Many thanks to Dave for sharing this report from the Trident Concert Band, in his own words. Ed
The Trident Concert Band has had a late start to the season this year with the unfortunate death of their Band President John Timpson at the start of the year, it was decided that a fitting way to start the year and to pay tribute was to hold a Memorial concert at The Riverside Centre on 21st June.
An emotional night was attended by many members of John’s family and friends who had requested that all monies raised would go to Help for Heroes, as this was a charity close to John’s heart who himself was a Army Veteran. A good audience managed to collect £342 with ticket sales and a bumper raffle.
Tribute by musical director
The evening started with a tribute written and read by the band’s Musical director and friend, Robin Taylor, who then led the band in a special march he had written for John entitled Our Band President.
This started a first half, which included other pieces written for the band by Robin entitled Shades of Green a movement of five Irish themed pieces of music and African Jigsaw a movement of four African songs.
The band also played Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Phantom of The Opera, the theme to the western The Magnificent Seven.
The solo piece of the first half was Procal Harem’s Whiter Shade of Pale had been arranged for the Tenor Sax and was superbly played on the night by Rachael Banting, the band’s principle tenor sax player, who also writes and arranges for the band.
Later in the evening the band played her arrangement of The John Dunbar theme to Dances with Wolves which features the Alto Sax, the Cornet, the keyboard all rounded off with the haunting tones of the French Horn.
The first half was brought to an end by more of Robin’s arrangements Danny’s Troubled Water, A Touch of Latin and Rick Wakeman’s Myths and Legends of King Arthur.
God Bless the Prince of Wales
The Concert resumed its second half with John’s old regimental march, God Bless the Prince of Wales and then continued with more Andrew Lloyd Webber blockbusters in the form of Jesus Christ Superstar and Don’t Cry for Me Argentina.
The band wanted to pay tribute to the bravery of John’s family over the past six months and to thank them for their continued support to the band throughout this time and a bouquet of flowers was presented to John’s wife Doreen and a special mention for John’s grand-daughter Shauna, who was playing her first concert in the band.
Heyken’s Serenade
The band resumed the final part of the concert with a fun piece entitled Heyken’s Serenade in which the same short piece of music is played in five different styles and then the finale of John Williams’ The Phantom Menace and Star Wars.
Trident then finished with their trademark march written again by Robin Taylor, entitled Trident Glory but was shocked when the entire audience accompanied them with everyone stood up clapping along.
When asked for a quote Robin said,
“All the band had played really well, the atmosphere during Trident Glory was ELECTRIC and I that we have done John proud.”
Next concert
The Next Concert for the band will be Monday 15th July at Rhylstone Gardens in Shanklin starting at 8pm.
If you would like more information on the band or might be interested in playing with the band or booking the band please visit the website or email them at [email protected] or contact Dave on 530497 or 07808763646
We are currently looking to expand our brass section so if you play any valved wind brass and are interested in playing with a friendly mixed skilled concert band please get in touch.
