Brass 'n' Voices Over Blackley

Review by Saddleworth Male Voice Choir website:
http://www.saddleworthmvc.co.uk/#/news/4537696875

SADDLEWORTH Male Voice Choir were the guests of Blackley Brass Band in what proved to be a most successful concert enjoyed by a packed house.

With an eye on forthcoming competitions (Don Valley and Eskdale) the choir included items such as Carl Bohm’s Still Wie Die Nacht, in a moving arrangement by Alwyn Humphreys, and a beautiful setting of the Lord’s Prayer by Carl Deis, while giving the male-voice staple Comrades In Arms its first public performance by the choir for some years. This mid-19th-century  piece by Adolphe Adam, taken from his opera Les Enfants de Paris, prompted one audience member of senior years to comment: “Eee, it were nice to hear that Comrades song again” – another satisfied customer.

Blackley Band continue to improve in performance and technique under the skilled direction of Adie Smith. Last year the band was promoted to the 3rd Section where they are one of the leading contenders for competition prizes. The result on Saturday was a skilled and enjoyable playing of a variety of pieces including Neal Hefti’s Cute, two William Rimmer marches and a terrific Philip Sparke arrangement of Saint Saens Variations. The band also boasts some excellent soloists including Tara Bamford (flugelhorn in Concerto de Aranjuez), Chrissy Chalk-Williams (cornet, Share My Yoke) and Richard Sutcliffe’s horn playing in Come Back To Sorrento. When so many brass bands have, for various reasons, disappeared over the years it was good to see and hear a band still flying the flag.

This was the third time SMVC has shared a stage with Blackley Band and the sell-out audience with its departing comments reflected another excellent night’s music-making in which the choir has been involved.

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