Concierto de Aranjuez - Rodrigo

[RickF]

We're doing this beautiful piece by Rodrigo (arr. by Daniel Drage) at our next concert. Full name is Adagio from "Concierto de Aranjuez". It's just the brass so it's not a wind band arrangement per se.

I've been listening to the Grimethorpe Colliery Band (who recorded the sound track for Brassed Off). I know the style of British Brass bands is using a constant fairly fast vibrato. Some call it the 'nanny-goat' vibrato. I'm not a big fan of that style myself. I found the excellent recording by the BBBC (Brass Band of Battle Creek). Someone shared this recording from their CD, "BBBC Live-2" on YouTube. It was recorded in 2002. Personally I like the BBBC style better. Not sure who the soloist was but since Tim Morrison was on the CD I think it's him. Tim Morrison has a full rich tone. Love his playing on "Born of the Fourth of July" (so so movie, excellent music by John Williams).

Which of the recordings below do you prefer?

1-Grimethorpe Colliery Band - Adagio from "Concierto de Aranjuez":

2-Brass Band of Battle Creek version:

[Clayton M.]

I fell in love with that one when I first saw Brassed Off! Despite the poor play-acting of playing the instruments. Haha!

I like the background on the BBBC recording particularly the articulation of the supporting line, and although I enjoyed the tone of the soloist, I did not care for the interpretation (tenuto). Perhaps I am biased, since I am such a fan of the recording on the Brassed Off! Soundtrack.

[John Morgan]

Hmm.... Good question. I listened to both and enjoyed both very much. If I didn't know what instrument was being played on the Grimethorpe recording, I might think it was a saxophone, perhaps a soprano or alto. Now, that might partly be the recording or my speakers, but with the BBBC recording, it was much clearer that this was a brass instrument. I suspect the style of the solo with BBBC might not be what one would mostly hear coming out of the top brass bands in Great Britain, but I have to say that for my own tastes and for simply what I liked or thought sounded better, I would go with the BBBC recording. It was richer, fuller, lush, and just really sweet. What I expect a flugelhorn to sound like.

Rick mentioned "nanny-goat" vibrato. When I first heard the Childs brothers live at Ft Myer in 1990 (+ or - 1), I absolutely LOVED their vibrato. It was indeed "faster" than what I was used to or what I did, but it sounded wonderful to me. I don't think, and didn't think then, that it was "nanny-goat" sounding on their euphoniums, but some in the audience probably did. I know Arthur Lehman's student didn't like their sound, and I thought he was absolutely crackers (nuts). It is probably more "nanny-goat" sounding on the higher brass instruments.