Brass band holiday classics

The Mill Creek Colliery Band, one of the capital region’s most well recognized bands, is about to spread a wave of Yuletide cheer.

A major part of the holiday spirit for more than a decade, Mill Creek Colliery has developed a reputation for unstinting excellence. And tonight the 28-piece British-style brass band presents Festive Brass at All Saints Anglican Cathedral.

As in previous years, the band adapts the church’s all-around acoustics to its eclectic musical repertoire, impressive technical flourishes and dynamic musicality.

St. Albert has two ambassadors in this highly proficient band – resident Justina Watt on cornet and trumpet/cornetist Daniel Skepple, conductor of Mission Hill Brass.

Open to interpreting numerous genres from jazz and rock and roll to classical and spiritual, the band launches the concert with Joy to the World, a traditional carol every child learns to sing.

“Ours is going to be an upbeat rock and roll style. It’s a fabulous show opener and it will get people dancing in the aisles,” said cornet player David Langor.

From there they segue into the 16th century Coventry Carols and contemporary composer Jeff Christmas’ arrangement of Carol of the Bells.

“It’s a gorgeous arrangement featuring a lot of soft percussion.”

There’s a bit of history in The Boar’s Head Wassail, an ode to the ancient history of sacrificing a boar and presenting its head at a Yuletide feast.

“It’s upbeat and toe-tapping.”

And there is the bootie-shakin’ tune Happy from Despicable Me and Christmas Calypso, a tune that engulfs the audience in a groovin’ Caribbean vibe.

Also featured is Baby, It’s Cold Outside, a song traditionally sung as a duet. In a special brass band arrangement, Doreen Moisan on flugelhorn and trombonist Nancy Thornhill duke it out.

As a special treat, euphonium player Chris Diaper showcases his musical chops in Carnival of Venice.

“It’s an extremely difficult solo. He’s bringing a double-belled euphonium. A bell is the flared point at the end. His euphonium has one big bell and a smaller one at the side which uses a different set of valves.”

“Try something different. Come and enjoy the excitement of British-style brass band.”