Having found their way into one of the smaller theatres in the RNCM complex, an appreciative audience heard the 'Artistes in Residence' for the Festival weekend, Exit Brass! deliver an enjoyable hour of high quality music that amply demonstrated their individual as well as collective excellence.
Talents
The compositional talents of the group’s cornet player, Stan Nieuwenhuis were featured with the British première of 'Fanfare' and the world première of 'The Arrival' (he also wrote the Euphonium Concerto ‘Uphill’ which was performed by fellow member Glen Van Looy with Leyland on the weekend too).
Both were stylistically very different, although the key markers of rhythmic drive and free flowing melody were evident throughout as the four individuals played with blended confidence and brio.
Huge effect
The ugly scenes of unrest that blighted Briton's towns and cities in the summer of 2011 had a huge effect on composer, Simon Dobson.
His deliberately chaotic 'Riot', superbly depicted the sense of futile exasperation that soon turned into ugly unlawful entitlement as shops were looted and law abiding citizens felt a cold chill of apprehension descend upon their most immediate surroundings.
Contrast
In contrast, Peter Meechan's 'Autumn Feeling' - the second movement of 'Manchester Sketches' written for the Swiss National Quartet Championships a few years ago, saw the composer portray a city of inherent natural beauty – despite the slate grey skies and bone chilling rain.
Exit Brass! closed with 'Mafia' – a choreographed instrumental musical cleverly put together to showcase the talents of the group as a reflection of their individual musical characteristics.
Featuring music from 'James Bond' and 'Singing in the Rain' through to 'The Good, The Bad and the Ugly', the audience was kept on its toes throughout a performance that lasted close on 25 minutes.
You really didn’t know what was coming around the next corner.
Fun
It was fun, frivolous and fantastic, and rounded off a fabulous hour's entertainment that had you laughing and thinking in almost equal measure.
That’s some trick to pull off – but Exit Brass! seems to be a group that certainly has a touch of magic.
Malcolm Wood
