Saturday 30th June

For Verwood Concert Brass’s summer ‘Stage & Screen’ concert on Saturday 30th June, with temperatures as they were, it might have been fitting to have included ‘Hot Stuff’ or ‘Some Like It Hot’ in the programme. However, the concert was pack full of other fantastic music.

As per the usual format Verwood Training Band opened the concert with four great pieces but the one that got the audience humming along was the ever popular ‘Edelweiss’ from the Sound of Music. As Mike explained the version being played was not an easy version specially written for training bands but the normal version used by experienced bands which amply demonstrated just how well the Verwood Training Band have progressed.

Verwood Concert Brass Band followed on with Irving Berlin’s ‘Let’s Face The Music And Dance’. A fantastic opening number that most people know but less well known is that it comes from the 1936 film ‘Follow The Fleet’. Also featuring in this set was a fabulous tenor horn solo of ‘Over The Rainbow’ from ‘The Wizard of Oz’. It was played by Amy Cooke who has only recently joined the band, having moved up from the Verwood Town Band. Well done Amy!

Opening the second half of the concert, Verwood Town Band got things going with a stirring rendition of ‘Raiders of The Lost Ark’ but showing its versatility then played the very calm, reflective and moving piece ‘Hymn To The Fallen’ from the film ‘Saving Private Ryan’. The band’s closing number was ‘Wild West!’ which is a compilation of well known western movie themes by the wonderful composer Ennio Morricone.

Mr Morricone also provided music for Verwood Concert Brass Bands closing set. This time being the piece ‘Gabriel’s Oboe’ from ‘The Mission’ played as a cornet solo by the equally wonderful principal cornet, Elaine Close. A bit of fun also ensued in the Eb and Bb bass duet where Duncan Smith and Chris Ide tried to out do each other in playing ‘Anything You Can Play I Can Play Better’. Another highlight of the set and in tribute to the West End’s longest running musical the band played a fantastic medley from ‘Les Miserables’.

So, once again a wonderful evening of entertainment.

Please click here to see our range of photographs for the evening

The bands will be playing out and about over the summer so do check our website for forthcoming engagements.

Our next Verwood Hub concert though is on Saturday 13th October and will be a specially themed concert ‘Armistice 100 – Music That Won The War’ to mark 100 years since the end of World War 1. We shall look forward to seeing you there.