The church of St Peter and St Paul in Great Missenden is located some distance from the village along a lane that narrows to a single track road for the last quarter mile. On a dark and damp November evening it wasn’t the easiest place to reach for our autumn concert on November 18th, and there wasn’t a lot of space for parking when we got there. However by 5.30 everyone was there and set up ready for a quick rehearsal before the concert.
Despite these difficulties a modestly sized audience had arrived by the time the concert was due to start. Conductor Robert Wicks had chosen Flourish for Wind Band by Vaughan Williams to open the first half, and this was followed by music from the film Beauty and the Beast. After the Overture to Light Cavalry by Suppé and a selection from Les Misérables. Alison Swindles played Reflections, a piece for solo oboe and band written specially for her by Craig Hallatt. The first half ended with music from Mary Poppins.
The second half began with several movements from A ‘Silent Movie’ Suite written by Martin Ellerby to evoke the early years of the cinema. In more reflective mood, this was followed by Band of Brothers. Then after an arrangement of Gershwin’s American in Paris the trumpet section featured in Bugler’s Holiday by Leroy Anderson. Three movements from the 2nd Suite in F by Gustav Holst followed, and the concert finished with Moment for Morricone, some of the film music by Ennio Morricone arranged for band by Johan de Mey.
From the warm applause I think the audience enjoyed the concert. Photographer Rod Wynne-Powell was there and has written about it on his blog, together with a gallery of photos.