Triumphant Brass

National Youth Brass of New Zealand
Conductor: Nigel Weeks

Available from:
The National Youth Brass Band of New Zealand
PO Box 13-211
Christchurch
New Zealand
Email: Owen_Melhuish@bnz.co.nz

Over the last few years I have been extremely fortunate in being able to work with a number of fine youth brass organisations throughout the UK and overseas. Early this year I was pleased to accept an invitation from the National Youth Band of New Zealand to take part in their annual residential course, held at Victoria University in Wellington, and subsequent series of gala concerts throughout the North and South Islands of New Zealand.

'Triumphant Brass' is the premiere recording by the National Youth Brass (conductor Nigel Weeks) and is the end product of their 1999 residential course, recorded 'live' at the Bruce Mason Centre, North Shore City on the North Island of New Zealand.

The repertoire on this recording is a fine example of a typical brass band programme and includes three test pieces from some of Britain's finest writers for the medium. The programme opens with a fine rendition of George Wilcox' march 'The Champions'. Immediately noticeable is a fine demonstration of a maturity of sound and tightness of ensemble that you would come to expect from any of our top bands in the UK - quite an achievement when taking into account you're listening to a team of forty-one players and four percussionists!

There then follows an extremely stylish performance of the old favourite 'Trumpets Wild' by H. Walters. This performance gives us a rare opportunity to listen to a mixture of some of New Zealand's finest exponents of the cornet - soloists are Kevin Jarrett, a former conductor of the National Youth Brass and Director of Education for the Brass Bands Association of New Zealand, Andrew Large, a former Youth Band member and New Zealand Cornet Champion, Teri Collins, current principal cornet, Tim Large and Tyme Masters, solo cornets and Stephen Chapman, repiano cornets. All soloists project a fine sense of style, sound and balance - bravo!

A London Overture was written by Philip Sparke as the test piece for the 1991 European Brass Band Championships held in the DeDoelen Concert Hall in Rotterdam. As is the case with most Sparke compositions it puts the majority of players in the band under the spotlight. Listening to the exposed cadenzas for trombone, horn, cornet and euphonium reminds me of the difficulties most soloists encountered in Rotterdam. In this performance however, all soloists emerge unscathed and contribute to the overall success of this exciting performance.

Over the last few years there has been growing popularity in brass band concert programmes by the inclusion of a good old, traditional xylophone solo. I can't think of a better exponent than the popular Simone Rebello. Simone is the first of two guest soloists on the recording and opens her set with what is proving to be her signature tune, 'Nutty Woods' arranged by Denis Wright. It always amazes me the sheer technical dexterity and athleticism that Simone produces with each performance. This solo recalls fond memories of accompanying Simone while at Britannia Building Society Band and struggling to keep up with her adventurous tempi. There is no such problem in this performance and both band and soloist reach the end together!

One of the highlight of the disc is Simone's unaccompanied performance of Evelyn Glennie's 'A Little Prayer'. The control of dynamic contrast and the ability to sustain extended melodic solo lines is proof that Simone is one of the generations finest exponents of marimba.

The listener is brought back down to earth with a rousing performance of the popular Wilson classic 'Seventy Six Trombones'. This talented team of trombonists display a fine sectional sound and thankfully avoid straying into the 'paint stripping' upper dynamics we so frequently hear with this piece.

After a well structured rendition of the Vinter classic 'Triumphant Rhapsody' we are treated to a performance by antipodean euphonium virtuoso Riki McDonnell. Riki, a former Youth Band member himself has chosen to play an arrangement especially made for him by Peter Graham of the wonderful melody from Peter's popular test piece 'On Alderley Edge'. Riki's 'operatic' sound and style suit 'The Holy Well' perfectly. This wonderfully musical performance is marred slightly by excessive 'breath' noises - unfortunately an all too frequent problem with 'live' recordings.

Gordon Langford's compilation of American Folk Songs 'New World Fantasy' is executed with panache and style. A special mention must be contributed to the fine flugel playing in the wonderfully atmospheric 'Largo' section. Audience participation proves that this is still a very popular inclusion on brass band concerts.

As a trombone player I always dread the inclusion of Malcolm Arnold's 'Fantasy for Brass Band' into band programmes. This concern certainly has nothing to do with the music as a whole, just the mass of black notes spread over the entire trombone parts! This music exposes some lovely playing from solo cornet and euphonium and shows in no uncertain terms that the 1999 National Youth Band of New Zealand has no problems tackling this classic of the band repertoire.

The disc concludes with two popular arrangements by Scottish trombonist Alan Fernie of 'America' by Leonard Bernstein and the hit song 'Singin' in the Rain'.

The recording is well balanced, acoustically pleasing and very 'listener-friendly'. Congratulations should be given to both producer and engineer for eliminating so many of the problems we often hear on live recordings.

The quality of solo playing, the tightness of ensemble, the mature sound of the Band and the varied programme content are due to the expert direction and motivation of conductor Nigel Weeks. To produce a CD of this quality, with a minimum period of sustained rehearsal is more than a considerable achievement and congratulations must go to Mr Weeks for this debut recording. I very much look forward to hearing more from the National Youth Band of New Zealand and recommend 'Triumphant Brass' without hesitation.

Nick Hudson

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