STYLE: Brass Band RATING OUR PRODUCT CODE: 127039-19315 LABEL: Doyen 25202 FORMAT: CD Album ITEMS: 1 RRP: £13.95
Reviewed by Stephen Luff
The award winning brass band return with an album inspired by "ethereal beauty and heavenly intervention" conducted by Dr Robert Childs. The 17 minute opener "Spiriti" is a complex piece and a little difficult to digest for an opener, especially as the CD notes bill the introduction as written in the style of a funeral march! It does pick up as the track progresses however. "The UFO Concerto", in five movements, features outstanding playing on the euphonium by David Childs (Robert's son) who has also performed at the Proms. "Helvetia" is based on visits to Switzerland (Helvetia is the Roman name for the country), and though beautiful, its theme seems a little out of place on this disc. I found the straightforward "Breath Of Souls" based on "nature's capacity to grow and rebuild" which finishes the album, enjoyable with its engaging energy and musical enthusiasm. However, as a whole this was a difficult listening experience; a bit like eating a whole box of chocolates in one go - many interesting musical contrasts but too much all at once!
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Product Description
This disc takes its inspiration from ethereal beauty and heavenly intervention. Paul Lovatt-Cooper's Breath of Souls parallels itself to Mother Nature's ability to triumph over adversity while Spiriti conjures up the notion of great composers of the past looking down from heaven as today's composers refine their craft. The title also alludes to the standard of music-making by this fine band, winning all there is to be won and remaining at the top of the world rankings for five years.
The disc also features euphonium soloist David Childs in UFO Concerto (nothing to do with unusual apparent anomalies in the sky) and Helvetia, the Roman name given to Switzerland and written in memory of James Watson. All the tracks on the disc are world première studio recordings and, as the title suggests, the playing is simply...out of this world!