that this was to be Jonathan's only performance in the concert (although he reappeared for the encore) then he'd probably have opted to include a concerto to demonstrate the young man's talents to the full.  Unfortunately though, no further solo contributions were forthcoming

To conclude the concert, the band gave a persuasive reading of Peter Graham's ‘Harrison's Dream'.  The band from West Riding came second on the piece at the All-England Masters in 2004 and they certainly enjoyed the opportunity to perform the work once again.  Ray Farr conducted a performance that was memorable for the delightful playing in the slower movements and a conclusion that nearly took the roof off the Gala Theatre.

In lighter mood, B & R gave a reprise of ‘Ravenswood' as the encore; the march that brought them the Saddleworth Open Champions title a week earlier on Whit Friday.  It rounded off an excellent concert by a band in very good form. Watch out at the English Nationals then? Wait and see.

Malcolm Wood.

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