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Wednesday, June 7 - 3:00 pm Rhapsody in Brass John Irish, reporter
The three brass bands on the Wednesday afternoon concert tripled the treat for the brass lover. Titled Rhapsody in Brass, the Atlantic Brass Band, Imperial Brass Band, and the New York Staff Band of the Salvation Army each performed a stunning 45-minute set with a required rhapsody as part of each performance. Beginning with the Atlantic Brass Band, the bar was set very high. Herbert Howell's Pageantry and Dean Goffin's Rhapsody in Brass showed the band has a fine command of style, dynamic contrast, and musicality. Virtuosic solo cornet playing, a strong low brass section, and wonderful lyric tenor horn playing contributed to an ensemble with no weaknesses. Both pieces were in three movements and followed traditional form: excitingly written first movement, lovely lyrical middle, and driving, fast finale. The auditorium rang with excitement from the outset.
The Imperial Brass Band opened with a bright, rhythmic version of Malagueña that set the stage for a nice variety of works. Rhythmically engaging pieces (Simon's The Peanut Vendor), a powerful yet lyric style (J. Richards' Elegy), strong sounds (Songs of the Quay by Goff Richards), and amazing section work, as well as solo playing (Goffin's Rhapsodic Variations on My Strength, My Tower) were all performed well and received enthusiastically. Incorporating a little “show-biz” in their presentation - complete with a Latin percussion instrument section (supplied by the cornet section) - they proved themselves a top-notch band. Brass banding in New Jersey is obviously alive and well.
It was easy to hear why the New York Staff Band of the Salvation Army is one of the finest bands in the world. Precise ensemble, exact intonation, and beautiful sonority permeated their performance. After a spirited march, The Southern Cross by Brian Bowen, Joseph Turrin's recent composition in a jazz-waltz feel, Eternal Song, featured six cornets in a thrilling performance. Brillante by Peter Graham, a take-off on the traditional tune The British Grenadiers featured two euphonium soloists. Roger Webster flawlessly performed the seldom-heard Trumpet Concerto by famed trumpeter Harry James (arr. by Elgar Howarth). His command of the piece was extraordinary. Webster was then joined by Jamie Prophet, current principal trumpet of the BBC Philharmonic, in a favorite Salvation Army cornet duet, Quicksilver by Peter Graham. The two dazzled the crowd with perfect double tonguing and a superb blending of their tone qualities. Based on the hymn tune Consolation, James Curnow's Trittico offered gorgeously full writing for all sections, difficult ensemble work, challenging technical parts, and even an aleatoric passage. This group can handle any demands and demonstrates the absolute highest quality of brass band performance. Bravo!
All three bands then joined together for three pieces in a massed band. Eric Leidzen's The Trumpeters, G. Richards' Shepherd's Song (based on Canteloube's Songs from the Auvergne) and Post Bellum Rhapsody (based on songs from the American Civil War era) by Leidzen were all given highly musical and super-charged performances by the combined brass bands. This proved to be an awe-inspiring afternoon of brass playing. |
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