MIFB Brass Band Concert

Brisbane Excelsior Concert
With soloists; Rex Richardson, Randall Hawes & Sergio Carolino
Melbourne International Festival of Brass
St Paul’s Cathedral
Saturday 30 September 2006

The Brisbane Excelsior Band (Howard Taylor) performed a concert in Melbourne on Saturday 30th September as part of this year's Melbourne International Festival of Brass.  The current Australian National Championship winners accepted a $5000 award to travel to Melbourne to perform at the event.

The concert was held at St Paul's Cathedral in Melbourne Central and only a punt kick away from the MCG where the big AFL Grand Final was staged that afternoon. 

The Brass Band Concert featured not only XLCR but also three remarkable soloists; Rex Richardson (trumpets & flugel), Randall Hawes (bass trombone) and Sergio Carolino (tuba).

The concert commenced with the announcement of the 2006 McComish March Composition Competition Awards. The Award was determined in two categories; Quick March and Slow March. The Winner in the Quick March category was Darrol Barry from Oman with his composition Downunder. Brisbane XLCR was tasked to present performances of the two winning marches. They proceeded to deliver a sparkling rendition of this quality composition. This Concert March by Darrol Barry contained a lovely middle section featuring the Euphoniums and Baritones and the band played with great dynamic contrast coupled with the ever great pyramid concept of sound that has become a hallmark of this fine outfit.

The Slow March section of the competition was taken out by Melbourne composer David Keeffe with his composition The Eleventh Hour. The music commenced typically with "at the slow" drum rolls, followed by entries from the band in a Misterioso style. A lovely horn solo ensued supported by the unrelenting characteristic percussion rhythm. The work demonstrated a good understanding of compositional techniques, in particular, the sectional swapping to carry the thematic material. The composer was in the audience savouring the moment and celebrating his music being interpreted and brought to life. Well done the MIFB board for your foresight in bringing this idea to fruition. We all look forward to similar incentives being offered to composers in future festivals for years to come.

The brass band concert proper then got under way with XLCR performing Goff Richards' Hymns of Praise. A relatively new work which features a number of very recognisable hymn tunes.  This was perfect programming as it was ideal to be played in the magnificence of St Paul's Cathedral. The piece is full of Goff's usual energy and the band performed with great full tone production. The euphonium work was particularly beautifully played by Ashley Gittins and Ben Crocker.

The first soloist for the evening was Rex Richardson performing his own composition Concerto for Jazz Trumpet. The piece was in three movements 1. Groove (on trumpet) – Played with great conviction and excellent support from the band. The cadenza was so well constructed and the implementation of a typical rhythm section did enhance the overall accompaniment. 2. Grieve (on flugel horn) – Excellent sound on flugel however, the music did tend to meander somewhat. 3. Burn (on piccolo trumpet) – A virtuosic performance from a settled soloist at the top of his craft. Overall; this piece was well executed and the free improvisation coupled with the structured accompaniment worked extremely well.

Next, XLCR played an exquisite composition by Eric Ball called Pilgrims Prayer. This was skilfully played in an appropriate environment. A perfect pre-cursor to the next work to be presented.

The final work in the first half of the concert was Journey into Freedom by Eric Ball. This was to be the bands most significant presentation for the evening. The brass band stalwarts in the audience were certainly looking forward to this.  I took particular note of significant iconic audience members and there were none more significant than Colin Woods, ex-bandmaster of the Melbourne Staff Band of the Salvation Army. 

The band set a cracking pace in the opening with sensational tenor horns dominating the opening section. The basses however, did not match the brilliance of the horns in terms of their effectiveness to articulate the triplet passages. Soprano played in great style appropriate to the tenderness required of Eric Ball's writings. Even more ‘Robusto' in the cornets low register would have created even more excitement. Percussion was providing adequate support but not always together with the brass. Some uncharacteristic slips were evident in the solo sections, in particular, solo cornet and Eb bass. Excellent flugel to cap off the movement that was well controlled, but for me, did lack some passion in the solo lines. Flugel lead band well into accel/abandomente. Some intonation discrepancies marred the final section. Overall: a performance of great standing.

2nd Half

The second half commenced with Paul Drury's Jubilee. A great band sound was evident, full of vitality. Tubas controlled the dynamics with so much command. This is a march in a JJ Richards/Karl King style which is quite spectacular. Euphoniums again impress along with some tasty percussion throughout.

For me, the highlight of the night was the performance by Portuguese tuba player Sergio Carolino combining with the Brisbane Excelsior Band. This work entitled Concerto for Tuba and Brass Band, Op. 139 by Jorge Salgueiro, was simply awe-inspiring! It had everything and more. Great Soloist, excellent band accompaniment, but above all, an awesome composition.  This five movement work featured incredible virtuosic tuba playing. The first movement commenced in true Danny Elfman style, featuring atmospheric percussion work. The work contained many extended compositional techniques such as: Multi-phonics, Tapping/popping on Mouthpieces, Playing on mouthpieces etc, in the structure of the solo and band parts. The fourth movement titled "Fantasy" was oh so beautifully executed by the band and soloist. I certainly felt privileged to be seated in the audience to hear this performance.

The band then played Gaudette  by Kevin Norbury. This performance featured some excellent trombone sectional work.

The final guest soloist for the evening was bass trombonist, Randall Hawes playing Tribute to George Roberts for Bass Trombone and Brass Band arranged by Bill Geldard. In the first movement, the soloist, seem to take some time to settle his intonation which was a pity. XLCR's backing was very warm and tender which suited the bass trombone solo. In the final movement, Hall of the Mountain King, the duel solo interplay between the bass trombone and the drum kit was very sound indeed.

Brisbane Excelsior's finale at this year's festival, was Malcolm Arnold's Peterloo Overture Op. 97. This was an exciting and fitting conclusion to the concert, as Malcolm Arnold had only passed away a week prior to this concert. This performance reinforced why XLCR are currently the number one band in Australia. There was some lovely Soprano playing moments presented by Brent Hoy and some very exciting percussion work executed throughout.

In conclusion, I would like to congratulate Mr. Howard Taylor and the Brisbane Excelsior Band in presenting a marvellous night's entertainment, filled with many magical moments.

Also, I would like to applaud; Mr. Geoff Collinson, Mr. Michael Bertoncello and Mr. John Collinson, and the board of management of the Melbourne International Festival of Brass, for their continued strong support of brass bands in this country through this great event.

Mark Ford
Melbourne

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