Poles Apart Concert with Riki McDonnell and Alexandra Kerwin

On an otherwise cloudy day, Sunday September 17 2006, the sun shone on the people of Busselton as these two popular brass players, along with Busselton Shire Brass Band and Canning City Brass Band, treated them to a display of soloistic virtuosity.

Held at St Mary's Family Centre, Busselton, Western Australia, the concert began in fine fashion with the Busselton Shire Brass conducted by Mrs Nicky Hair the band produced an excellent exuberant sound although at times a little rough around the edges . The highlight of their performance was a selection from Pirates of the Caribbean. The band had only just got this piece out a couple of days before the concert; they gave a very spirited account of this. A trombone ensemble were also featured in a few numbers, they really let their hair down in the Pink Panther!

After a short stage change, Canning City Brass Band took to the stage conducted by new incumbent, Michael Cartwright, they roared off their programme with Derek Broadbent's march, Centaur. Some fine work here especially from principal cornet Rohan Hardie, who was made to work very hard in this concert as he was asked to compére the concert just minutes before the performance. His performance throughout the concert as MC and leader was exemplary.

The first of the guest soloists to be featured was Alexandra Kerwin on Bb cornet performing her husband's arrangement of Hungarian Melodies. Right from the cadenza, Alexandra was in complete control and she exhibited a fine style for this demanding piece. Maybe at times both band and soloist were a touch strident.

Alexandra Kerwin with Canning City Brass Band

Rohan Hardie joined Alexandra in the beautiful Flower Duet from Lakme by Delibes. Rohan matched Alexandra's sweet tone and the band provided a sympathetic accompaniment although the tempo was a little on the ponderous side.

The band on their own performed Soul Bossa Nova, made infamous by the Austin Powers Films, this is one the band certainly enjoyed.

Largo al Factotum provided Riki McDonnell with his first solo of the concert. Again the soloist was in complete control. His range on the euphonium is very impressive and he showed us wonderful panache.  The young lady on second euphonium performed together with Riki in the duet, Deep Inside the Sacred Temple. It was wonderful to see both Riki and Alexandra performing with members of the band. At times however, the band were again a touch too heavy for the soloists.

Alexandra joined Riki in the Ivor Bosanko duet, I'll not Turn Back. The sounds of sniffing and the raising of tissues to the eyes of many was testament to how well this was played. The pair delivered their phrases with such simplicity but also with tenderness.

Riki McDonnell and Alexandra Kerwin performing their duet with Canning

The ladies of the Church Hall provided the bands and audience with a lovely interval tea and gave a chance for the band and soloists to mingle with the audience. The CD table was very busy!

Back to the concert, Canning City Band opened the second half with the Spanish Impressions by Rodney Newton. The band captured the mood very well indeed, with some wonderful contributions from the percussion team.  A little more could have been made of the overall dynamics though.

Alexandra left her cornet behind to perform on flugelhorn in another of her husband's arrangements, Feelin'Good. This was a very flirtatious delivery and one that the soloist obviously enjoys very much.

Soprano cornet was the next instrument of choice of Alexandra's as she gave a haunting account of Barrie Gott's Song of Hope.

Riki immediately followed in Carnival Cocktail. Riki is very self-assured onstage; he appears to be very comfortable and relaxed in the spotlight. His fingers were flying throughout these variations and appeared to be playing a thousand notes a second. His joviality in one of the variations was not lost on this audience and they responded with much laughter. Some of the notes he produced I didn't know existed on the euphonium!

Riki and Rohan share a moment!

Immediately the mood was softened by a very imploring performance of Let Me Try Again arranged by Scotsman, Alan Fernie. His phrasing and musical nuances were exquisite.

Philip Sparke's arrangement of Birdland gave the band another chance to shine. Again the percussion section delivered and the basses were a driving force throughout.  I do think that this arrangement lacks the sparkle of others I have heard and is not based on the Maynard Ferguson take on the song so the flying around trumpet solo at the end is omitted.

The intended finale of the concert was Gethsemane arranged by Ray Farr once again featuring Alexandra on soprano cornet. This was mesmerizing stuff once again enhance by some great band accompanying. Quite rightly, the audience demanded more.

Riki McDonnell played Pokarekare Ana with such beauty in the first encore and was then joined by Alexandra once more, this time in the original composition Poles Apart by Simon Kerwin. What a fabulous piece this is and some very clever writing. The audience chuckled in appreciation at Coronation Street, Neighbours, Rule Britannia, Waltzing Matilda to name but a few.

It was a fascinating afternoon and one that we will not forget here in Busselton.  However, it was an awfully long concert spanning three hours in total, which for those of us with young children was perhaps a little too long. However, the smiles and the appreciation shown by the audience showed that perhaps I was in the minority on this point. I sincerely hope that a return to Western Australia is not too far away for these two brass players.

David Green

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