Crossing the Atlantic with Beenham Wind Orchestra

Beenham Wind Orchestra: Transatlantic Journey at St Mary’s Church, Thatcham on Saturday, March 18. Review by FIONA BENNETT

Following the success of their joint Christmas concert with The Cecilia Consort, Beenham Wind Orchestra were flying (or should I say sailing?) solo on Saturday.

Chris Guy compered from the pulpit and we began our seafaring adventure with one of my favourite composers, Nigel Hess, whose Thames Journey opened the concert with aplomb under the very capable baton of Victoria Benjamin.

The first half was mostly English or English-sounding American music and John Williams’ Dartmoor 1912, from the movie War Horse, brought to mind the modal, atmospheric style of early 20th-century music, such as Vaughan Williams’ The Lark Ascending and the opening and closing flute solos were beautifully played by Kay Gibbs.

Our first stateside composer made an appearance just before the interval and I loved the second movement of Robert Russell Bennet’s Down to the Sea in Ships which had us all wanting to sway with its hypnotic fairground carousel feel.

If the first half was a hit with the packed audience, the second absolutely brought the house down with its relentless, melody-packed selection of music by, among others, George Gershwin, Rick Kirby and Rossano Galante.

The Symphonic Gershwin (three of his most popular pieces, combined into one medley by Warren Barker) was so well received, I thought we’d never stop clapping. We loved the way the arranger managed to weave An American in Paris, Rhapsody in Blue and Cuban Overture in and out of this magical arrangement and Andy Smets’ snazzy-razzy American in Paris trumpet solo was a real treat for Gershwin aficionados.

Following the excitement of all those toe-tappers, we were calmed by Richard L Saucedo’s With Each Sunset (comes the Promise of a New Day) and the vast, almost symphonic movie-theme style of it really resonated with me.

See Rock City by Brent Karrick gave the percussion section the opportunity to show us what they were made of, with hand claps, shakers, drum kit and whistles; the effect was rather like every boisterous 1970s American detective series theme you’ve ever heard, rolled into one.

Victoria asked if we’d like an ‘encore’, we said ‘Yes please’ and the orchestra obliged. We were all grinning like Cheshire cats as we left a beautifully lit St Mary’s Church.

A fabulous evening.