Leonard Bernstein’s Candide Overture provides a quite stunning opening to this program; incredible technique given the rather upbeat tempi, and wonderful expansive sounds portraying the main theme.
Blessed Assurance would certainly be familiar to those of us who used to go to Sunday School and this fine arrangement by Stephen Bulla is brilliantly performed Soprano soloist Richard Poole- the sheer power and control in the upper register is quite superb.
In total contrast, a relatively new composer Matthew Eden displays much to admire with this lovely scoring of Spring Song which is most beautifully and expressively delivered by Principal Cornet Mark Wilkinson, which is then followed by a tremendously exciting and rhythmic Sandy Smith arrangement of
It Had Better Be Tonight ( Pink Panther theme)- brilliant playing!
Think of Choral music and one immediately turns to John Rutter, and here we hear Horn soloist Steve Ridler displaying great feeling and sensitivity in Chris Wormald’s fine arrangement of The Lord Bless You and Keep You
Little Star was composed for piano by John Barber, but the band’s Composer-in-Residence, Andy Scott has worked a very clever arrangement of this lovely waltz which really captures the original underlying keyboard accompaniment’
David Thornton is regarded as one of our outstanding Euphonium soloists and he truly excels in this Richard Rock composition Pixie Dust which is very much John Williams influenced.
The Swan arranged by Howard Snell features baritone soloist Sarah Lenton, and apart from the pleasure of hearing this much neglected solo instrument Sarah shows wonderful artistry in emulating the original scoring for the cello.
James Gourlay is the next arranger following Snell as previous Foden’s M D’s, and his energetic Spanish flavoured treatment of La Bode de Luis is most exhilarating and quite breathtaking.
Prior to a really fascinating contribution from their Youth Band, Foden’s conclude their program with Eric Crees’s brilliant arrangement of West Side Story which, unlike other arrangements, follows the original story line most faithfully, and much credit to Michael Fowles for his fine directing and control of this outstanding band.
Finally, special mention regarding the Foden’s Youth Band formed only 4 years ago, yet performing at a level far beyond their ages with great mature sounds and such controlled technique, and again, great credit to both Michael Fowles and Mark Bousie for their commitment and dedication to this fine young band.
A really outstanding C D, full of quality, full of great technique, but, most importantly full of great ‘musicality'.
Tracks
Fodens' Band
1. Candide Overture - Leonard Bernstein Arr: Howard Snell [4.42]
2. Blessed Assurance - Knapp Arr: Stephen Bulla [4.58]
Soprano Cornet Soloist Richard Poole
3. Spring Song - Matthew Eden [ 5.26]
Cornet Soloist Mark Wilkinson
4. It Had Better Be Tonight - Henry Mancini Arr: Sandy Smith [ 3.07]
5. The Lord Bless You and Keep You - John Rutter Arr: Chris Wormald [3.14]
Tenor Horn Soloist Steve Ridler
6. Little Stars - John Barber Arr: Andy Scott [ 3.42]
7. Pixie Dust - Richard Rock [4.08]
Euphonium Soloist David Thornton
8. The Swan - Saint - Saens Arr: Howard Snell [3.05]
9. La Boda de Luis Alonso - Gimenez Arr: James Gourlay
Fodens Youth Band
10. Prismatic Light - Alan Fernie [3.29]
11. The Path To Peace - Philip Harper [3.35]
12. Firefly - Simon Dobson [5.39]
13. Burlesque - Philip Sparke [3.13]
Fodens' Band
14. West Side Story - Leonard Bernstein Arr: Eric Crees [16.05]
J. Stuart Fawcett
