WARNERS BAY THEATRE
The Concert opened with the Festival Prelude Ellacombe, a hymn with significant crescendos that set it apart from traditional hymn arrangements.
Bruce Fletcher, principal cornet, then featured as soloist for Send in the Clowns from the 1973 musical, A Little Night Music. The Eve of the War, the foreboding opening track from Jeff Wayne’s 1978 musical version of The War of the Worlds, followed. The foot-tapping number Clog Dance added a lighter touch to the program, while Hit the Road Jack, a number one hit for Ray Charles, proved popular.
The Carol-Becker Douglas composition So Many Lives, changed the mood to that of reflection. It is a lament about those children born into this world only to die fighting in wars that were started by others.
The Muppet Show Theme, a novelty number, hopefully prompted the audience to remember some of their favourite characters such as Kermit, Miss Piggy, Big Bird and Gonzo from this TV comedy production.
Murray Hetherington, guest player from Toronto Brass, then featured on flugel horn in the number one 1964 hit for The Deltones, Under the Boardwalk. The first half concluded with the Symphonic Suite from Band of Brothers, the Award winning 2001TV war drama series based upon the exploits of the American “Easy Company” in the second world war in Europe.
A traditional march Old Comrades, composed in 1884, opened the second half of the Program. Marcus Holdsworth then featured as soloist on baritone in the relaxing composition Donegal Bay. Proud Mary, the title of the next number, was a river paddle steamboat and this arrangement was “adventurous” for the audience. Light as Air, a melancholy but appealing number followed, while the love song Unchained Melody, a 1965 hit for The Righteous Brothers, was warmly applauded.
Gresford, the Miners’ Hymn. was written by Robert Smith, a miner, to commemorate the disastrous 1934 Gresford underground mine explosion in Wales in which 266 miners died. It was quite emotional.
The theme from the soundtrack of the movie Dances with Wolves, a 1990 Award Winning production starring Kevin Costner, was well-received. The Conquest of Paradise, by Vangelis, written to celebrate the 1492 voyage of discovery by Genoese explorer Christopher Columbus, added suspense to the program, while a medley of tunes from the 1978 film Grease, which starred Olivia Newton-John and John Travolta, “stole the show”.
CNL Brass acknowledges and thanks Lake Macquarie City Council for providing financial sponsorship, which assisted the Band in staging this Concert. CNL Brass, through its Concerts, seeks to enhance the musical culture of the City.
Allan Shaw
President
CNL Brass
Cardiff Brass 
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