Clare Chorale Concert

The band was pleased to accept an invitation to participate in what was formerly the Old Ballyclarians Choir concert. They have been renamed the Clare Chorale and have a membership of some 40 members. They were formed five years ago and the band were guests at their first concert in Ballynure.

After four items from the choir, the band began their performance with R B Hall’s “New Colonial” march, their winning march from Brass in Concert. This certainly got the audience’s feet tapping with guest soprano cornet Pete Arthurs in fine form in the trio.

Next up was Ian McClinton who gave us a silky smooth performance of the theme from the James Bond film “For Your Eyes Only”. Very appropriate as Ian could be regarded as a bit of a James Bond aficionado!!

We then had another item from the Fivemiletown programme, William Himes arrangement of Ellacombe. This was perhaps one of the most popular items in the band’s first set. They followed with an arrangement of John Rutter’s setting of the Aaronic Blessing, “The Lord Bless You and Keep You”. The horns were in great form in this delicate arrangement. To conclude their first half contribution the band ended with the “Anthem” from “Chess”, very passionate and evocative which the audience thoroughly enjoyed.

The band’s second half was of an upbeat nature starting with “Moore Street” an original flute band march referring back to the band’s roots from 1894.

We had a cornet trio next, “Tyrolean Trumpets” played very effectively by Mark McKnight, Jenny Hill and Robin Clinton. You could almost hear the cowbells!! You probably did from the “kitchen department”.

Keeping the upbeat theme we had “Tiger Rag” followed by two real “toe tappers” which have been at the heart of the band’s programme for a few years, “Bill Bailey” and as an encore “Rock around the Clock”. The conductor did cause a few raised eyebrows when he announced the band’s final piece as being Philip Sparke’s (10 minute) “Music for a Festival” before they launched into Bill Bailey!!

To conclude the evening Choir, Band and audience joined together for that great Welsh hymn of praise, “Guide Me O Thou Great Jehovah”.

A fine evening’s music making enjoyed by a capacity audience with the band in top form on what was perhaps the warmest evening of the year!!

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