National Youth Brass Band of Great Britain

Conductors: Dr Bramwell Tovey, Simon Dobson, Clarence Adoo
RNCM Manchester
Saturday 11th April

You have to admit; ‘The Apprentice’ is compulsive viewing.  Watching the type of people you wouldn’t want to buy a ham sandwich off, spouting off self help platitudes such as ‘I can taste success in my spit in the morning’, makes for a very peculiar type of television experience.

If you were Sir Alan, would you want to employ any of them?

High teeth

Just as compulsively, the National Youth Brass Band of Great Britain had over fifty apprentices on show for the band's 2009 Easter Course – all of whom Sir Alan would give his high teeth to hire.

Talented, confident, focussed, eager to learn - they can all taste success in their spit in the morning for sure (even the percussionists), but all of them (as we are sure Sir Alan has said more than once) can talk the talk and walk the walk.

Guidance

Under the guidance of Artistic Director, Dr Bramwell Tovey, Assistant Conductor, Simon Dobson and an array of leading tutors, they'd spent a fabulous week at Harrogate Ladies College where they had been put through their paces on a variety of musical tasks for two concerts at Harrogate and the RNCM. 

Dr Tovey (or should that be Sir Bram?) was at his brilliant best as conductor, soloist and host for the evening - inspirational in his leadership, with a dry self deprecating wit, a wealth of musical information and an encyclopaedic amount of general interest that both entertained and educated a rather disappointingly sparse audience.   

Revitalised

The NYBBGB has been musically revitalised under his guidance in recent years, and that was shown in spades on the night, where the overall standard of playing was uniformly high.

The band was led by James Fountain on Principal Cornet whose performance defied his young age, whilst the other main soloists brought so much to the concert. Mention must go however to Matthew White on euphonium, who had a pivotal role in the majority of the pieces performed, and who rose to the challenge superbly.

Vibrancy

The sound of the 'National Anthem' filled the RNCM Concert Hall before the band confidently delivered Malcolm Arnold’s ‘Little Suite for Brass’ that was full of vibrancy, secure ensemble and solo work. 

Dr Tovey spoke with real warmth about the music of Gilbert Vinter and in this year of celebration he chose to play ‘John O’ Gaunt’ which he believed was one of the composer’s more neglected works.  The reading was terrific, with all the dark malevolent undercurrent of the work to the fore.  The battle scene  was dramatic and fearsome, whilst the triumphant ending  was superbly executed.

‘My Strength, My Tower’ is acknowledged as one of Sir Dean Goffin’s finest works and it tested Second Section bands to their limits at the National Finals last autumn. 

Superb form

Here, the band coped admirably with the demands allowing the MD top open the lyrical shape of the music to the full with delightfully subtle variation.  The scherzo was full of passion whilst James Fountain and Matthew White were on superb form in the demanding lento section. The Passacaglia was full of vibrancy too, and even when that little extra touch of passion was required, the players responded with control and warmth.

Professor Edward Gregson’s amemded ‘Variations on Laudate Dominum’ was next up.

Delighted

Dr Tovey was delighted that the composer was present to hear the performance and invited him to give an outline of the work.  Professor Gregson took the opportunity to state that he was conscious of the time scales that composers have to adhere to when composing test pieces, and as such he felt that this work needed the extra variations to make it more coherent.

As a result the way the waltz and the tarantella are entwined into the original work is beautifully done and the band delivered an accomplished interpretation.

Major works

The level of performance that had been set in the first half continued after the interval with two major works from leading young composers.

Peter Meechan’s ‘Macbeth’ was commissioned for the Scottish Open in 2007 and as the title suggests is a colourful work, full of Shakespearian characterisation with a very modern twist.

The quite beautiful lament featured some wonderful playing from flugel horn, Zoe Hancock, whilst the angularity of underlying menace of the main protagonists was executed with a real sense of increasing atmosphere.

Dramatic story

Simon Dobson’s ‘Penlee’ tells the dramatic story of the Penlee lifeboat disaster of 1981.  This powerful and emotional composition tells the hour by hour story of how the tragic events unfolded in what is very much a personal tribute from the composer.

To call it just a wonderful work perhaps would rob it of its musical intensity, but it remains a quite astonishing piece of writing. The emotional content is red raw, vividly brought to life with a visceral degree of intensity that makes for compelling listening, closing with a moment of reflection that is heartfelt.

Simon Dobson is the newly appointed Assistant Conductor of the NYBBGB for the 2009 season, and it was his turn to take over the baton to confidently direct Dr Tovey’s own composition, 'Pictures in the Smoke' featuring the composer as piano soloist.

Witty

The work derives from a witty Dorothy Parker verse about her love life and the end result is fabulous.  Given its World Premiere by Fodens in 2007, the music has a feel of Bernstein and Gershwin and is a really virtuoso piece for band and soloist - both of whom were on cracking form.  Credit must also go to Emma Crossley on the drum-kit who added a really classy bit of subtle rhythmic foundation to the work.

To close, Calvert’s ‘Canadian Folk Song Suite’ where the contrasting moods were well conveyed - especially the rhythmic clapping in ‘J’entends le Moulin’, something the players really enjoyed.

Encores

The encores for NYBBGB concerts have a traditional feel about them although no-body was prepared for what was to be the final piece of the night. 

The MD took Rimmer’s march, ‘Punchinello’ at a brisk tempo before starting of a reprise where the players sung their parts.  Those who’ve witnessed this before, knew what was coming, but those who hadn’t were particularly amused and Mark Harrison’s vocal soprano part provided great hilarity.

Unforgettable

The final hymn tune was truly unforgettable.  Dr Tovey invited Clarence Adoo to conduct the band in 'Colne', and the impact brought more than a tear to the eye from those assembled.

The NYBBGB under Dr Bramwell Tovey is a combination to savour. They appear in Cambridge at the All-England International Masters in May before reconvening later in the year for their Summer Course. 

It’s worth the journey to hear a special combination in action - it's quite a musical experience, although the only person that perhaps needed to be fired ‘Apprentice style’ on the night was the person in charge of PR – just  approximately 230 people enjoyed a truly magnificent musical experience.

Malcolm Wood

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