Conductor: Ian Porthouse
Ardingly College
West Sussex
Saturday 10th October
The fourth of five commissioning band premieres of Richard Blackford’s ‘Orbital’ formed the first half musical centrepiece of Tredegar’s welcome return visit to West Sussex.
It followed a full day of masterclasses and tuition to students, with three Ardingly ensembles (Junior Trumpets, French Horn and Senior Trumpets) being featured before to the Welsh band’s rendition of ‘Vienna Philharmonic Fanfare’ and reprise of the recent National Final test-piece, ‘A Road Less Travelled By’.
Blackford (who give his own masterclass in composition to students on the day) and Sparke overlapped in study at the Royal College of Music in London, their styles also sharing familiar traits of craftsmanship in melodic scoring.
Inner workings
‘Orbital’ continues to reveal both its techncial and musical inner workings on repeated hearing – the narrative imagery of Samantha Harvey’s Booker Prize winning novel cleanly defined in its expression and drama – the final re-entry section a blazing ball of heated intensity.
‘Orbital’ continues to reveal both its techncial and musical inner workings on repeated hearing
Sparke’s poetic inspiration meanwhile is one of reflection, still energised, but not as immediate. MD Ian Porthouse drew out the colourings and textures of both with an appreciation of the lovely (if lively) acoustic of the Gothic Revival chapel.
The second half was of lighter fayre – opening with the Ardingly Brass Band performing ‘Largo’ from ‘Xerxes’ by Handel, the tender ‘Evening Prayer’ from Humperdink’s ‘Hansel and Gretel’ and the colourful fun of ‘La Cucaracha’.
Lighter side
Tredegar also showcased their lighter side with ‘September’ by Earth, Wind and Fire, before a solo spotlight featuring the assured talents of Dewi Griffiths (‘Glorious Ventures’), Sion Jones (‘Varied Mood’) and the stunning xylophone skills of Owen Yarrow (3rd movement of Mayuzami’s ‘Concertino for Xylophone’) was balanced by the evocative sounds of Gavin Higgins’ arrangement of ‘Ar Lan yr Mor’.
The joint items of ‘Big Top’ and ‘Conquest of Paradise’ rounded off a splendid day of education outreach and inspirational excellence.
Joshua Geddes
