Guernsey Concert Brass Christmas Concert 2006

Christmas Concert 2006

The 2006 Annual Christmas Concert at St James started in time honoured tradition with O Come All Ye Faithful (55 in the red book) a Christmas carol commonly attributed to John Francis Wade in approximately 1743, the words originating amongst exiled Jacobite Roman Catholics of the 1740s.

This was followed by Part 1 of the excellent Bach The Herald Angels Swing, Christmas Carols in the styles of various “Masters” arr. Micheal E Hopkinson. In this case O Come, Hark the Herald, In the Bleak, I Saw Three Ships and Once in Royal in the style of a Bach Toccata and Fugue.

Next came another sing along, Good King Wenceslas (55 in the red book). The tune is a Finnish composition "Tempus Adest Floridum" ("Spring has unwrapped her flowers"), a 13th-century spring carol, first published in the Piae Cantiones in 1582. Wenceslaus I was the Duke of Bohemia in what is now the Czech Republic in the early 900’s. Wenceslaus’s father was converted to Christianity by St Cyril and St Methodius and Wenceslaus was reported to have invented pizza, asking for a meal that was “Deep Pan, crisp and even”.

This was followed by the Broadbent arrangement of Silent Night featuring the trademark Broadbent close section harmonys. The original melody was composed by the Austrian headmaster Franz Gruber (wasn’t that the camp Lieutenant in ‘Allo ‘Allo?) and the lyrics were written in German by the Austrian priest Fr. Josef Mohr entitled Stille Nacht.

Christmas Piece by Goff Richards followed, a superb re-take on the Sussex Carol featuring solo cornet sections from Colin Solway.

Next came the Guest Conductor Competition, featuring Harry (8) Edward (10 and a bit) and Sophie (10 and a bit more). The Contest was won by Sophie when she led the band through a rendition of Jingle Bells at Warp 10 leaving fingers numbed and trombone slides smoking!

Ayrton (Moley) Hockaday and Dave Hockaday then performed an atmospheric Euphonium Duet of Moley’s own creation. For some time Dave has wanted to play a piece of musice written by his son, and as this was to be Dave’s last concert with the GCB Ayrton wrote ‘Eskia’ a piece with a floating melody from the Euphoniums on a rolling bass chord sequence and embroidered with reflective cornet and horn motifes. A very nice composition from a home grown talent.

Rounding off the first off was Yule Dance, arr. Philip Harper, a River Dance version of O Little Town, In Dulci Jubilo, I Saw Three Ships, and the Sussex Carol.

The second half started with Part 7 of Bach The Herald Angels Swing featuring Still the Night, Angels from the Realms and Hark the Herald, in the style of a Rossini Overture.

The second half sing along commenced with Hark! The Herald Angels Sing (36 in the red book) written by Charles Wesley, the brother of John Wesley in 1739. The original opening line was "Hark! how all the welkin rings" The tune was composed by Felix Mendelssohn in 1840 as part of the “Festival Song” The most popular version is probably that by David Willcocks (published 1961) which adds a descant for the third verse.

This was followed by A Christmas Adventure by Darrol Barry, a composition of Carols in the style of the Indiana Jones movie music. Darrol Barry live in Oman with his wife Rachel and 3 cats and is the Composer and Arranger in residence to the Royal Guard of Oman. He was born in Salford.

Next came The Christmas Song (Chestnuts Roasting) by Mel Torme and featuring Colin again on solo. It was first performed in 1946 by Nat King Cole.

Then followed an exquisite arrangement of Adolphe Adam’s O Holy Night by Stephen Booth. Unfortunately this is completely ruined for anyone who has heard the South Park rendition by Cartman!

Derek Broadbent’s arrangement of Ding Dong Merrily followed. Derek Broadbent has conducted both Brighouse and Rastrick and Black Dyke Mills bands to their peaks in the 1970’s and 80’s and aided Brighouse to success with Floral Dance.

This was followed by Philip Sparke’s arrangement of White Christmas by Irving Berlin. The music and lyrics were written by Irving Berlin in 1942 and were in the movie Holiday Inn starring Bing Crosby. The song and recording of White Christmas was so popular that it was later reprised in the movie called after its name - White Christmas, also starring Bing Crosby.

The program ended with Santa Claus-Trophobia by Sandy Smith, a foot stomping amalgam of every Christmas song known to man compressed into 6 ½ minutes. Sandy Smith has been Professor of tenor horn at the RNCM in Manchester since 1990 and the University of Huddersfield and currently plays Solo Horn for Grimethorpe Colliery band.

For Encore the band played Christmas at Last, arr. Ray Woodfield, a selection of Christmas hits arranged in the Big Band style of the Great and ever popular James Last. James Last, born in Bremen in 1929 has sold over 100 million albums and is still touring so who better to emulate?! Whew!

The GCB then had the frantic task of the Christmas Gigs to knuckle down to so good job they had a good warm up eh?

Thank you to all involved and a Merry Christmas to one and all!

Marcus.


Home The Bailiwick of Guernsey News & Announcements Events Calendar Past Events Summer Concert 2009 Saddleworth 2008 Summer Season 2007 Summer Concert 2007 Spring Concert 2007 Christmas Concert 2006 Candie 2006 Charybdis 2006 Town Carnival 2006 Summer Concert 2006 Saddleworth 2006 Charybdis 2005 Spring Concert 2004 Summer Concert 2003 Spring Concert 2001 History Beginnings Kings to KGV Move Pictures The Members Musical Director Cornets Horns Euphoniums & Baritones Trombones Basses Percussion The Director's Cut Merchandise Friends of the Band Association of Guernsey Charities Guernsey Concert Youth Band Band Social Sponsorship Links of Guernsey Contact Us Guest Book MUSIK FROHSINN OBERBURG (SWITZERLAND)		Christmas Concert 2006 The 2006 Annual Christmas Concert at St James started in time honoured tradition with O Come All Ye Faithful (55 in the red book) a Christmas carol commonly attributed to John Francis Wade in approximately 1743, the words originating amongst exiled Jacobite Roman Catholics of the 1740s. This was followed by Part 1 of the excellent Bach The Herald Angels Swing, Christmas Carols in the styles of various “Masters” arr. Micheal E Hopkinson. In this case O Come, Hark the Herald, In the Bleak, I Saw Three Ships and Once in Royal in the style of a Bach Toccata and Fugue. Next came another sing along, Good King Wenceslas (55 in the red book). The tune is a Finnish composition "Tempus Adest Floridum" ("Spring has unwrapped her flowers"), a 13th-century spring carol, first published in the Piae Cantiones in 1582. Wenceslaus I was the Duke of Bohemia in what is now the Czech Republic in the early 900’s. Wenceslaus’s father was converted to Christianity by St Cyril and St Methodius and Wenceslaus was reported to have invented pizza, asking for a meal that was “Deep Pan, crisp and even”. This was followed by the Broadbent arrangement of Silent Night featuring the trademark Broadbent close section harmonys. The original melody was composed by the Austrian headmaster Franz Gruber (wasn’t that the camp Lieutenant in ‘Allo ‘Allo?) and the lyrics were written in German by the Austrian priest Fr. Josef Mohr entitled Stille Nacht. Christmas Piece by Goff Richards followed, a superb re-take on the Sussex Carol featuring solo cornet sections from Colin Solway. Next came the Guest Conductor Competition, featuring Harry (8) Edward (10 and a bit) and Sophie (10 and a bit more). The Contest was won by Sophie when she led the band through a rendition of Jingle Bells at Warp 10 leaving fingers numbed and trombone slides smoking! Ayrton (Moley) Hockaday and Dave Hockaday then performed an atmospheric Euphonium Duet of Moley’s own creation. For some time Dave has wanted to play a piece of musice written by his son, and as this was to be Dave’s last concert with the GCB Ayrton wrote ‘Eskia’ a piece with a floating melody from the Euphoniums on a rolling bass chord sequence and embroidered with reflective cornet and horn motifes. A very nice composition from a home grown talent. Rounding off the first off was Yule Dance, arr. Philip Harper, a River Dance version of O Little Town, In Dulci Jubilo, I Saw Three Ships, and the Sussex Carol. The second half started with Part 7 of Bach The Herald Angels Swing featuring Still the Night, Angels from the Realms and Hark the Herald, in the style of a Rossini Overture. The second half sing along commenced with Hark! The Herald Angels Sing (36 in the red book) written by Charles Wesley, the brother of John Wesley in 1739. The original opening line was "Hark! how all the welkin rings" The tune was composed by Felix Mendelssohn in 1840 as part of the “Festival Song” The most popular version is probably that by David Willcocks (published 1961) which adds a descant for the third verse. This was followed by A Christmas Adventure by Darrol Barry, a composition of Carols in the style of the Indiana Jones movie music. Darrol Barry live in Oman with his wife Rachel and 3 cats and is the Composer and Arranger in residence to the Royal Guard of Oman. He was born in Salford. Next came The Christmas Song (Chestnuts Roasting) by Mel Torme and featuring Colin again on solo. It was first performed in 1946 by Nat King Cole. Then followed an exquisite arrangement of Adolphe Adam’s O Holy Night by Stephen Booth. Unfortunately this is completely ruined for anyone who has heard the South Park rendition by Cartman! Derek Broadbent’s arrangement of Ding Dong Merrily followed. Derek Broadbent has conducted both Brighouse and Rastrick and Black Dyke Mills bands to their peaks in the 1970’s and 80’s and aided Brighouse to success with Floral Dance. This was followed by Philip Sparke’s arrangement of White Christmas by Irving Berlin. The music and lyrics were written by Irving Berlin in 1942 and were in the movie Holiday Inn starring Bing Crosby. The song and recording of White Christmas was so popular that it was later reprised in the movie called after its name - White Christmas, also starring Bing Crosby. The program ended with Santa Claus-Trophobia by Sandy Smith, a foot stomping amalgam of every Christmas song known to man compressed into 6 ½ minutes. Sandy Smith has been Professor of tenor horn at the RNCM in Manchester since 1990 and the University of Huddersfield and currently plays Solo Horn for Grimethorpe Colliery band. For Encore the band played Christmas at Last, arr. Ray Woodfield, a selection of Christmas hits arranged in the Big Band style of the Great and ever popular James Last. James Last, born in Bremen in 1929 has sold over 100 million albums and is still touring so who better to emulate?! Whew! The GCB then had the frantic task of the Christmas Gigs to knuckle down to so good job they had a good warm up eh? Thank you to all involved and a Merry Christmas to one and all! Marcus.