International Summer School Brass Band

Conductor: Dr. Nicholas Childs
Taliesin Theatre
Swansea University Campus
Friday 4th August

A nice warm and balmy night by the sea is always an ideal setting to go and listen to a non too taxing programme of lightweight music by a brass band.

The intimate Taliesin Theatre at the University of Swansea provided the venue for this end of course concert by the International Summer School Brass Band conducted by Dr. Nicholas Childs and the good sized audience enjoyed a well crafted evening's entertainment by a band that had obviously worked hard during the preceding seven days.

Tuition from Roger Webster, Ian Porthouse, David Thornton, Owen Farr, Dave Hogan, Nick Hudson and Steve Sykes certainly paid dividends as the eclectic mix of youth and experience from players from the UK, Europe and even the USA provided a good standard of performance all night.

Even though there was an absence of ‘heavy' works on the agenda that was a good move as it was a night when the audience wanted a relaxing time of it rather than be taxed by more cerebral output. The band though had worked extensively on Eric Ball's ‘Journey Into Freedom' as part of the week's tuition and many of the players reported to 4BR that they found it an enjoyable experience developing an understanding of a classic of the repertoire without worrying about a concert performance at the end of their endeavors.

The night got off to a good old Welsh start with a rousing whip through TJ Powell's ‘Castell Coch' that featured some neat cornet playing in particular, before the first of the evening tutors took to the stage.

Ian Porthouse is playing extremely well at present and produced a very polished account of Herbert Clarke's ‘Carnival of Venice' without music that harked back to the days when he was at his very best with the likes of Black Dyke and YBS. That was followed by a well balanced cornet feature ‘Forgotten Dreams' which had a nice shape and was very well in tune.

The main item of the first half was a committed performance of three movement of Peter Graham's ‘Windows of the World' that was enhanced by high quality percussion playing and lots of good work from the inner sections of the band.

Nick Hudson then stood and gave a veritable masterclass in the art of lyrical trombone playing with a sumptuous account of ‘Do nothing ‘till you hear from Me' that did exactly what it said on the tin  - listen and learn seemed to be the musical motto here, and by heck, if you did, you learnt a lot.

John Williams' ‘Hymn to New England' was a well balanced riposte from the band, before the ubiquitous ‘Riverdance' rounded things off with a Celtic flurry and some very good playing from the pair of flugel players in particular.

Half time was a chance to meet up with some old friends and chew the cud over recent happenings in the banding world, before the second half got under way with a fine old effort on Sandy Smith's ‘Comedy Tonight' which takes some playing by even a top class outfit.

David Thornton then enjoyed himself immensely on Peter Meechan's fiendishly difficult ‘Devil's Duet' that featured some of the tutors having to really earn their corn with some of the accompaniment work – no easy night this! Mr Thornton was nigh on perfect it must be said, but you can bet some of his fellow tutors were glad when this one was over!

A blast from the past with ‘Barney's Tune' saw Sykes Junior on tuba display a fantastic rounded sound and a lovely understated sense of showmanship (he will have to start having lessons from his dad on that), before a real poignant interlude with a presentation from Brass Band Aid's Bob Thompson and Steve Robson on the ongoing work in Adet in Ethiopia.

This brought a real focus to the night, and coupled with a photo montage being played over the bands performance of Darrol Barry's ‘African Adventure' it gave the whole evening a sense of purpose.

Owen Farr then burnt his finger tips with a scorcher of a run through of the Mendelssohn Violin Concerto Finale, that the band just about kept up with, before the finale, which was a quality account of ‘Shine As the Light' by Peter Graham.

With the raffle prizes being handed out and votes of thanks (the Welsh love a good speech) it was left to the MD to roll back the years with a real twinkle in his eye and the encore ‘Bandology'. To know the MD of Black Dyke well, you have to remember where he comes from and what music forged his passion for banding.  ‘Bandology', complete with extra cymbal crash and swagger, and with memories of many a summer concert from his youth fresh in the mind (and this reviewer it must be said), it rounded off a very enjoyable evening of music making from a course that continues to go from strength to strength. 


Iwan Fox

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