September 30, 2008
Bay Street Brassworks
The Bay Street Brassworks kicked off the PA Consort’s Guest Artist Series with a spectacular concert on Saturday, September 20. The Bedford United Methodist Church fairly shook with the energy of this sextet from Baltimore. The five brass players and their talented percussionist gave the large audience a varied program that ranged from Giovanni Gabrieli to Billy Joel; there was a very satisfying mix of classical and jazz and popular music, ending with – what else—Sousa’s “Stars and Stripes Forever.”
The concert began with a lively Spanish march, “Amparita Roca,” that got everyone warmed up. Then there was the pure pleasure of a beautifully antiphonal piece by Giovanni Gabrieli, written 500 years ago. To give the true effect of the original cathedral setting, the players stood in five different spots in the sanctuary so that the music literally surrounded us. Three classical pieces by Mozart, Mahler, and Handel followed, and I especially enjoyed the arrangement of the music from the Royal Fireworks Overture, written to celebrate the end of a war and performed on a barge floating in the Thames.
The balance of the first half of the program gave several of the artists a chance to solo, and indeed throughout the evening various brass instruments were highlighted, demonstrating that the fabulous blended tone of the group came from a very deep well of individual talent. And I was truly amazed that the song “Time to Say Goodbye,” made famous by tenor Andrea Bocelli, could be arranged to be performed with lyrical grace by brass instruments.
The second half of the concert was just plain fun. The very cool arrangement of “St. Louis Blues” started slowly and gradually picked up speed, and I could close my eyes and feel that I was in a smoke-filled jazz club. The “Tuba Polka” was a marvel, with Willie Clark nimbly playing that very large instrument as if it were, say, a piccolo. He positively ran with that melody! The last two pieces, “Sweet Georgia Brown” and “It Don’t Mean a Thing if it Ain’t Got that Swing,” were pure jazz, and great arrangements. But tucked in just before them was Respighi’s “Ancient Airs and Dances Suite #1”, which sounded very medieval. That was no surprise, since it was transcribed from lute music and had a tambourine in the background; but the flowing, melodic line showed what a deft touch these six musicians have.
The crowd clearly would be thrilled if the Bay Street Brassworks were booked for a return engagement, and I have no doubt that will happen.
Nancy MacRae, Schellsburg