Celebration
8-May-2010Salford University Brass Band
Conductors: Dr Howard J Evans, Dr Roy Newsome and Professor David King
Guest Soloist: Professor David King
Peel Hall, Salford
Wednesday 5th May
Celebrating the notable achievements of respected individuals is common place around the globe, and on Wednesday evening, students past and present, along with colleagues and friends, descended upon Peel Hall to pay tribute to three leading figures of the banding movement who have been based over the past thirty-five years at Salford University.
Academic innovators
The significant contributions of Roy Newsome, Goff Richards and Professor David King has left an indelible imprint on this campus and beyond during their tenures leading the ground breaking brass band courses which inspired literally hundreds of students to learn from some of the finest educators the brass band movement has produced.
The current undergraduates from the Salford University Brass Band conducted by Dr Howard J Evans led the music tributes in what was their final concert of the academic year.
The band contains a number of players who are members of leading bands although on this occasion they were not all on uniformly good form all night, with uneven performances that ranged from the very good, to the scrappy.
On the web
With the event being streamed live on the internet, the band opened with a piece containing four contrasting movements, infused with Celtic influences from the pen of Richard Rock entitled ‘Heroes of Erin’.
Dr Newsome then stepped forward to conduct Goff Richards’ popular ‘Songs of the Quay’ which was written for the competing bands at Brass in Concert when that event was in its formative years.
Vocalist Sarah Doggett was the featured soloist in ‘Don’t Rain on my Parade’ from the 1960s musical ‘Funny Girl’, as well as ‘Galway Belle’ , written by MA student, Nicola Renshaw, for a newly married couple who were present to hear the piece.
The Cornet King
Whole generations of brass players have been significantly influenced by Professor David King, as a conductor, educator and mentor at Salford.
It should not be forgotten however that he first forged his reputation at the then college as a cornetist of rare talent – a talent that saw him become a member of Black Dyke Mills Band and win the British Open Solo Championship and North of England Solo Championship on three successive occasions.
Back in familiar surroundings, Professor King was the guest soloist during the evening and provided yet more evidence that his cornet talent has not waned over the past two decades or more, with a wonderfully rich sound displayed in the haunting ‘Born on the 4th of July’ and a facile technique on the Kenny Baker inspired ‘Virtuosity’ (who came and passed on his tips to Dr King’s students in the 1980s).
Acknowledgement and awards
To provide a lasting memento of the occasion, the University presented the celebrated trio with awards acknowledging their contributions. The ensemble, ‘Ten Bob Moment’ received the Anne Welsh Memorial Ensemble Award and Norwegian Martin Bjornland received the Kirklees Composition Award for his Nordic inspired ‘Northern Dimensions’, which was then performed by the band.
Further music from Goff Richards followed with his delightful ‘Sweet Shepherdess’ before the formal proceedings were brought to a close with the ‘Finale’ from Tchaikovsky’s 'Little Russian’ Symphony’.
Appropriate ending
There was only one way that this event could conclude satisfactorily though, with perhaps the man who has done most to raise the profile of Salford University’s Brass Band Courses to its pre-eminent position as the first choice seat of learning for young musicians who wish to forge a career based on their brass playing.
Memorable night
Professor King was invited to conduct ‘Amazing Grace’ with the University Band – and did so by leading them in a performance hallmarked by neatly shaped phrasing and subtle dynamics.
This was a memorable night for all concerned, and a chance for the School of Media, Music and Performance to acknowledge the 65th and 80th birthdays of Goff Richards and Roy Newsome respectively and say thank you to three men without whom their academic courses wouldn’t have inspired so many students to enroll in what under their tutelage has been a life changing experience.
Malcolm Wood
