TOP BRASS: A limited edition containing the following two albums
BRASSED OFF: Music from the original soundtrack
R. B. HALL Death or Glory
K. MOSS Floral Dance
Joaquin RODRIGO En Aranjuez Con Tu Amor (based on theme from Concierto
de Aranjuez, 2nd movt)
R. BARRETT/E. SIEBERT March of the Cobblers
W. RIMMER Cross of Honour
Sir Charles Hubert Hastings PARRY arr. Herbert Jerusalem
Julius FUCIK Florentiner March
Percy GRAINGER Danny Boy (Irish Tune from County Derry)
MARCANGELO Clog Dance
Kenneth ALFORD Colonel Bogey
MONK and ALEXANDER err. Rimmer All Things Bright and Beautiful
Gioacchino ROSSINI arr. G. J. Grant Guglielmo Tell: Overture
Sir Edward ELGAR arr. Ord Hume Pomp and Circumstance March in D, op.39/1
(abridged)
Trevor JONES *Original music for the soundtrack: A Sad Old Day, Aforementioned
Essential Items, Years of Coal, There's More Important Things in Life, We'll
Find a Way, Honest Decent Human Beings
Grimethorpe Colliery Band/John
Anderson except *Orchestra/Trevor Jones
CLASSIC BRASS
Giuseppe VERDI arr. Frank Wright La Forza del Destino:
Overture
Sir Charles Hubert Hastings PARRY arr. Herbert Jerusalem
Claude DEBUSSY arr. Ball Children's Corner: Golliwog's Cakewalk
Nikolai RIMSKY-KORSAKOV arr. Ashmore The Snow Maiden: Dance of the
Tumblers
Gabriel FAURE arr. Langford Pavane op.50
Richard WAGNER arr. Owen Die Walküre: Ride of the Valkyries
Pietro MASCAGNI arr. Denis Wright Cavalleria Rusticana: Intermezzo
Wolfgang Amadeus MOZART arr. Ellerby Piano Sonata in A, K.331:
3rd movt - "Rondo alla Turca"
Sir Edward ELGAR arr. Denis Wright Variations on an Original Theme - "Enigma",
op.36: Nimrod
Hector BERLIOZ arr. Frank Wright Le Carnaval Romain, op.9
Antonin DVORAK arr. Ellerby Symphony no.9 in E minor, op.95 - "From the
New World: 2nd movt (abridged)
George Frideric HANDEL arr. Bateman Semele: Where'er you walk*
Léo DELIBES arr. Sparke Lakmé: Flower Duet
Franz LISZT arr. Rimmer Hungarian Rhapsody no.2
Grimethorpe Colliery RJB
Band/Garry Cutt, with *Lesley Garrett (soprano)
BMG Classics 75605 51368
2 [2 CDs 49' 55", 68'
50"]
Crotchet
£16.99
The sound track from Brassed Off was something of a best seller when it was
released, following on from the success of the film of the same name. The
story is based (very loosely and with considerable license) around Grimethorpe
Colliery Band winning the National Brass Band Championships of Great Britain
in 1992, within just a few days of the announcement that the colliery itself
was to fall victim to closure. In the film the fictional Grimley Colliery
Band are the stars with Trevor Jones providing the very effective original
score. In this limited edition boxed set the soundtrack is paired with Classic
Brass, recorded in 1999, which, as the title implies, focuses on arrangements
of classical favourites, staple repertory in the brass band world.
Of the two discs Brassed off has the most immediate appeal, the numerous
pieces used in the film being interspersed with short extracts from Jones'
incidental music, which although fairly brief, are often touchingly poignant.
For those who know the film they also have the useful benefit of helping
to bind the disc together. The incidental music does not feature the band
but does feature some lovely flugel horn and trumpet playing by Maurice Murphy,
long standing principal trumpet of the London Symphony Orchestra. The band
music itself comprises an attractive variety of light items, including a
few marches, the ever popular Floral Dance and unashamed favourites
such as Jerusalem and Danny Boy. Perhaps the most impressive
aspect of the playing is that the sound is never forced as can often be the
case in brass band recordings. What comes across is a natural and effortless
demonstration of band playing, generally taut in ensemble and fairly well
balanced although there are times when I would like to hear a little more
from the middle of the band. The technical demands which bands face on the
contest stage these days are extreme and these players are used to getting
their teeth into much tougher repertoire in more ways than one. However,
they still manage to convey an infectious sense of enjoyment in items such
as Clog Dance and March of the Cobblers, as well as playing
of considerable sensitivity, notably from the flugel horn soloist, Paul Hughes,
in an upbeat arrangement of the slow movement from Rodrigo's
"Aranjuez" concerto (affectionately dubbed "Concerto de Orange
Juice" in the film!).
Overall Classic Brass is less successful. Conducted by Gary Cutt as opposed
to John Anderson who directed the band in Brassed Off, the playing does not
quite have the same degree of tightness. Some of the arrangements featured
will always be questionable to purists, although the overtures The Force
of Destiny and Roman Carnival have been stalwarts of the band
contest stage for many years. The reality is however that some work well
whereas others simply do not. Mozart's Rondo alla Turka and Handel's
Where'er You Walk (the latter featuring "special guest" Lesley Garrett)
are texturally heavy, sounding awkward and somewhat uncomfortable. Of the
more successful items the Pavane of Faure has some lovely band sounds
as well as delicate playing in the sparser scored sections. I also enjoyed
Dance of the Tumblers although it is a shame that the band are not
together at times. The end result is a disc which although enjoyable in parts
leaves a mixed impression.
The two discs together are attractively packaged and as a limited edition
I am sure there are many people who will find the opportunity of purchasing
both discs worthwhile. It is Brassed Off that stands out however, with better
performances of the more substantial arrangements on Classic Brass available
elsewhere.
Christopher Thomas
See also review by Christopher
Howell
http://www.click2classics.co.uk
