NYBBS review from Mark Good & 4barsrest
National Youth Brass Band of Scotland Musical Director Russell Gray
National Youth Brass Band of Scotland Reserve Band - Musical Director John Boax
National Youth Brass Band of Scotland Children's Band - Musical Director Gordon Evans MBE
8-Aug-2014
Conductors: Gordon Evans MBE, John Boax, Russell Gray
Perth Concert Hall
Saturday 2nd August
It was with a keen sense of intrigue that the audience gathered at Perth Concert Hall for this end-of-course concert from the National Youth Brass Bands of Scotland (NYBBS).
Following the departures of Musical Director Richard Evans and course director Neil Cross, it was inevitably the start of a new era for the three-tier organisation and parent body, the Scottish Brass Band Association (SBBA).
First up
First to take to the stage was the National Children's Band of Scotland, conducted by Gordon Evans MBE alongside tutors Lynda Nicholson, Jamie McVicar and Alan Fernie.
Opening with Edward Gregson's ‘Music for Greenwich', it was clear the standard of the band was higher than in previous years: Some mature sounds were on display, notably from principal cornet player Jenny Whitaker, whilst a cheeky bass line in Stuart Johnson's ‘Bandstand Blues' gave way to a new work from Alan Fernie.
Entitled ‘French Fancies', the audience was treated to three of its four movements; beginning with a nod to Ravel's ‘Bolero' in what was fantastic addition to the youth band repertoire.
Bruce Fraser's ‘Ground Pavan' was warm and well-balanced, helped by some low-end tutorial reinforcements to assist the one euphonium and one tuba player, before the band continued to impress with its final contribution of Rob Hume's arrangement of Mussorgsky's ‘Pictures from an Exhibition'.
Progression in mind
With progression in mind, the NYBBS Reserve Band began with Paul Lovatt-Cooper's ‘Pound the Streets', originally written for their senior counterparts. The motoring bass lines and spiralling semiquavers provided a firecracker opening to their enjoyable contribution.
John Boax also stressed the importance of looking backwards with the neat inclusion of Stuart Johnson's ‘Ceramic City Festival', whilst a timely contrast came with Chris Brown's ‘Kidnapped'; at times bold and haunting, at others dance-like, it was a piece exuding a real variety of colour.
Pyrotechnics
The audience was then treated to the first appearance of guest soloist, tuba player Eirik Gjerdevik - affectionately dubbed ‘Eirik the Viking' - who handled Monti's ‘Czardas' with the elastic pyrotechnics of a virtuoso violinist.
Contrasting composure came with the band's performance of the ‘Minuet' from the ‘Petite Suite de Ballet' by Eric Ball, played with an appropriate sense of poise. Treated with equal delicacy was John Boax's introduction of Bruce Fraser's work ‘Devolution'; not intended as an immediate political statement, but a historical musical one - the title referring to the decision to establish a new Scottish Parliament in 1997.
Senior counterparts
Following a brief stretch of the legs, it was the turn of the senior NYBBS to take to the stage with new MD, Russell Gray.
This was a ‘NYBBS-lite'; with greatly reduced numbers in comparison with previous years. It made for a tough shift for a cornet section of nine players, though they rose to the challenge with the bold treatment of ‘Intrada Ein' feste Burg' which saw fanfares emanating from around Perth Concert Hall.
Elgar's ‘Severn Suite' was treated with suitable warmth and pomp before Eirik Gjerdevik returned to play the Vaughan Williams ‘Tuba Concerto', with the sumptuous ‘Romanza' in particular lending itself to the artist's lyrical sound.
Sweet sounds
John Ireland's ‘Elegy' from ‘A Downland Suite' featured sweet individual sounds, particularly from solo euphonium Scott Kerr, whilst the invitation of NYBBS to play at the Cumnock Tryst Music Festival in Ayrshire in October, founded by Scottish composer James MacMillan, saw them follow with his ‘Jebel', complete with brass fanfares and unrelenting percussion.
The finale from Howells' ‘Pageantry' featured a sublime opening from principal cornet player Lloyd Griffin, before things were rounded off with the jazz-influenced ‘Unisons' arranged by Svein Giske.
Encore
The encore from Eirik Gjerdevik, in his own arrangement of ‘Gabriel's Oboe', brought an enjoyable - if gargantuan concert of more than three and a half hours to a close.
A period of transition is never easy. Make too many changes too quickly and there is a very real threat of not only rocking the boat but capsizing it.
A year ago, the tension was palpable as uncertainty over the future of NYBBS remained. Now, it would appear the ship is back on course.
Mark Good
Thanks to Mark Good and 4barsrest for this report
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Dear players, parents and friends of NYBBS,
Firstly can I say a huge welcome and happy new year to you all in this, the second ‘What's going on?' newsletter of 2014.
A quick update of what's been happening since the last newsletter-
*Rachel Neil administrator for the bands has been working hard gather in application forms and deposits. Rachel can be contacted for any concerns you may have, great or small at admin@nybbs.co.uk
Some bursaries and easy payment instalment schemes are still available, email Rachel for more information. Please remember that application forms must be returned to her in the next week...don't delay, complete it today!
*Staff have now been confirmed for all three bands- more information will follow at the end of this month in the third newsletter.
*We are delighted to welcome Laura Galbraith to administrator for our very successful 200 club, which we use to support our young people who attend our courses in a variety of different ways. Laura will contact current members in the coming weeks and please remember; new members are always welcome to join this very worthwhile venture!
*A reminder date for your diary is Saturday 4th October. NYBBS senior band have been invited to perform at the Cumnock Tryst- further key dates for all three bands will be announced over the next few months and published in our summer concert programme!
* All applicants for this year's course will receive confirmation of their place on the course, a course itinerary and designated House Staff details at the beginning of July. In the meantime, should you have any special rooming requests, please email Rachel Neil as soon as possible.
Should you have any further queries at this stage, please do not hesitate to get in touch with either Rachel or myself at chboax@gmail.com.
Kind regards,
Carrie Boax
Events Manager/Vice President
On behalf of The Scottish Brass Band Association
