December 16th 2001
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Christmas
Concert December 16th 2001 |
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An audience that had rushed to the Roses Theatre box office to purchase their tickets (rumours of queues three people wide down the high street have yet to be substantiated but the fact that the concert sold out prior to the end of November provides good evidence to support them) sat in eager anticipation of this, our final concert of the year.
The band opened in rousing style with Rodney Newton's arrangement of the traditional anthem, Gaudete. The slick interlacing of the familiar melody by the various sections of the band throughout this piece provided a good introduction to what would prove to be an evening to remember. MC Nigel Morgan counted the band into the Latin-jazz melody 'Mambo No.5' which had the audience dancing in their seats. The tempo then slowed as our principal euphonium and regular soloist, Gareth Marchment, stepped up to play G. Doughty's variations on the tune Grandfather's Clock in his usual sonorous style. Another regular visitor to our concerts during 2001, The Pink Panther, then made an appearance in the shape of our trombonist Hadrian Walters, before the band provided an Instant Concert (a piece which saw Nigel teach the audience how to count to 20 on one hand) to close the band's first half set.
The children of Mitton Manor Junior School then provided a wonderful musical interlude with their selection of Christmas favourites.
The first half was brought to a close with carols from our Training Band led by Musical Director, Helen Morgan. A successful first appearance for many of this group of talented young people which hopefully encouraged many of the youngsters or oldsters (no age or height restrictions apply) to take up an instrument with the training band in 2002. The Training Band was then joined by the main band and the angelic voices of the audience for a unique rendition of Hark the Herald, conducted by our very own father and daughter team!
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Another promising talent in the form of 12 year old Tom King commenced the second half with a solo rendition of We Wish You A Merry Christmas as the introduction to Eric Ball's arrangement of H.T. Scull's collection of carols that goes by the same name. Our principal cornet, Martin Musto resplendent in a pair of reindeer antlers then took the spotlight to play the Salvation Army favourite, Share My Yoke. Martin provided a wonderfully mellow rendition of this piece in what was to be his final performance as principal cornet of the band before joining Lydmet Lydney Band. Edrich Sieberts arrangement of the popular song Snowbird took the concert up to the raffle and then the annual awards ceremony. For full details of the awards and this years recipients, click here. |
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Snow White (complete with beard and hairy legs!) and her 30 dwarfs then took the stage to the great amusement of the audience to provide a rendition of music from their Disney biopic. Never before has dancing so fleet of foot graced the stage of the Roses Theatre as that of Snow White! |  |
The children of Mitton Manor Junior School were given
the difficult task of following such a momentous event. They overcame this obstacle
well with some more mellifluous rendition of festive melodies before
accompanying the band in the audience participation pieces Jingle Bells, Rudolph
the Red Nose Reindeer and the First Nowell. A great finale to an enjoyable concert.
We hope to see everyone again next year for our annual festive experience!
