Brian Duguid Memorial Concert

On Sunday 5th of November, a memorial concert was held to celebrate the life of Brian Duguid who died in December 2005. As manager of Arts and Cultural Services for West Lothian, Brian was instrumental in developing the district’s policy for the Arts and Instrumental Music, encouraging the free teaching of music in schools from primary 6 onwards. Brian was also a strong supporter of the West Lothian Schools Brass Band, and he helped to provide the opportunity to achieve the success which the band has enjoyed over the years. It is therefore only fitting that the band should participate in his memorial concert. The programme was chosen to reflect some of Brian’s favourite music and works of particular significance to his life.

The concert began with a lone piper playing the haunting “Highland Cathedral”.

This was followed by a series of six pieces performed by a Wind Band comprising of members of the West Lothian Wind Band, members of the Royal Scottish Academy Wind Band and celebrity guests.
They began with “Wee Cooper of Fife” arr Davie and conducted by Nigel Boddice MBE. This was followed by “Freya’s Call” composed and conducted by Andy Duncan. They then performed 2 songs from “Five Folk Songs for Soprano and Band” by Gilmore, conducted by Russel Cowieson and featuring guest soprano soloist Colette Ruddy. This was followed by two pieces written by Philip Sparke: the first was “A Klezmer Karnival”, conducted by Bruce Pearson, followed by the Wind Band’s closing contribution “Ardross Castle” from “Hymn of the Highlands, conducted by Bryan Allen.

In complete change of tempo and style, the West Lothian Schools Jazz Ensemble was up next - described as “animals” by the compere! In conjunction with guest soloist Ryan Quigley, and conducted by Stuart French, they performed two pieces to take us to the interval: “A Night in Tunisia” by Gillespie and “Jazz Police” by G Goodwin.

Suitably refreshed after the interval, the stage was then filled by members of the West Lothian section of the National Youth Choir of Scotland, West Lothian Schools Brass Band and guests from the Royal Scottish Academy of Music & Drama, members of numerous other Brass Bands, previous WLSBB members and celebrity guests from the Brass world.

The band began the second half of the concert in rousing style with “Olympic Fanfare & Theme” by J Curnow, conducted by Bryan Allen.
There then followed a spoken tribute to Brian detailing his wide and varied contribution to music and the Arts, not just in West Lothian ,and highlighting his many achievements. This was accompanied by the band playing “Northern Lights”, written and conducted by Tony Swainson.
Next up was “Valflicans Dans”, by Hugo Alfven and conducted by Andy Duncan, featuring guest soloist Richard Kidd on Euphonium.
The WLSBB’s musical director, Nigel Boddice MBE, took over the batton to conduct the remaining items in the programme, the next item featuring two guest soloists - Arlene McFarlane on trombone and Ryan Quigley on trumpet. In conjunction with the band, they performed an Alan Fernie arrangement of Mann/Hilliard’s “In the Wee Small Hours”.
The NYCOS Choir then joined the band for “Eriskey Love Lilt” arranged by Tony Swainson.
There then followed the “French Military March” by Saints-Saens and “Music” by John Miles for which the band was joined by an electric guitar!
The finale involved the brass band, the choir, guest solo soprano Colette Ruddy and four Pipers who combined to perform “Alone with my Thoughts” by Andy Duncan.

The concert was a moving and very fitting tribute to the life of Brian Duguid who leaves behind a legacy of one of the finest instrumental music services in Britain which was very much in evidence in the Usher Hall at this event.