Partnership Festival with Sunderland Monkwearmouth at Batley
In what can only be described as ‘tropical’ conditions, Monkwearmouth and Derby dispensed ( quite sensibly) with Festival tunics, (lest bandsmen should melt away altogether!) and got down to what turned out to be a very memorable occasion.
It is very rare these days, to have a complete sell-
Sunderland’s programme got off to good start with the ‘punchy’ march Montclair Citadel, then brought us gently down with Prelude to a New Day.
Joe Beattie then gave a superb rendition of the old favourite Cornet solo ‘Victorious’ , before we were treated to the overture to Mozart’s last opera ‘The Magic Flute’.
The Trombone feature ‘ The Cleansing Power’ , the arrangements of ‘Soon and very soon’ and ‘Swedish Folk Song’ demonstrated the versatility of the band, with stylistic interpretations and admirable ensemble work.
Eric Skipsey’s performance of a soprano cornet solo ‘The Higher Plane’ was another highlight of the first half, which was brought to a tremendous conclusion with Ray Farr’s arrangement of J.S Bach’s Toccata in D minor.
What seemed like a very quick ten minute interval, came to an end with Derby on the platform presenting Island Dreams to begin the second half, followed by one of my favourite marches Salvation Song.
David R excelled with the solo So Glad and the band entered a swing time with Deep River, Three kings Swing and All to Jesus.
Andy Ward then sang You Raise me up, which although not a religious song in it’s original form, certainly took on a spirituality when sung to worship God.
Stuart retained this, when he brought the reading and thought from the Word, and the bands playing of The Mission brought the reflective period to a close.
Glorifico Aeternum was the BIG piece of the evening, and brought a superb evening
to a fitting conclusion -
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