Black Dyke

Conductor: Dr Nicholas Childs
Black Dyke Brass Festival
Gandhi Hall
Leeds
Saturday 30th May

The centrepiece to this year’s Black Dyke Brass Festival came on Saturday evening, when the creative partnership between Leeds Metropolitan University and the reigning National Champions was celebrated with an invigorating concert programme at the magnificent Gandhi Hall.

Spheres

An expectant audience from both spheres of the artistic and academic world were able to enjoy a pre concert talk by Philip Wilby, Peter Graham, Paul Lovatt-Cooper and Philip Harper, where they provided insight into the major compositions to be heard on the night.

Members of the band had been busy throughout the day, leading masterclasses and recitals for over 70 participants in the Lower Brass Spotlight Day – a day that was bathed in warm Yorkshire sunshine.

Ethos

The University’s ethos of seeking creative excellence has seen Black Dyke play a major promotional role in attracting students to the Headingly campus - one shown to stunning effect with two of the night’s works providing the musical backdrop to professionally produced video features.

The link was celebrated from the start, with Peter Graham’s piercing ‘Academic Fanfare’, based with appropriate reference to the Braham’s overture, but updated with zestful brio and flair. It set the musical tone for the night.

Thoughtful

More Graham followed, and with the composer giving a thoughtful explanation of the inspiration behind ‘Harrison’s Dream’, Black Dyke set about delivering an atmospheric portrait of one of the modern repertoire’s most demanding works.   

The driven metronomic technicality was balanced with lyrical persuasion in a performance that drew vibrant colour as well as measured pathos from the score.

World premiere

The world premiere of Philip Harper’s ‘Willow Pattern’ concluded the first half, with the composer taking to the rostrum to give an enjoyable synopsis (before conducting) of his intriguing work – one that draws inspiration from the famous blue and white pattern originally found on late 18th century Minton crockery.

The story of the doomed love tryst of star crossed lovers had been an artistic inspiration for centuries before the Staffordshire potter decided to copy original designs from China (as was a version of the story, set by another son of the Midlands, William Shakespeare), and this highly descriptive festival commission was just as enjoyable a creation.

Rich in colour and effect, the story was told with clever musical characterisation and descriptive purpose, and performed with a real sense of Asiatic authenticity by the band.

Hit between the eyes

With a chance to take in the final rays of the sun on the well manicured lawns outside the Gandhi Hall during the interval, the audience returned to be hit between the eyes with a stunning mix of sight and sound.

Paul Lovatt-Cooper’s ‘Rubbing Shoulders with Champions’ provided the musical backdrop to a slick presentational video of the University’s drive towards excellence in its academic cultural and sporting activities.

The combination of trademark PLC flourishes and busy filigree work was echoed on screen as the synchronised images reached their climax in what was a highly effective combination of the visual and aural.

High class artistry

More high-class artistry followed with an authentic world class performer in David Thornton, delivering a scorching rendition of Philip Wilby’s ‘Euphonium Concerto’. Beautifully shaped in the lyrical sections, and balanced with razor sharp technique and subtle changes of pace and meter, it was a performance to savour.

Legacy

That left the final offering, and drawing on the Festival’s title of ‘Partnering the Past and Fostering the Future’, the second of the video collaborations drew on the band’s rich historical legacy as inspiration to its artistic future.

’Immortal’ may be a rather ambitious title, but Paul Lovatt- Cooper’s effective melodic ear provided a well balanced counterpoint to the images drawn from Dyke’s 150 year history – right to the present day.

Matthew Routley’s stentorian presence as the historical oral guide placed the visual reflections in context in what was a fitting musical climax to a highly enjoyable and very professionally delivered concert – one that provided ample evidence of the growing effectiveness of the progressive partnership between Leeds Metropolitan University and the Black Dyke band.

Iwan Fox

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