ALISON CROOSE King's Lynn Corn Exchange

ALISON CROOSE

> King's Lynn Corn Exchange

First and foremost, this was the band's 25th birthday concert – but director of music Robert Galliard turned it into a triple celebration marked in some style.

He encompassed the 800th anniversary of Lynn receiving borough status and the 100th anniversary of composer Ralph Vaughan Williams's visit to the town – and honoured these two milestones with a fine display of young musicianship. Mr Galliard devised a programme full of interest, particularly two modern suites based on folk song material collected from the North End fishing community by Vaughan Williams, plus the composer's own Folk Song Suite.

Composer Malcolm Binney used tunes as the basis of True's Yard, a special commission for the band's 20th anniversary. It provided an interesting comparison with Philip Sparke's Songs of the Fisher Fleet, which used the same material and incorporated the hymn tune King's Lynn. The composer witnessed a sensitive performance at its world premiere.

Sir Malcolm Arnold was represented by his Sarabande and Polka before former band members reunited to play Paris Sketches by Martin Ellerby, which has become a popular addition to the wind band repertoire.

The combined bands' Instant Concert finale summed up the evening's energy and exuberance.