13 May 2011
In the last concert of formal music making for many of the boys in the Upper Sixth, the Annual Bands Concert is often a rather nostalgic occasion. This year's concert proved to be no exception.
A novel change was the opportunity for the First and Second Wind bands to share a musical number – Aladdin – made possible by the move to have consecutive rehearsals for these two bands on a Thursday afternoon, enabling the younger boys arriving for their rehearsal to hear and be inspired by the older boys rehearsing just before them.
So it was delightful to see, for example, tuba player, Johnnie Allison (1NSH), sitting next to Head of School, Nick Acutt (7BW) and learning so much from his example. Nigel Somerville’s encouraging direction saw many young debutants making their first appearances as musicians, Oliver Mead (1HFCP), on drums got things underway splendidly in Pennsylvania 6-5000, a number which saw Mr. Somerville demanding concentrated participation from his enthusiastic audience of proud parents.
First Wind Band then struck up under Mr. Townsend’s direction – Gershwin’s “A Symphonic Portrait” and ABBA’s “Medley from Mamma Mia”. The sheer power and confidence of the band shone in the performances. One seasoned parent, jubilant, proclaimed in the interval that she had “never heard the wind band play better” – but perhaps, she, too, was caught in the nostalgia of the moment.
In the second half our bandmaster returned this time with Brass Band who started their programme with the clipped rhythmic discipline of Souza’s March, Liberty Bell; this followed by Purcell’s Rondeau from Abdelazar with its memorable tune effectively arranged for Brass Band.
But perhaps the “main event” was the appearance of Big Band, fresh from their touring adventure in USA and as performance ready as they ever would be. This was Simon Currie’s opportunity to showcase some solos from this year’s leavers, Joe Brown (bass), Clym Buxton (baritone sax), Jamie Copus (tenor), John Carter (trumpet), Will Davey (alto), Tom Spears (guitar). The band played a set of six of their favorite numbers, Chameleon, L’il Darling, Big Band Jive, Come Fly with Me, Peter Gunn and The Chicken. The sheer professionalism was enthralling and left the audience wanting more, even after the encore. Fortunately for them it was not quite the last act as we have Jazz on a Summer’s Evening (24 June), for one final flurry from our Leavers.
MAS
