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REVIEWS:
Published: 10-May-2005
The Band of the Coldstream
Guards
Major Graham Jones
Maxwell Hall, University of Salford
Wednesday 4th May
tulms
If you think along the lines of Benjamin Brittan's 'Young Persons Guide to the
Orchestra', it will give you an idea of how this concert by the Coldstream
Guards was presented.
Instead of a 'musical guide' to the band though, this was a historical look. at
the Regiment, the band and the music played down the years, right up to the
present day with a World Premiere concluding the programme.
The audience had the opportunity to listen to this famous band as part of its
residency at the University of Salford. This link between the two organisations
gives sixteen members of the Guards the opportunity to take a bespoke
course developed by Professor David King. In addition, Undergraduate and
Postgraduate students will get the chance to work with the numerous
ensembles within the Guards' Band. It is a partnership that looks as though it
is flourishing and of immense benefit to both establish ments.
Colonel George Monck's Regiment of Foot was the precursor- of the Coldsticam
Guards. 'Monck's March' was commissioned by Major Jones and written by
Nigel Hess to pay homage to the great man, and it was this piece that opened
the programme.
Throughout the afternoon, Major Jones spoke passionately about the
regiment, its history and the impact it had on events at various times, right up
until the present day. The concert was a fascinating musical journey and you
felt that the conductor was faced with some difficult decisions when it came to
which pieces to include and what to leave out.
It was important though for Major Jones to demonstrate how music was
performed in certain eras and as a result the audience was given IC Bach's
'Allegro from his Quintet in Eb' - quintets being an integral part of music from
the 1770s.
It was then into the 1780s and a snippet of Schubert's Warche Militaile'
complete with serpent, before a fine performance was produced of Webei's
'Clarinet Concerto'. The first movement from Holst's 'Suite in L-b' had been
preceded by the familiar 'Slaves Chorus'from 'Nabucco'.
From here it was into the 1900s and a performance of 'Toccata Marziale' by
Ralph Vaughan-Williams. I had personally never heard this before, but it was
fascinating listening, as the band was completely at home with the music and
its style.
Throughout the concert, it was noticeable that whatever style of mLJ'; IC W, I-;
performed, the band adapted to it and produced some excellent
interpretations of the music on offer.
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http: //4barsrest. com/reviews/concerts/coii I 95. asp 29/10/2005
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