USA East Music NYSB BULLETIN - SUMMER 2018 | Page 6

NYSB / Mnozil Brass Concert Report
Eric R. Dina, Divisional Music Director – Northeast Ohio Division of The Salvation Army
The air was damp on a moderately warm
Friday Manhattan evening. The Centennial
Memorial Temple had a distinct murmur.
While the New York Staff Band has played
and recorded in the hall numerous times,
this would truly be a program no one in
attendance will soon forget.
Different from most shared festivals in
The Salvation Army, the New York Staff Band
played a six piece set to open the concert.
From their position in the house directly in
front of the stage, the fluttering sixteenth note
runs of the cornets could be heard on Joel
Collier’s scintillating opener, Thy Matchless
King. The rest of the band quickly joined in
the fun with Martin Cordner’s Semper Fidelis,
written for the Australia Territorial Youth Band
a couple of years ago. The featured piece of
the New York Staff Band’s set was the world
premiere performance of Fearless, by the 2017
NYSB Composer Contest Winner, Andrew
Wainwright. This piece, approximately eight
minutes in length, along with a few others
heard this evening, will be featured on the
upcoming Japan Tour recording of the NYSB,
entitled Endless Power. Rounding out the
NYSB’s contribution to the program were
And My Soul Overflows, by David Chaulk—
the Evergreen Red Shield march by Henry
Goffin, and of course, New York, New York (arr.
Goff Richards).
I am not sure words can describe what
6   ‡   N Y S B B U L L E T I N   S U M M E R 2 0 1 8
was to follow. Those who have seen Mnozil
Brass in concert would probably tell you
that you simply cannot encapsulate the
experience in short statements. Three
trumpeters, three trombone players, and a
tubist led us literally through a musical circus
that left the audience wanting for more. Many
in attendance would recognize the sources
of many of the songs or partial songs that
were played. The music of Igor Stravinsky’s
Firebird, Kurt Weill, and others were played
with the highest musical excellence. Mnozil
simply is the best combination of musical
excellence AND comedic relief you are going
to find. Their shtick is universal; garnering the
same acclaim in New York City that they have
received around the world. If there is one
bit that Mnozil Brass is most famous for, it is
probably their performance of Lonely Boy.
They performed this one-man-band act in
full circus gear towards the end of the second
half to the audience’s delight. This program
was edgy, but as the hour approached 10:30
PM, the audience around me clearly did not
realize that the overall length of the program
was just under three hours. Mnozil Brass
clearly had the audience right in the palm of
their hands.
This was a wonderful concert and one
that will not soon be forgotten.
W W W. N Y S B. O R G