Carlton Hotel Concert to celebrate the launch of Hebden Bridge Junior Band’s new CD

On Sunday 9^th May at the Carlton Hotel, Hebden Bridge Junior Band gave a special concert to a small, but very appreciative audience. The occasion was the launch of the Junior Band’s latest recording.

Musical Director Brian Haydn Robinson led the players in a selection of pieces from the recording and several other popular choices from the Band’s 28-year history. The opening number had to be what has come to be regarded as the Band’s signature tune, the march “Slaidburn”.

The new recording is the first by the Band to be available on both CD and tape. The art work is an interesting blend of old and new; the CD itself is printed with a large image of the original Junior Band badge which represents a brass instrument superimposed on Hebden Bridge’s old packhorse bridge, both mirrored in the waters of the River Hebden. The sleeve and insert for the CD and the tape are the work of Chris Sands, a local designer, who has already made quite a name for himself with his imaginative creations for many well-known folk and rock bands.

The recording was made over two interesting, exciting and exhausting days in February at Sunnybank Studios, Ripponden. Mr Robinson and the Band were most fortunate to have as their producer and engineer, Mike Briggs, himself and ex- brass band player and now a much sought after trumpeter.

During the concert, Brian Robinson reminisced with his audience which included parents from his very first Band of 1971. He recalled the struggles to raise funds to keep the Band equipped with instruments and other essential resources. He also remembered the many tours taken by the Band, and in particular, the one last year to Norway. That most recent tour owed a lot to the involvement of  Torstein Hatlevik, who sadly was unable to be at Sunday’s concert. Mr Robinson told the audience that those who had not met Torstein would be thrilled to hear his delightful guest euphonium solo, “Song for Ina” by Philip Sparke, on the new recording. It is due to Band Secretary, Di Smith’s continued contact with this Royal Northern College of Music postgraduate student, coupled with Brian Robinson’s long held dream of visiting Norway, that the Tour became a reality. Di’s response to Torstein’s letter in the “British Bandsman” in February 1996 led to the wonderful joint concert with the championship band Sagvaag Musikklag in Todmorden Town Hall in the Band’s 25^th anniversary year.

To end the concert, Mr Robinson chose another great favourite, “Hootenanny”. This rousing piece is also to be found on the new recording.

The other tracks are “Come Follow the Band & Swing March”, Gordon Lanfgford’s arrangement of Fauré’s “Pavanne”, “Waltzing Matilda”, “Sweet Gingerbread Man”, “Hot Toddy”, “Joshua Fought the Battle of Jericho”, “Mr Jums”, Ray Farr’s arrangement of Barry Manilow’s “One Voice”, “The Shepherd’s Song” from Songs of the Auvergne and the haunting Tom Parker / Jan de Haan arrangement of Mozart’s Clarinet Concerto, “The Young Amadeus”.

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