Some 25 years since its last visit, the Band of the Coldstream Guards returned to Southend to present a fund-raising concert on behalf of the charity Help for Heroes.  

Atmospheric playing

After the ‘National Anthem’ had been played they presented ‘Entry to the Senate’ from Nigel Hess’s ‘Shakespeare Pictures’.  

Brooding and atmospheric, it showed off the band to good effect, despite a few intrusive squeaks from a temperamental clarinet reed, if perhaps being rather subdued for a programme opener.  

‘Force of Destiny’ which followed was full of contrast between the brass and woodwind, with some impressive unison playing.

Vocal and string soloists

The band was supported by tenor soloist John Innes, whose performance of ‘Bring Him Home’ was well received.  

WO1 Jonathan Milne took over the baton for the rest of the first half, starting with ‘Danse Macabre’ which featured LCpl Helen Betteridge on violin.  

The well-scored accompaniment ensured the soloist could be heard clearly over the band, and Helen’s double-stopping and at times fearsome pizzicato added to the effect.

TV influences

After John Innes had produced a ringing account of ‘Nessun Dorma’ the first half ended with ‘Thames Journey’, a depiction of the progress of the river from source to the coast, complete with reference to various places along the route, such as ‘Greensleeves’ (Hampton Court), ‘The Lambeth Walk’ and ‘London Bridge is Falling Down’.  

The music bore many hallmarks of his successful writing for TV and film and made for an upbeat finish. 

Period representation

Following a brief presentation from Steve Scholar of Help for Heroes, the second half opened with a feature depicting the band as it was in the 18th century, complete with natural trumpet and horns, a serpent and an impressive looking Jingling Johnny.  

Music included a march by Christopher Ely, a horn feature by Haydn and ‘Scipio’, which the band adopted as its slow march.

Idiomatic soloists

‘Here’s to the Heroes’ is an adaptation of music from the film ‘Dancing with Wolves’, featuring John Innes once more.  

Musn Chad Barrigan then swapped his saxophone for a guitar and CSgt David Wright took up the flugel horn for an atmospheric rendition of ‘Children of Sanchez’, both soloists capturing the character of the music very well.  

John Innes returned to the stage for his final song, ‘Time to Say Goodbye’, sung in Italian and English.  

The last soloist from the band was LCpl Gavin Hall with ‘From the Shores of the Mighty Pacific’, with a performance that grew in confidence after some insecurity at the start.

Patriotic finale

The band’s finale was ‘Crown Imperial’, played with due panache, with a lovely largamente middle section, and with full-blooded playing all round the stand.

The concert ended with the audience joining in with ‘Rule Britannia’ and ‘Land of Hope and Glory’ before the final regimental Quick March, ‘Milanollo’.

Peter Bale