Brass Band Willebroek
Conductor: Frans Violet
Soloists: Lode Violet, Kevin Van Giel
Doyen Recordings: CD 439
The second volume of Brass Band Willebroek’s long-awaited CD series coincides with the 70th birthday of its founder conductor Frans Violet, as well as yet another title success (their 22nd) at the recent Belgian National Championships.
That all have been achieved under his direction (as well as a trio of European and a brace of World Championships) is a potent testament to the enduring quality of their musical partnership – one that now spans five decades of competitive excellence.
Credentials
This impressive release, recorded in a lovely acoustic, substantiates those credentials with major test-pieces of recent vintage. ‘Sand and Stars’ from Thierry Deleruyelle has followed ‘Fraternity’ as one of the zeitgeist works of recent contesting times, whilst Philip Sparke’s ‘A Road Less Travelled By’ is a timely reminder of his lasting compositional quality.
Recorded in April 2024, less than a month before being reprised at the European Championships in Palanga, they display the sharpest of contest edges maintained in a meticulously balanced apex shaped body of tonality – rounded, rich and controlled.
Recorded in April 2024, less than a month before being reprised at the European Championships in Palanga, they display the sharpest of contest edges maintained in a meticulously balanced apex shaped body of tonality – rounded, rich and controlled.
Clarity and precision
The MD evokes a sultry atmosphere to the dramatic narrative of Antoine de Saint-Expery’s aviation exploits, building and releasing the page-turning tension, before a gloriously exuberant finale. The Sparke is an equally fine construct, although one that doesn’t have to rely on a story-telling exposition to reach its triumphant climax. Instead, Frans Violet brings tempered clarity and precision, the textures seeping into defined layers, the music never sounding hurried or overcooked.
It is the same with the featured soloists (a reprise duo from the first release). Lode Violet’s refined understanding of Oskar Bohme’s ‘Concerto in F Minor’ captures the essence of its romantic virtuosic inclinations; delicately shaped lyrical phrasing, the facility of his technique considered and crystal clear.
Lode Violet’s refined understanding of Oskar Bohme’s ‘Concerto in F Minor’ captures the essence of its romantic virtuosic inclinations; delicately shaped lyrical phrasing, the facility of his technique considered and crystal clear.
Expression
A cultured sense of expression also underpins Kevin Van Giel’s rendition of Bart Leys’ ‘Triumphus Vitae’. An extended paean of celebration and commemoration, the initial darker strands of sadness and fear are superseded by a sense of optimism and joyful intent before the triumph of a resolute battling spirit brings the work to an uplifting close.
Elsewhere ‘Lux’ also has strong stanchions of embedded tribute. Roger Deronge’s work balances heartfelt emotion with reference touchstones that carefully avoid obvious pastiche, despite the familiarity.
The Monopoly game dice-roll excitement of Jonathan Bates’ ‘Pall Mall’ seems somewhat out of place though; a brilliantly played ensemble feature coda that would have been more at home on ‘Volume I’ rather than being squeezed in here.
Iwan Fox
To purchase:
CD: https://www.worldofbrass.com/102194
Download: https://www.worldofbrass.com/102194-download
Wobplay: http://www.wobplay.com
Play list:
1. Sand and Stars (Thierry Deleruyelle)
2-4. Concerto in F Minor (Oskar Bohme arr. Gareth Pritchard)
Soloist: Lode Violet
i. Allegro Moderato
ii. Adagio Religioso/Allegretto
iii. Rondo: Allegro Scherzando
5. Lux (Roger Deronge)
6. Triumphus Vitae (Bart Leys)
Soloist: Kevin Van Giel
7. A Road Less Travelled By (Philip Sparke)
8. Pall Mall (Jonathan Bates)
