Brilliance of Brass Concert: Saturday 10th October 2015

CAPITOL THEATRE, TAMWORTH

Tamworth RSL Brass Band hosted a visit by CNL Brass on the weekend of 10/11 October. Both bands had a social lunch together on the Saturday and spent several hours of individual band rehearsals, followed by a combined rehearsal. This was in preparation for the annual Brilliance of Brass Concert, organised by Tamworth RSL Brass Band.

Tamworth RSL Brass Band opened the Concert under the baton of Rebecca Sullivan with the Paul Lovatt-Cooper composition When Thunder Calls. Then followed the contrasting Alan Fernie arrangement of the hymn Lloyd. Beatles Medley No.1 changed the mood and drew enthusiastic applause. Rebecca concluded a quite varied program with her eighth number, the very lively Derek Broadbent arrangement of Lord of the Dance.

CNL Brass continued after interval under the baton of John Kellaway, opening with the popular “circus march” Entry of the Gladiators. Soloists were featured in the program. Principal euphonium David Walker delighted the audience with his rendition of Zelda, while Doug Hoepper added solace to the occasion with the flugel horn solo Send in the Clowns. Clarence Leung, on cornet, drew sustained applause when he presented, from memory, his solo Napoli.

The Tone Poem- Labour and Love, composed in 1913 by Percy Fletcher, was the most challenging item presented. The inclusion of cadenzas for principal players by the composer was a highlight of this composition. The Ethel Merman “trademark tune,” There’s No Business Like Show Business, provided a busy ending for CNL Brass.

With sixty-five musicians on stage, both bands then combined for the highlight of the evening’s performance, presenting the very exciting Valero, continuing with selections from Andrew Lloyd Webber’s The Phantom of the Opera and concluding the evening’s entertainment with Paul Lovatt-Cooper’s imaginative composition, Dark Side of the Moon.

Members of both bands took the opportunity to relax and celebrate a successful evening of entertainment back at Tamworth’s rehearsal venue after the event.