Gavin’s Antiphonies – Brighton Youth Orchestra and Andrew Sherwood (conductor)

Extended fanfares in Pavilion Gardens really captured the spirit of the Brighton Festival. An array of drums, brass and woodwind on the Pavilion Terrace and lawns performed Sir Harrison Birtwistle’s ‘Gavin’s Antiphonies’ in celebration of Birtwistle’s 80th birthday and Prof. Gavin Henderson’s illustrious stint as Director of the Brighton Festival.

Complex drum rhythms and animated cymbal clashes punctuated extended chords on the brass, which were achieved by some very effective staggered breathing. The woodwind added a charming oriental tone. I half expected bejewelled Janissaries or a Durbar band to appear from the exotic surroundings – a few moments of Festival magic!

Pavilion Gardens, 11 May 2014

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