The Amsterdam Staff Band, Brassband Rijnmond, Dr Howard Evans - Premier Brass 2010 Re:Union
STYLE: Brass Band RATING OUR PRODUCT CODE: 95222-16853 LABEL: SPS265CD FORMAT: CD Album ITEMS: 1
Reviewed by Ian Hayter
Brass bands are big in The Netherlands and Brass Band Rijmond is one of the biggest - Dutch Champions, French Open Champions and up with the leading lights of the European Brass Band world. So when bandmaster Howard Evans wanted to branch out with the Amsterdam Staff Band Of The Salvation Army and forge some links with the wider world of brass in 2002, he decided to approach the Rijmond musicians. From that initial encounter has come a series of concerts featuring the ASB and the cream of Dutch brass bands. This CD is a recording of the reunion concert in 2010 when the two original bands met up to share a programme of sacred and secular music. The Salvationists perform the first four tracks, kicking off with Dudley Bright's splendid "Paean" and moving into "We Are Not Alone" by Pepper Choplin. Then "Gift For His Altar" is followed by the lengthy but inspiring "Vita Aeternum". BBR burst into their set with James Curnow's "Fanfare And Flourishes", following that with arrangements of Ravel's "Pavane Our Une Infante Defunte" and Randy Edelman's "Reunion And Finale". The two bands come together for a closing set of four pieces, including arrangements of a Mendelssohn song and parts of Tchaikovsky's Second Symphony, before a moving closing performance of "The Day Thou Gavest". The sound of massed brass bands is always a stirring one, and this is no exception, but it has to be said that the members of the Staff Band give a crisper and brighter sound than their secular counterparts. The odd fluffed notes and ragged edges of a live performance are sprinkled throughout all three sets, but it is a fine and uplifting album that will please brass band aficionados and continue to bolster the musical reputation of the Salvation Army.
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