A musical quintet from a celebrated group of Victorian music history enthusiasts have been exploring the sound of Victorian Shildon, with financial support from the Northern Regional Brass Band Trust.
The project brings authentic brass instruments from the Victorian age together with music composed during that era by George Allan, one of the two brass music composers born in the town during the 1860s.
They have recorded their experience to create something that might be close to the sounds heard in Shildon from around the 1880s.
Saxhorn
As well as becoming a world renowned brass composer, George was also the bandmaster of the New Shildon Saxhorn Band.
Saxhorns were a very specific type of forerunner to the modern brass band instrument, patented by Adolphe Sax, of saxophone fame.
The name of the band was a clue to the type of instruments they used, and it happens that the players from Queen Victoria’s Consort own a few.
The group consists of some of the UK’s leading early brass musicians and brings to life a stunning collection of original 19th Century brass instruments.
The instruments are from the collections of the individual members of the band.
Recording
In January, five of the group made a recording of three pieces by Allan; Vigilant, The Storm Fiend and The New Century.
The music had been especially arranged for quintet by the Weardale based composer Steve Robson.
Even though the music was composed by Allan, the arrangement was necessary to bring all of the best segments from across thirty band parts, to create just five parts that work perfectly for a quintet.
The pieces were selected from the Wizard and Typhoon Collection, held in Shildon.
Joyous
Andy Kershaw of the group said: “The music was an instant and joyous discovery for the performers.
“It suits the instruments so well, allowing their colour and dynamic ranges – somewhat different to modern brass – to shine through and the arrangements have been expertly done so as not to lose the shape of the music, but to allow the clarity of the composition to be to the fore.
“Apart from the march, The Wizard, the music of George Allan was a completely unknown area to us. As we enjoyed it so much, we hope to play more.”
Interestingly, one of the instruments used in part of the recording bears the maker’s stamp of one Robert De Lacy, who had a music shop in Brixton in London.
This was especially pertinent as De Lacy, originally from Sunderland, was brought to Shildon briefly at the end of the 1850s to tutor and conduct the New Shildon Saxhorn Band.
He later moved to London to work as a composer and publish a band journal.
Handful
Andy went on to say that, “the original Saxhorns played in Queen Victoria’s Consort are quite a handful to play at times.
“The instruments are not as well in tune and considerable work is needed by the player to ensure as good an intonation between the instruments as possible.
“The instruments react in a different way depending on the register and how much air you put down them.
“As they are much narrower bore the sound is more direct than big, but their true beauty of tone is achieved when playing as part of an ensemble.
“The tunes of each piece are so catchy and seem irresistible to whistle. That was a stand out moment of the project, the music seemed infectious.
“The registers and pitch for each instrument seemed to also fit perfectly, testament to George Allan’s skill as composer and also Steve Robson’s skill as arranger, to not lose any of the magic or authenticity of the music.”
Shildon & District's local community newspaper.
