Black Dyke Band & Göteburg Brass

Conducter: Dr Nicholas J Childs
Uppermill Civic Hall
Monday 30th April

It may seem rather strange to hold a concert on a Monday evening but the good folk of Saddleworth never miss the opportunity to hear the current British Open Champion Band and if that wasn't sufficient, they got the opportunity to listen to the current Swedish champion, Göteburg too.

The concert was part of the Swedish band's preparations for Birmingham the following weekend and as it turned out, it was to be a significant night with the news that after the contest they were to disband.

On a balmy spring evening, more akin to being outdoors, it was the Swedes who opened up the concert with the familiar march, 'Ravenswood'.  The outdoor temperatures and the fact that the band had been recording a CD earlier in the day meant they didn't need too much of a warm up and everyone seemed pretty relaxed with an impressive opening.

With one eye on the weekend, Dr Childs took the opportunity to run through (and give the audience a sneak preview) of the set work, Martin Ellerby's 'Elgar Variations'. 

First impressions?  Congratulations to the composer first of all who has compiled a piece that is most certainly audience friendly.  Those present in Symphony Hall on Friday evening will have had a pleasant night of listening and should be able to walk out of the contest with a couple of familiar tunes in their head from a work that appears to give the conductors a great deal of flexibility in their interpretations.  

In terms of this performance preparations seem to be going well, and the band had clearly put a lot of time into the work . It was impressive playing.

The band featured two soloists during the evening.  Firstly, the band's bass trombonist in a very relaxed mood in 'Song for Lotta' followed by some more expressive playing from the band's Principal Euphonium player, Patrick Randefalk in the 'Striped Falcon'.

In tribute to Bengt Eklund, the band's founder and inspiration behind everything they've achieved, Göteburg performed the most poignant piece of the whole evening, Downie's 'In Perfect Peace' complete with some delightful pianissimo playing from all around the stand – you could practically hear a pin drop.

To close their spot, one of their late conductor's favourite pieces, 'Gonna Fly Now' performed with that real bit of razzamatazz from the band with virtuoso contributions from members of the band.

Black Dyke's contribution the evening's entertainment was geared to what the audience want, week in, week out, which is a contributing factor to the enduring popularity of their Essential Dyke series.

Their first two opening numbers 'Where Eagles Sing'  and the overture, 'The Corsair' were dispatched musically in the way that Adam Gilchrist had dismissed the Sri Lankan bowling attack on his way to a century in the Cricket World Cup final.

Three players stepped forward in Dyke's familiar 'Soloists Showcase'.  Brett Baker nonchalantly went through 'Annie Laurie' with ease leaving the MD with his tongue in cheek to wonder whether ‘he could've played the final variation even quicker than he did'. The lyrical sound allied to terrific phrasing was to be heard from John Doyle in 'That I'll Do' from 'Babe' before Joseph Cook stepped forward to perform Monti's 'Czardas' where he even had to contend with a valve that decided to be a touch awkward.

To close, 'Capriccio Espangnol' complete with some impressive ensemble playing before John Miles' 'Music' and with the crowd baying for more, a romp through Bach's 'Toccata in D Minor' with some top notch percussion work brought the evening to a close.

Both bands could've have played for a lot longer than they did but with some hospitality on offer in Delph Band Club it was a case of time to relax and from Göteburg's point of view, look forward to the weekend with relish but no doubt a hint of sadness that the European Championships 2007 will bring the curtain down on a very distinguished band. 

It goes without saying, that wherever the players end up, everyone wishes them well. Bengt Eklund will always be with them in spirit as he was surely in Birmingham.

Malcolm Wood

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