CD REVIEW - VIRTUOSO
Music for Euphonium and Brass Band
David Childs, Black Dyke Band, Nicholas Childs
Naxos 8.574683 [68:19]

Two of the big beasts of brass band music have joined in providing an entertaining album of light classical and popular pieces. David Childs is regarded as one of the finest brass musicians of his generation and the Black Dyke Band has been described as legendary. Wielding the baton is the band's conductor and musical director, Nicholas Childs, who is the soloist's uncle.

The euphonium is a medium-sized, cone shaped, 3-or 4-valve brass wind instrument that is the mainstay in the tenor-bass range of military bands. It derives its name from an Ancient Greek word meaning "well-sounding" or "sweet-voiced".

Among the 16-tracks are Sarasate's Zigeunerweisen (Gypsy Airs), Rossini's Cavatina: Largo al factotum, Mozart's Rondo alla turca and Adagio in F Major, Jean-Baptiste Arban's Variations on The Carnival of Venice, Peter Graham's Brillante (Fantasy on Rule Britannia!) and Rimsky Korsakov's Flight of the Bumblebee.

Other notable items are a Karl Jenkin's arrangement of the traditional Danny Boy, Eric Leidzén's Home on the Range, Simone Mantia's All those Endearing Young Charms and Dermot MacMurrough's old Irish song Macushla (My darling or My beloved).

Less familiar pieces include A Little Prayer composed by the iconic percussionist Dame Evelyn Glennie, Temezo Narita's lovely Japanese Hamabe no Uta ('Song of the Seashore'), John Hartmann's Facilita, the first solo David Childs played in concert with a brass band, and Elfriede which, the soloist's booklet notes tell us, composer George Swift named after his German wife and himself played on a Mantovani TV show in 1961.

With its varied selection – six arrangements being world premiere recordings – the brilliance of the lead instrument and warm sound of the recording, this is an album not to be missed.

SHEKU KANNEH-MASON: SHOSTAKOVICH & BRITTEN Decca 4870835 [80:29]
This is another highly recommended release for classical interested readers that has the brilliant young cellist inspiringly accompanied by John Wilson with his super-orchestra, the Sinfonia of London, in Concerto No.2 by the Russian composer (who died 50 years ago), and by sister Isata K-M on piano in a sonata each from both composers.

© Peter Burt, May 2025