Milnrow Band at Playhouse 2

Milnrow Band at Playhouse 2

Playhouse 2 in Shaw played host to Milnrow Band on Saturday 5 November.

Under Mark Bentham, the band gave an excellent account of itself with the performance of a programme well chosen by the Musical Director to generate a 'spooktacular atmosphere' of the “mysterious and macabre” suitable for the time of year.

A Bill Geldard arrangement of 'Halls of the Mountain Kings' was the first solo offering. Seldom do we hear the sonorous sounds of the bass trombone to such good effect as was provided by Tristram (Trum) Cox on this occasion.

Not to be out done, the rest of the trombone section insisted on getting a share of the limelight by joining in as a trio with 'Dem Bones, Dem Bones'. This spiritual often pops up around Halloween. Written by James Weldon Johnson it was first recorded by Myers Jubilee Singers in 1928 and subsequently by such well known performers as Rosemary Clooney, Tennessee Ernie Ford and the Mills Brothers.

Mussorgsky's 'Night on a Bare Mountain' followed. Composed by him in 1867, it was based on Russian folklore where witches were supposed to gather on a mountain top on St John`s Eve.

Percussionist James Kershaw was next to show his solo expertise on the zylophone with a Kenneth J Alford piece, and the interval was reached after we had experienced Hedwigs Theme from Harry Potter composed by the prolific John Williams.

A delightful duet from the show Wicked by Natalie Beer and Chris Musgrave on Flugel and Soprano respectively followed and the finale from Gounot's 'Faust' brought the first half to a close

After a short interval, the concert re-commenced with an item from Michael Jackson's
'Thriller' arranged by Simon Wood), and in keeping with the time of year we were treated to two minuets and the finale from Handel`s 'The Royal Fireworks' written in 1749.

A fast and furious 'Kossack Dance' featured solo Trombone, Euphonium, Cornet and Zylophone, and in keeping with the theme, this was followed by Saint Saens 'Dance Macabre'.

Mike Thewlis took well-earned applause for a lovely rendition on the baritone of the pagan 'Witch of Westmorland' (a half horse witch) a song performed by Stan Rogers in 1979

The grand finale was an arrangement by Eric Ball of Leon Boellmann's 'Toccatta' from 'Suite Gothique', composed in four movements for organ in 1895. 

After a splendid all round performance from Milnrow Band, it was not surprising that the audience should request a 'curtain cal' item, the band obliged with a full-on rendition of 'Explosion Polka' by Johann Straus, after which the contented audience made its way out into the real world of fireworks and bonfires.