DAO Fanfare - Jacob Vilhelm Larsen

Strong cornet and trombone sounds to open the second day at the RNCM with the horn section taking a nice lead in this one, with the lower end especially making an excellent sound. 

Doing - Per Nørgaard

Good lower band sound especially at the start of this contemporary piece of music, with some great bass trombone, and an overall good band sound, particularly in the cornet section. 

Movement 2 opens again very well with a strong cornet sound, followed by well projected horns, and there is very convincing dynamic and stylistic contrast all throughout this. 

Movement three has classy interjections from the euph, horn and trombs, with the Bb basses sat underneath this very well. The band sound builds on itself cleverly to come to an unexpected close. 

Trombone Concerto - Launy Grøndah (soloist: Jesper Juul Windah)

A very talented soloist playing this concerto, who plays with all sorts of virtuosity over the whole work, particularly with an expansive range from the lower to upper register, keeping a consistently good sound throughout out all of this. Band accompany well throughout of this, especially basses who come in with absolute ease especially in the quieter range. 

Second movement is played with warmth and soloist keeps a good control on a quality sound throughout this. Percussion and muted cornets accompany nicely underneath all of this, before intensity builds up once more, but the band don’t overthrow the soloist; the balance is well done. I really liked this second movement, well done. 

The band opens movement 3 well, and has a tight sound together, and sits underneath the soloist throughout, who is showing more virtuosity in this movement. Band dynamic contrast in tutti sections is also very strong, whilst still allowing plenty of room for soloist. 

The Hope - Frederik Magle (organ: Ben Attfield)

Effective offstage soprano at the beginning of the piece, and it’s interesting to watch the band layer on top of themselves throughout. Organ in this piece is so effective, and it coincides with the band parts very well, with the band lower end even sounding like an organ in some places just from pure power of sound. Good percussion work throughout this, especially timps, and organ brings this to a really nicely close. 

Ravenscroft Variations - Jacob Vilhelm Larsen

Horns take a really nice lead in this next piece that we hear, with tuned percussion as well having a big hold. Moving throughout the variations, we see each section of the band shown off, there is lots for all of the band to do throughout this. The contrast in dynamics again being such a stand factor of exemplar work that this band is capable of. Muted flugel solo is warm, and the following horn solo creates a really strong projected, yet great sound. Solos are passed from cornet to euph in this section, both working well together. Full band sound in this final movement is class, and the band draw together nicely. 

Dance of the Cockerels - Carl Nielsen arr Andreas Spang Olsen

Tidy technical from the cornets especially, and basses and horns keep a strong pulse at the start underneath the band, and we get some strong sop come across in this again, with solos passed around the band. Cornets and Trombs project well throughout and the pulse keeps a good drive throughout before a bright ending. Well done.