Programme Notes AVON SCHOOLS' SYMPHONIC WIND BAND Conductor: Phillip Scott Age range of performers: 14-20 years Fanfare and National Anthem arr. Andrew Tyrrell Master Humphrey's Clock Malcolm Binney Four Character Studies: Fagin's Ball, Nancy's Lament, Sairey, Bozmania The Avon Schools' Symphonic Wind Band was formed in 1975 to bring together the large number of young and highly talented woodwind and brass players in the County of Avon. Members meet for intensive rehearsals during school holiday periods and most play regularly in one of the twelve Music Centres which meet weekly throughout the school year. The band performs a large repertoire of symphonic wind music and has broadcast on radio and television, including a programme for the BBC in their series, 'Youth Orchestras of the World'. During the Easter holidays this year the band toured the United States of America - the first visit the band has made to the 'home' of wind bands. Concerts were given in Washington, Disneyworld and Atlanta.
Master Humphrey's Clock Malcolm Binney Four Character Studies: Fagin's Ball, Nancy's Lament, Sairey, Bozmania 'Master Humphrey's Clock' was a weekly periodical produced by Charles Dickens who, writing under the pseudonym 'Bos', published this miscellany of articles and short sketches. Ma1colm Binney's suite for wind band was commissioned by the Kent Youth Wind Orchestra and premiered by them in 1988 in the Queen Elizabeth Hall, London. As Dickens lived much of his life in the county of Kent, it seemed appropriate that Ma1colm Binney should draw for inspiration on names invented by one of the county's most famous inhabitants. The band will play the last part of 'Master Humphrey's Clock', Four Character Studies. 'Fagin's Ball', 'Nancy's Lament' and 'Sairey' culminate in 'Bozmania', a blaze of colour, noise and merriment. In this closing movement earlier material combines in an exhilarating fugal finale. Avon Schools' Symphonic Wind Band were proud to give the first performance in the United States of this fine, original work for wind band.
AYLESBURY MUSIC CENTRE DANCE BAND Musical Director: Nicholas Care Age range of performers: 14-21 years arr. Rob McCOIlIJell Just Friends Take the 'A' Train Billy Strayhom,
arr. Rob McConlleil The Aylesbury Music Centre Dance Band (average age 17) is formed from the finest young jazz musicians in the Vale of Aylesbury, the county town of Buckinghamshire. In recent years the band has enjoyed a very exciting and demanding schedule. Following their performance at the 1990 Schools Prom they were invited to play on BBC TV's 'Blue Peter' and were featured on Radio France. More recently they produced a video with Benny Green. Last year their busy concert schedule included appearing with Maynard Ferguson in a concert for the Birmingham International Jazz Festival, recording for BBC local radio and recording their second album, 'Contraband'. In 1990 and 1991 they were awarded the Outstanding Performance Award at the National Festival of Music for Youth and in the same years were runnersup in the BBC Radio 2 Big Band Competition Youth Section. In 1989 they won the title 'Daily Telegraph Young Jazz Band of the Year'. They shared the stage of the London Palladium with John Dankworth, Cleo Laine, Don Lusher, George Chisholm and Mark Nightingale in the Gala Concert of the Soho Jazz Festival. They also featured on Sky TV, played at the BASBWE Conference and the Jazz in Education Festival at the Royal Northern College of Music. In tonight's concert the band are playing two very demanding works. Both are arrangements by the Canadian trombonist Rob McConnell and were originally written for his Grammy-award winning band, 'Boss Brass'.
arr. Rob McCollllell Just Friends Iu-t Friend- i- a hair-rai;;ing ;;howcase for the \\ hl,le band. WIth a uni;;on 'a cappella' ,<?,:tlc'n. a nL'tL'nou;;l~ fnghtening trombone -.:>10 t''\tendoeJ imprO\i;.ed ;.0105 and a ;lZ.Zlm.:; ;;hout choru;; to finish. T~ke the 'A' Train
Billy Strayhorn arr. Rob McConnell
Thi;; piece receives even more radical treatment. ~tcConnell takes the swing standard and turns it into a samba. The famous introduction is played on piano, but with the sax section adding perverted harmonies. The tune is then paraded in a Carnival atmosphere and so the party begins ...
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