County Times

REVIEW: SLINFOLD CONCERT BAND AT Billingshurst Village Hall, Sat 10th October
Published Date: 23^rd October 2009

The ever-popular Slinfold Concert Band returned to one of their favourite venues, Billingshurst Village Hall, on Saturday 10th October to perform a concert of varied music before a full-house audience.

The event opened with James Curnow’s stirring “Fanfare and Flourishes”, described as “a piece for a festive occasion”. There was hardly time for the band to draw breath before launching into Sousa’s famous “Liberty Bell” march.

The overture to Franz von Suppe’s “Poet & Peasant”, once described as “a comedy with songs” was next, and then it was time for the first soloist of the evening, Ed Bentall, performing the 3rd movement of Haydn’s much-loved “Trumpet Concerto”. Ed’s playing was enthusiastically received by an appreciative audience. Johann Strauss’s “Thunder and Lightning Polka” followed, with the band being thoroughly tested in keeping up with musical director Malcolm Gay’s seemingly flailing baton. Did they really dance at that sort of pace in Strauss’s time?!

Young Simon Wheeldon, playing his first-ever clarinet solo with the band was next and he really caught the mood of the Gershwin brothers’ “But Not For Me”, drawing generous applause from the audience. A medley of Glenn Miller’s famous music followed, especially giving the trumpet and saxophone sections of the band a chance to shine.

Tenor saxophonist George Nicholl was the next soloist to take centre stage, playing Henry Mancini’s catchy “The Pink Panther” which will have revived memories of the great Peter Seller’s performance as the bumbling Inspector Clouseau. The final piece of the first half was “Farandole”, the 4th movement of Bizet’s much-loved “L’arlesienne, Suite No. 2”.

The second half commenced with “Florentine March” by Julius Fucik, and was followed by Luther Henderson’s clever arrangement entitled “The Saints’ Hallelujah”, a very catchy, happy-clappy offering, thoroughly enjoyed by band and audience.

Many will have perhaps regarded the next piece as the highlight of the evening, a beautifully performed flute solo by Caroline Lisk in “Queen of the Night’s Aria” from Mozart’s “The Magic Flute”. Musical Director Malcolm Gay was almost glowing in appreciation!

“Benny Goodman Memories” was next, giving full rein to the band on pieces such as “Don’t be that Way”, “Stompin’ at the Savoy”, “Flying Home”, “Sing, Sing, Sing” and there was a contribution by the band’s very talented clarinettist Melanie Moore, who played a lovely solo on “Memories of You”, of which I’m sure the great B.G. would have approved!

Alto saxophonist Jo Luckman followed with a from-the-heart solo on Lennon and McCartney’s lovely “Yesterday” before the band launched into a medley of film music penned by the famous John Williams, recalling cinematic classics such as “The Mission”, “Star Wars” and “Jaws”.

Another famous film was now remembered with the band performing Malcolm Gay’s own arrangement of the haunting title music from the much loved “Born Free” epic.

The concert concluded with Igor Stravinsky’s dramatic music from the “Firebird Suite” but, in response to the audience’s demand for “more” the band suitably sent them all happily on their way with a lively performance of Luigi Denza’s “Funiculi Funicula”.

A very successful concert indeed!

RON GREEN

Return to the reviews page

Slinfold Concert Band is not responsible for the content of external internet sites.