Added: 13th- August - 2008 at 13:00
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St Endellion Festival Concert

The St Agnes and St Dennis Bands combined to take part, with The St Endellion Festival Orchestra, in a unique performance of Sir Malcolm Arnold's Four Cornish Dances in Truro Cathedral on 5th August. The Concert was part of the 50th St Endellion Festival which was conducted by the internationally known Conductor, Richard Hickox CBE, Director of the Festival for many years. This year the Festival consisted of an all British programme and having read, in his biography, of a special arrangement that Malcolm Arnold, then living in Cornwall, had made of his Four Cornish Dances for Orchestra and Brass Bands he decided to revive it, if possible. Malcolm Arnold made the arrangement for a Concert he had organised in Truro Cathedral on 16th March 1968 to mark the 60th Anniversary of the death of the Cornish composer, Thomas Merritt, famous for his carols.

The two bands that took part in that performance were St Agnes and St Dennis and after some delving into their libraries it transpired that both Bands still had the original hand written parts and score, making them the ideal choice to join in again, for what is only the second performance of this arrangement. Several of the present members of both Bands played in the original performance, including the present Musical Director of St Dennis, Brian Minear. The performance also marked Richard Hickox's first involvement with brass bands, and following a rehearsal with the Bands he said how impressed he was with the sound, which made the hairs at the back of his neck stand on end.