DVD - Black Dyke Band: 150th Anniversary Concert
5-Dec-2005Raising Brass for Kirsty
Black Dyke Band
Conductor: Dr.Nicholas Childs
Soloist: James Morrison
Featuring: Ludus Dance Company,Massed Choirs and vocal soloists
World of Brass Recordings DVD: WOB 113
Total Playing Time: 1 hour 47 mins
2005 may have been the 150th anniversary of the formation of the all brass Black Dyke Band, but it was also the year in which the current MD and players of the Queensbury ensemble made their distinctive mark in the annals of its history too.
Dr. Nicholas Childs and his band (and after the five years he has now been at the helm it is fair to say the band now reflects his musical personality) approached the anniversary year knowing that the weight of history bore heavy on their shoulders. No other brass band in the world has a musical biography quite like that of Black Dyke but for such an occasion to be remembered not only for its historical significance it had to show that it was once again the premier contesting band in the world - for it is on the contest stage that Black Dyke's formidable reputation was forged and to which it must always be associated. In 2005 they were not only the holders of the National Championship of Great Britain but they went on to win the European Championships and the British Open too. The 2005 band have written their names in the history books in indelible musical ink.
This Bridgewater Hall concert was the celebratory climax of the year long series of events that was to take Black Dyke all around the UK and Europe, and was held in conjunction with ‘Raising Brass for Kirsty' the appeal that raises funds for Francis House, the Manchester based Children's Hospice. The night ended with over £34,000 in the coffers.
It was also the night where a capacity auditorium was treated to something very special indeed - and we are not just talking about the band who were on cracking form all night. This was the musical phenomenon that is James Morrison, ‘The Wizard of Oz'. It is no exaggeration to say that this was a once in a lifetime experience, for he simply brought the house down.
Thankfully it is all recorded for posterity with this outstanding release from World of Brass in association with Timeline Vision. Recording a brass band in concert is an extremely difficult thing to do – and not just because for the most part it is a stationary block of 28 musicians. David Nicholson and his team must therefore be congratulated for the inventive way in which they bring this concert performance to life for the viewer and listener.
The use of a five different cameras allows the viewer to experience the concert experience in ‘close up' as well as from varying angles (including imposed screen shots), and as has been shown by Timeline at the recent Brass in Concert contest in Gateshead, the use of multi media presentation at such events as this has opened up a new and exciting format that can only benefit banding. The proof is here for all to see.
In addition, it can only work and work well if it is done by professionals who know what they are about: Remember the dodgy camera work that used to accompany bands on the television in ‘Best of Brass'? David Nicholson is also a fine musician and so he has taken the step of knowing the ‘score' so to speak. Thus we get close ups of players in their solo spots (enjoy the likes of Peter Roberts, Roger Webster and Brett Baker going about their business) when they are the main musical line, and more extended shots to reflect ensemble work. The result: a slick, compact and coherent high value production which is further enhanced by excellent use of lighting effects (especially in the performance of ‘Northern Lights') and live audio recording.
As we have said, it was a quite outstanding concert (you can read the concert review on the 4BR site), which saw Black Dyke pay homage not only to its past but also to its future. For a band that has recorded in all of histories many formats from Edison cylinder through shellac and vinyl to tape and CD, this DVD sees them once more exploring new territory with such professionalism that it will soon provide them with another new form of artistic armoury to add to their repertoire.
Sit back and enjoy it all. Dyke are on splendid form and James Morrison comes across as a great bloke with a neat sense of humour (which the 4BR editor can confirm after interviewing him for 4BR and The British Bandsman – which you can also read on the site) as well as some sort of musical freak that comes across once in a lifetime.
Oh, by the way. One of joys of the release (which is recorded in a format to fill a widescreen television just in case you wonder why there is the small gap at the top and bottom of your screen, although you can tweak a few buttons to fill a normal old screen) is that you can see the reaction of both the audience and the players especially when Morrison is in full flow. Just have a glance over his shoulder a couple of times to see the faces of David Thornton and John French, John Doyle and especially the Dyke bass end (who we are sure have never heard playing as high or as fast as that before) – great players just blown away by what they are hearing.
DVDs of brass bands have been with us for a little while now, but it is only really with this release that the potential of a difficult format of recording a brass band concert successfully has been overcome so well.
This is a something of a landmark production and fully deserves the plaudits. It comes highly recommended not just for the playing, but for the whole package it records so well.
Iwan Fox.
