Review: Concord Brass Band at the 2026 RNCM International Brass Band Festival

A Well-crafted and Varied Performance from Concord Band at the 2026 International Brass Band Festival

Under the baton of Musical Director, Stig Mærsk, Concord Brass Band offered an exciting programme featuring a standout trombone solo and emotive feature for brass band and organ.

DAO Fanfare by Jacob Vilhelm Larsen

Written for the 75th anniversary of the DAO, this as a brilliant concert opener. The entire work had a triumphant feel, like the titles from a superhero movie. From its jubilant fanfares to the beautiful glint of percussion twinkling atop the ensemble, it was an exciting start to the day's event.

Doing by Per Nørgaard

This work was incredibly cool . 'Doing' utilises the well-known Beatles song, 'You Can't Do That' as the basis for three intelligently crafted variations.

The first movement, 'I'll Do It' opened with a jazzy feel before moving into a section of layered dissonance. It was here that the band first demonstrated their impeccable control in the quiet dynamics.

The opening of the second movement, entitled, 'You Can't Do That', was reminiscent of Bernstein with big, bossy, declamatory statements. We then move into two effortlessly stylish solo moments from Principal and Soprano Cornet - each delivered with assured techincal ability and bags of charisma.

The final movement, 'It Is Done', takes us back to the familiar motif taken from the original material, this time embedded in a more sombre, pensive setting. We roll through swathes of sustained chordal riting with slow trombone glissandi adding a ripple of movement. A gentle diminuendo brings us to a close - it is done!

Nørgaard has managed to take the instantly recognisable style of the Beatles, deconstruct those compositional elements and used them to build a vibrant, colourful, but still familiar work.

Trombone Concerto - Launy Grøndahl

What a standout performance from the band's Principal Trombone, Jesper Juul Windahl!

Written in 1924, Grøndahl’s Trombone Concerto is a virtuosic mammoth of a solo that presents both lyrical and technical challenges for the soloist. It is packed full of character and its slower, more emotive sections are just simply stunning.

Windahl's impressive rendition blended seamless technical agility with a sonorous sound and sublime musicality. The second movement was a particular highlight with its quasi jazzy feel and a beautiful section of vibraphone, marimba and xylophone creating a gorgeous tapestry of rhythmic colour before the emotive solo line tugs at your heartstrings.

No surprise that this is a popular work for the instrument, it's a stunner! It's also no surprise that the band's featured soloist received rapturous applause for his efforts - an outstanding performance.

The Hope by Frederik Magle

Written to commemorate the 1801 Battle of Copenhagen, The Hope featured Ben Attfield on organ and was an incredibly evocative work to listen to. Bravo to the band's Soprano Cornet player, who featured heavily in this piece with haunting offstage entries.

With cannon blasts provided by the timpani and huge ensemble moments contrasted with light, fleeting contributions from organ and gorgeous solo moments from Solo Horn offering moments of calm. It's when the terror of war subsides, making way for a reflective final solo moment from the organ where we glimpse the subject of this piece - hope. A beautiul moment within a beautiful piece.

Ravenscroft Variations by Jacob Vilhelm Larsen

This work was a highlight of the festival for me.

Larsen demonstrates what can be achieved with a simple hymn when in the hands of an accomplished composer.

The piece's theme comes from a carol, from which a series of contrasting variations follow. It was when we moved into the penultimate variation that was a sumptuous hymn-like section with emotive solo lines around the stand. The standout moment offered within this piece was in the form of a glorious euphonium cadenza that moved me close to tears. I had to pause my pen in this section and just take it in - superb writing from Larsen that uses the warmth of the brass band to full effect, delivered with care and tenderness by the band.

Dance of the Cockerels by Carl Nielsen arr. by Andreas Spang Olsen

This was a fun, little number. Having said that, it takes a band with strong technical abilities to enable the character and personality of a work shine through. From the first note, the band brought the proud, strutting cockerel and his harem of clucking hens to life.

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