CD Recording Day (11th May 2014)

The band during recording.
Photo : Keith Crompton

On a sleepy Sunday morning members of Northampton Concert Band and a few invited guest players convened at the Cripps Recreational Centre to record Imperial Echoes, a follow up to their first CD Platinum Celebration (2011).

This time however the stakes were higher as, learning from the previous recording, Northampton Concert Band decided to put themselves in the very capable hands of World of Sound, a highly regarded recording company owned by Salvation Army Trading Co. Ltd. based in Wellingborough.

Starting at 10am we quickly recorded a number of marches kicking off with Imperial Echoes by Arnold Safroni the title track for our new CD. By 1pm a few film selections had been added and it was time for a well-earned break, all-be-it a short one.

Stephen, as viewed by the tuba section.
Photo : Brian Crutchley

With lunch over, and bellies full, the bands energy levels slowly started to wane and it was down to Stephen Bell, musical director, to energise the band into continuing to give their all. During the last 30 minutes the band performed their last 2 pieces and then it was time to pack our instruments away.

Adam Goldsmith, Producer and Senior Recording Engineer, World of Sound said, “I really enjoyed working with the band.”

Stephen Bell posted on Facebook later that day, “What an incredible day we had recording together. The band played right out of its skin. Good work everyone and a massive thank you from me. [I] can't wait to hear the results of our efforts.”

Taking a break.
Photo : Sarah Mason

It is hoped the first copies of the CD will be available by mid-July and the band plan a full launch at a later date.

Special thanks go to Michael Watkins for organising the tea, coffee and biscuits and the Cripps Recreational Staff for supplying our buffet lunch and support throughout the day.

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We've Got Rhythm - Programme - 1st March 2014

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Conducted by Stephen Bell

Imperial Echoes 

James Ord Hume

Originally composed as a piano piece by Arnold Safroni in 1913 it was later adapted into a march by James Ord Hume in 1928. In 1940 the opening and closing parts were used to introduce the BBC’s daily news programme Radio Newsreel. As such it became inextricably associated with the BBC’s output during the war. The theme continued to be used by the BBC in Britain until 1970.

Egmont Overture
Beethoven
Written as the opening piece to the play Egmont, the story follows the heroism of a 16th century Dutch nobleman, the Count of Egmont. Beethoven expressed his own political concerns through the exaltation of the heroic sacrifice of a man condemned to death for having taken a valiant stand against oppression. The Overture later became an unofficial anthem of the 1956 Hungarian revolution.

At Dawn They Slept (December 7, 1941)
Jay Bocook

Jay Bocook is a prolific composer and arranger of concert band music. This musical remembrance pays tribute to fallen heroes of that fateful day at Pearl Harbour that launched the USA into World War II. Opening with a peaceful, flowing woodwind melody, the day is heralded in by a lone bugler. Ominous undertones, powerful scoring, dissonant themes and bombastic percussion capture musically the chaos that followed. It's a powerful musical statement that concludes ultimately on an optimistic note that looks to a brighter future.

Clarinet on the Town
Ralph Hermann
Born in 1914, Ralph’s musical career began at high school and culminated in concerts with famous American bands. From 1954 he also wrote works for concert band.
Originally composed for clarinet and piano ‘Clarinet on the Town’ tonight gets the full band treatment.

A Tribute to Glenn Miller
Glenn Miller
Arr. Henry Gass
Probably the most popular of all the big band musicians he was the best-selling recording artist from 1939 to 1943.
This small selection of Millers music, arranged by Henry Gass, was published after Glenn Millers aircraft disappeared in bad weather over the English Channel in 1944.
The songs included in this arrangement are:
Tuxedo Junction | Little Brown Jug | Jersey Bounce | American Patrol

I Would That My Love
Felix Mendelssohn
Jakob Ludwig Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy (1809 –1847), widely known as Felix Mendelssohn, was a German composer, pianist, organist and conductor of the early Romantic period.
I Would That My Love (Ich wollt’ meine Lieb’), published in 1836, is the first of 6 Duets that make up Opus 63.
Originally scored for two sopranos and piano this arrangement is for two cornets.

A Concert Medley
Henry Mancini
Arr. John Moss
Mancini had a long collaboration with the film director Blake Edwards and won numerous Academy Awards for the songs in Edwards’ films, including “Moon River” from Breakfast at Tiffany’s.
This arrangement by John Moss sandwiches the melancholy of Moon River between the cheerful and goofy slices of The Pink Panther and Baby Elephant Walk

INTERVAL

Barnard Castle
Goff Richards
Goff Richards, sometimes credited as Godfrey Richards, was a prominent English brass band arranger and composer.
He was well known for his original brass compositions such as “Trailblaze”, “Doyen”, “Exploding Brass!” and the marches “The Jaguar” and “Barnard Castle”.
He died on 25 June 2011 in Cheshire, following an illness, at the age of 66.
Barnard Castle is a market town in Teesdale, County Durham, England. It is named after the castle around which it grew up.

Hoagy Carmichael in Concert
Hoagy Carmichael
Arr. Warren Barker
Born Howard Hoagland Carmichael in 1899, Hoagy is best known for composing the music for “Stardust”, “The Nearness of You”, and “Heart and Soul”, three of the most-recorded American songs of all time and all featured in this selection.
“Heart and Soul” has a simple chord progression that is taught to beginning piano students as an easy two-had duet.
In the Cool, Cool, Cool of the Evening | The Nearness of You | Heart and Soul | Stardust | Lazy River

Alice in Wonderland
Danny Elfman
Arr. Michael Brown
Tim Burton’s 2010 film version of Alice in Wonderland was scored by long-time collaborator Danny Elfman. Most famous for The Simpsons theme Danny has scored for many films including writing the song and providing the singing voice for Jack Skellington in Tim Burton’s The Nightmare before Christmas.
Alice Returns | Bandersnatched | Alice’s Theme

Sinatra in Concert
(Various)
Arr. Jerry Nowak
This selection of four songs made famous by Frank Sinatra opens with ‘New York, New York’, originally sung by Liza Minnelli in the 1977 film of the same name that was a box-office flop.
After retiring for the first time in 1971, two years later Frank Sinatra returned to work and recorded several albums and in 1980 had a top 40 hit with the song with slightly different words to the original.
New York, New York | It Was a Very Good Year | The Lady is a Tramp | My Way

Big Bands in Concert
(Various)
Arr. Bob Lowden
This selection of ‘Big Band’ music features music from four greats:
Glen Miller’s A String of Pearls, Duke Ellington’s Satin Doll, Intermission Riff by Ray Wetzel, Duke Ellington’s Sophisticated Lady, and Open One.
A String of Pearls | Satin Doll | Intermission Riff | Sophisticated Lady | Opus One

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We've Got Rhythm

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Tickets are already on sale for our first concert of 2014 – We’ve Got Rhythm on Saturday 1^st March.

Featuring a wide selection of music "We’ve Got Rhythm" will include a range of “Big Band” music. Also in the programme will be Barnard Castle by Goff Richards and Egmont Overture by Beethoven, specially selected for this concert by our musical director Stephen Bell.

Talking of Big Bands, Northampton Concert Band held an “open rehearsal” in January where we recruited some new members so the band is now even bigger than ever; now numbering about 50 performers (I’m not sure we will all be able to get onto the Abington Park bandstand this summer). Please come along and support our new members in their first concert with us.

Tickets are available online from our website priced at £10 adults and £5 children, though you can save £1 per ticket if you buy yours before Sunday 15^th February. Or you can call 07561 390099.

We’ve Got Rhythm will be held at the Cripps Recreational Centre (NGH) where there is a licenced bar to which you will be able to purchase drinks throughout the evening. There is also plenty of parking on site which will cost 50p for the evening.

We’re all looking forward to seeing you there.

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