In 2012 the National Youth Brass Band of Great Britain under Bramwell Tovey delivered one of the most enjoyable concerts in the entire history of this festival event.

Two years on, the partnership returned, and in front of a healthily sized audience, produced another hour and a half of outstanding music making based on repertoire that has been worked on during their 2014 courses.

Nautical brio

With the protocol of the 'National Anthem' out of the way, the band launched straight into a vibrant account of Arnold's 'Padstow Lifeboat' - full of nautical brio, closely followed by an impressive rendition of the composer's 1974 Nationals test piece, 'Fantasy of Brass Band', with the players responding wonderfully to the contrasting episodes of bold fanfares and melancholic lyricism.

Nuggets

The MD admitted to having more than a soft spot for Vaughan Williams' 'English Folk Song Suite' - and you could hear why as he moulded a gem of a reading from the simple score, whilst Imogen Holst's 'Unforgettable Traveller', was also full of polished nuggets of contrast and texture.

However, it was the refined elegance of John Ireland's 'A Downland Suite' that impressed the most - delivered with such maturity by players who revelled in the opportunity to showcase their understanding of music from a bygone age.

Stylistic

There was a great deal of pre-concert interest in Peter Graham's 'Metropolis 1927' - inspired by the stylistic look and feel, rather than the obscure storyline, of the Fritz Lang film-noire sci-fi classic. 

The audience was transfixed - with the terrific ensemble and solo playing (especially from the percussion and soprano) enhancing the disturbing feel of surreal futuristic bleakness.

Bid farewell

With 'Nimrod' and 'Sempre Fidelis' dropped from the programme, the band bid farewell with 'The Day thou Gavest Lord has Ended', with those on their last course playing the second of three verses.

It ended yet another fine concert by an ensemble that continues to grow in artistic strength on each hearing under its inspirational MD.

Malcolm Wood