30th August 1998
The Prommers' Big Band?
This was probably our most adventurous and versatile programme so far. Stretching from Bach to Gershwin and taking in the World Première of an ocarina concerto. There almost seems to be an impression of normality appearing around us. John Summerfield, who has been involved almost since the beginning has accepted the honorable (not to say honorary) position of Chorus Master. No longer does the Principal Conductor have to practice the art of bilocation if rehearsals are going to be compressed into the time available. Geraldine Andrews has let herself in for the equally vital role of Leader, when she can tear herself away from the Bar for long enough - and that doesn't mean what most Prommers think it does. The underlying story behind the ocarina "concerto" in this program is probably best never told. Suffice it to say that under John Underwood's baton, future "good ideas" will get a bit more vetting. The Brandenburg, however, was as successful as what followed it was a failure. Fortunately that band of purists who contend that nothing written more than a fortnight ago should be played except on instruments made for the period were either not present or observed tactful silence on this occasion. Some of us who favour diversity in this matter would regret losing the opportunity to perform such things ourselves, even if we play it a semitone sharp and use metal strings. Much banging of drums in Haydn's militaristic moments was followed by Phil Singleton's arrangement of Gershwin's last song. A triumph of versatility after the conductor had put at least one Prommer's back up by suggesting that it probably wouldn't be possible to include any of Gershwin's works when the orchestra was designed to play Bach and Haydn.