Newspaper Article 1997 – Special occasion for orchestral society

Special occasion for orchestral society

Music
A Celebration of Music
from the Hawke’s Bay Orchestral Society at Havelock North High School yesterday afternoon.

THE Hawke’s Bay Orchestral Society’s A Celebration of Music – the society’s 50th anniversary – was definitely a special occasion.

The programme included works from the Training Orchestra, a group of young players with some apparently very young, and the Youth Orchestra, an older group of obvious ability who toured the United States this year and have plans for going to England next year. With them were the more adult Concert Band, and Symphonic Band, both conducted by John Snowling.

The Training Orchestra, as its name suggests, involves young people – conducted by Sue Branch. Their youth, however, seemed irrelevant in regard to their effective performance, starting with an attractively subtle “The Ash Grove” and a delicate Minuetto by Haydn, presented with apparent ease and enjoyment. Two Celtic Dances finished their contribution in lively style and with charm.

THE Concert Band, under the baton of John Snowling, went for a more modern bracket, beginning with Jay Chattaway’s “Starship One” and the “Medal of Honour March”, composed by John Edmonson. These were followed by James Curnow’s evocative Stonehenge Overture, full of strength and atmosphere, and Brian West’s “Bavarian Barbecue”, fast moving, with dance rhythms which set toes tapping — an interestingly evocative piece.

The Youth Orchestra, which came to prominence in 1950, was conducted by Susan Melville and led by Daisy Chan. It began its contribution with three dances from Delibes Le Roi S’amuse, the first one opening with a certain formality but with considerable sparkle, the second a graver affair in its reconstructed atmosphere of the original, and the third decidedly fast moving, for a nice contrast.

Ernest Bloch’s “Meditation” for viola and piano, with soloist Amanda Cowan and orchestrated by Ms Melville, was a lively and imaginative piece.

The Symphonic Band, crisply conducted by John Snowling, plunged into the aptly named “Fanfare and Flourishes” of James Curnow with considerable style, followed by the remarkably lively and busy Martinezza Overture of Piet Swerts. James Curnow’s emphatic “Where Never Lark or Eagle Flew” was a complex gripping piece of atmospheric and emotional strength, contrasted with the splendidly bombastic “Stars and Stripes Forever”, of John Philip Sousa, and which and led to the Massed Item.

A 16th century dance tune “Tourdion”, was strongly rhythmic – a nice bit of pop music from the past. Contrasting it was Procul Harem’s “A Whiter Shade of Pale”, from 1967, presented in strongly rhythmic style, both firmly conducted by John Snowling.

Susan Melville presided effectively over two gentler works – Herbert’s Toyland Waltz and Schubert’s Rosamunda Ballet Music No. 2.

The dramatic Grand March from the opera Aida, conducted by Sue Branch, rounded off an attractive and appealing musical experience.

PW