Brass and Voices
Kings and Queens Performing Arts Centre
St Kilda Brass presented its final 2011 concert on Saturday
evening at the Kings and Queens Performing Arts Centre.
Peter Adams conducted and Otago Girls' High School and Otago
Boys' High School choirs (musical director Karen Knudson)
were guest performers.
Liberty Fanfare made a very impressive opening number.
With its great range of dynamic contrast and forward drive
creating a feeling of "something exciting is about to
happen".
John Williams (arr. Philip Sparke) has composed the ideal
brass recital overture. This band produces tight, mellow,
unified tone and there were many moments of beautiful
resonance throughout its programme, plus colourful music to
challenge four busy percussionists. In addition, a
considerable number of players have achieved championship
status in national competitions, and works were chosen to
highlight this.
Rosie Evans (flugal horn) soloed in a brass arrangement of
Rodrigo's Concerto du Arunjuez, originally for
classical guitar, Erynne Scherf (tenor horn open grade champ)
showed her winning style in Goff Richards' arrangement of
Over the Rainbow, and principal cornet Katie Blair
created seamless legato phrasing in Pastorale, a more lyrical
work by Richards.
John McAdam (baritone horn) also featured impressively as a
soloist. Richards' Armenian Fire Dance was an absolute
highlight, proving champs in the ranks make the difference.
Vibrancy with thrilling clarity never failed as tempo
accelerated to a brilliant climactic ending.
Choir performances were disappointingly under par, no doubt
due to the absence of many members, but 10 OBHS singers
showed it is "cool for guys to sing", performing their
bracket with the zealous attitude and teamwork of any 1st XV,
displaying vocal skills which earned a placing in Big Sing's
national finals.
- Elizabeth Bouman
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