This CD commemorates the truly remarkable dedication and outstanding musicianship during Derick Kane’s 40 years as Principal Euphonium of the I S B, and the opening track Forte by Paul Sharman includes snippets from many Solos which Derick has performed over these years including one of his own compositions A New Direction.
Hymn tunes are frequently revived by new arrangements and this next old favourite has been re-arranged by Howard Evans’ most uplifting When He Cometh
Some Glad, Sweet Day features a father/ son joint work with Bramwell scoring Bernard Tovey’s sketches in this composition of many Salvationist melodies, and in fact Derick premiered this work last year with the NYBBGB.
The following track is rather unusual as They Could Not is a Vocal solo depicting the life, death and resurrection of Christ and was arranged by Derick who really demonstrates his versatility in A Starry Crown which was his first stand-up solo as a young lad, excelling in the rhythmic variations and beautiful slow section- wonderful control.
Divine Right is his own composition and was written as a simple children’s song which would always include a ‘chorus’
On a more humourous side this next piece was devised almost tongue in cheek by Derick and Peter Graham on a music camp, and Star Lake Variations is quite a fun piece based on a camp-fire song and arranged very cleverly by Paul Sharman.
Life of a Day composed by a ‘movie’ and ‘film’ composer gives Derick full license to further demonstrate his sonorous sounds and superb phrasing in Broughton’s beautiful melodic lines, and this followed by The Pathway written in the form of theme and variations and is a tribute to composer/bandmaster Ray Bowes, and here we have remarkably contrasting styles of quite brilliant technique in the Variations through some gorgeous expressive sounds augmented by some wonderful band support.
Derick is joined with his son Stephen on Baritone in Delibes’ beautiful and wistful duet The Flower Duet and the balance, control and musicality is here in abundance- pure quality!
The Better World by Norman Bearcroft highlights Derick’s remarkable technique yet again, together with incredible range and versatility in this very demanding work’ and here is a perfect example demonstrating Derick’s complete ‘mastery’ of the Euphonium.
This final track is a Kenneth Downie arrangement of the hymn tune St. Clements and is very cleverly and impressively scored for band and FIVE Euphoniums, and what a moving and truly glorious conclusion to a most wonderful CD., which really has given me much pleasure in reviewing.
Tracks:
1. Forte - Paul Sharman - 4.08
2. When He Cometh - Howard J. Evans - 5.03
3. Some Glad, Sweet Day - Bernard Tovey - Realised by Bramwell Tovey - 4.37
4. They Could Not - Ron Harris & Clare Cloninger Arr: Derick Kane - 4.37
5. A Starry Crown - Brindley Boon - 5.10
6. Divine Right - Derick Kane Arr: David Catherwood - 3.38
7. Star Lake Variations - Arr: Paul Sharman - 6.26
8. Life of a Day - Bruce Broughton - 5.41
9. The Pathway - Ray Bowes - 8.46
10. The Flower Duet - Delibes Arr: Derick Kane - 6.03
Also featuring playing Baritone Stephen Kane
11. Better World - Norman Bearcroft - 9.12
12. St Clements - Kenneth Downie - 4.26
Also featuring Euphonium players Jonathan Evans, Graham Lawrence, John Starkes, David Taylor and Andrew Hedley
J Stuart Fawcett
