Parramatta City Band pre-Nationals Concert
11-Mar-2008Parramatta City Band were supported by Leichhardt Celebrity Brass & Yagoona District Band. Both Leichhardt's & Yagoona's conductors were featured as soloists with the bands at Padstow RSL Club, Sunday 9 March.
This was a very varied musical afternoon of contesting works from the three bands, all very well prepared for a entertaing afternoon of music.
Leichhardt Celebrity Brass conducted by its new Musical Director, Mr Rae Forrester, opened the afternoon with Breezin' Down Broadway, followed by Singing in the Rain.
The first featured soloist on Flugel Horn, was Norman Short playing Body & Soul. The Best of Bond, If Tommorrow Never Comes and Barnard Castle completed Leichhardt's varied programme.
Parramatta City Band presented well controlled good sounding renditions all afternoon. Beginning with a march, Parramatta setted together well for the Set Test piece for B Grade, Main St. by Eric Ball. Nice florid smooth playing with sensitive interwovan lines throughout the band were a feature of this Eric Ball number not often heard of late. The band's Hymn arrangement was played with sensitivy.
Parramatta's own choice was a good solid performance of a piece showing good attention to detail, and ending in a very polished manner.
Yagoona District Band conducted by Norman Short presented a interesting and well played programe of six numbers - three band numbers and three solo's. Fanfare & Flourishes followed by The Hustle commenced their programe. Leichhardt's conductor , Rae Forrester played the lovely Eupho Solo - Softly , as I Leave You presenting a beautiful full Eupho sound. Ian Stenning on cornet, played Crazy, followed by Col Bungate playing the delightful Flugel solo - Dimitri.
The massed bands completed the afternoon with a colourful array of Gold, Blue and Red Jackets, playing Radeskty's March, Swingtime Religion and Elsa's Procession to end of great autumn afternoon of varied brass playing in Sydney.
Norman Short