Chairman of the Band,
Jack Quayle, tells us that this "is
the fifth recording", (made by the band)
and that "each is succeeding the previous
one in (presumably, improved) quality,
playing and programme content". He adds
that the Band has appeared on TV, concert
and contest stages and that "they have
won this historic name in banding many
ardent fans". We learn also that the
Barrow Band has been together for 111
years so they have quite a history to
maintain.
Many brass bands were
set up in working towns like Barrow
in the Victorian period. The purpose
was to provide working class folk, especially
miners and others in harsh jobs, (and
remember Barrow has been a major centre
of ship building) with what one might
call ‘cultural refinement’. Many composers
arranged music from the classics and
religious music for bands as well as
composing marches and hymn tunes. For
many, this might be their first encounter
with a composer such as Mendelssohn
whose 'Elijah' and symphonies were arranged
for brass. They might also have had
had in their repertoire, quadrilles,
dance music and selections from light
opera. In other words the covered a
vast variety of music to suit all palettes
and to stretch the bandsmen themselves
both technically and intellectually.
It is from this background that the
venerable Barrow shipyard band emerges.
The booklet gives us
the names of the players and a detailed
description of each of the fourteen
pieces recorded. We also have a brief
biography of the soloists and conductors.
I have not heard the
previous four recordings and am not
a brass band aficionado, but I have
to say immediately how impressed I have
been by the superb standard of the band
and especially of the soloists. I should
mention the brilliant cornet pyrotechnics
of one of the conductors John Durrant
in 'La Virgen de la Macarena' (which
is also his arrangement). There is also
the gloriously rich tone of David Scoles
on the euphonium in 'Guantanamera' and
the sleazy trombone solo work by Tim
Lyons in 'Blue John'. Add to this a
terrific quartet of soloists in a forthright
arrangement of Trumpet Blues.
Both technically and
musically these are fine performances
and the whole thing is complemented
by a bright but utterly natural recording
made in a village hall. The whole ensemble,
musicality and balance is a delight
and shows intelligence and careful practice.
I could now stop the review or comment
on some of the individual items that
are attractive, fun and undemanding.
However something needs
to be added. If I am reviewing this
CD on the same basis as any other found
on this website then a particular criticism
is necessary: the programming. I am
not a bandsman but it seems to me that
the CD lacks a strong central focal
point, a main work as one would find
on other recordings - something for
the listeners, and especially the players,
to get their teeth into. What we are
served up here is musical trivia, like
'Cartoon Classics' played and recorded
to the highest possible standard, but
in the context of a programme when one
slight piece is followed by another.
The longest work on offer is a selection
from 'The Fellowship of the Ring lasting
just seven minutes. Indeed the idea
seems to be that the audience will not
be able to maintain concentration for
longer than three minutes unless we
ply them with tunes they have heard
many times already. The result: a string
of mostly inconsequential works that
does not challenge the players or the
more discerning listener in any way.
Yes, these pieces have many technical
challenges, all negotiated superbly,
but where is there at least one more
significant piece by let’s say Eric
Hall, Gilbert Vinter or Arthur Butterworth,
or indeed an arrangement by a 'respected'
band composer of an orchestral work,
some Elgar, or a Rossini Overture? You
may say that if these pieces were on
the CD then it might not sell; all I
am asking is one major focal, significant
work. On a CD that is a little short-weight
it is surely not asking too much and
would give the disc a definite balance
and make it of more than local importance.
Apart from this cavil if you like the
modern brass band repertoire, then snap
this up by going to www.barrowshipyardband.co.uk
and enjoy.
Gary Higginson
Barrow Shipyard Band/John Durrant; Kevin Donaldson