9th June

The band will be giving a concert at The Isaacs Watts Memorial Church, Winchester Road, Southampton, SO16 6TS, at 7.30pm. Tickets are £6 available either from Jill on 02380 701973 or Iris on 02380 767552

OPENGATE BAPTIST CHURCH BOGNOR REGIS FRIDAY 5 MAY

“Everyone should go home Happy after that Concert”

It was one of those lovely relaxed occasions: the band was made very welcome in the Opengate Baptist Church, in Bognor Regis, a modern church, spacious and with an excellent acoustic.

The Band set out with “Let there be Praise”, followed by a congregational song “Joyful” and ended with our signature march “South Coast”. In between Martyn Thomas, cornet, played “In the Love of Jesus” and John Hanchett, euphonium, “In Christ alone”: both performances enhanced by sympathetic, controlled, band accompaniment.

The Band had fun with, “Dance before the Lord”, “Daniel”, and “Dance Like David”, and gave a sparkling second performance of Barrie Gott’s swing time “Whiter” currently gifted for the Solent Fellowships Band’s exclusive use: but eventually an absolutely sure-fire winner throughout the Brass band world internationally, secular and SA: and, given the reaction by the audience, a work that will captivate and excite players and listeners alike everywhere.

The major piece for the evening was another fine performance of “The Triumph of Peace” carefully pre-explained by Bandmaster Dan Redhead, thereby aiding audience understanding of the music: and Geoffrey Nobes’ “Prelude on Lavenham”, beautifully and very sympathetically played exemplified the band’s ability to perform to a high standard across the whole spectrum of a varied repertoire.

Apart from during the “Period of Reflection”, every piece was received with enthusiastic applause, with the band standing to an ovation at the interval and again at the end, in response to a standing ovation from the audience.

The evening also marked a significant moment in the musical life of the Opengate Church when its nascent choir performed for the first time at a Concert. They sang, “I offer my life”, “My life is in your hands” and an arrangement of “Amazing Grace”, returning to sing again later in the programmes at Dan’s request.

The Minister of the Church, Nick White, in saying thank you expressed his gratitude that the members of the Band had given so generously of their abilities and time and had donated the Concert free of all charge in order that their hosts might benefit financially to the full from the event: and, coming from “brass band country”, said that he was delighted with the quality of the playing.

And to round off the evening, in a generous moment of respect for the local SA Band, Dan handed the baton to Bognor Regis Bandmaster Frank Bedford to conduct Leslie Condon’s march “Bognor Regis”.

All in all it was a good concert that went well! And by all accounts everyone went home very happy including the Church Treasurer with close to £400 towards the Church’s rebuilding fund. [DD].

Let there be Praise arr Barrie Gott
Dance before the Lord Peter Graham
In the Love of Jesus Will Hammond arr RSA
Triumph of Peace Eric Ball
Whiter Barrie Gott
Alderney Dean Goffin
Daniel Barrie Gott
Dance like David Andrew Mackereth
In Christ alone Richard Phillips
Prelude on Lavenham Geoffrey Nobes
South Coast Martyn Thomas
Bognor Regis Leslie Condon

This concert concluded a very busy eight weeks for the band, having already provided concerts at Hayling Island Community Centre and Andover Salvation Army Corps, where £385 and £245 respectively was realised for the host’s fund raising initiatives. At Hayling Island, the band was supported by Bell Canto, conducted by the band’s principal baritone player, Derek Dunn. The band also provided support and musical ministry at the Salvation Army Southern Division’s Adult Family Ministry event at the end of March. The band is now looking forward to its final concert of the season at Isaac Watts Memorial Church, Winchester Road, Southampton, SO16 6TS on Friday 9th June 2017. (TU).