It’s been a busy year for the Triangle Brass Band, our area non-profit British-style brass band. In February they presented the world-famous Cory Band from Wales, on tour in the US, to a sold-out Meymandi Concert Hall in Raleigh. In early April they journeyed to the North American Brass Band Championships, in Ft. Wayne, Indiana, and placed fourth in their section, a very creditable achievement at this competition. On April 30th they journeyed to Asheville, to present a joint concert with the Smoky Mountain Brass Band, in celebration of that group’s 35th anniversary. The group now presents their final concert of the indoor season, “Pastime with Good Company,” on May 22nd, at 7:00 pm, in the theatre at the Cary Arts Center.
The concert title is taken from one of the program works, and one which was shared with the Smoky Mountain Brass Band – Stephen Robert’s arrangement of that song, attributed to Henry VIII of England. The featured work of the concert is Derek Bourgeois’ “The Tongs and the Bones,” a percussion tour-de-force, showcasing the talents of Matthew Barbee, the group’s principal percussionist. The title is taken from a scene from Shakespeare’s “A Midsummer Night’s Dream.” In that scene, Titania distracts Bottom from worldly concerns, and asks him if he’d like to hear some music. Bottom says he has a good ear for music, and calls for “tongs and bones.” The names refer to old rural musical instruments—the tongs were struck like a triangle, and the bones rattled in the hands, like clappers. The remainder of the program includes: “Festive Overture,” by Dmitri Shostakovich, “Allerseelen,” by Richard Strauss, “Arsenal March,” by Belgian composer Jan Van der Roost, “Concert Suite from Les Miserables,” and the lovely tone poem “Sunrise Over Blue Ridge” by Dan Price. Also featured are selections from Verdi’s “Requiem Mass,” as arranged for brass band by former Triangle Brass Band Director, Dr. James Hile, and the impressive “Elsa’s Procession” from Lohengrin, by Richard Wagner.
Tickets, priced at $10 for Adults and $5 for Students and Seniors, are available through the Town of Cary Box Office at “The Cary” Theatre or by visiting http://www.etix.com/ticket/p/7847740/triangle-brass-band-presentspast-time-with-good-company-cary-cary-arts-center. Tickets are also available at the door, beginning one hour before the performance; cash, check and charge are accepted. For more information, visit the group’s web page at http://www.trianglebrass.org
