*
banner

National Youth Brass Band of Wales

Conductor: Paul Holland
Soloist: Lode Violet
RWCM&D
Cardiff
Sunday 30th July


Like most 40-year-olds prone to post-Covid middle age spread, the National Youth Brass Band of Wales has taken the decision to lose a little weight. 

A ‘double-size’ band is currently a much slimmer version of itself (31 strong here) – the diet instituted by National Youth Arts Wales linked to that also undertaken by its sibling ensembles for Choir, Dance, Theatre and Orchestra.

Its Interim Chief Executive Matthew Jones said in his on-line welcome that his organisation was still, “far from realising what the long-term impacts of the pandemic might be on young people”.  As a result, the pragmatic appreciation of the ambitions needed to support “talent and potential”  are now much more clearly defined.  

Potential to flourish

On this evidence (following performances in Bangor and St Davids) the National Youth Brass Band certainly has the potential to flourish through incremental investment in a new generation of performers.

The programme was cleverly conceived by the Flowers MD – the major works of ‘Five Blooms in a Welsh Garden’  and ‘High Peak’  appreciations of musical character rather than facile technical virtuosity in both the solo lines and ensemble. 

Paul Holland (who played with the band in his not-too-distant youth) led with a clear sense of confidence in his charges, who in turn responded with quality playing of rich tonality and technical competence. 

The programme was cleverly conceived by the Flowers MD – the major works of ‘Five Blooms in a Welsh Garden’  and ‘High Peak’  appreciations of musical character rather than facile technical virtuosity in both the solo lines and ensemble. 

Mature performances

The mature performances that resulted were balanced by the energised trio of the Monopoly set inspired ‘Go!’  by Christian Overhead and ‘Pall Mall’  of Jonathan Bates, as well as PLC’s ‘Home of Legends’. 

Expressive ecclesiastical sounds came with the ‘Canterbury’  and ‘Sunken’  cathedral inspired brace from Jan van der Roost and Debussy, whilst the MDs witty critique of ‘David of the White Rock’  certainly brought a new twist of appreciation to a well-played old Welsh favourite.

Stan Nieuwenhuis’s Shakespearian inspired ‘Fortune’s Fool’ evoked a hormonal teenage Romeo of tender longing and wham bang lust.

Lode Violet was the superb guest soloist – a young performer whose musical control and stylistic flexibility was showcased brilliantly in Tom Davoren’s touching ‘Alaw’  and Liz Lane’s highland infused ‘Slate, Sea and Sky’.  Stan Nieuwenhuis’s Shakespearian inspired ‘Fortune’s Fool’  evoked a hormonal teenage Romeo of tender longing and wham bang lust.

Elsewhere, ‘Crown Imperial’  and ‘Upon the Celtic Cross’  offered an intriguing brace of pastiche imitation (Walton aping Elgar, Jonathan Bates evoking a Welsh version of ‘Riverdance’) to round off a concert that offered an authentic endorsement of the band’s new slimline health. 

Iwan Fox 

Image courtesy of Lluniau Photography
http://www.lluniau-aj.co.uk

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    



Brass Bands England - Brass Band Week

Saturday 5 July • Nation wide


Besses Boys' Band - Besses Boys' Band Summer Concert

Saturday 5 July • The Derby High School, Radcliffe Rd, Bury BL9 9NH


Putney and Wimbledon Brass Band - Summer Concert

Sunday 6 July • Community Church Putney, Werter Road. SW15 2LL


Longridge Band - Anniversary Concert

Saturday 12 July • Longridge Civic Hall, 1 Calder Avenue, Longridge, Preston PR3 3HT


Haverhill Silver Band - Proms Concert - St Ives

Saturday 12 July • Hill Rise Park, St Ives PE27 6SP


Haverhill Silver Band

July 3 • Haverhill Silver Band (championship section) seeks a PRINCIPAL CORNET. This is a superb opportunity to lead East Anglia's premier brass band on the concert and contest stage (including the Senior Cup and Whit Friday).


Chinnor Silver

July 3 • Our COMMUNITY BAND meet fortnightly on a Monday morning (next rehearsal 7th) and we welcome any players who want an extra blow.. We require no allegiance just come and enjoy the friendly blow with coffee and cake thrown in.(Its all free)


Hathersage Band

July 2 • FRONT ROW CORNET (position negotiable). Hathersage Brass Band is a thriving, non-contesting community band. We enjoy our music making and have a good gig schedule. Are you the right person to join our happy band?


Prof. Christopher Houlding

MMus, GGSM, LRAM
Conductor, Performer, Educator


               

 © 2025 4barsrest.com Ltd