Journey to North America was an interesting theme for the Sunshine Coast Music Society’s latest presentation on April 25, in that it showcased some unfamiliar but enjoyable music that should become better known.
The Suncoast Concert Band, under the baton of Janice Brunson, opened the concert at the Sechelt Indian Band Hall with Loch Lomond, a familiar tune with a melody that was almost swamped by the heavy instrumentation. The story of the pioneers travelling to the new land was told in between selections by Bertha Clark (also known as Adelene da soul poet), whose heritage includes two pioneering B.C. families.
They Came Sailing from the Suite Jacques-Cartier by Andre Jutras and Journey to the Prairie by Travis J. Weller were played with heroic energy.
A concert band, also called a wind ensemble, uses instruments from the woodwind and brass families, along with percussion such as the bigger drums making for high volume, inspiring music. In this concert, performers did not spare the percussion in most of the pieces, particularly during the high energy Sundance by Frank Ticheli. Valerie Anderson stayed busy on the big timpanis, and Liz Scott performed her band debut on the snare drum. Guest musician Joy McLeod sat in on percussion along with her granddaughter, while McLeod’s daughter played the French horn. McLeod was happy to explain that they represented three generations of their musical family on stage that evening.
The mood quieted for the lovely Shenandoah and turned jaunty for A Walk Down Fifth Avenue. Conductor Brunson told the audience that British Beginnings, composed by the band’s baritone saxophonist Douglas Reid, was almost a world premiere for this rousing piece. Overall, it was a short, lively concert that demonstrated the musical progress of the ensemble.
The Concert Band is part of the larger Sunshine Coast Community Orchestra Association. Other members of the SCCOA, the Coast Symphony, will be performing on May 31 at the Raven’s Cry Theatre in a concert titled Europe Calling, with music by Schubert, Mozart and Beethoven.
