Men O' Brass

Comprising Fairey and Foden Richardson Bands
Guest Conductor: Dr Nicholas Childs
Butlins Resort
Sunday 20th January

Men O Brass: Nicholas Childs leads a trememdous revival at Butlins
Picture: John Stirzaker

The revival of Men O’Brass at Butlins on Sunday evening was one of those occasions that everybody in attendance enjoyed.  

The audience of around 2000 were queuing to get into the Centre Stage venue some 30 or so minutes before the doors were opened to grab a prime seat. The wait in the damp and cold was well worth it as packed in like Sardines in a tin in the stiflingly hot hall, they were rewarded with around an hours classy entertainment. 

Originally Men O’Brass comprised of members of Fairey, Fodens and Morris Motors Bands, but with the latter no longer in existence, it was the modern day players of the two North West giants, who had long and glorious associations with the man behind the Men O Brass concept, Harry Mortimer,  who joined forces. And if this night was anything to go by, it won’t be too long before they team up again.

Combination

The music was a combination of modern day compositions and arrangements and music synonymous and ‘HM’ and ‘Men O’Brass’.

To open, Guest Conductor, Dr Nicholas Childs led the band through Paul Lovatt-Cooper’s 'Where Eagles Sing' before the first tribute to days gone by with Sir Malcolm Sargant’s arrangement of 'Yeoman of the Guard'.

The trombones combined to play yhe light hearted 'I Will Follow Him' from 'Sister Act', before the revival of a march, written by H R Moreton (a pseudonym of Mortimer) entitled, 'The Medallion'. 

Soloists

Compere, John Maines introduced the nightyts two soloists.  Firstly, Fodens’ Principal Euphonium, Glyn Williams stepped forward to perform 'Grandfathers Clock' in a performance that John Clough (the soloist for whom the solo was originally arranged in the early 70s) would have been proud of.

Secondly, Mark Landon whizzed through Peter Graham’s 'Xylomania' before another throw-back to the great days of Men O’Brass with Gordon Langford’s 'Sullivan Fantasy'.

Encores

The official closing item was another Graham piece, 'Shine as the Light', which inevitably led to the first of two encores - the band wasn't going to get away with that easy a nights work!.  The night would not have been complete with a renditionof  'The Lost Chord' that sent shivers down the spine, and despite the fact that the band could have gone on and on, it was left to Howard Snell’s arrangement of 'Folk Festival' to bring this prestigious occasion to a close.

A different generation of players it may have been, but happily retaining its ‘non pc’ title, this was an occasion that the great Harry Mortimer would no doubt have approved of.

How often they’ll join forces is anyone’s guess, but paying tribute to the great ‘HM’ in this way brought a weekend of banding to a close in fine style.

Malcolm Wood

^back to top