Vintage Brass Concert: Sunday 22 March 2015

LAKE MACQUARIE PERFORMING ARTS CENTRE, WARNERS BAY

This Concert was a trip down memory lane, featuring Concert Items, but also including a Test Item from years gone by.

A lively start was provided with the 1897 March Entry of the Gladiators, popularly known as the Circus March. Philip Wilby’s arrangement of Abide with Me followed. It included an organ obligatto, played on keyboard by Ben Pettett. This provided a contrast to the opening number and was well-received.

Principal Euphonium David Walker drew applause with Percy Code’s Zelda, as did Geoffrey Brand’s arrangement of Napoli which featured a cornet solo, played from memory by Clarence Leung.

The Tone Poem- Labour and Love, the first ever Test Piece written for the British National Open Brass Band Championships in 1913 by Percy Fletcher, was the most challenging item presented. The inclusion of cadenzas for principal players by the composer provided audience appeal.

The most popular number, Jolson Memories, a medley of eight Al Jolson “trademark” songs, opened with Swanee and finished with My Mammy. Jolson, in the 30’s, was recognised as the king of jazz, blues and ragtime.

Vintage Brass could not leave out the music of Glenn Miller, the best selling artist from 1939 to 1943. The Glenn Miller Special, a medley of six of his numbers, included Moonlight Serenade and Pennsylvania 6-5000, to name just two.

The Band’s finale, the last of the twelve numbers presented, created some excitement for the audience. It was the very lively 1858 composition Can Can (minus the dancers, unfortunately).