Welcome to Friary Diary issue 90 - a monthly round up of news about the Friary Brass Band.
GODALMING BANDSTAND CONCERT:
September started with a very welcome return to Godalming bandstandfor a prom concert together with Godalming Rock Choir. It’s a wonderful setting, and the weather was kind. An enthusiastic audience with flags, and children with giant bubbles aided the prom atmosphere.
Rock Choir took to the stage for the first half, with a programme including favourites such as James Bay’s Hold Back the River; Take That’s Shine; the late lamented Meatloaf’s I Would Do Anything for Love; and the ‘Friary anthem’, Whitney Houston’s I Wanna Dance with Somebody.
After the interval it was Friary’s programme, a brand new set including Tom Davoren’s Living Power; the overture to Morning, Noon and Night in Vienna by Franz von Suppé; Peter Warlock’s Lullaby; the foot-tapping Brass Machine by Mark Taylor; and Dmitri Shostakovich’s Folk Festival. It was then time for the Last Night of the Proms standards, Fantasia on British Sea Songs; Jerusalem; and Land of Hope and Glory (Pomp and Circumstance March No. 1). With members of the Rock Choir strategically placed, there was no shortage of audience participation.
As an encore, the Radetsky March rounded off a wonderful occasion, sending the audience home in buoyant mood. We were so fortunate to be able to provide this taste of the ‘Last Night’, not knowing that the actual event was not to be held later in the month.
ASH CONCERT:
The Ash Parish Council concert planned for mid September was cancelled as a mark of respect following HM The Queen’s passing. It is hoped to stage it next year.
MANY THANKS...
to Simon Persin for stepping in to play the National Anthem at very short notice for Guildford Borough Council’s Proclamation Ceremony. Well done, Simon!
CONGRATULATIONS...
to our Musical Director, Chris King, who was selected as one of the adjudicators for the Second Section National Finals in Cheltenham on 18th September, joining Brett Baker and Gary Davies in ‘the box.’ Fortunately there were no differences of opinion: "There was a clear winner for us by two or three places," Chris said in his pre-results remarks. "It was easy to separate the bands, with second and third close and fourth to seventh really close."
FORTHCOMING CONCERT:
We are greatly looking forward our concert debut at The Hawth, Crawley on Sunday 30th October, as part of their brass concert season. Although Friary is no stranger to the venue, the Band has only ever played in contests there; it is due to persistence by our tireless Secretary, Lauren Straker who persuaded the venue to add Friary to their programme. For tickets please go to https://www.parkwoodtheatres.co.uk/ or contact the Box Office on 01293 553636. We hope to see you there.
RANKING NEWS:
A recent update saw Friary overtaken by a couple of bands, so the Band now stands at 29th in the world. For full ranking details, please go to https://www.4barsrest.com/rankings/