Back After 30 odd years
The concert on Saturday 31st January was the first of the year and a new venue for the current band.
The band had last played at the Church over 30 years ago at the Marriage of Mr & Mrs David Beakin and with the possible exception of Alan Smithers our Solo horn (who’s memory is a bit vague on the subject of whether he had played in the Church before) no one had been in the band of that day. It was a pleasant surprise however to see David Beakin in the audience.
The band and the audience braved a bitterly cold night to play in the church which, unusually for such an old building, had a wonderfully effective central heating system.
The band played a varied programme that began with “Pastime with Good Company” and ended with “Swingtime Religion” taking in 6 well played solos during the evening.
The second half opened with Paul Lovatt-Cooper’s “Horizons” and the band were able to use the width of the church to show off the antiphonal choir effect that is such a feature of the piece.
May of the audience members had never heard a brass band before and they were blown away by the range and quality of the music that they experienced. This was reflected in the comments that were passed on both verbally at the end of the concert and later on our website.
Well done everyone and thanks to Carole, Colin and Ben from BAE who ‘depped’ for us on the night.
After a successful concert we were delighted to be asked back again (without a 30 year wait !) and look forward to playing in the Church again in June.
The Complete Programme
Pastime With Good Company
Children of Sanchez, Cornet Soloist : Andy Hill
Trumpets Wild, Cornet Trio : Andy Hill, Richard Warren, Vicky Mace
Zambezi Zambezi
Hymns of Praise
Concerto D’Aranjuez, Flugel Soloist : Chris Cannings
Basin Street Blues, Trombone Trio : Colin Batt, Hazel Walsh, Jonathan Vokes
Abba Goes Brass
Interval
Horizons
Nellie the Elephant, Bass Soloist : Geoff Colins
Breezin’ Down Broadway
The Way We Were, Euphonium soloist : David Newsom
Hawaii Five-0
Bring Him Home, Tenor Horn Soloist : Alan Smithers
Bohemian Rhapsody
Swingtime Religion