Brighouse & Rastrick Band
Conductor: Dr Jonathan Corry
Soloists: Isobel Daws, Niall Keatley, Mike Eccles, Shaun Crowther, Ellena Newton, Charlotte Horsfield, Steve Lomas
Featuring: Onyx Brass
Doyen Recordings: CD436
For the past two decades Dorothy Gates has created an eclectic catalogue of original and arranged works that until recently has been somewhat hidden from a wider secular audience.
As the Senior Music Producer for the Salvation Army’s Eastern Territory for 20 years, and Composer in Residence for the New Yorks Staff Band, her talent is obvious and substantive; a commanding range from traditional SA genres to more populist and contemporary features.
Emotional core
A strong emotional core of personal belief, reflection and exploration has long been evident in her output.
This was shown with the evocative score to the 1909 silent film ‘The Salvation Army Lass’ (directed by the infamous D.W Griffith) heard at the 2017 RNCM Brass Band Festival, as well as with the more substantial retrospective of her output given in 2024. ‘Hope’ (focusing on the Isreal/Palestinian conflict) was recently performed at the Swiss National Championships.
Niall Keatley brings breathless dance suavity to the Harry Jamesesque ‘Cantad a Jehova’, whilst Onyx Brass display their talents in full on the title track; a concerto grosso between ensemble and band of melodic interplay, stylish expositions and refined tensions.
This release is therefore as enlightening as it is long overdue.
Supported with funds through Arts Council of Northern Ireland and The National Lottery, it also has a strong personal connection through her cousin and conductor Dr Jonthan Corry who directs with insightful consideration throughout.
Authority
The major contributions of Isobel Daws, Niall Keatley and Onyx Brass add greatly to the engaging ingredients.
The trombone concerto, ‘Servant of Peace’, inspired by the life of the former Swedish UN Secretary-General Dag Hammarskjold, is performed with huge authority by Isobel Daws;
The trombone concerto, ‘Servant of Peace’, inspired by the life of the former Swedish UN Secretary-General Dag Hammarskjold, is performed with huge authority by Isobel Daws; the bold determination of the opening contrasting with the delicate soprano balances in the central section and the driving energy of the finale.
Niall Keatley brings breathless dance suavity to the Harry Jamesesque ‘Cantad a Jehova’, whilst Onyx Brass display their talents in full on the title track; a concerto grosso between ensemble and band of melodic interplay, stylish expositions and refined tensions.
Spark and glow
Elsewhere, the misty ebb of the trombone quartet ‘Ballyhornan’, quirky boldness of the march ‘War Cry’ and salute to civil rights bravery in ‘Georgetown’ (with its hint of Malcolm Arnold) are countered by the clever modulation of ‘Be Still’, from Sibelius Swedish national pride to tender personal hymnal.
The festive flugel solo ‘As With Gladness’ and slightly bizarre musical miscibility of ‘Nobody Loves Me Better’ offer enjoyable detours, as do ‘See, What a Morning’ and the big band treatment of ‘Jounetsu-Tairiku’.
‘Invisible Fire’ with its fragmentary references that spark, glow before eventually conflagrating into a Wesleyan hymnal meets ‘Superman’ ‘Love Divine’ finale offers an uplifting closing flourish to a welcome release.
Iwan Fox
To purchase:
CD: https://www.worldofbrass.com/102190
Download: https://www.worldofbrass.com/102190-download
Wobplay: http://www.wobplay.com
Play list:
1. War Cry (Dorothy Gates)
2. Be Still (Jean Sibelius arr. Dorothy Gates)
3. Cantad a Jehova (iii. David’s Dance) (Dorothy Gates)
Soloist: Niall Keatley
4. Servant of Peace (Dorothy Gates)
Soloist: Isobel Daws
i. The Road
ii. The Cup
iii. The Truth
7. Georgetown (Dorothy Gates)
8. As with Gladness (Dorothy Gates)
Soloist: Mike Eccles
9. Jounetsu-Tairiku (Dorothy Gates)
10. Another World (Dorothy Gates)
i. Allegro
ii. Presto e legato
iii. Allegro
13. See what a Morning (Dorothy Gates)
14. Nobody loves me better (Marvin Hamlisch arr. Dorothy Gates)
Soloist: Shaun Crowther
15. Ballyhornan (Dorothy Gates)
Soloists: Isobel Daws, Ellena Newton, Charlotte Horsfield, Steve Lomas
16. Invisible Fire (Dorothy Gates)
i. Scherzo - Joy of Fire
ii. Chorale - Perfect Love
iii. Scherzo - New Creation
