There was barely room for the performers on the stage of the Dora Stotzker Hall at the Royal Welsh College for the climax of the Radio Wales Brass Day due to the assembled trophies gathered as part of this celebration of Welsh banding.
Almost every major trophy in the brass band world, at every level from European champions to beginners' level, currently belongs to Welsh bands. Tredeagar and Cory lead the way and are currently the world's best two bands. This broadcast performance by the world's number two ranked band was a celebration of this excellence.
The virtuosity of the players could almost be taken for granted and was heard in abundance in two superb Howard Snell arrangements - Shostakovitch's Folk Festival and Johan Strauss' Czardas. The former was particularly impressive with scintillating passage-work from the cornet section in particular.
Of the many soloists featured we had memorable showmanship from Gavin Pritchard(xylophone) and Daniel Thomas(euphonium), but the starturn was without doubt solo cornet player Dewi Griffiths as he moved onto the trumpet for a wonderfully nuanced rendition of Jule Styne's People.
It is ,however, rather ironic that brass bands tend to opt for crowdpleasing programmes (as here) to showcase their excellence whilst eschewing some of the more musically sophisticated music that put them where they are.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here