The Amersham Band will be hoping that much like Foden’s (who were featured on the Friday evening), any future appearance at this festival will also be a prelude to a weekend National Final contest performance at the Royal Albert Hall.
They wouldn’t be out of place there, as MD Paul Fisher led a band playing with admirable style and security on repertoire that encompassed Gershwin to Wilby via Heaton and Bricusse.
Thrilled
James Fountain was the undoubted star draw for the evening event, but the many neutral listeners will have left not only thrilled by his playing, but also by that of a band showcasing elite level credentials to well drilled effect.
The marches ‘Able’ and ‘Praise’ were neat and purposeful, whilst the contrasts offered by Downie’s ‘In Perfect Peace’ and Lauridsen’s ‘O Magnum Mysterium’ had cultured texture and comforting musicality. ‘Pure Imagination’ and ‘Thy Tribute Bring’ also balanced candy floss sweetness with meaty passion.
Paul Fisher’s understanding of the stylistic threading of Gershwin’s ‘An American in Paris’ gave a dance-like refinement to Howard Snell’s superb arrangement, while the Lucky Chops fun of ‘Behroozi’ set the collective pulse to late night swagger. It was also refreshing to hear a ‘Paganini Variations’ that eschewed the blunt-witted roller-coaster approach and instead searched for its inherent subtleties.
Superlatives only for James Fountain: ‘Charivari’, ‘How do you keep the music playing’, ‘Carnival of Venice’ and ‘Threnody’ were mini masterclasses – performed with appreciation as well as virtuosity.
Superlatives
Superlatives only for James Fountain: ‘Charivari’, ‘How do you keep the music playing’, ‘Carnival of Venice’ and ‘Threnody’ were mini masterclasses – performed with appreciation as well as virtuosity.
Earlier in the day Paul Fisher led a Brass Foundations Day with over 100 local primary schoolchildren in attendance, whilst the event itself raised funds for Regent Hall’s Homelessness Project. Superlatives too for that.
Helen Hughes
