Track listing

What better way to start our second CD could there be than Hymn to Joy, which takes the choral theme from Beethoven's 9th Symphony and gives it a little twist? This CD celebrates our first trip abroad, to Belgium, the home of the European Parliament, and Beethoven's masterpiece has long been adopted as the anthem of the European Union.

The Greatest Show on Earth was the billing traditionally used by a circus to draw in the crowds. This original piece by Alan Fernie, a very popular composer of light brass band music brings all the excitement of the Big Top vividly to life from the distant sounds of the band warming up through acrobats, bareback riders, an unhappy clown and the closing parade.

The writing of Clare Grundman is well known in the world of wind bands for being colourful and interesting to play. The band has used this selection of tunes from the American civil war, The Blue and the Gray, over a number of years and so it is fitting to include it on this recording and I'm sure many of the melodies will be instantly recognised.

Our first solo is the famous Meditation from Jules Massenet's opera Thaïs, the name of a beautiful courtesan who rules the city of Alexandria by the power of her charms, played by Martina Rogers on the flute.

From time to time in all spheres of music an original work will come to light with a new and exciting mixture of ideas. Eine Kleine Yiddishe Ragmusik is one of these pieces. Composed by Adam Gorb this piece fuses Scott Joplin ragtime and Jewish folk song to evoke images of 1930's Berlin.

Johann Strauss the younger, became even more popular than his father, the original waltz king, and composed over 400 waltzes; one of the most famous of these is Emperor Waltz arranged here by Jack Bullock. Picture the scene as you arrive at the palace and make your way to the ballroom where you are greeted with the sight of a dance floor full of couples performing this most graceful of dances!

Our second soloist has been leading the sax section for some years and the playing of Sarah Herrick on alto sax is perfectly suited to Morris Albert's haunting ballad, Feelings, originally a hit in 1975 and sung in Portugese.

"La Traviata, last night, was a fiasco. Is it my fault or the singers? Time will tell" was Verdi's reaction to the first performance of his opera. This arrangement of the Prelude from La Traviata by Geoffrey Brand gives the band a chance to show off the delicate side of it's playing.

Music from films and shows is a popular part of the band's repertoire both with the audience and the members. On this recording we are featuring the music of Fred Ebb and John Kander from the highly successful musical and subsequent film, Chicago.

Our final soloist is Elaine Piper, a stalwart member of the trumpet section for many years, playing a beautiful piece of sacred music by the Belgian-born César Franck. Originally written for tenor voice but very effective on trumpet, Panis Angelicus is arranged by Michael McDermott.

The Blues Brothers is a cult classic film, largely successful because of the music that is central to the plot. Here is a chance for the band to "let their hair down" in the music of the Winwood brothers and Spencer Davis: Gimmee Some Lovin'.

Our final item, To the Summit! by Robert W. Smith, is subtitled (Strive for the Highest) and includes the following paragraph in the programme notes: "Throughout the ages, we have been challenged in all of life's endeavours. As one 'mountain' is scaled, we find a higher mountain ahead with an even greater challenge in the journey to the top. 'To the Summit!' celebrates our eternal quest for new heights and excellence in all that we do."

I hope that, whether you have supported Redland Wind Band for some years, or you are hearing us for the first time, you are moved by our music and appreciate the mountains we have climbed and the achievements this CD represents.

Sleeve notes: Steve Ellis
Recording engineer: Simon Strange
Recorded at Chew Valley School, 4th March and 9th April 2005