International Staff Band

Conductor: Dr Stephen Cobb
Derby Central Corps
Derby
Saturday 27th September

For those who advocate contesting as a means of maintaining and increasing the technical and musical ability of brass bands, look no further than the ISB to dispel this myth.

Faultless

Opening with Michael Kenyon’s transcription of Saint-Saëns ‘French Military March’ the band were faultless in execution and style, dynamics expertly conveyed by band and conductor Dr Stephen Cobb.

This was followed by baritone soloist Iain Parkhouse featured in the reflective ‘Ar Lan Y Môr’, a Welsh traditional arranged by Leigh Baker, composer in residence and baritone with Brighouse and Rastrick. The sound produced by Iain was warm and full and seemed to float effortless around the auditorium and was certainly well received by the audience.

Perhaps some of the finest playing of the whole concert was heard in Leslie Condon’s ‘Call of the Righteous’. This was a demonstration of world class playing by a band who not only knew the music, but understood and acknowledged the composers intentions to the letter.

Several soloists

Several of the bands soloists were featured: Kevin Ashman (cornet) gave a spirited account of the James Curnow ‘Counterpiece for Cornet’, whilst Andrew Justice (trombone) delighted with Roger Triggs’  ‘Rejoice’.

The solo highlight, however, was Derick Kane in ‘Travelling Along’ by Chris Mallett, performed from memory with all the panache and fluency of style expected of this soloist. Special mention must be made of Damian Wileman (vocals) who accompanied himself on the piano, which made a superb contrast between brass items.

New works

A number of new works were featured during the concert, several by ISB’s Paul Sharman who demonstrated his compositional and arranging skills in, ‘Blessing and Honour’, ‘Psalm of Thanks’ and ‘Music from Planet Earth’ whilst Paul Lovatt-Cooper featured in ‘The Light Fantastic’ and ‘Vitae Aeternum’, which was a tour de force for band.

This was a superb concert, in the opinion of the listener, and the ISB demonstrated technique and musicianship to rank amongst the worlds finest contesting bands, a special word of thanks to Dr Stephen Cobb who confirmed his authority over the band in the most musical of ways.

A personal thanks to Lieut-Colonel Trevor Davis for his inspiring introductions to each item.

^back to top