David Sterratt and Ella Taylor-Smith got to three of the Festival Fanfare concerts on Sunday, which took place at 12 locations along the Water of Leith.
3pm, St Mark’s Park
David Sterratt writes: I can vouch for the perfection of listening to the rich, sonorous timbres of Kirkintilloch Kelvin Brass on a warm summer's afternoon in St Mark's Park.
It was enjoyed by the very young (including babies bouncing up and down to the 'Radesky March'), the old (for at least one of whom this was a rare chance to hear live music), and a dog (whose frisbee-catching was possibly to the rhythm of the music and for whose owners the anthem 'Let it Go' from Frozen was surely appropriate).
Brass bands make me think of perfectly regulated, well-oiled mill engines, and this band was no exception. But they put their soul into the music ,too, from the solemn 'Eventide' (Abide with me) through the sweeping movie music of Jurrassic Park and Frozen to the swinging finale of 'When the Saints'.
3pm, The Shore, Leith
Ella Taylor-Smith writes: The Shore was the perfect location, as Malmaison’s imposing facade provided the backdrop to Newtongrange Silver Band and bounced the sound back to the audience, across the plaza, and to the water.
The band leader boasted that brass bands could play anything, as though we doubted that. They certainly played a rousing version of Joy Division’s 'Love Will Tear Us Apart': a young girl in bright flowery trousers cut a rug on the flags.
The band swung and the sun shone. We should do this more often.
5pm, St Mark’s Park
Ella Taylor-Smith writes: St Mark’s Park, one of Spurtleshire’s hidden jewels, provided a green and relaxed setting for Kirkintilloch Kelvin Brass’s 5pm set. Folk spread across the gently sloping grass and enjoyed the diverse music, played with the KKB’s customary precision. No rain on our cakes in this park.
Did you get to any Festival Fanfare concerts on Sunday? If so, please send us your overviews for this patchwork review.
12 midday Programme
'O Fortuna' by Carl Orff
'Nimrod' by Edward Elgar (arr. D. Wright)
'Bohemian Rhapsody' by Freddie Mercury (arr. D. Barry)
'My love is like a Red Red Rose' by Robert Burns (arr. G. Langford)
'Slaidburn by William Rimmer
'A Gaelic Blessing' by John Rutter
'Gonna Fly Now' by Bill Conti
'I’m Gonna Be' (500 miles) by The Proclaimers (arr. A. Duncan)
3pm Programme
'Radesky March' by Richard Strauss
'Let it G'o by Anderson-Lopez/Lopez (arr. P. Harper)
'Eventide' by William Henry Monk
'Over the Rainbow' by Yarlan/Harburg (arr. G. Richards)
'Battle Hymn of the Republic' by Julia Ward Howe (arr. D. Broadbent)
'Love Will Tear Us Apart' by Joy Division (arr. A. Duncan)
'Jurassic Park' by John Williams (arr. Alan Catherall)
'When the Saints Go Marching In' (arr. G. Langford)
5pm Programme
'Tocata in D' by J.S. Bach (arr. J.V. Kroeydonck)
'Skyfall' by Adele (arr. P. Sparke)
'Little Suite for Brass' by Malcolm Arnold
'Das Model' by Kraftwerk (arr. A. Duncan)
'MacArthur Park' by Jimmy Webb (arr. A. Fernie)
'Sir Duke' by Stevie Wonder (arr. G. Richards)
'Skirl' by Various (arr. A. Skirl)
'O Fortuna' by Carl Orff