Black Dyke Band
Conductor: Prof Nicholas J Childs
Soloist: Richard Marshall
Doyen Recordings: CD455
Andrew Wainwright continues to gain wide-ranging respect for his growing catalogue of original and arranged works that span both the salvationist and secular fields of composition.
Awards as well as commissions have come his way, further recognition for an informed style of melodic writing strongly defined by structure, harmonic progression and narrative (the influences of Ray Steadman-Allen, Peter Graham and Philip Sparke are marked) - from preludes and reflections to processionals and test-pieces.
No presumption
One of the two examples of the latter on the release comes in the form of ‘Beyond The Falls – The Smoke that Thunders’.
Expanded from an original Brass in Concert piece, it’s inspired by the story of the Scottish missionary and explorer David Livingstone, allegedly the first European to set eyes on Mozi-oa-Tunya in 1855, subsequently renaming them Victoria Falls. It will be discovered by bands later this year in York as the set-work for the First Section National Final.
it’s inspired by the story of the Scottish missionary and explorer David Livingstone, allegedly the first European to set eyes on Mozi-oa-Tunya in 1855, subsequently renaming them Victoria Falls.
Wainwright’s musical cartography (he grew up in Southern Africa) of explorative technique, style and stamina provides an evocative score of anticipation and optimism through challenge (Livingston was mauled by a lion at one point) and doubt before reaching its triumphant conclusion.
Those who may ‘presume’ it to be an easy journey to navigate to victory though will be in for a shock.
Gothique culture
The other major contesting work is the title track, ‘Gothique Fantasy’, commissioned by Illinois Brass Band for the 2024 NABBA Contest. The spirit of Leon Boellman’s famous organ work is distilled into a clever series of variant parts – from contemplative and mysterious to emotive and grandiose, the appreciation clear, cultured and ultimately rejoiceful.
The pulsating energy of ‘Resilience’ is a clever match of solid chorale foundations and sparking filigree architecture.
Black Dyke Band perform with slick professionalism throughout – capturing the resolute Wesleyan style of the opening ‘Fanfare Prelude’ on ‘Richmond’, through to the vigourous brightness of ‘Illuminate’ and the tenderly layered inclinations of ‘Be Thou My Vision’. The pulsating energy of ‘Resilience’ is a clever match of solid chorale foundations and sparking filigree architecture.
Artistry
A special mention though to Richard Marsall, who signs off his recording tenure with the Queensbury band with a consummate display of artistry on ‘My Soul, Rejoice’.
Elsewhere, ‘Fallen Souls’ has a mournful sense of fallibility and questioning as it grows in agitation and deliberate instability, which sits against the rock-solid stability that emerges in the wedding processional ‘The Vow’ – a lovely wedding gift from the composer to his wife with a nod of appreciation to Wagner and William Himes in its tread to the minster.
Iwan Fox
To purchase:
CD:
https://www.worldofbrass.com/102462
https://www.wainwrightmusicmedia.com/albums
Download:
https://www.worldofbrass.com/102462-download
Wobplay: http://www.wobplay.com
Play list:
1. Fanfare Prelude on ‘Richmond’ (Charles Wesley arr. Andrew Wainwright)
2. Illuminate (Andrew Wainwright)
3. Be Thou My Vision (trad. arr. Andrew Wainwright)
4. Resilience (Andrew Wainwright)
5. Gothique Fantasy (Andrew Wainwright)
6. My Soul, Rejoice (Andrew Wainwright/Laurie Klein)
Soloist: Richard Marshall
7. Fallen Souls (Andrew Wainwright)
8. Beyond The Falls – The Smoke That Thunders (Andrew Wainwright)
9. The Vow (Andrew Wainwright/William Himes)
