Yorkshire & Humberside BBA 50th Anniversary Celebration Concert

Grimethorpe Colliery (UK Coal) Band
Conductor: Richard Evans
Compere: John Maines
Ripon Cathedral
Saturday 15th July

The Yorkshire & Humberside Brass Band Association continued its 50th Anniversary Celebrations with this concert in Ripon Cathedral. As was most appropriate, it was performed by a band that works very closely with the association, the reigning Yorkshire Area Champions, Grimethorpe Colliery (UK Coal) Band led by Richard Evans. 

With support for the concert coming from the Foyle Foundation and in the presence of a capacity audience, Grimethorpe provided a programme that was perfect for a summer's evening; predominantly light and entertaining with compere John Maines giving an appropriate insight to the music performed.

On a number of occasions during the evening, the ‘Kings of Entertainment' were truly at their inspirational best, taking the audience's breath away in what wasn't the easiest of acoustics to perform in, and they were well worthy of the standing ovation they received at the concert's conclusion. 

Having opened up enthusiastically with ‘Comedy Tonight', they continued with Derek Broadbent's arrangement of the overture to the opera, ‘The Bartered Bride' that was taken at a pulsating tempo and featured some imperious ensemble playing from within the horns in the opening section.

With Roger Webster being indisposed, Fairey's Stephen Wilkinson stepped in at short notice and was in fine form throughout; his lyrical sound ably blended into the band with ease.
 
No Grimethorpe concert is complete without arrangements and compositions from the pen of horn virtuoso, Sandy Smith and several were on offer during the night. In addition to ‘The Lady is a Tramp', some of the most surreal playing of the whole concert came in the delightful ‘Humming Chorus'.  Kevin Crockford and Ian Shires performed Sandy's arrangement of ‘Pie Jesu' and not to be outdone, Sandy shone as the soloist in ‘If You Really Knew Me'.

To conclude the first half and commence the second, Grimethorpe performed two World Premieres, both of which were accessible pieces of music from men who need no introduction in the world of banding.  Tubist, Markus Theinert was in great form as he performed a brand new Concerto dedicated to him by Philip Sparke.  On the evidence of this performance from a soloist who was totally engrossed in the music, this is a work that will certainly appeal to bass players and concert audiences alike.

To commemorate their celebratory year, the organisers commissioned a new work from the pen of Goff Richards, entitled ‘A Yorkshire Fantasy' – a collection of the finest tunes associated with the White Rose County that is also now available from Kirklees Music.

R B Hall's ‘The New Colonial March' got a snorter complete with touches of panache and swagger from the MD and a cracking obligato part from Kevin Crockford on soprano, whilst the audience were treated to the beguiling tones of ‘By the Sleepy Lagoon' otherwise known as the theme tune to ‘Desert Island Discs' featuring the impressive flugel voice of Ian Shires.  Film Music came from ‘The Mask of Zorro' whilst there was a throw back to the music that was regularly composed for the band from W Hogarth Lear in ‘Barney's Tune' that was sandwiched between a slick performance by Michael Dodd of the ‘Blue Bells of Scotland' and percussionist, Gavin Pritchard in ‘Helter Skelter'.

Johann Strauss's ‘Czardas' brought the concert to its conclusion that had been preceded by the popular ‘Procession to the Minster' complete with some exquisite ensemble playing and a tumultuous climax. 

Malcolm Wood

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