NYBBGB, Bram, Les & Salt of the Earth….
Les Neish called me last week….. Bram Tovey has programmed ‘Salt of the Earth’ in two concerts with the National Youth Brass Band of Great Britain. Panic stations, in that Astute Music worked tirelessly for the following three days updating, editing and proofing the score and parts, following the World Premiere by Les with Foden’s Band at the RNCM Festival of Brass in January. Les astounded me when I was at the rehearsal before the first of the two concerts…. He played the (difficult) piece from memory on virtually no notice (and he got it right! Words don’t fail me, but I can’t write them here!). Equally brilliant were the NYBBGB, under the baton of the great Bramwell Tovey, who a week or two previous had conducted the New York Philharmonic premiering a new work that they had commissioned from him. It was great working with Bram, Les, NYBBGB and the Summer Course Tutors (all top players including Glyn, Alan, Helen & John from Foden’s). The energy, enthusiasm, musicianship and attitude of all 60+ young musicians was great! If, on the off-chance, any of you read this….. ‘Thank You!’.