Besses O’ th’ Barn Band

World Tour Centenary Concert
Guests: Besses Boys Band, Bolton Youth Band
Conductors: John Hinckley, James Holt, Helen Minshall
Compere: Gilbert Symes
Friday 10th November
Formby Hall, Atherton

This was a night when tribute was paid to the remarkable feat one hundred years ago when Besses O' th' Barn Band embarked on their historic World Tour. 

With modern day transportation as it is there is a tendency to take for granted the ease by which anyone can get to any point on the globe these days. For Besses to do it a hundred years ago was a staggering achievement and to play in front of 100,000 people in Melbourne, simply unthinkable, especially when you consider that Australia had to wait until the Beatles around sixty years later to get crowds out in force for any musical ensemble.

To commemorate the centenary of the event, Rodney Newton was commissioned to write a new work whilst Besses invited Bolton Youth and Besses Boys Band to share the night with them, with all three ensembles doing an individual spot before the massed band of around one hundred players joined forces at the end.

Both Bolton Youth and Besses Boys Bands are a credit to themselves.  Helen Minshall and James Holt are the current Musical Directors who lead things at present, but nothing is possible without the huge support group and hours of dedication to maintain the standards they set themselves from players, parents and supporters.  It's a thankless task at times but it should never be forgotten that from within these ranks players past and present go on to greater things. There was enough talent on show on this evening to suggest many more will too. 

Bolton Youth's mini-programme was a little cracker with Helen Minshall keeping things tight but simple. Gregson's 'Prelude for an Occasion' and Goff Richards' 'Hymns of Praise' gave an indication of the standard the conductor and players set themselves whilst Tom Berry, a student at Chets and in Wingates' trombone section, produced a delightful rendition of 'Londonderry Air' – he's a young man with plenty of talent and potential for sure.

Peter Graham's 'Gaelforce' featured fine contributions from Lucy Sanderson and Philip Bracegirdle and before the band finished with 'Artic Funk', they said bon voyage to one of its players, Claire McGoogan who was leaving the band after this concert.

Besses Boys Band directed by James Holt were also in fine form and although the band stays loyal to its historical name, they've certainly moved with the times and were led in exemplary fashion by by Eleanor Parkes.

The march 'Goldcrest' was lively and soprano cornet, Mark Harrison was another soloist who showed plenty of potential for the future courtesy of 'Summertime' whilst the 'Aurelia' (The Church is one Foundation) had the disciplines all conductors look for when playing hymn tunes whether it be at the start of a rehearsal or in a concert.  This led into the band's final item, 'Adventures in Brass' which contained plenty of fine ensemble playing and was well controlled by James Holt.

Besses' individual solo spot paid tribute to their predecessors with Peter Graham's 'Windows of the World'.  Seated compactly on the stage and making use of the lighting effects, John Hinckley took the band through the whole composition that featured some fine moments from Robert Kavanagh on horn in 'Rainforest' and percussionist, Matt Whitfield in the familiar ad-hoc drum jamming session in 'Earth Walk'.  Mention must also go to Richard Poole from Fodens deputising in the Principal Cornet seat and to MD, John Hinckley.  John has taken the role of MD during the year and together the partnership is progressing nicely and everyone connected with the bands hopes together they will return into the top echelon of banding very soon.

To conclude the night, the bands joined forces for four items.  A night such as this wouldn't have been the same without one of Besses stalwart conductors of recent years, and Dr Roy Newsome who directed the band to its last major triumph at the British Open in 1982 was invited to conduct and he duly obliged in 'Blaze Away'. 

'Finlandia' wasn't without the odd uncertain moment and whilst Bach's 'Toccata & Fugue in D Minor' brought the night to a conclusion, the band closed the celebrations off with the new commission by Rodney Newton, entitled 'World Tour'.

Unfortunately, Rodney was unable to attend due to his train breaking down en-route from Euston, but everyone did him proud in what is a cracking five movement work that would be a good test for bands at youth level.

This World Premiere featured introductory notes to each section of the work by Gilbert Symes which were: 1) The Great Adventure depicting everything that was before the band; 2) Chicago, where the style of the music has a ragtime feel to it; 3) Pacific Ocean; 4) Melbourne, where the music incorporates some well-known Australian tunes before the final section is entitled 'Journey Home'.

All of the players did a cracking job and no doubt it's a work that will be popular for players to play regardless of the level, with enough in it to challenge good youth bands either on a concert or on the contesting platform. 

Gilbert Symes linked everything together in his light-hearted but professional manner in the second half, entertaining the capacity audience with numerous jokes and the odd anecdote about his great friend, John Hinckley from their days together at Brighouse & Rastrick. 

A night though for everyone assembled to remember the achievement of Besses' World Tour, a hundred years ago.  Touring in modern days is easier to do, but still a big commitment for any musical ensemble. To achieve it in the way Besses did, is almost incomprehensible, but its an historical event that should never be forgotten, and on this particular night it wasn't for sure.

Malcolm Wood

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