A successful first outing at St Mary’s Church in Coddenham in Suffolk for our newly formed brass ensemble

The concert featured “popular classics” played by our newly formed brass quintet, joined by organ and soprano soloists.

The Intermezzo from Karelia Suite by Jean Sibelius proved to be an ideal opener for the concert. In this arrangement for organ and brass quintet, the organ part covers the orchestral string writing from the original.

Three of the pieces performed were specially arranged for brass and organ to make the most of the venue, and the excellent organist at Coddenham, Ian Galbraith. The other brass and organ pieces included: Mozart’s Requiem (Lacrimosa, Dies Irae, Introit and Kyrie) ● the Hallelujah Chorus from Handel’s Messiah ● Judex from Mors et Vita by Gounod ● Elsa’s Procession from Wagner’s opera Lohengrin

Ian Galbraith played two stunning works for organ: Sortie in Eb by Alfred Lefébure Wély, and a stunning rendition of Bach’s Toccata and Fugue in D Minor.

Soprano, Sarah Johnston, sang beautifully in Schubert’s Ave Maria accompanied on organ and flugelhorn by Ian and Dan. The vocal highlight came with an incredibly moving performance of Pie Jesu by Andrew Lloyd Weber. Sarah was joined in this duet (for soprano and boy soprano) by Dan on flugelhorn, sensitively accompanied by Ian on organ.

Ian Burton’s performance of the Adagio from Mozart’s Bassoon Concerto, one of Ian’s favourite composers, was played with great poise and musicality.

The newly formed brass quintet (we haven’t decided on a name yet) performed with great clarity, dexterity, and musicality throughout. Pieces featuring brass along were: The Seal Lullaby by Eric Whitacre, Elgar’s Chanson de Matin, Purcell’s Sound the Trumpet from come ye Sons of Art - a duet for trumpets performing at either side of the church, and Verdi’s Grand March from Aida.

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