Search - Irving Berlin, John Frederick Coots, Felix Bernard :: A White Christmas with Grimethorpe

Excellent brass band Christmas instrumentals

Peter Durward Harris | Leicester England | 09/07/2009

(5 out of 5 stars)

"The actual colliery from which the band takes its name closed a few years before these tracks were recorded in 1997. The collapse of the British coalmining industry is a very sad and politically sensitive issue beyond the scope of this review, but at least we can be thankful that Grimethorpe Colliery Band survived the closure of the colliery. Containing mainly festive songs (the obvious exceptions being When a child is born, Little drummer boy and Mary`s boy child, but the Christmas triptych and Christmas suite also features pieces of some carols), this 20-track collection neatly complements the Brighouse and Rastrick Brass Band Christmas album, which focuses on the carols but omits the three listed in full above. With no duplication between them, unless you count the pieces of familiar carols within Christmas triptych and Christmas suite, brass band fans can listen to both albums one after the other without hearing any instrumental twice. While my copy of the other album contains only general notes about the Brighouse and Rastrick Brass Band's history, no comments about the individual tracks beyond the standard credits and no credits for the individual musicians, this album lists all the members of Grimethorpe Colliery Band and the instrument they play, as well as providing copious notes about the contents of the album. However, there is nothing about the band's history. The notes here are nevertheless interesting because they explain that new arrangements were created for some of the well-worn chestnuts.



The tunes selected come from a variety of sources, but a significant proportion of them are the familiar songs from the thirties, forties and fifties, beginning with White Christmas. British pop and rock is represented by Mistletoe and wine (made famous by Cliff Richard) and the Band Aid classic, Do they know it's Christmas? The Snowman theme, Walking in the air, is also included. Christmas piece and Spirit of Christmas were both originally composed specifically for brass bands, so it's good to have them here. Midnight sleigh ride is an adaptation of a classical piece. Christmas triptych, despite its title, actually contains pieces of five carols, but they are in three movements, the final one being a rousing version of Good King Wenceslas. Dies Natalis and the closing Christmas suite are other pieces incorporating pieces of traditional Christmas fare.



This is a wonderful album of Christmas music. While it has obvious appeal to brass band fans, it will work well as background music over the Christmas period, whatever else is going on. And if you have a chance to give it more attention without distractions, you may appreciate the distinctive arrangements of some of the tunes here. I'm not going to say whether this or the Brighouse and Rastrick Brass Band Christmas album is the better. If you only buy one and you have the chance to buy both, your choice may depend on whether you prefer festive songs or carols - or it might depend on whether you want some distinctive arrangements or faithful interpretations. I'll just say that I'm very happy with both of them.

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