CD Review “Black Dyke Gold X”
Sunday Bandstand’s Chris Helme invited me to review Black Dyke band’s latest CD. He has used it on his latest mailing from Sunday Bandstand ……. it is the first review of a brass band CD I have done, and I enjoyed doing it. Thanks for asking me Chris!
Sunday Bandstand - 04 December 2022
Black Dyke Band
Conductor: Professor Nicholas J. Childs
Soloists: Daniel Thomas, Michael Cavanagh, Siobhan Bates Doyen Recordings: DOY CD412
It is many years now since I have listened to a whole CD from top to bottom. With the advent of music streaming and the vast choice of tracks available to add to your own playlist, I have simply gotten out of the habit. I am so pleased I stuck with it because the programming for this volume works superbly well as a recorded concert programme.
For their final CD in the Black Dyke Gold series Volume X caught my attention from the start. It helped that I was very familiar with the first track, Eric Ball's march, 'Star Lake'. What a lovely way to get things going with this upbeat, show-time style march played with a crispness and clarity that one would expect from this top-flight group of musicians
Already smiling from ear to ear, I was intrigued to hear the test piece. ‘New Beginnings' by the band's Young Composer in Association, Fredrick Schielderup. My smile continued! What a lovely composition, full of vitality and rhythm expertly played by the band, in particular the percussion section. We also have Fredrick's commemorative piece, 'A Fantasy of Joy', to commemorate Beethoven's 250th anniversarv in 2020. The main theme, 'Ode to Joy' from Beethoven's Symphony No.9, is used as the central motif throughout. There is a lot packed into this uplifting setting making the 4 minutes duration go very quickly.
The outstanding performances by the three soloists on this release typify brass solo playing at its most exciting and accomplished. With Daniel Thomas' amazingly virtuosic rendition of 'Zigeunerweisen', Michael Cavanagh's sensitively played 'Carrickfergus', and Siobhan Bates' sonorous playing in 'Upon Green Vales', we have a showcase that is second to none.
The three pieces that make up the Strictly Black Dyke sequence grab you by the scruff of the neck and shout, "Let's Dance!". All excellent arrangements, especially Ravel's Bolero.
The two John Rutter works, 'The Gift of Music' and 'The Peace of God', recently arranged by Luc Vertommen, are choral gems. These arrangements bring out the best in the players who play so lyrically that vou can almost hear the words forming as they plav.
Ideally programmed between the two lyrical solos, the second premier recording on this CD, 'Above and Beyond' by Paul Lovatt-Cooper, effectivelv transports us into a world of tribute and reflection. Technical brilliance, exquisite solo lines, and emotionally moving lyricism give an appropriate bow to the distinguished Yorkshire brass bander, Peter Kitson.
The arrangement of Respighi's Pines of the Appian Way works brilliantly as the finale of the whole CD series. This is one of my favourite pieces of orchestral writing, and I know it well. I am sure that if Respighi had heard his music played in such a convincing way, he would have been delighted; I certainly was.
My next task ...... listen to the other nine CDs as soon as possible.
Lawrence Killian
Playlist:
Star Lake - Eric Ball
New Beginnings - Fredrick Schielderup
Zigenerweisen - Pablo de Sarasate arr. David Childs Soloist: Daniel Thomas
A Fantasy of Joy - Fredrick Schelderup
Strictlv Black Dyke:
i. Let's Face the Music and Dance - Irving Berlin arr. Goff Richards
il. Libertango - Astor Piazzolla arr. Dan Price
iii. Bolero - Maurice Ravel arr. Howard SnellThe Peace of God - John Rutter arr. Luc Vertommen
Carrickfergus - Trad arr. Stephen Roberts Soloist: Michael Cavanagh
Above and Bevond - Paul Lovatt-Cooper
Upon Green Vales - Paul Lovatt-Cooper Soloist: Siobhan Bates
The Gift of Music - John Rutter arr. Luc Vertommen
The Pines of the Appian Way - Ottorino Respighi arr. Howard Snell
https://www.worldofbrass.com/101879
CD - “Black Dyke Gold X”