STYLE: Brass Band RATING OUR PRODUCT CODE: 124495-19107 LABEL: Salvationist Publishing & Supp 21738 FORMAT: CD Album ITEMS: 1 RRP: £13.95
Reviewed by Stephen Luff
Cory Band was formed in the Rhondda Valley in South Wales in 1884 and is regarded as one of the finest from the Principality. They are also believed to be the first brass band broadcast on radio in 1923; this recording was made at St Teilos Church, Cardiff in October 2011 and was conducted by award winning Dr Robert Childs. The album opens with the energetic "Home Of Legends" which sounds every bit the part - you listen with anticipation that a superhero will appear any moment! The second track, the jazz influenced "Dirty Duck", named after a pub in Stratford, is an uplifting joyful tune complete with orchestral quacks! It features Tom Hutchinson whose cornet playing is a joy to listen to. This is an album of outstanding soloists, Joanne Childs (flugel horn) on the peaceful "Childs Lullaby", Chris Thomas (trombone) on "Brasilia", Owen Farr (tenor horn) on the patriotic "Rule Britannia" and David Childs (euphonium) on "Endearing Young Charms" with its strident opening, then sudden drop of pace is simply beautiful. Bernstein's "America And Somewhere" is also featured here, which no doubt would be great live. The only disappointment is "Battle Of Trafalgar" which is a piece of narration with music to fit into the various parts of the story. This only works when the listener is fully focused on the storyline like in a concert hall. If listened to in the car or similar situation with its musical peaks and troughs (and a gunshot!), it will just become irritating.
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Product Description
This second instalment of concert works from Dr Robert Childs and Cory Band is an engaging journey through the music of composers old and new featuring a vast array of styles, from glittering overtures and enduring major works to brand new commissions and arrangements created especially for this album.