December 2009

One or two members of our audience were disappointed that Thistle Brass did not have their glamorous trombonist Arlene MacFarlane in their line-up for their return visit to us, but she has recently been appointed as Co-Principal Trombonist with the BBC National Orchestra of Wales, which makes frequent appearances with Thistle Brass a logistical nightmare.  Her place was admirably filled by Neil Gallie, a native of County Durham, and a graduate of RSAMD.  He arranged two of the pieces which the quintet played – the opening Olympic Fanfare by John Williams and an arrangement of Zawinul’s Birdland. 

We were promised a festive concert and Thistle Brass certainly delivered.  It is very obvious that they are very comfortable communicating with their audience, as they took it in turns to introduce the pieces, tell jokes and generally involve us in the proceedings.  At one point, we became an impromptu percussion accompaniment to Jingle Bells when we shook our car keys when prompted.   

Stephen Roberts, the distinguished composer and conductor, has arranged The Twelve Days of Christmas to accompany the hilarious correspondence written by John Julius Norwich, in which the recipient of the various offerings becomes increasingly disenchanted with her suitor as the doorbell rings with yet another surprise.  I was roped in as Miss Emily Wilbraham, and James Munro, our Treasurer featured as ‘G Creep , Solicitor–at-Law’.  It was all very good fun and the short musical interspersions were brilliant.

The programme gave ample scope for the players to showcase their individual virtuosities, none more so than Tuba player Matthew Chinn’s version of Fnugg. This is an improvisation with elements from the Australian Aboriginal instrument didgeridoo and Norwegian folk music. It uses multiphonics (singing and playing simultaneously) and the composer’s own invention "Lip Beat" (percussive tuba). The singing involves active use of syllables. Fnugg is a Norwegian word describing something very small and weightless, like a snowflake.  The tuba is not usually thought of as small and weightless, but this was a unique piece.

The whole evening was a fun occasion, enhanced by the willingness of the chaps to join us at the interval and to chat to the audience, though I think they were persuaded by the mulled wine and mince pies!  They return to Inverness next week, when they will be joining Cappella Nova for a concert of Carols by Candlelight at the One Touch Theatre.

We do hope you will join us for our next concert on Monday, 18th January, when we shall welcome the distinguished Scottish pianist Steven Osborne with his wife, clarinettist Jean Johnson.

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!