New Year Concert in Eaton Bray

The Band returned to Eaton Bray on Saturday afternoon 10th January for another New Year concert, the third time the Band has been invited to play there. The Church of St Mary was gratifyingly full, with an encouraging number of children come to enjoy the music, and specially for them the first half included music from Frozen. The concert had started with Fanfare and Flourishes by James Curnow, followed by Mozart’s overture The Marriage of Figaro, and the first half also included Satin Doll by Duke Ellington, played by the saxophones. Music from Miss Saigon, the show which has recently been revived in London, was followed by a nod to the Christmas season just past – the Hallelujah Chorus from The Messiah by Handel. The first half finished in celebratory mood with part of Jupiter from The Planets by Gustav Holst.

To open the second half conductor Robert Wicks had chosen another piece with children in mind, music from the film Pirates of the Caribbean. Then the band played three movements from the lively ballet Pineapple Poll based on music by Arthur Sullivan arranged by Charles Mackerras, followed by Swing, Swing, Swing as arranged by Rob Wiffin. The second half also included an instrumental version of the Flower Duet from Lakmé by Delibes, and the ever popular Wizard of Oz.

This being a New Year concert the Band couldn’t finish without something associated with the season, so the concert ended with the Blue Danube Waltz as arranged by Rob Wiffin. At least, that was last item planned, but the applause from the audience demanded an encore, and the Band played the Radetzky March by Johann Strauss.

With the New Year suitably celebrated the Band now has something of a lull until the spring. Time to start preparing new music for spring concerts and summer fêtes, and we also have an enjoyable day’s music making to look forward to at our Playday in March.