RNCM Brass Band and Brass Ensemble

RNCM Festival of Brass
Conductors: Dr Nicholas Childs, Christopher Houlding and John Miller
Soloists: David Thornton and Mark Frost
Saturday 26th January

Saturday morning at the RNCM Festival traditionally belongs to the in house brass band and brass ensemble. 

This concert was split into three parts: the opening from the Brass Band, followed by the Intercollegiate Brass Ensemble, before the band returned once again to round things off after the interval.

Dr Nicholas Childs got the day’s proceedings off in fine style with a convincing performance of Sir Malcolm Arnold’s ‘Little Suite for Brass No.1’ with the beautiful middle section, ‘Siciliano', delicately captured.

The first soloist of the day was David Thornton who reprised one of the highlights of his recent solo CD, ‘Devils Duel’ – Peter Meechan’s ‘Requiem Paraphrases’.

Meechan’s work is an absolute cracker and the composer took the opportunity to inform the audience that the piece was a commission from Steven Mead to celebrate Mozart’s 250th Anniversary Year and the inspiration for the work comes from his ‘Requiem’.

The soloist once again demonstrated why he’s one of the best instrumentalists in the business with a performance that was compelling listening from the first note to the last.

All of the technical hurdles were overcome with ease and it was in the subtleties of the music where he really had the audience in the palm of his hand – it was a class display, all coupled with a Paganini style cadenza that was just stunning stuff.

Thea Musgrave’s ‘Variations’ was written for the National Youth Brass Band of Scotland in 1966.  Based around an original theme with five complimenting variations, it revealed a composer fascinated by the sounds and colours that can be portrayed by the brass band. The overall effect was fascinating to listen to also.

Elgar Howarth’s ‘Spooks; an Outrage for Bass Trombone, Brass Ensemble and Percussion’ was terrific.  Whilst the stage was being reset for the Intercollegiate Brass Ensemble, the composer spoke with boundless enthusiasm about the inspiration for the piece – his four grandchildren, who it seems are a fantastic bunch with very vivid and witty imaginations.

Mark Frost brought a real sense of fun and mischief to the piece, revealing his own witty imagination in subtle colourings and effects. It was childlike in the most complex of childlike ways – and as such a real joy.  

The RNCM Brass Band returned after the interval to be conducted by Christopher Houlding. 

Gavin Higgins is a graduate of the RNCM and another talented composer who holds a role within the Tredegar Band.  ‘A Forest Symphony’ is a very descriptive work about how he perceives the dark recesses, the weird and wonderful of a forest in his younger days.  In five small sections, each linked to one another it was fascinating listening with Elizabeth Fitzpatrick taking a leading role as trumpet soloist.

Vaughan Williams, ‘Prelude on Rhosymedre’ which had been effectively arranged for band by Paul Hindmarsh. The lovely tune spoke with a clear English feeling of Welshness – if that isn’t a contradiction in terms!

The final contribution was Sparke’s ‘Tallis Variations’, which was used at the 2000 Europeans in Birmingham.  Based around one of the most famous tunes of all time, Sparke’s composition was given an effective reading by a young band that contains a number of players who hold leading positions with many Championship and First Section bands.

Once again, it rounded off an interesting and enjoyable concert by the brass students of the RNCM, who proved that it doesn’t matter what the style of music is, or from which era, as they can adapt to anything and bring it alive.

Malcolm Wood 

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