[an error occurred while processing this directive]Three Days and Two Nights with the Desford Colliery Band
23th-25th May, 1998
United World College Main Hall (May 25)RICHARD ADAMS conductor
· PROGRAMME ·
1. March: The Champions - Wilcocks
2. Overture: The Force of Destiny - Verdi arr. Frank Wright
3. Memories - Andrew Lloyd Webber. Soloist Craig Bennet (soprano cornet)
4. Czardas - J.Strauss arr. Howard Snell
5. Zelda - Percy Code. Soloist: David Smith (cornet)
6. "Nimrod" from Enigma Variations - Elgar arr. Eric Ball
7. "Lezghinka" from Gayaneh - Khatchaturian arr. Howard Snell
8. Liberty Fanfare - John Williams
9. Perpetuum Mobile - J.Strauss arr. Howard Snell
10. Napoli - Soloist Michael Howard
11. Puttin on the Ritz - Irving Berlin arr. Stephen Roberts
12. Londonderry Air arr. John Iveson
13. South Rampart Street Parade - arr. Geldard
14. Scaramouche - Milhaud arr. Snell
15. Procession to the Minster - Wagner arr Howard Snellencores: Famous British Marches - arr. Langford
Opus One - arr. Geldard
As recounted by Adrian Tan
Once in a long while, we get a group of wonderful and virtuosic musicians in our midst and we do not even realize it. Thus, we miss a miraculous musical experience. Fortunately for myself and those who were there at the United World College that night, we caught the beautiful and exciting sounds of the Desford Colliery Band "live" in concert. As with all spectacular performances, it has redefined for us the range and limitations of the brass band beyond our imaginations and for those who have managed to catch such ensembles, such as Black Dyke Mills and Brighouse & Rastrick Bands on CD, hearing these excellent musicians on stage broke all barriers of that digital recording claims to have broken... Unbelievable.
One look through the repertoire listed will tell you two things. Firstly, the Desford Band has an amazingly versatile repertoire; from marches, to the serene "Nimrod", the swinging big band sounds of South Rampart Street Parade and the powerfully moving Procession to the Minster by Wagner. Secondly, they play music on brass instruments that we consider "killers" for the woodwind and strings in an orchestra or wind band like Khachaturian's "Lezghinka" from Gayaneh. Perhaps this is the USUAL repertoire in the brass band in UK but certainly this is an eye-opener for the young brass players in Singapore who now know that our forte is not really forte, and it's not only a flute or clarinet that can do complicated running notes.
The programming was superb in that the audience was in for surprise after surprise. Not only were we won over by the musicians' virtuoso technique and superb musiciality but also their good humour and showmanship.
The performance started with a good arrangement (by Mr. Derek Cable) of our National Anthem which caught us off guard. It's always interesting to hear something we take for granted everyday of our lives and suddenly realize that it is really good music in someone else's hands! The Champions,a well-known march familiar to brass bands was a rousing opener. Verdi's Force of Destiny Overture started the main bulk of the serious repertoire rather shakily, I thought, with some ensemble playing in some passages that was a little untidy and mistakes here and there.
The Band obviously warmed up as the night went on culminating in a most memorable rendition of the Wagner that changed my concept of brass sound once and for all. A friend of mine sat next to me with his eyes closed savouring the beautiful sounds that begins the music. You could see him moving to the music with his eye closing tighter as the Band escalated towards the massive chords in the finale. As we reached the final cadence, he just opened his eyes wide in surprise and shock, looking hard at me. I was already looking at him the same way with jaw dropped. This 25-piece band was creating this great sound that filled every inch of the hall with the magnificence of Wagner, a sound I've never heard before even in an orchestral concert! The audience burst into stunning applause and gave the musicians a standing ovation which they rightly deserved.
I don't want to harp on how fascinating it was to see cornets running away with semi-quavers in the Khachaturian but I have to say something. You've probably been able to hear this sort of playing on CDs but to see the players doing it with such ease and finesse is something else altogether!
The other admirable quality of the Desford Band was their ready sense of humour and showmanship that meant jazz and pop songs in their repertoire and even dancing on stage! It's not easy to play Jazz, that we all know, but the Band swung it with all they got and certainly, we loved it! In one way or the other, most of us just thought they didn't sound British at all! (You know what I mean!)
When you reach an ideal of almost everyone in the Band being able to take on the task of being a soloist, you know you'll make it! A round of applause to the many soloists for their remarkable efforts! Michael Howard, soloist on Napoli deserves a special mention for his marvelous euphonium-playing which boasts of flawless technique and tremedous musicianship. David Smith, who also leads the Band, is yet another who deserves special praise for his solo on Zelda.
Compliments also to conductor Richard Adams (above), who was also the MC for the night, for his witty and charming manner which won the audience over instantly. His sensitive interpretaion of Elgar's "Nimrod" and the Wagner was most beautiful, displaying wonderful musicality.
If there were any hiccups to their tour at all, it was that they were not given better publicity and exposure. How many of you caught them playing on a Monday morning on Sentosa? The hall was only half-filled on the first night but fortunately it was a bursting full house on the second. Such incredible music should have been shared with as many of the many, many brass players in wind bands here in Singapore. The small audience that the Band had over three days was a great pity indeed. Other than that, it was fabulous to have them conduct workshops with local musicians and most certainly we have learnt much.
A million thanks to the Desford Band and Richard Adams for your friendship and for showing us how we should be playing brass! Your willingness to share and humility from which is something I have learnt something so important. Sincerest appreciation for sharing with us your music and good humour over dinner and in the concert hall. Hope you had a great time in this part of the world and we look forward to seeing you in Singapore again next year!
Adrian Tan plays the Saxophone ... it's still 95% metal!
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