Twilight concert hits just the right note

Members of the Dannevirke Brass Band performing high up on the band rotunda.

"Perfect" is how concert-goers in Dannevirke described the twilight concert by the Dannevirke Brass Band and Highland Pipe Band at the upper Domain last week.

"It's been glorious, a wonderful night's entertainment and we need more," one delighted woman said.

As the two bands performed atop the historic band rotunda, built in 1911, with the sun setting behind them, it was a fantastic way to spend a warm, sunny evening.

"It was a lovely splash of nostalgia," band president Nick Hill said. "It was a delightful concert, with a great split between brass and pipes. I thought the brass band's selection of music was quite cool. This was a nice, intimate concert which, hopefully, will be repeated again."

Although the brass band was down on numbers, Pirran Kendall did make it home from university in Palmerston North to help bolster the ranks.

"The concert was great and it was a beautiful evening," Phillipa Nilson said. Also enjoying their night out were Eileen Mary rest home residents who had late passes for a special night out, with Gwen Fairbrother, the patron of the brass band on board the residents' bus.

Bandmaster Neil Williams encouraged the audience to sing along as his band struck up Reet Petite. The foot-tapping music continued with the band's rendition of Heartbreaker, a favourite.

The swirl of the pipes heralded a segment from the Dannevirke Highland Pipe Band and the glorious sunset behind the band rotunda provided spectacular natural stage lighting. Then the final combination of pipes, drums and brass echoing around the Domain created wonderful musical memories for everyone at the concert.

"It's just been perfect," Liz Edwards said.

Dannevirke is fortunate in having two civic bands, the only town in the Tararua district with such a luxury, and last week they provided a wonderful night of entertainment, which Mr Williams promises will be repeated.

The Dannevirke Brass Band has been part of our district for more than 120 years, with the Highland Pipe Band formed more than 30 years ago.