The band celebrated British Summertime with a varied
programme featuring selected works by British composers, including Gustav
Holst’s Marching Song, Eric Coates’s The Dam Busters March and the exquisite
Popular Song from William Walton’s Façade. The first half closed with
Charivari, a challenging suite of three contrasting movements written for
wind-band by Malcolm Binney.
After the interval, the band returned to the stage
with a performance of Roy Kaigin’s Powergen march contrasting with Corsage
for Winds by John Cacavas. Next came another William Walton piece, The
Spitfire Prelude, followed by Percy Grainger’s Children’s March,
where a simple melody is built into a powerful conclusion.
Other works included a symphonic rendition of the
traditional Greensleeves and two up-tempo swing numbers: Jazzworks
featured a solo spot by composer and saxophonist Andy Hampton whilst A
Tribute to Benny Goodman left the audience cheering for more. Robert Parker
and the band rose to the challenge with the theme from The Magnificent Seven.
Not British perhaps, but certainly evoking long hot summer days. |