It was two bands for the price of one at the Camberley Theatre on 11th June, when we were delighted to welcome and share the stage with the world-famous Brighouse and Rastrick Band from Yorkshire. This was another first for Friary although we did follow them onto the stage at the Royal Albert Hall at the 2013 National Finals. The programme started with the rousing, high octane version of Bach’s Toccata and Fugue in D Minor, arranged for brass band by Ray Farr. ‘Ah, a bit of Bach to start with,’ whispered my neighbour in the adjoining seat as the first few chords rang out. ‘Mmm, but not as I’ve ever heard Bach before!’ he admitted afterwards.
After two more joint items, individual sets by both bands followed either side of the interval, before the massed bands concluded the formal programme with the magnificent and moving You’ll Never Walk Alone from Rodgers & Hammerstein’s Carousel. Not surprisingly, the enthusiastic audience response was such to produce an encore, inevitably The Floral Dance which B&R had recorded in 1977, reaching no less than no. 2 in the charts (only kept off the top spot by Wings’ Mull of Kintyre). (A bit more brass trivia: the version recorded by the late Sir Terry Wogan the following year was not with B&R, but with the Hanwell Band.)
We are very grateful to the Mayor and Mayoress of Surrey Heath and the Deputy Mayor and Deputy Mayoress of Guildford for joining us for such a special evening.
