*
banner

CD review: Festive Gold

Sovereign Brass
Conductor: Alan Gifford
Soloists: Rebekah Lock, Karl Slater, Ian Brailsford
WOS Recordings: WOS173

sOVEREIGN

Tacky festive decorations and consumer merchandise are now put up so early that it won’t be too long before children will wonder why Santa Claus wanted to blow up Parliament on November 5th. 

Nevertheless, it’s never too late to release a CD to help raise much needed funds as well as remind everyone of the true meaning of a brass band Christmas.

Musical flavours

‘Festive Gold’  amply meets both requirements; 16 neatly delivered tracks from a confident Sovereign Brass (which has enjoyed some well-deserved contest prezzies this year) that evoke the contrasting musical flavours of the season, from the traditional to the quirky, the thoughtful to the witty. 

It's a Santa sack full of treats - starting with the bold sounds of ‘Fanfare: Christian Awake’  and the big band swing of ‘Little Donkey’,  

It's a Santa sack full of treats - starting with the bold sounds of ‘Fanfare: Christian Awake’  and the big band swing of ‘Little Donkey’,  through the pop hits ‘Do they know it’s Christmas’  and ‘It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year’  to the galloping snowy bells of ‘Troika’  and the perky punch of ‘Yule Dance’.

The ensemble features offer supple changes of tempi and style, whilst the trio of excellent soloists perform with marked musicality

The ensemble features offer supple changes of tempi and style, whilst the trio of excellent soloists perform with marked musicality; Rebekah Lock on the Pat Methenyesque ‘The First Noel’,  Karl Slater with ‘A Spaceman Came Travelling’  and Ian Brailsford on a languid ‘Silent Night’. 

Plenty to enjoy

Occasionally it gets as fruity as a Charles Dickens’ plumb pudding with the odd shrapnel thruppenny bit flying about, but there is plenty to enjoy with the classic Leroy Anderson ‘Sleigh Ride’  and monkish-pop of ‘Gaudete!’.  There is also a lovely sense of longing with ‘Who is He?’ and fun with Sandy Smith’s brilliant advent calendar ‘guess what’s next’ ‘Santa Claus-trophobia’.

Nicely directed, recorded and eye-catchingly sleeve-wrapped it fully deserves to be found in plenty of Christmas stockings alongside a Penguin book on important dates in history for children who may be starting to be confused to why Santa Claus is ending up on top of a bonfire.

Iwan Fox


To purchase:
http://​https://www.sovereignbrass.co.uk/news

Play list:

1. Fanfare: Christians Awake (Paul Lovatt-Cooper)
2. Away in a Manger (James R. Murray arr. Fendall Hill)
3. The First Noel (Trad arr. Jared McCunnie)
Flugel soloist: Rebekah Lock

4. Little Donkey (E. Boswell arr. Martin & Barber)
5. Ukrainian Bell Carol (Leontovych arr. Whelan)
6. A Spaceman Came Travelling (Chris de Burgh arr. Barber)
Cornet soloist: Karl Slater

7. Sleigh Ride (Anderson arr. Tomlinson)
8. Do they know it Christmas (Geldof/Ure arr. Fernie)
9. Gaudete! (Kevin Norbury)
10. Who is He? (Hanby arr. Richard Phillips)
11. Silent Night (Gruber & Moher arr. Stevens)
Trombone soloist: Ian Brailsford

12. Santa Claus-trophobia (arr. Sandy Smith)
13. It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year (Wyle/Pola arr. Lafollette/Snyder/Barber)
14. Troika from Lieutenant Kije (Prokofiev arr. Farr)
15. O Little Town of Bethlehem (Redner arr. Fendall Hill)
16. Yule Dance (Philip Harper)

Support us for less than a cup of coffee...

4BR wants to ensure that the brass band movement remains vibrant and relevant. We also want to be able to question, challenge and critically examine those who run and play in it, producing high quality journalism that informs as well as entertains our readers.

So if like us you value a strong, independent perspective on the brass band world - then why not consider becoming a supporter and help make our future and that of a burgeoning brass band movement more secure.

So one less cappuccino then?

Support us    



The Hepworth Band - Hepworth Band New Year Celebration Concert

Sunday 26 January • Christ Church, New Mill, Holmfirth HD97ER


Dobcross Silver Band - Hammonds Band

Sunday 26 January • c/o Dobcross Band Club. Platt Lane. Dobcross Saddleworth OL3 5AD


Contest: Norwegian National Brass Band Championships

Friday 7 February • Grieghallen, Bergen, N-5015. N-5015


Contest: Norwegian National Brass Band Championships

Saturday 8 February • Grieghallen, Bergen, N-5015 N-5015


Haverhill Silver Band - Concert in Clare Church

Saturday 8 February • St Peter and St Paul Church, Clare, Suffolk CO10 8NY


West Yorkshire Brass

January 20 • We are a friendly and welcoming non-competing band based in the Bradford area of West Yorkshire. We play at various events in Yorkshire throughout the year. We have vacancies for Eb and BBb basses. Instruments provided if required


wantage silver band

January 20 • Wantage Band (championship section) has a vacant 2ND CORNET position. This would suit a player with experience in a championship or first section band. Rehearsals take place every Sun 7:30pm and Wed 8pm in Wantage with highly experienced MD Chris King.


Rushden Town Band

January 19 • 2nd Trombone position of this fun loving band. . . Great diary of regular concerts throughout the year, plus at least 2 contests per year. Recently recorded its first CD and off on its second tour in May 2025.


Stan Lippeatt

BA, LRSM
Conductor, adjudicator, tutor


               

 © 2025 4barsrest.com Ltd