Ian and I went along to the Black Dyke concert at The Hawth in Crawley today. The band’s Solo Euphonium, Gary Curtin, had kindly agreed to do the draw for the scaba Entertainment Contest. Joining him was Sian Buss, well known local teacher and founder of Brass Fusion. I’ll be in contact with the secretaries of the bands that have entered next week. We also managed to collect several (very well cleaned – thank you) cups from Simon Langton Brass……… and then there was the concert!
Black Dyke was conducted on this occasion by Bob Childs. Clearly pleased to be in front of the band, Bob was on excellent form, genial and entertaining. The band opened with their trademark march Queensbury, followed by The Beautiful Galathea. Bob mentioned his work with children and youth bands several times during the concert. This was first evident when he introduced Zoe Hancock to play the flugal solo, Children of Sanchez. Given Zoe’s superb performance, I hope people like Bob continue to give youngsters the benefit of their experience for many years to come.
Then came a change to the published programme. The trombones (Brett Baker, Garry Reed and Adrian Hirst) played Arrivederci Roma, showing of the virtuosity of all the players. The mood then relaxed with Dan Price’s Sunset over Blue Ridge. All change again, with the arrival of the irrepressible Paul Duffy. I know there were a couple of sop players in the audience just waiting to see what he was going to play! It turned out to be his own arrangement of When the Saints. If you haven’t heard this, it’s well worth checking out! It’s great to see someone who enjoys playing as much as Paul clearly does – he was smiling throughout! When you can play as well as this, you can afford to smile!
The first half finished with Echoes from the East, complete with duelling principals. The audience reluctantly went out for the interval, and were promptly back in their seats for the 2nd half. It opened with PLC’s Enter the Galaxies, and was followed by the stunning sound and technique of Sheona White in the horn solo Capriccio Brilliante. Not to be out done, Brett Baker took to the stage with a specially commissioned piece, again by Paul Lovatt Cooper, called Slipstream. The solos kept coming with another irrepressible character – Gary Curtin on euph. Gary played Hermaiden Dance, involving extremes of range and flying fingers, and played it extremely well. He then demonstrated another of his talents, by introducing Spooktacular – the man would have had a stellar career as a voice over artiste! Matthew Routley then narrated the finale, Battle of Trafalgar, before the audience had sufficiently encouraged Bob Childs to lead the band in an encore of In the mood/String of pearls.
It was great to see the Hawth full, even if there weren’t too many bandies in the audience. The Hawth has a great season of concerts next year, with Fodens, GUS, Brighouse & Rastrick, Grimethorpe, Cory and Black Dyke all playing throughout 2014. Why not get a group from your band together and go and listen?
Jane Stewart, Contest Manager