The Great Northern Brass Arts Festival 2006
8-Sep-2006Sponsored by World of Brass
Supported by Yamaha-Kemble Music (UK) Ltd., Besson Musical Instruments Ltd.
The Bridgewater Hall, Manchester
Saturday 2nd September 2006
Featuring:
Black Dyke Band, Dr Nicholas Childs
Brighouse & Rastrick Band, Ian McElligott
Euph4ria
Fodens Richardson Band, Garry Cutt
Household Troops Band, Major John Mott
Marsden Band, Glyn Williams
North Central Divisional S.A. Band, Gordon Kirsopp
Tempus Brass
2nd Rossendale Scout Band, Graham Helm
Wingates Band, Andrew Berryman
Soloists: Ralph Brill, Michael Howley, Jens Lindemann, Mark Landon, Katie Meacher, Steven Mead, Peter Moore, Alan Morrison, Matthew White, Leslie Neish, David Thornton.
Compere: John Maines
Walking through Manchester recently I was showing some friends around who'd not visited the city since the bomb in 1996; going past what used to be the Free Trade Hall (it's now a hotel) I stopped in my tracks. When asked was anything I wrong, I just happened to comment that it couldn't be eleven years since I'd last been in the building for The Open. This also made me realise that ten years had passed since the Bridgewater Hall had opened – needless to say on my ‘21st' birthday, it was another reminder that time passes all too quickly.
It is incredible to think though, that this year's Great Northern Brass Arts Festival was in its ninth year. It wasn't to be known at the time but Philip Biggs' commitment to have a top-class event in Manchester in September (and don't forget with the English Championships going to Preston, apart from the RNCM Festival in January, it remains the only high-profile event in the city) has gone from strength to strength and for the Championship bands who compete at The Open it becomes an ideal opportunity to have a good workout ahead of the competition after the summer break.
The twelve-hour marathon event, like everything else doesn't take place without financial backing. This year's sponsors were World of Brass, Yamaha-Kemble Music (UK) Ltd and Besson Musical Instruments with everything linked together throughout the day by John Maines and the whole thing is made possible by Philip Biggs who is already looking ahead to 2007.
Once again, their were numerous highlights, most notably the standard of solo playing that was to be heard – all topped off by the (at times) outrageous Jans Lindemann who was Guest Soloist in the Gala Concert.
For the first time though it rained enough to cause the abandonment of the procession through the streets by Marsden and the North Central Divisional Band of the Salvation Army, forcing the bands to play indoors before the first full concert of the day.
It was Wingates who got the proceedings underway within the concert hall with a fine programme that had something in it for everyone. The acoustic of the Bridgewater Hall is a strange one; not only does it sound different when you sit in different parts of the hall, but it only really comes into its own when full, giving way to a tendency for overblowing if bands are not careful. The hall is the home to the Halle Orchestra and if you've got their Principal Trombone in Andrew Berryman as your MD, the one thing you'll be doing as musicians is tempering your performance to the acoustic of the hall and the band did this exceptionally well throughout.
A large percentage of the band's programme on offer here has appeared on their most recent CD recordings, and the French Open Champions on the evidence of their concert here are in a good state of health.
Having opened in fine style with Dr Roy Newsome's march BBA (Brass Band Aid), and a controlled interpretation of Zampa, the audience got their first ‘treat' of the day from the band's newly appointed principal trombone, Peter Moore.
There can be no higher compliment paid to this young man's performance than the words of Jans Lindemann in the Gala Concert: ‘Did you hear that ten year old this morning? I'm just glad he plays the trombone'. What Mr Lindemann might not know is Peter is also very adept on the baritone as well.
Small guy - big future: Peter Moore on sparkling form
Performing the ‘Friedebald Grafe Concerto', leaving the audience speechless with his ability at such a young age, Peter really enjoyed himself, giving a reassuring smile and wink to friends and family who were more nervous than he was. This was a performance to savour though from a soloist who oozes natural talent by the bucket load and to the naked eye (or most importantly ear) shows no nerves whatsoever - something the best performers can do. Peter knows the ‘Concerto' well having performed it previously. It's fair to say that he has an exceptionally bright future should he continue to go the way he is at the moment.
The other soloist to feature was Leyland's Matthew White who gave a very accomplished performance of Peter Meechan's ‘Three Stories, Three Worlds'. Concluding with music from Shostakovich, the French Open Champions also included music from the pen of John Parkinson in ‘Salute', the classic Scottish folk tune, ‘The Water is Wide' and minimalist music from the pen of Michael Nyman which certainly is an acquired taste, something which Andrew Berryman eluded too whilst talking to the audience before hand.
Major John Mott and the Household Troops Band made a welcome return to the festival but weren't as impressive as in previous years. Downie's ‘Winchester Revival' opened up their contribution closely followed by ‘A Pilgrim Song'. Ralph Brill gave an indication of what a fine player he is with an impressive interpretation of Curnow's ‘Concertpiece' for Cornet.
The star of the show though worthy of appearance on any Gala Concert was Steven Mead. The euphonium virtuoso breezed his way through the challenging work written by Philip Sparke for David Childs entitled ‘Harlequin' and then in total contrast delivered a piece of musical poetry – ‘Michaelangelo' arranged by Frode Rydland.
Paul Drury's suite was performed with a real sense of security, as was their closing item, the SA classic, ‘The Call of the Righteous' which opened impressively with the cornets and it laid the foundations for what was arguably their finest performance of the day.
One of the traditional highlights at the GNBAF is the mini-concert given by young musicians during the afternoon. This year's spotlight fell on the only Scout Brass Band in the world from Rossendale; the musicians gave a fine account of themselves with a programme that included ‘Misty' performed by Katie Meacher and the classic, ‘Rule Britannia'.
The renewed vigour that Brighouse & Rastrick had shown at the English Championships in July just wasn't there throughout their performance. The band just weren't consistent throughout; their quality offerings led by the dapper-looking Ian McElligott were sporadic to say the least.
Sullivan's ‘Yeoman of the Guard' and Bliss's ‘Kenilworth' were a little under-cooked on the day whilst the Denis Wright ‘Cornet Concerto' performed by Alan Morrison didn't showcase the soloist on top form.
Michael Howley was in good form in ‘Slavische Fantasie' whilst ‘West Ridings' written by Paul Lovatt-Cooper for the band's 125th Anniversary prompted the composer to comment that it was ‘the best he'd heard the band play it so far'. With no encore, Brighouse closed their programme with Reed's ‘Armenian Dances' where the band seemed at ease more than any other time during their programme.
The Gala Concert was a cracking night even though Fodens played a concert within a concert with twelve items on offer. Hindsight's a wonderful thing but this reviewer couldn't help wondering after Jans Lindemann's first half offering had concluded whether four additional items were necessary on the night? There were a few Pondashers who'd made the annual pilgrimage over the Pennines ahead of The Open to see what sort of form Dyke were in who looked more than bemused that they weren't to hear more of the band than perhaps they'd anticipated.
Fodens (Richardson) led by Garry Cutt were absolutely top draw on the night though. Their performance throughout was commented upon by many seasoned campaigners as some of the finest playing they'd heard from the Sandbach based band on the concert platform for quite some time. Having won at The Lowry in July, they'll go the Open full of confidence, hoping to take the title back home with them.
Howarth's ‘Agincourt Song' and Sandy Smith's arrangement of ‘Valero' gave an early indication that the band were in good form. Von Suppé's ‘The Beautiful Galathea' not only kept the traditionalists in the audience happy but featured some high quality ensemble and solo work from Mark Wilkinson, Alan Wycherley and George Thackeray.
Downie's ‘In Perfect Peace' was one of golden moments of the whole day; some beautifully controlled slow and delicate playing; Arnold's ‘Little Suite for Brass' included some fine work from Mark Wilkinson whilst Les Neish performed ‘Carnival for Bass' and Mark Landon enjoyed himself in ‘Robbin'Harry'.
Alford's classic march, ‘Old Panama' had been performed earlier in the set but Fodens rounded things off with the old pot-boiler of a finale in Tchaikovsky's ‘Marche Slave'.
Guest Soloist for the night Jens Lindemann was a sensation and a real coup for promoter Philip Biggs to have him at the Festival. Swapping from flugel, trumpet and cornet during the course of the night, not too mention changing his attire with daring fluorescent blue and red jackets, Lindemann gave a virtuoso display that featured numerous draw-dropping moments - even conductors Garry Cutt and Nicholas Childs had cursory glances behind them just to check they weren't dreaming at what was being performed.
Playing the Blues- Jan Lindemann sports a natty suit and some natty playing too
‘Malagueńa' was dedicated to the late Maynard Ferguson, ‘Concerto D'Aranjeuz', ‘Joshua Swings into Battle' and ‘Someone to Watch Over Me' were almost effortless in their execution. Vizzutti's ‘Rising Sun' – contrasting musical portraits of Japan was the only substantial work from Lindemann and even though it was accomplished in his own imitable way, a little surprising that it wasn't programmed for the first half when the soloist was at his freshest.
Black Dyke's fourth engagement in eight days saw them commence with a commission from organiser Philip Biggs by Paul Lovatt-Cooper. The Dyke percussionist is the band's newly-appointed Young Composer in Residence.
How about that then folks! John Doyle does a fine Irish two step
‘Where Eagles Sing' takes its inspiration from a trip to Disney Land and the Animal Kingdom where the American Bald Eagle caught the composer's eye. The impressive composition was well received by the audience. Dyke also gave an enthralling account of ‘The Flying Dutchman' recently recorded on a new CD of overtures arranged by Howard Lorriman.
David Thornton had the unenviable task of following Jens Lindemann on stage and rose to the challenge superbly with a masterly display of Peter Meechan's air-varie based on Paganinni's 24th caprice entitled ‘The Devils Duel' – the soloist in duelling at times with Brett Baker, John Doyle & Richard Marshall.
Peter Graham's Shine as the Light was followed by the final item of the day, the show-stopping ‘Riverdance' complete with impersonations of Michael Flatley from John Doyle & Richard Marshall.
It rounded off a quite excellent day of music making that at times really did raise the bar of expectations from what we will want to hear in the future. Congratulations to one and all.
Malcolm Wood
