Buy As You View Band

Conductor: Dr Robert Childs
Morley Town Hall
Saturday March 3rd

Whenever this fine band plays in Yorkshire you are sure to get a well balanced programme and Saturday night was no exception. Opening with Lovatt-Cooper's,  ‘Where Eagles Sing', BAYV was on fine form from the start, with some outstanding soprano cornet playing from Michelle Ibbotson topping off a great start to the concert.
 
Verdi's Overture ‘La Forza Del Destino' followed and in an atmospheric reading from Bob Childs they really brought out the dramatic elements of the score with some lovely rich sounds and excellent detailed technique – it really was operatic in scope and execution with each section spaciously defined.
 
David Danford, theband's principal percussionist then entertained us with a Marimba solo entitled ‘Virginia Tate'.  With no accompaniment from the band this talented young man gave a masterclass in control and musical expression in an interesting piece of music. The next soloist to entertain us was Owen Farr, the bands solo horn player, who gave a breathtaking performance of Rodney Newton's arrangement of ‘The Fugitive'. The soloist showed great technique and a lovely true sound, whilst his technique was faultless.
 
The first half of the concert ended with a real favourite, Phillip Sparke's ‘Year Of The Dragon'. This was composed for the band to celebrate its centenary and was first performed in St David's Hall Cardiff, twenty-three years ago. On this particular night it was given a fabulous performance with Chris Thomas on sublime form in the second ‘Interlude' whilst the fiendishly hard finale was brilliantly executed and enhanced with some fine work from the percussion section.
 
The second half was in lighter mode as they opened with ‘Another Opening Another Show'. Then it was the turn of Michelle Ibbotson and Joanne Childs with a beautiful rendering of Lloyd Webber's ‘Pie Jesus' - both soloist's playing with great feeling and expression.
 
Alan Fernie's arrangement of ‘Broadway Spectacular' with songs like ‘The Deadwood Stage' and ‘Tomorrow' kept the music flowing along before BAYV showcased a trio of their fine soloists from their impressive stable of talent.  First was Ian Williams on solo cornet with a stylish ‘Chipanicas du Mendez' before Dave Danford again with ‘Scherzetto' on xylophone and last but not least David Childs on euphonium with Doughty's ‘Grandfathers Clock' played as only he can – it was something else.
 
Two pieces from Elgar Howarth with his descriptive ‘Berne Patrol' and his bit of fun in ‘Mr Lears Carnival' led us to the finale with Snell's great arrangement of Wagner's ‘Procession To The Minster', played with great feeling and passion building up to a fine ending. The encore ‘Pell Mell' gave us a final reminder of this bands fantastic technique.

The applause the band received at the end was richly deserved. It was a fine concert played by a great band and directed by a fine musician.
 
Dave Tinker

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