As expected, The 14th Eastleigh Scout and Guide Band “The Spitfires” gave an outstanding performance at their concert on 5th November. A varied programme included musicals, military marches, and classical pieces – even The Village People’s music got a look in.
The concert included two soloists. The first sang Nessun Dorma – a piece normally heard as a tenor voice, but no way diminished by the soprano (I think it was) at the concert. A wonderful voice, singing the high notes with as much precision and clarity as the lower ones.
The second soloist performed on the xylophone. Whenever I watch a xylophonist I wonder how they manage to hit the notes so accurately – the length of the hammers and the small size of the bars must surely lead to a high margin of error. This (helter skelter) was a fast piece – comic relief came when the player took a rest break half-way through.
The band’s virtuosity was demonstrated by Carl Orff’s Carmina Burana (only two movements, not all 25!). Someone more knowledgeable than I about such matters explained to me that this is a difficult piece to play as the time signature changes frequently – sometimes every bar. He added that the words are also tricky to sing to because of frequent ‘S’ sounds, which are difficult to sing without hissing.
The Corps of Drums gave a demonstration of military precision and timing, and joined the band for the marches and “last night of the proms” finale.
This was a concert for all ages. To prove it we took my octogenarian (he won’t thank me for that) father and a teenager. My father was extremely impressed – you can read his review in a couple of days. And the teenager’s response when I asked her how she was enjoying it? “Normally when I go to a concert I get bored after a while, but not tonight. Suddenly it’s the interval and I haven’t noticed the time passing”. So that’s a thumbs-up from the fourteen-year old.
Related posts:
Review: The Spitfires Band (5th Nov 2016) and My Other Ramblings
Review: The 14th Eastleigh Scout and Guide Band St. George’s Day Concert 2016
Review: The Spitfires in Concert – the 14th Eastleigh Scout and Guide Band
Memories of Chandler’s Ford St. George’s Day Parade: Lyn Darbyshire
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Related posts:
Review: The 14th Eastleigh Scout and Guide Band St. George’s Day Concert 2016
Review: The Spitfires Band (5th Nov 2016) and My Other Ramblings
Review: The Spitfires in Concert – the 14th Eastleigh Scout and Guide Band
Spitfires in Concert – Last Night of the Proms – 5th November 2016
Review: Thornden Community Wind Band Concert
It was indeed a great concert, and a really good venue. I also liked that the TV screens in the church were used to relay pictures of the soloists, so we could all see them.
For fans of The Spitfires, you can see and hear them in the following events:
‘The band will be out over 3 days this weekend to support Remembrance services and events in the local area:
Friday 11th November – One of the buglers will sound the Last Post on Eastleigh Bandstand at 11am.
Saturday 12th November – The marching band will play on the pitch at the Silverlake Stadium before the Eastleigh FC vs York City FC match, before a short wreath laying service and the sounding of the Last Post.
Sunday 13th November – The marching band will lead the Remembrance Parade through Eastleigh, and play during the service on Eastleigh Rec. The parade moves off at 10:30am.
Sunday 13th November – The buglers will sound Last Post at Netley War Cemetery at 3:15pm.’
(From The Spitfires Facebook page)