HAZEL GROVE BRASS BAND TAKE US ON A MUSICAL ADVENTURE AT BOARSHURST. Following a ‘record breaking’ start to 2013, after gaining second place in the North West Regional Championships on their first ever contest in the second section, Hazel Grove Brass Band thrilled another enthusiastic and knowledgeable Boarshurt Band Club audience on Sunday 16th June. The concert opened with a real foot tapping piece in Gordon Langford’s arrangement of “When The Saints Go Marching In”. This was a great way to get the audience in the mood for what was to be a super evening of music. Next we were treated to our first solo item on the programme, performed by flugel horn player Michael Miller. He chose to play “Misty”, made famous by Johnny Mathis, in this wonderful arrangement by Darrol Barry. This really suited the mellow sound of the instrument. Well played Michael! Opera music features prominently in the brass band repertoire, and numerous transcriptions and arrangements have been produced down the years. George Hawkins (1876-1967) who hailed from Middlesbrough arranged the overture to the opera “Barber of Seville” by Rossini. Tonight the Hazel Grove Brass Band gave us a scintillating performance of this great music, full of rhythm and excitement. How lucky we are that such major works have been arranged for brass band. Bravo! Remaining in the ‘opera-house’, the second solo spot of the evening belonged to soprano cornettist Steve Hallworth. He chose to play a waltz from Act 2 of La Boheme by Puccini. Quando M’en Vo, better known as ‘Musetta’s Waltz, is a delightful arrangement for the instrument by Howard Snell. The band provided an excellent accompaniment to this very exposed solo which Steve expertly performed to a delighted Boarshurst audience. Off to musical cinema next with an ‘up-tempo’ version of Irving Berlin’s “Let’s Face The Music And Dance”, expertly arranged for brass band by the late Goff Richards. This song was written in 1936 for the film “Follow The Fleet” where it featured as a dance duet with Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers. The band recreated the scene perfectly. Plenty of foot-tapping going on in the audience tonight! John Lennon and Paul McCartney produced some of the most memorable songs and melodies of the ‘modern’ era, and with the help of brass band arranger Alan Fernie, their “Ticket To Ride” provided the audience with a journey by steam train. Starting with ‘heavy breathing’ from the basses, then cup-muted chords to create the steam whistle, the train gradually gathered speed until we were well and truly under way. A fantastic journey! Next we were transported to the warmth of musical theatre with the title song from Cole Porters’ “Anything Goes” (1934). In yet another fabulous arrangement form Alan Fernie, the band really brought out the excitement of this rhythmical number. Great playing! Hazel Grove Brass Band are very fortunate to have in their ranks some very talented individuals. E flat bass player Andrew Myers has produced several arrangements for the band, and the following unlikely piece of music was cleverly arranged by him. As conductor Nigel Beasley remembered, it was the ‘Cyber Men’ that he most feared. In my case it was the ‘Daleks’! Yes, you’ve guessed it; the theme tune to ‘Dr Who’. Who would have believed that Ron Grainger’s BBC Radiophonic Workshop composition would find its’ way into the brass band repertoire? Thanks Andrew! To round off a thoroughly entertaining first half the Hazel Grove Brass Band reduced in number to form a brass ensemble of just eleven players. The ensemble, without a conductor, performed a piece of chamber music in an excerpt from J.S. Bach’s “Brandenburg Concerto No.3”, arranged by conductor Nigel Beasley. The sound was superb. What a delight to hear this music, and such a good idea to include it in the concert. Well played. The second half opened with probably the most well-known Welsh traditional song “Men of Harlech”, in yet another great arrangement by Gordon Langford. As Nigel Beasley attempted to describe the next piece, muted cornets and the tinkle of sticks on glass could be heard in the background. The sounds continued and grew in volume until Mr Beasley turned to face the band and conducted them through a very clever arrangement of “Little April Showeres” from Disney’s “Bambi” by Frank Churchill. It was arranged for the band once again by E flat tuba player Andrew Myers. Great effects as the storm built then subsided. Conductor Nigel Beasley was one of the students on the first ‘Brass Band Musicianship’ course at Salford University, founded by the late Dr Roy Newsome. Roy created some wonderful music for brass band, both in arrangements and original composition. His polka style trio for tenor horns entitled “Hatrick” was expertly played for us tonight by Siobhan Burton, Claire Chadbourne, and Sian Griffith. Very well played ladies!! For the next item on the programme you really need a glass of the finest Italian red wine and a comfortable chair! The Overture to Verdi’s opera La Traviata, arranged by the legendary Drake Rimmer is just perfect. Tonight Hazel Grove Brass Band provided just the right atmosphere with this operatic prelude. ‘Forget Your Troubles’ with what was to follow. Featuring the ‘back row’ cornets the band continued with a fabulous arrangement by Leigh Baker of “Get Happy”, music by Harold Arlen and lyrics by Ted Koehler. It was made famous by Judy Garland in her last MGM film “Summer Stock” in 1950. Well done to the ‘back row’, you were brilliant! John Philip Sousa was known as the ‘American March King’, and one of his most famous, “King Cotton” was played next. It was written in 1895 for the ‘Cotton States & International Exposition’. As a finale, conductor Nigel Beasley returned once more to opera. This time it was the work of Georges Bizet. As Nigel explained, “….if you’ve never been to the opera and you want to give it a try, go and see Carmen”. Gordon Langford cleverly created a selection of the operas’ most well-known melodies entitled “Carmen Fantasy”. This was fabulous and provided a great appetiser for any would-be opera goer. The knowledgeable Boarshurst audience showed there appreciation in their usual way and the Hazel Grove Brass Band performed one final encore – and what a popular choice! “Do You Hear The People Sing?” from “Les Miserables”. On behalf of everybody at Boarshurst Band Club, I would like to congratulate and thank Nigel Beasley and the Hazel Grove Brass Band for putting on such a varied programme of music tonight. We very much look forward to welcoming the band back here in the near future. Review by John Whittle, 17th June 2013. Next Sunday, 23rd June, we are very proud to welcome the Milnrow Band (conducted by Mareika Gray), winners of the 2013 Grand Shield, and Championship Section National Finalists. Come along to Boarshurst Band Club for another evening of first class brass band entertainment. The concert begins at 8pm (doors open at 7pm), admission £6, including programme. https://facebook/events/473071366102732/?ref=2
Posted on: Mon, 17 Jun 2013 13:01:53 +0000
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