RCM Zone One Brass & West Glamorgan Youth Band

Conductors: Paul Archiobald & Jeff Pearce
St Samlet Church
Oystermouth
Swansea
Wednesday 25th June

Evening concert:  

The venue for the evening's concert was St. Samlet Church, where Zone One Brass Band were joined by West Glamorgan Youth Band (Conductor, Jeff Pearce).  Zone One's solo contribution was mainly a reprise of their lunchtime recital, but now the finer detail of their programme was much more transparent, due to the improved acoustics.

The Band's opening item - Summon the Dragon revealed transient moments of suspect tuning in the upper ensemble in the final bars, but the detail and continuity displayed in Music for Battle Creek clearly highlighted the progress made by the band under the guidance of Paul Archibald.

Sparkling form

Jon Stokes was again in sparkling form in his trombone solo - Freaks; the acoustic enhancing the judicious use of mutes in this appealing solo. An exchange of soloists between both bands brought the rapidly rising Welsh
Soprano Cornet soloist - Morgan James into the spotlight to play Philip Sparke's aptly named Capriccio.

Morgan’s sound continues to improve with each performance, he obviously felt comfortable with the supportive accompaniment of Zone One Brass. This was a musical and well-delivered solo despite odd moments of unease in the florid mid section. 

The Band ended their individual contribution with the colourful Tocatta from Suite Gothique by Boellmann (arr. Eric Ball).  Now widely, but most unwisely and derogatively regarded as "yellow music” having been used as a Regional test piece circa forty years ago, this showpiece quickly confirmed its pedigree and ability to challenge players. The opening bars revealed discomfort between the semiquavers of the muted lower cornets and snare drum.

Unfortunately for the cornets, the percussion playing was crisp, controlled and rhythmically precise. However, this discomfort soon disappeared and a convincing presentation ensued, despite hints of untunefulness in the middle and upper band.  Tiredness maybe, but the quality of the band's fine tubas was always at a high level.

Secure

The concert had begun with a short programme from West Glamorgan Youth Band.  Strike up the Band - Gershwin (arr. Goff Richards) had pace with the keyboard percussionists of Zone One Brass enhancing the colour of this foot tapping music. The Youth Band's principal cornet Eliot Kervin was the secure soloist in Martin Esquith's arrangement of the elegant Pie Jesu by John Rutter.  Sadly, the band was rather overloud at times.

The exchange of soloists then brought Zone One's Euphonium soloist to the podium to play Parry's Myfanwy - arr. Denzil Stephens. 

This choice pleased the predominantly Welsh speaking audience - the band responding well to the style of the soloist - Tony Sommerville.  The theme music from The Vicar of Dibley also pleased the large audience.

Challenge

Ruby Tuesday - arr. Catherall, was a challenge for this young band who, after confident phrases from Morgan James (Sop.Cor.) and Ffion Halfpenny (Solo Horn), worked hard in this difficult choice.  Le Rejouissance - Handel's Fireworks' Music (arr. M.Esolith) produced a vigorous end to the Youth Band's solo spot. 

The members of the Youth Band were thrilled to join together with Zone One Brass to end the concert by playing, under the baton of Jeff Pearce the popular Men of Harlech - arr. Gordon Langford and Dear Lord and Father Hymn  arr. by Peter Graham.  It was left to Paul Archibald to bring down the curtain with a romp through - I Will Follow Him and finally, the stately sounds of Wagner's - Elsa's Procession to the Minster  arr. Wm.Himes. 

This was a most fitting climax to a day when Zone One Brass Band had confirmed they were worthy ambassadors of the brass band genre, both as recitalists and as excellent examples to the developing West Glamorgan Youth Brass Band.

Throughout the both programmes the band had presented themselves at a level that reflected most positively on their studies and tuition at the Royal College of Music London.  In strictly brass band terms, on this form, they are clearly a developing force to be seriously considered in the London region.

C. Brian Buckley

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