Desford Band

Conductor: Nigel Seaman
Regent Hall Festival,
Regent Hall, London
Saturday 11th October

For those not ‘banded out’ and in still in need of hearing yet more brass band music, Saturday evening’s programme by Desford gave them their final fix of the Nationals weekend.

Outcome

When Desford really turn it on, as they’ve done on more than a few occasions this year, they really sound amazingly top quality, but for this reviewer, that form wasn’t replicated in this concert – perhaps understandably so, given the outcome of the contest day.

Perhaps it was the news from Kensington that having waited all day to play they could only produce a disappointing account to come home in 19th place. Here that post contest results hangover (in no way featuring a drop of alcohol it must be said) meant a subdued rather listless concert performance.  

Sympathetic audience

The audience were sympathetic and appreciated a well constructed programme that included two world première's. MD Nigel Seaman kept things ticking along for those assembled, but the atmosphere was somewhat flat despite a pretty lively acoustic for the open to fill with their full throttle sound. .

The opening ‘March Lorraine’ certainly had the requisite brio, before the band acknowledged the talents of Stephen Roberts with three of his classy arrangements.

Firstly, the delightful ‘Largo from Xerxes’ by Handel was played with sensitivity and feel.  ‘Pastime with Good Company’ featured some fine percussion whilst the traditional ‘Londonderry Air’ changed the mood with subtle nuance once again.

Fine performer

Principal Euphonium, Robin Taylor is a very fine performer, but during the two movements of the Horvotiz ‘Euphonium Concerto’  it’s fair to say the soloist wasn’t at the top of his game with the final Con moto needing a touch more sparkle. He knew it too.

World premiere

The first world première of the evening came from the pen of the talented Leigh Baker. 

'The Battle of Bosworth' relates to events in Leicestershire during the 1400s and with narration from Dudley Bright, the music depicts how the war unfolded between Lancastrian Henry Tudor and Yorkshire's Richard III, ending the Plantagenet dynastic line.  This was clever writing and extremely atmospheric, with member’s of the band performing on fanfare trumpets at each side of the hall.  

It really did become a 'battle royal' and was fascinating listening in what was the highlight of the entire evening.

Delightful

Robert Childs’ delightful ‘A Little Prayer’ led to the final item of the first half and Eric Ball’s ‘Resurgam’.  Nigel Seaman spoke with real passion about Ball’s music and this was a fully committed and sympathetic reading from the MD, dedicated to his father who had passed away during this year.

The second half opened with a new piece from Tom Davoren, a former student of the conductor.  ‘Phoenix Rising’ reflects the resurgence of Desford on the contesting stage in recent times and it came as no surprise therefore that this excellent composition is extremely upbeat in structure. 

Main focus

The main focus for the second half was Edward Walton’s arrangement of music from ‘Henry V’, again with narration from Dudley Bright.  This is a complex work that doesn't have too many airings and an uneven performance perhaps highlighted the need for it to have been more closely rehearsed.

Final offering

For their final offerings of the night, Desford opted for light music and some arrangements from Sandy Smith including ‘Honey Pie’, ‘Arrivederci Roma’, featuring the trombones, and a quick lick through Howard Snell’s ‘Folk Festival’.

It was left to Leigh Baker’s fine arrangement of ‘Deep Harmony’ to bring the curtain down on not just the evening, but the Regent Hall Festival 2008, which as ever was organised in excellent fashion by Philip Biggs.

This wasn't Desford at their best for sure, but they sent those assembled away happy and already looking forward to what is in store for 2009.

Malcolm Wood

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