Well…what a blast!
Adam Mernin (trumpet) and his brother, Daniel (Euphonium) with their parents at the IYWE concert at the SETU Arena.jpg
The Symphony Club of Waterford presented the Irish Youth Wind Ensemble to a packed house at the spacious SETU Arena on Saturday last and the Arena was the perfect venue for the concert. Given the volume and energy of the 80-strong band – including locals Adam Mernin on trumpet and his brother Daniel on the Euphonium – the open spaces of the Arena was just the perfect venue for the big, brassy ballyhoo of this orchestra.
And brassy was the word. An opening John Philip Sousa (1854-1932), 'At the movies', brought us all back to the flicks of the second decade of the 20th Century. When Sousa sent this suite to his publisher, he also provided the scenarios for cinematographers, describing the episodes he had in mind for these three movements. Mardhea timid maidens pleaded for safety from crafty villains, handsome hulks in college frats serenaded campuses and a third piece depicting dances on village greens as loud as a circus tent, with a catchy title that told its own story – 'Balance All and Swing Partners'.
Richard Wagner (1813-1883), just adored medieval legend and the medieval colour and pageantry that were part of its tapestry. 'Elsa’s Procession to the Cathedral', from Lohengrin is perfect for a Wagner lib and score. It tells the story of Elsa, a princess in Brabant (what we now call Antwerp), who is rescued and wedded by a knight in shining armor, who insists on remaining nameless. In true Wagner fashion, there’s drama, tragedy and death. In fact, nobody lives happily ever after.
Elsa’s Procession to the Cathedral comes at the end of Act II, when Elsa is on her way to be married to the knight, who we later learn is Lohengrin, knight of the Holy Grail. The music is epic. Even in its original form, this section is almost a band piece, dominated by winds and percussion and is an ever-popular standalone piece for wind bands.
Leonard Bernstein’s Symphonic Dances from West Side Story, proves a popular choice on the night as the dances pan out the plot line of the Romeo and Juliet tragedy. The marquee swagger of the opening Jets and Sharks sequence, the 'Meeting' scene between Tony and Maria and the exquisite, fragile promise of a future for the two lovers in 'Somewhere' and that promise of 'I have a love' that cannot be kept.
I loved the Artúro Márquez (b.1950) 'Danzón no. 2', that features show-off solos all over the shop – for clarinet, oboe, piano, violin, double bass, French horn, trumpet, flute, and piccolo. The rhythm of the dance, that originated in Cuba and migrated to Mexico, just sucks you in with constant changes in tempo and accent. It’s wild, flamboyant and blessed with an earthy sensuality that is electric.
Nigel Hess’s (b.1953), 'East Coast Pictures', is just what it says on the tin. These tone pictures were inspired by several visits to a small part of the American East Coast, an area that provides great extremes in the geography and the people. 'Shelter Island' and the 'Catskills Mountains' evoke a natural landscape that is largely untouched while the urban soundscape of 'Manhattan' is full of the noise and frenzy of the city that never sleeps.
Alfred Reed’s (1921-2005), 'El Camino Real' ('the Royal Road') is dedicated to the 581st Air Force Band and finishes the evening with a flamenco and fandango flourish. The piece just pounds along and the concentration of the young players is fascinating. Bobbing heads counting out the score and their parts, eyes glued to the music and conductor Ronan O’Reilly, who measures out the fast-slow-fast progression, and the whole piece just ends up in welter-belter of frenzied flamenco.
Finally a big shout out to the Music Generation Waterford Wind Band – guests of the IYWE and Symphony Club – who clicked and chanted their way into our hearts with a big and bold, "I like to move it, move it", from Disney’s 'Madagascar'. With a carefully choreographed groovin’, jazzin’, thumpin’ rhythm and fine playing from the big ensemble, this was the perfect foot-tappin’ opening to a great night at the Arena.
Well…what a blast!
