Trinity celebrated St. Patrick’s Day with a concert at All Saints Church, Wokingham with an Irish themed programme. To create a visual effect the players all wore green – the ladies green scarves and the men green bow ties – and the church provided green lighting. On the musical front, familiar Irish pieces such as “The Rakes of Mallow”, “Londonderry Air”, “The Irish Washerwoman”, “Rhapsody on The Minstrel Boy” and, of course, “Riverdance” were complemented with some exciting original wind band compositions. Samuel Hazo’s “Exultate”, John Barnes Chance’s “Variations on a Korean Folk Song” and “Resplendent Glory” by Rossano Galantewere the highlights.
Our trombone section was featured in the Spanish-style “Blades of Toledo” and the audience particularly enjoyed Edward Gregson’s “Variations on Laudate Dominum”, one of his earliest and most loved compositions.
The acoustics in this wonderful church are perfect for wind band concerts and it is a pleasure to play there. The only drawback was the weather – the heavy snow certainly discouraged some audience from coming, but the good number who attended showed their appreciation and demanded an encore!