NYBB Delivers Double Premier Performances
Following a successful Easter residential course in Taunton The National Youth Brass Band of Great Britain travelled across the border to Cardiff, South Wales for its concluding concert. Taking place in the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama’s Dora Stoutzker Hall, the concert had long been sold out with the audience eager to pay tribute to the memory of former MD Geoffrey Brand, as well as looking forward to hearing new works from Peter Graham and the world renowned Sir Karl Jenkins.
The band began with a blistering rendition of Brand’s arrangement of ‘Carnival Overture’ under the skilled leadership of Musical Director Dr Robert Childs. This was followed with a movement from Edward Gregson’s ‘Voice of Youth’. In a pre-concert talk, the composer explained the special significance and connection its existence had with Geoffrey Brand and ‘Sadness and Tenderness’ was played by way of a beautiful tribute by the band. David Childs needed little introduction to the audience, as he took to the stage as guest soloist to deliver the first of the concert’s two World premieres: ‘Force of Nature’ by Peter Graham. David’s performance, given from memory, was simply breathtaking with incredible virtuosity and innate musicianship on display. The first half concluded with Eric Ball’s much loved ‘Journey into Freedom’, which gave particular delight to the contingent of vintage Black Dyke players, who had travelled from the North of England to be at the tribute concert. The fabulous musical offerings were interspersed with wonderful personal anecdotes from the MD about the life and far reaching influence of Geoffrey Brand, which gave so much joy to the many of Geoffrey’s family and friends who were in the audience.
The second half began in rousing fashion with Philip Sparke’s finale from ‘Hymn of the Highlands’ before the band performed a self-crafted triptych of works by celebrated female composers: Dorothy Gates, Evelyn Glennie and Judith Bingham. David Childs was then welcomed back to the stage to perform the lighter works of ‘Brilliante’ and a beautiful arrangement by Karl Jenkins of ‘Danny Boy’, before being happily coerced into an encore of ‘Hot Canary’. The concert finale was the much anticipated ‘Fragile Earth’ by Sir Karl Jenkins. Written in three movements, the major work was a real test for the band, particularly the featured quartet of cornet, flugel, horn and baritone, whose performances at the front of the stage were delivered with real maturity and assured sensitivity. There was also a beautiful euphonium solo from within the band as well as plenty of section work for percussion, basses and trombones. Sir Karl Jenkins made a record breaking journey from his 80th birthday concert celebrations to join his wife Lady Carol Jenkins in the audience, just in time to hear the World premiere of his work, which was received with a standing ovation from many in the auditorium. The band was persuaded to give a final encore number of ‘Sing, Sing, Sing’ that sent the audience and band members home with a spring in their step, whilst looking forward to meeting again the following weekend for a reprise show in London.
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