Hauts de France Brass Band
Conductor: Luc Vertommen
Soloists: Cedric Gesquiere, Lilian Meurin, Arnaud Peru
Doyen Recordings: DOY CD443
Initially formed in 1992 as Brass Band Nord-pas-de-Calais and enjoying title winning success, it has been since the arrival of Belgian conductor Luc Vertommen in 2012 that Hauts de France has fully emerged as France’s pre-eminent brass band.
The change of name in 2017 (following regional government reform) has coincided with winning the National title in seven of the last eight competitive years, as well as gaining top-six finishes at the European Championships.
Their cross-border mix of high-quality French and Belgian players have been moulded by the MD into a fine elite level ensemble – possessing a broadly layered sound, rich and textured, the technique tailored precisely in its appreciation of the music.
Musical ethos
That very much reflects Luc Vertommen’s personal musical ethos which shapes the eight tracks on this impressive release – the major ensemble contributions provided by his brace of ‘Suites’ from Leonard Bernstein’s ‘Mass’ and Astor Piazzolla’s ‘Maria de Buenos Aries’.
Bernstein’s setting of the Tridentine Mass of the Catholic Church drew on deep seated personal emotions and links to the Kennedy family
Bernstein’s setting of the Tridentine Mass of the Catholic Church drew on deep seated personal emotions and links to the Kennedy family (it was commissioned by JFK’s widow for the 1971 opening of the Kennedy Centre in New York).
Diverse responses
It was a deliberate piece of liturgical Broadway theatre that drew diverse responses from critics - some dismissing it as ‘vulgar trash’ as befitting the ‘Palace on the Potomac’, others stating that the composer had “put his finger exactly on what ails the Church today” in a way Stravinsky had with his ‘Symphony of Psalms’.
Piazzolla’s ‘tango opera’ from 1968 also embraces the theatrical surrealism of religious storytelling in what is a morality tale of a troubled life followed by a redemptive death – from a dance with the Devil to a finishing fugue with St Peter.
Piazzolla’s ‘tango opera’ from 1968 also embraces the theatrical surrealism of religious storytelling (Maria born “one day when God was drunk”) in what is a morality tale of a troubled life followed by a redemptive death – from a dance with the Devil to a finishing fugue with St Peter. It too brought diverse critical responses; the work rarely staged after its premiere until later reappraisal drew renewed appreciation.
As compact ‘highlights’ they work well, thanks to Vertommen’s fine scoring, sense of balance and the stylish command of the ensemble and solo playing, although understandably they lack a connective context to the original source material.
Substantial
The quality of the band’s soloists is substantial: Cedric Gesquiere’s rich tone and interpretive elan bringing waspish character to William Himes’ ‘Caprice for Cornet’, whilst Lilian Meurin is the darkly dramatic lead in ‘Guadalquivir’ (Rhapsody for Euphonium), sinewy and turbulent in it commanding flow. Arnaud Peru brings a touching sense of lonely beauty to ‘Ave Maria’ with his plaintive flugel voice.
Luc Vertommen’s cleverly realised take on ‘Caledonia’ (with under pinning vocals) thankfully does not stray for even a moment into tartan tin shortbread over-sentimentality.
Elsewhere there is control to the excitement generated by the opening ‘Valaisia Variants’ and the title track ‘Strom!’ by Thibaut Bruniaux that crackles with meteorological energy, whilst Luc Vertommen’s cleverly realised take on ‘Caledonia’ (with under pinning vocals) thankfully does not stray for even a moment into tartan tin shortbread over-sentimentality.
Iwan Fox
To purchase:
CD: https://www.worldofbrass.com/102201
Download: https://www.worldofbrass.com/102201-download
Wobplay: http://www.wobplay.com
Play list:
1. Valaisia Variants (Tom Davoren)
2. Suite from Mass (Leonard Bernstein arr. Luc Vertommen)
i. Alleluia
ii. Sanctus
iii. Agnus Dei
iv. A Simple Song
v. Offertory
vi. Almighty Father
3. Caprice for Cornet (William Himes)
Soloist: Cedric Gesquiere
4. Storm! (Thibaut Bruniaux)
5. Guadalquivir (Rhapsody for Euphonium) (Hans Loirs)
Soloist: Lilian Meurin
6. Caledonia (Dougie MacLean arr. Luc Vertommen)
7. Ave Maria (Astor Piazzolla arr. Luc Vertommen)
Soloist: Arnaud Peru
8. Suite from Maria de Buenos Aires (Astor Piazzolla arr. Luc Vertommen)
i. Alvelare
ii. You Say Maria
iii. Ballad Renga Para un Organito Loco
iv. Fuga Y Misterio
