Concert time in Hall
23 August 2010
How lucky we are! A late afternoon concert from the Hall Village Brass Band was the perfect occasion for the official launch of our new community facilities, including the concert venue, the Hall Pavilion. The Band will be seeking to repeat last year's first prize at the State championships again this September, and gave us a fine sample of what they are capable of.
Under the sure control of Director Colin Fischer MBE, a former Director of the RMC Band, the concert opened with the George Gershwin tune 'Strike up the Band' which gained the audience's attention and set the tone for a fine display of brass band musicianship.
After the official opening the band gave us an opportunity to listen to the descriptive talents of the band when they played two excerpts from the Ship Builders Suite -
'Web of Steel' and 'Men at work'.
Always changing the mood, the band played the march 'Anthem of the Free', again showing there talents in a rhythmic foot-tapping style. One of the many highlights was the Euphonium soloist Peter Robinson performance of 'Panis Angelicus' - a beautiful clear sound and very moving.
The delightful song 'Lambeth Walk' which was made very popular during world war two, gave the Band the opportunity to present an arrangement by the
English band composer Phillip Sparke of a fantasy journey through many ways of presenting this song.
One of the highlights was the Band's performance of the hymn 'In Perfect peace', which will be one of their selected competition pieces at the Brass Band Championships. Other numbers played were the 'Little Suite for Brass' and the 'Bohemian Rhapsody'.
An absorbing arrangement of American Civil War songs ended the concert on a high, finishing off a very enjoyable concert by this very fine brass band.
Many more could have been seated for the Concert, but those present were highly appreciative, and did their best to show this by contributing $270 to the gold coin donation - funds going to the Band.
The Band will be performing again on 18th September at the Lyneham High School's new Performing Arts Centre, in Concert with the Australian Rugby Choir and the Lyneham High School Vocal Group
Photo: Band giving the Pavilion acoustics a work-out