Welcome to Friary Diary issue 116 - a monthly round up of news about the Friary Brass Band.
READING CONCERT:
What the audience may have lacked in numbers was more than made up by their enthusiasm for Friary Brass Band at Reading Town Hall on 19th October, part of the British Bandsman series of concerts. A wide ranging programme, from a medley from George Gershwin’s Porgy and Bess to Lionel Ritchie’s All Night Long, and from Nicholas Brodsky’s I’ll Walk with God to Danny Elfman’s Beetlejuice ensured there was music for everyone.
Particular highlights included Philip Sparke’s Fantasy for Euphonium, superbly played by Chris Straker, and Howard Snell’s quirky arrangement of Tea for Two, executed on percussion with great panache by Martin Davies and Will Rowling.
One concertgoer commented: ‘As soon as I saw the concert series advertised I booked tickets for six of them, and I haven’t been disappointed yet. I hadn’t heard Friary before but they certainly deserve their reputation for entertainment: it’s an absolutely wonderful programme.’
WOKING CONCERT:
Friary’s busy autumn concert programme continued the following Saturday with a return to Woking Salvation Army where the Band always receives a very warm welcome. The concert reprised part of the Reading programme but with the principal addition of William Himes’ Procession to Covenant, dedicated to the memory of Derrick Curtis, a member of the SA congregation and lifelong bandsman, who passed away in July. There was also Friary’s first public performance of the rousing finale to Tchaikovsky’s 4th symphony.
FRIARY’S FIERY FESTIVITIES:
Believed to be the largest event of its kind in the UK, Lewes Bonfire Night celebrations were once again swelled by Friary who marched through the East Sussex town’s hilly streets, entertaining the thousands of spectators at this historic spectacle.
The event not only remembers the 1605 'Gunpowder Plot' but also the 17 Lewes Protestant martyrs who were burnt at the stake during religious persecutions in the reign of Queen Mary. It attracts between 25 and 30 bonfire societies from the town and further afield in the county, and up to 80,000 attendees. 17 fiery crosses are carried through the streets to commemorate the martyrs, and various tableaux and effigies of nationally reviled figures are paraded.
‘It’s just an incredible experience,’ commented Friary chairman David Wicks. ‘The effigies in the procession, the costumes, the noise of the firecrackers everywhere and the sheer number of participants and spectators certainly make it one of Friary’s most memorable gigs!’
FRIARY RUNNERS FOR CHARITY:
Congratulations to Friary bass player Cat Whittingham-Smith and her friend Ruth Lewis who completed their 100km ultramarathon Thames Path challenge in September, raising £1,375 in aid of children’s hospice Helen and Douglas House. ‘It took us over 14 hours but we made it,’ explained Cat. ‘Thank you so much to everyone who supported us. We like to do one fundraising challenge together each year, so watch this space in 2025!’
Very well done too to Richard Straker who completed the Royal Parks Half Marathon last month in a personal best time of 1:47:44, raising £785 in aid of Prostate Cancer UK. ‘This was my first half marathon, other than in training,’ commented Richard. ‘The encouragement from the huge crowds along the course, along with the fantastic amount of sponsorship really spurred me on. And it was a bit weird passing the Royal Albert Hall in my running gear, rather than in my Friary uniform!’
WEST END EXTRAVAGANZA:
Tickets for our joint concert with the exceptionally talented Vivace Chorus at Guildford’s G Live on Saturday 16th November are selling fast, so don’t leave it till the last minute to book for what promises to be a memorable evening of music from your favourite shows, including Guys and Dolls and Mamma Mia.
CHRISTMAS CONCERT:
Tickets are also now on sale for our Family Christmas Concert on Saturday 7th December where we shall be getting everyone in the Christmas spirit with a selection of festive music. Something for everyone to enjoy! Tickets are £10 and can be purchased via TicketSource.co.uk.
RANKING NEWS:
There’s been no update as yet since 1st October, so Friary still stands at 30th in the world in the 4barsrest.com table. In the brassstats.com table, Friary is now ranked 26th following the update on 1st November.
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