David Calvert\'s 60th year in Langholm Town Band
Langholm Town Band played a concert last Friday night in the Buccleuch Centre to an appreciative audience. The concert was put on to celebrate David Calvert's 60th year in Langholm Town Band.
The band, under the baton of Musical Director Alan Fernie began their concert with the rousing march 'Barnard Castle' composed by the late Goff Richards for the Barnard Castle Band, the mood then changed with the band playing the haunting 'Witch of the Westmerlands' written by Archie Fisher. A light hearted piece followed, much to the delight of the audience, 'Eine Klein Braw Bricht Moonlicht Nicht' is a mix of Scottish and Classical music arranged by the bands MD Alan Fernie. The first solo of the evening was 'Serenade' which featured band stalwart Michael Turk on the Euphonium. The band played a wonderful arrangement of the hymn In Perfect Peace and concluded the first half with a medley of old songs which Alan Fernie arranged for his Dad's 80th birthday entitled 'Sweet and Sentimental'. The Junior Band then took to the stage to entertain the crowd, under the baton of David Calvert they played a short programme which included 'Pirates of the Caribbean', 'Handbags and Gladrag's' and finished with the very popular '500 Miles' by The Proclaimers.
The Town Band returned to the stage for a second half that featured the younger players of the band. The first number 'I Wish I Knew How it Would Feel to be Free' got the feet tapping. The first feature of the second half was Henry Jeffrey on the trombone playing the 'hardest solo ever', the very difficult and technical 'Bluebells of Scotland' which was thoroughly enjoyed by the audience. Next up were a sextet featuring, Caitlin Weatherstone, Ashleigh Calvert, Megan Stewart, Henry Jeffrey, Gillian Mabon and Daniel Pilley playing the Stevie Wonder hit 'You Are The Sunshine Of My Life' this was beautifully played. Daniel Pilley featured on the Bass Trombone playing Lee Marvin's 'Wandrin' Star' from Paint Your Wagon - another favourite with the audience. Another well known item made famous by Terry Wogan then followed, 'The Floral Dance' was as Alan said part of an unusual duo of tunes at the top of the music charts, when Mull of Kintyre and The Floral Dance occupied the top slots of the charts in 1977. David Calvert then took up the baton to lead the band playing a beautiful Alan Fernie arrangement of 'A Nightingale Sang in Berkeley Square'.
Alan interrupted the proceedings to speak about David's history with Band from when he began in the band as a young boy playing for the Queens Coronation right up to the present day with some very funny anecdotes along the way. David was then presented with a very high honour indeed - A Lifetime Achievement Award Certificate from the Scottish Brass Band Association, he also received a gift voucher from the Band and a cake which was wonderfully made and decorated by Margaret Railton.
The band finished their concert with a selection of Gilbert and Sullivan music. The audience rewarded the band with rapturous applause and shouts of MORE. Alan invited David to conduct the band playing the encore of Runrig's version of 'Loch Lomond'. The comments from the audience at the end of the night were very encouraging and it was obvious that it was enjoyed by all who attended.
