*
banner

Black Dyke Band

Conductor: Prof Nicholas Childs
Symphony Hall, Birmingham
Sunday 22nd January

The concert schedule of Black Dyke Band is the busiest in the banding world.

After a hectic round of Christmas events the players had enjoyed a little time off to welcome in the New Year before they were back on the road once more – starting in Morley the week before this return appearance at Symphony Hall.

Familiar mix

Although the programme was a familiar mix of listener friendly features and solos, there was also something a little unexpected too – all delivered with a swaggering confidence and polish ahead of their appearance at the RNCM Brass Band Festival in Manchester. 

Elgar’s ‘Pomp & Circumstance March No. 4’  set the template of quality to open, but it was the razor sharp clarity displayed in Philip Wilby’s ‘Beethoven’  that really caught the ear.  

Something of a guidebook of variations on the famous choral finale to ‘Symphony No. 9’,  complete with choreographed movement, it was played with just the right balance of joyfulness and serious intent, the ending resplendent and glorious in the way only Philip Wilby can write.   

Something of a guidebook of variations on the famous choral finale to ‘Symphony No. 9’,  complete with choreographed movement, it was played with just the right balance of joyfulness and serious intent, the ending resplendent and glorious in the way only Philip Wilby can write.   

So too the excerpts from ‘Music from the Elizabethan Court’,  stylish and light, whilst the solos from Richard Marshall and Stephanie Binns were just as classy. Paul Lovatt-Cooper’s ‘Above and Beyond’  and ‘Enter the Galaxies’  set the adrenaline flowing to end the first and open the second half.

Wonderfully elegant

A wonderfully elegant Brett Baker and virtuosic Gavin Saynor and Daniel Thomas delighted the audience in the ‘Soloist Showcase’ feature, before it was dancing shoes at the ready for the cleverly balanced ‘Strictly Black Dyke’ trio of ‘Let’s Face the Music’,  'Libertango’ and ‘Bolero’. 

By the time the Roman legions marched down Birmingham Broadway to the sound of Respighi’s ‘Pines of Rome’  (great to hear the 'Pines of the Villa Borghese'  to set the scene) the audience were ready to demand an encore.

‘Riverdance’ – complete with Richard Marshall in Michael Flatley mode rounded a great afternoon of entertainment.

Thomas Day

Support us for less than a cup of coffee...

4BR wants to ensure that the brass band movement remains vibrant and relevant. We also want to be able to question, challenge and critically examine those who run and play in it, producing high quality journalism that informs as well as entertains our readers.

So if like us you value a strong, independent perspective on the brass band world - then why not consider becoming a supporter and help make our future and that of a burgeoning brass band movement more secure.

So one less cappuccino then?

Support us    



Luton Brass Band - Masterclass with David Daws

Wednesday 27 September • St Augustine's Church, Luton LU3 2JR


South Yorkshire Police -

Saturday 30 September • Sheffield Catherdral. Church Street. Sheffield. S1 1HA


Epping Forest Band - Thundersley Brass Band

Saturday 30 September • Salvation Army Hall, Hadleigh, Essex SS7 20F


Friary Brass Band - guest soloist Tom Smith

Saturday 30 September • Trinity Methodist Church. Brewery Road. Woking GU21 4LH


Contest: Bolsover Festival of Brass

Saturday 30 September • Shirebrook Academy, Common Lane, Shirebrook. Derbyshire NG20 8QF


Harlow Brass Band

September 22 • Seeking a MUSICAL DIRECTOR - We are a friendly, non-contesting band who play to a good standard. We hold our own Spring and Christmas concerts and provide entertainment at various local events throughout the year


Chinnor Silver

September 22 • Chinnor Silver Band (2nd section National finalists 2023) are looking to strengthen their ranks. We require a Bass player(either flavour) Bass trombone and percussionist. We are a friendly band with a good mix of Concerts and Contests planned for 2023/24


Easingwold Town Band

September 21 • We are an enterprising, forward-looking, inclusive 4th Section band with vacancies for soprano cornet, front-row cornet and Eb bass. Enjoy a friendly welcome at our bandroom in Easingwold, 12 miles N of York (postcode YO61 3DB). Come for a blow!


Dr Brett Baker

BSc (Hons), ARCM, PG Dip
Marketing Lead, Denis Wick & Alliance Products; Artist at Michael Rath Instruments


               

 © 2023 4barsrest.com Ltd