frank’s 25 years of festive fun · issue no. 5592 – 19 december 2009 price £1.25 frank’s 25...
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www.britishbandsman.com
Issue no. 5592 – 19 December 2009
Price £1.25
Frank’s 25 years of festive fun
Packed RAH thrilled by the sound of brass
BB 1.indd 1 15-12-2009 16:47:01
BRITISH BANDSMAN PAGE 2
6. Candlelight Carol ............... Rutter, arr. Chris Mallett7. I Saw Three Ships ....................... arr. Judith Hayes8. The Babe in a Manger .................... arr. Chris Mallett9. Sleigh Ride (Glenn Miller style) ...... arr. Philip Harper
10. Troika (A Midnight Sleigh Ride) .......... arr. Ray Farr
Transcriptions1. Light Cavalry ....................... Suppe, arr. Greenwood2. Nabucodonosor ........................................ Verdi3. William Tell .................. Rossini, arr. George Hawkins4. Les Preludes ................... Liszt, arr. William Rimmer5. Hungarian Rhapsody No. 2 .... Liszt, arr. Drake Rimmer6. L’Italiana in Algiers ................................ Rossini7. Poet and Peasant ............. Suppe, arr. George Hawkins8. Royal Fireworks .................... Handel, arr. D. Wright9. Farandole (L’Arlesienne) ........... Bizet, arr. D. Rimmer
10. The Magic Flute ................... Mozart, arr. W. Rimmer
Light Concert Items1. Donegal Bay ........................... Paul Lovatt-Cooper2. Faith .................... George Micheal, arr. Philip Harper3. Don’t Stop Me Now ... Freddie Mercury, arr. Philip Harper4. Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go ...... arr. Philip Harper5. A Hebridean Lullaby ...................... Philip Harper7. Fat-Bottomed Girls ....... Brian May, arr. Philip Harper8. Salsa Pa’Gozar ............................. Philip Harper9. Copacabana ............ Barry Manilow, arr. Philip Harper
10. Softly Softly .................... Bridget Fry, arr. Ray Farr11. Recado Bossa Nova (The Gift) ... Ferreira, arr. Ray Farr12. Hawaii Five-O ............ Mort Stevens, arr. Philip Harper13. Riverdance ......................... Whelan, arr. Ray Farr14. Salsa Tres’Prado ........................... Philip Harper15. (It’s Just) Talk .............. Patrick Methany, arr. Ray Farr16. The Muppet Show ........ Jim Henson, arr. Philip Harper17. Battle of the Planets ........... Curtin, arr. Philip Harper18. A Gaelic Blessing ................. Rutter, arr. Darrol Barry19. The Incredibles ............ Giacchinno, arr. Philip Harper20. The Circle of Life .......... Elton John, arr. Philip Harper
Marches1. Slaidburn ................................ William Rimmer2. The Champions ........................... G. H. Wilcocks3. Punchinello .............................. William Rimmer4. The Contestor ................................. T. J. Powell5. Castle Coch ..................................... T. J. Powell6. The Cossack ............................. William Rimmer7. Cross of Honour ........................ William Rimmer8. Castle Caerphilly ............................... T. J. Powell9. True and Trusty ......................... J. A. Greenwood
10. The Australasian ....................... William Rimmer
Christmas Items1. Yule Dance ............................. arr. Philip Harper2. Little Drummer Boy .................. arr. Philip Harper3. Frosty the Snowman ................... arr. Sandy Smith4. Little Drummer Boy .................. arr. Philip Harper5. A Christmas Dream ................ arr. Derek Broadbent
Original Works1. Lionheart ......................... Philip Harper2. A Gallimaufry Suite ............ Philip Harper3. A Slaidburn Festival ........ Beverly Ann Stoll4. A Celebration of Youth ........ Philip Harper5. Beyond the Tamar .............. Philip Harper6. Festival Suite ...................... Clive Bright7. London River Overture ......... Reginald Heath8. Cornish Festival Overture ............. Eric Ball
Solos With Piano1. The Acrobat .................... John Greenwood2. Grandfather’s Clock ........... George Doughty3. Rule Britannia .................. John Hartmann4. Weiderkehr ...................... John Hartmann5. The Ash Grove ........................ H. Round6. Silver Threads Among the Gold .... W. Rimmer7. Jenny Jones ..................... William Rimmer8. Weber’s Last Waltz ............. William Rimmer
Solos With Band1. Donegal Bay (bari) ....... Paul Lovatt-Cooper2. A Hebridean Lullaby (bari) ... Philip Harper3. Grandfather’s Clock (euph) .... G. Doughty4. The Acrobat (trom) .......... John Greenwood5. Cappricio Brillante (hrn) Belstedt, arr. Smith6. Rule Britannia (cnt/euph) ... John Hartmann7. Hailstorm (cnt) ............... William Rimmer8. Beneath the Willows (flugel) ..... Philip Harper
Books, Albums & Tutors1. The Extended 120 Hymns for Wind Band2. The Extended 120 Hymns for Brass Band3. Starting Out Book 1 (A beginner’s tutor)4. Starting Out Book 2 (The next step)5. The Complete Method6. Soloist’s Companion Vol. 37. Soloist’s Companion Vol. 28. Soloist’s Companion Vol. 1
The top 5 full band sets(all categories)1. Donegal Bay .................. Paul Lovatt-Cooper2. Faith ..............................arr. Philip Harper3. Don’t Stop Me Now .............arr. Philip Harper4. Wake Me Up ............... .......arr. Philip Harper5. Yule Dance ....................... arr. Philp Harper
(the greatest number of sales of Wright and Roundmusic during 2009)
Top selling worldwide dealers
1. Geert Bruinsma Muziek bv., Holland2. Ruh Musik AG, Switzerland3. Just Music, Scotland4. Band Supplies (Leeds)5. Banks & Son Music, York
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YOUR CHOICE OF WRIGHT& ROUND MUSIC DURING 2009
BB 2-3.indd 2 15-12-2009 16:43:32
BRITISH BANDSMAN PAGE 3
NEWS
The Christmas journeyI’ve come to see Christmas in a different light
this year. In the past, I would typically reflect
on it as a time of celebration, a time for family,
a time of peace…but this year, I’ve been
prompted from a number of different sources
to see Christmas as the start of a journey.
Journeying is part of the Christmas story –
Mary and Joseph travelling to Bethlehem to
be registered in order to pay their taxes, the
wise men and shepherds faithfully setting
out on their long journey, following the star
to Bethlehem to witness the arrival of a very
special baby. And with the birth of that baby,
the world changed. With his humble arrival into
this world, the baby Jesus set out on a journey
that would change the world forever, and what
might have seemed the end of the journey
for his life on earth – his death on the cross –
became the start of a journey for mankind.
In life, we each travel our own personal
journey, our hopes and aspirations being
entirely personal to each one of us. We are
bound in that journey variously by family,
friends, loved ones, social circles, religious
belief and, of course, for us, banding. As we
look to the new year, all bandspeople set out
on a journey of their own – aspiring towards
excellent concert performances, contesting
success, stirring the souls of audiences or,
in some cases, simply surviving for another
year. The banding journey can be a tough
one, requiring commitment, teamwork,
expense and, at times, sheer perseverance.
We sometimes allow ourselves to get a
little lost on the journey – we see too often
the destruction that can come about from
personal interests being placed above those
of the band, the desire to win at all costs
being placed above the joy of competition,
and sometimes the damaging lack of personal
trust in those who organise or judge our
all-important contests. These are but a few
examples of the ‘cul de sacs’ in which we
can find ourselves during the course of our
banding journey.
Christmas was the start of a world-changing
journey for a baby named Jesus – our banding
journey will not be quite so world-changing,
but individually and corporately we can still
impact the world around us. Let’s make sure
that impact is positive.
The best wishes of all of us at British
Bandsman are extended to you this Christmas
and, as you look forward to banding in 2010,
our hope is that you will enjoy the journey.
Trevor Caffull
Silver anniversary for Renton and the ‘Stars’Frank Renton’s Concert Brass was centre-stage at the Royal Albert Hall last Thursday
(10th) for the TV Times Christmas Carols with the Stars event, which raised over £150,000
for Leukaemia Research, the 25th successive year that the doyen of brass band
broadcasting has hosted the sell-out event.
With the line-up of the band featuring leading players from around the UK, including
Martin Britt (soprano), Gary Wyatt (principal cornet), Alan Wardrope (horn), John Storey
(euphonium) and Philip Trudgeon (percussion), the programme featured mainly seasonal
fare, but the musical highlight of the night was former Grimethorpe Colliery flugel star,
Mark Walters, who gave a performance of Rodrigo’s Concierto de Aranjuez that had the
entire audience enraptured. The Fanfare Trumpeters of HM Coldstream Guards were also
featured in the programme, which concluded with Tony Audenshaw and White Van Man
joining the assembled cast in an extravagant performance of The 12 Days of Christmas.
Since the first presentation in 1985, Christmas Carols with the Stars has raised well over
£2,000,000 for the leukaemia charity, while literally hundreds of stars from stage and
screen have appeared in the annual jamboree. Speaking to BB earlier this week, Frank
Renton commented: “We hoped that the 25th show would be a special one, and so it
has turned out to be. I’ve been inundated with calls and emails from people who have
commented that it was possibly the most enjoyable one yet, but there’s something
extraordinary about performing to a packed audience in a great venue for such a good
cause, and to do it in the company of such great performers is even better.”
Next year’s Christmas Carols with the Stars will be held at the Royal Albert Hall on 9
December. Picture (including front cover): White Van Man
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BB 2-3.indd 3 15-12-2009 16:43:49
BRITISH BANDSMAN PAGE 4
PRODUCT NEWS
The Perfect Mouthpiece?by Dr. Roger Webster
Q: What is the perfect mouthpiece for me?A: One that helps me get to my musical destination, or at least well on my journey, with the most ease.
Many mouthpieces can, at least in the ‘honeymoon period’, make
high notes easier, or give a fuller sound, but what is really needed is a
mouthpiece that helps you find your ideal sound without sacrificing
range, production, projection and comfort.
Having been part of the original design team for the Alliance Products
range of mouthpieces, I can honestly say that they have exceeded my
every expectation. From my early testing (performing on flugel at the
BBC Proms in Mussorgsky’s Pictures at an Exhibition and in winning
performances at the National Brass Band Championships, or playing solos
on trumpet - all performed with prototypes), the mouthpieces were up to,
and beyond, my every expectation. The feedback both from amateur and
professional players is also outstanding; from our tuba mouthpieces to
our piccolo trumpet ones, the results come back the same – ‘superb!’
The technological advancements made in engineering and acoustic
design enable us to examine competitors’ mouthpiece characteristics and
remove design flaws – effectively making any existing ‘industry standard’
mouthpieces better. They also provide increased comfort, enabling
better stamina, better projection, clearer and warmer sound, crystal-clear
articulation, enhanced range capabilities… the list goes on and on.
In product design,
it is sometimes
difficult to
gauge fact from
sycophantic
comments
(especially if you
are paying for the
testing), which is
why at Alliance, all
of the mouthpiece
tests were carried
out by professionals
and amateurs without remuneration, ensuring honest unbiased feedback.
Our constant commitment to research and development mean that these
comments are not only encouraging, but also immensely helpful. Our
range of orthodontic approved mouthpieces (for people using dental
braces) is just entering the production stage, and will undoubtedly make
a big impact worldwide. This is just one new example of product research
and development initiated by customer needs (thanks Hayley!).
There is room in the market for many manufacturers of quality products,
so chose wisely, ask, try and listen… there is ‘the’ one for you waiting out
there.
BB 4-5.indd 4 15-12-2009 16:46:03
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NEWS
Doubts over brass repertoire at BASCA AwardsRoy Terry reports from the British
Composer Awards
Organised by the British Academy of
Songwriters, Composers and Authors, the
2009 British Composers Awards ceremony
was recently held in the splendid hall of the
Law Society.
A number of the nominees and winners
had featured in previous years, including
Sir Harrison Birtwistle, Sir John Tavener,
Alexander Goehr, Mark-Anthony Turnage
and Judith Bingham. However, the
chairman, Sarah Rodgers, pointed out
that the nominations of newcomers were
equally significant because they showed
the emergence of new composing talent.
Among these were Simon Dobson,
nominated for Penlee.
Prior to presenting the awards, Sir Nicholas
Kenyon expressed the view that new
composers were flourishing in the last
20 years as never before, despite the
challenge of finding an individual voice.
Whereas Brahms only had to contend with
the shadow of Beethoven, today’s young
composers have a much wider range of
composers ‘breathing down their necks’.
The Academy is clearly committed to
celebrating diversity, hence the thirteen
categories in fields as various as education
projects, sonic art, and, for the first time this
year, contemporary jazz – won by Jason
Yarde. Since the Academy is committed to
fostering composition in neglected areas
it’s strange that wind and brass bands are
thrown together in one category. Inevitably
there were fewer nominations here, 15
in all, although it has not been possible
to ascertain how many were specifically
for brass band. The Wind Band or Brass
Band category was won by Adam Gorb for
Farewell, the judges commenting that the
winning piece is a ‘highly original work,
beautifully scored, brave and epic.’ The
climax of the piece they describe as ‘aurally
devastating’. In conclusion, ‘The winning
work is in a class of its own, crafted by a true
master of the genre.’
Discussion with one of the organisers
showed that there is a strongly held view
that too much current writing for brass
band is ‘musical carpentry’ produced to
order to meet the too rigid requirements
of contest organisers. The obligatory
acrobatic cadenzas were quoted as a
particular problem. Given such demands,
maintaining compositional integrity can be
highly problematic. Another consequence
of the contest stranglehold is that a vast
gulf is opening up separating the very
best bands from the rest. The occasional
virtuoso work aside, much orchestral
music is as accessible to decent amateur
orchestras as it is to professionals. When
every player is expected to play at virtuoso
level, the strength of the brass band as
an essentially ‘mixed ability’ ensemble is
being seriously eroded. Yet repertoire now
regarded as technically within the reach
of Lower Section bands can still prove
musically challenging for ‘elite’ bands. In
a recent interview, the renowned French
pianist, Aldo Ciccolini, questioned about the
technical difficulties of some piano music
said that a composition isn’t a masterpiece
because it’s difficult to play: it’s difficult to
play because it’s a masterpiece.
As has been the case with many of the more
substantial brass band works in the last few
decades, Simon Dobson’s Penlee was the
result of a commission, not from contest
organisers but from a youth band.
The national amateur music body, Making
Music, sponsors an award with nominations
being selected from music produced
through its ‘Adopt a Composer’ scheme.
The scheme funds amateur music groups to
collaborate with a composer who produces
a ‘tailor-made’ piece for them. Not only does
this replenish the range of work available to
amateurs, it also enables amateur musicians
to gain first-hand insight into the process
of composing. Perhaps more brass bands
should join Making Music to try to take
advantage of such a creative initiative.
Change of Adjudicator at YorkshireThe organisers of the Yorkshire Regional
Championships have announced that there
has been a change of adjudicators from
those previously announced. Dr. James
Gourlay has withdrawn from adjudicating
the 1st Section, and Kevin Wadsworth has
moved from adjudicating the 4th Section
and will now judge the 1st Section with
Lynda Nicholson.
Philip Sparke has been appointed to replace
Kevin Wadsworth and will judge the 4th
Section with Steve Pritchard-Jones.
The Yorkshire Regional Committee has also
announced the continuation of the Youth
Adjudication Panel, to encourage young
people’s interest in adjudicating, supported
by British Bandsman and 4barsrest. The
young people will adjudicate the 4th Section
and Philip Sparke and Steve Pritchard-Jones
will support this initiative by speaking to
the youth panel prior to their adjudicating
duties. Further information on this initiative
will appear in January.
On a separate matter, Regional Secretary,
Peggy Tomlinson, commented: “To help
alleviate health and safety issues raised
by management at St. George’s Hall,
allocated seating only was introduced
for the 2009 Championship Section at
Yorkshire. After positive feedback from both
management and audience, this system will
continue for the 2010 Yorkshire Regional
Championships.”
Ticket prices remain the same (£6.00) and
will be available from St. George’s Hall
Box Office on 01294 432000 or via www.
bradford-theatres.co.uk from Monday 4
January 2010. Updated information on the
Yorkshire Brass Band Championships is
available from www.regional-contest.org.uk/
yorkshire Philip Sparke
BB 4-5.indd 5 15-12-2009 16:46:14
FEATURE
Taking coals by Kenneth Crookston
One of the most encouraging aspects of world
banding in the past ten years is the increasing
frequency with which bands from other
continents have visited these shores. High-
profile visits by Brisbane Excelsior, Woolston
and Dalewool Auckland from Australasia and
the brass bands of Illinois, Central Florida
and Fountain City (FCBB) from the USA have
all made their own mark on the contesting
scene in the UK, laudably encouraged by the
organisers of the British Open, All-England
Masters International and Brass in Concert
championships, and it is to be hoped that the
trend will continue in the decade about to start.
Although Michael J. Garasi and his Brass
Band of Central Florida made a major impact
at the 2006 Brass in Concert Championship
by finishing in fourth place and taking
the entertainment award, none of the
aforementioned fine bands actually managed
to head home with a top prize – until now.
History records the victories at Belle Vue by
Newcastle Steel Works of Australia in 1924
and the National Band of New Zealand in
1953, and although very few readers of BB
will remember these occasions clearly, both
of these groups comprised many of the finest
players from Commonwealth countries in
which there was already a strong brass banding
culture. The victory, however, of Fountain City,
a band formed only in 2002 in a part of the
USA with little or no British banding influence,
at the Scottish Open last month represents
the not-so-thin end of a very big wedge, as
the leading overseas bands start to join our
continental cousins of Eikanger-Bjørsvik and
Brass Band Willebroek in claiming major scalps
and demonstrating that the rest of the world is
getting better at this much quicker than we are.
Even after time for reflection, Fountain City’s
win at Perth was of the resounding variety,
beating an on-form Pemberton Old by a
crushing three points, but perhaps more
significantly, leaving in its wake the three
Scottish bands that have all been multiple
prize-winners at the British Open over the past
decade – Whitburn, Co-operative FuneralCare
and Kirkintilloch – all on their own patch too.
This is no mean achievement in itself, but
Fountain City has also made a deep impression
on concert audiences the length and breadth of
these islands, something that is in no small way
down to the vision and artistry of the band’s
Musical Director, Dr. Joe Parisi, who made the
following comment to BB when asked about
the success of the band’s recent UK tour.
“The hospitality and warm reception by
everyone we met in the UK was terrific,” he
began, adding, “Among the highlights for us
were sharing concerts with the Govan Salvation
Army Choir and the Boscombe Salvation Army
Band, having tea and cakes with the mayors of
Gateshead and Banbury, meeting Lord Foster
of Bishop Auckland at The Sage Gateshead,
who invited FCBB to the Houses of Parliament
on our next visit (and gave me his mobile
number!), the Morley Town Hall recording
session, meeting John Miller at the Royal
Northern College of Music and having a clinic
with Garry Cutt, spending our Thanksgiving
in Peckforton Castle and performing Highland
Cathedral with the Fair City Singers at the
Scottish Open Gala. However, watching the
band grow over the two weeks was something
BRITISH BANDSMAN PAGE 6
BB 6-7.indd 6 15-12-2009 16:42:37
FEATURE
to Newcastle
special, and I have no other description for our
trip than ‘surreal’.”
We understand that Fountain City Brass Band
is still in negotiations for a possible follow-up
tour in 2010, although undertaking such a
major project two years in succession is sure
to present many difficulties for any amateur
organisation. However, the organisers of both
Brass in Concert and the Scottish Open will
undoubtedly welcome these fine musicians
with open arms if they do decide to return
here (both events being on the same weekend
next year will make for a challenging few days
in anyone’s terms, but one imagines that that
minor detail wouldn’t stop Fountain City).
Those of us who had the privilege of meeting
and listening to Fountain City Brass Band will
look back in the years ahead at that fortnight in
November 2009 with fond memories. Perhaps
some of us might even use it as yet another
excuse to get the instrument out and practise
a bit more often. To those who didn’t get a
chance to witness it, don’t make the same
mistake the next time this remarkable group
flies over here, but let’s all hope that it is soon.
Fountain City Brass Band, North American and US Open Champion for the past three
years, recently undertook a tour of the UK. Sandwiched between its appearances at the
Brass in Concert Championship and the Scottish Open, a joint festival with Boscombe
Salvation Army Band on Friday 20 November proved how one group of players,
motivated by its spiritual base, can effectively unite with another group with different
reasons for performing, and still make an impact. In both individual and massed playing,
the two bands produced music of superb quality.
Under the leadership of Bandmaster Dr. Howard Evans, Boscombe’s short programme
was intentionally geared towards portraying the essential role of a Salvation Army band.
The programme opened in traditional style with a march written by the doyen of all
march composers, John Philip Sousa (arranged by Ray Steadman-Allen) which Sousa
dedicated to, and titled simply, The Salvation Army. This was followed by meditative
music, an arrangement of the Welsh tune, Myfanwy, by Kenneth Downie, and an Erik
Leidzén classic, The Call, interspersed with prayer. In contrast to the controlled and
soulful playing required by this music, Boscombe Band concluded with a spirited
performance of Paul Lovatt-Cooper’s Vitae Aeternum.
Much of the music played by Fountain City was arranged by the band’s young solo
euphonium player, Lee Harrelson, including the opening number, music from The Limpid
Stream by Shostakovich. The band’s conductor, Dr. Joe Parisi, explained how, by listening
to Brighouse and Rastrick Band playing a march at the Whit Friday contests a couple of
years back, he has tried to perfect the art. The band then proceeded to give a stirring
performance of Charles Anderson’s ORB (Oldham Rifle Brigade). From somewhere on the
3rd cornet bench, Raquel Rodriguez, a university professor, stepped forward and gave
an outstanding performance of Carnival of Venice, which received tumultuous applause,
before returning to her seat on the back bench. It was no surprise to hear that she was
the US Open soloist winner in 2008. Contrasting items followed with Len Ballantine’s
Mid all the Traffic (Shenandoah) and Feelin’ Good by Anthony Newley and Lesley
Bricusse. A surprise came when a number of the band rose to sing the opening bars of
Ave Maria, before joining the other instrumentalists in this beautiful setting by Franz
Beiber. Fountain City concluded this segment of the programme with an outstanding
performance of Malaguena by Ernesto Lucuona, arranged by Bill Holman and transcribed
for brass band by Lee Harrelson, during which cornets were exchanged for trumpets and
other soloists emerged throughout the band with scintillating effect.
The massed bands of Boscombe and Fountain City brought this exciting evening to a
conclusion with Eric Ball’s march Star Lake, which Howard Evans described as bringing
together the two traditions of the American and UK brass banding, the music having
been written to commemorate the early Salvation Army Music Camp in New Jersey, USA.
A moving performance of Kenneth Downie’s In Perfect Peace preceded the finale, William
Gordon’s arrangement of the last movement from Tchaikovsky’s Symphony No. 2, The
Little Russian, after which both bands received sustained applause.
Ramsay Caffull
BRITISH BANDSMAN PAGE 7
BB 6-7.indd 7 15-12-2009 16:42:40
The big talking point on the concourse at The
Sage Gateshead during the recent Brass in
Concert Festival was the debate concerning the
age of many adjudicators and their suitability to
continue to be reliable judges in band contests.
Even at that point, every commentator on the
debate had taken ample opportunity to air
their views, but on bumping into Brian Hillson
in the café area before the afternoon concert,
I wondered what his expert opinion would be.
His answer surprised me.
He began: “I’ve followed the correspondence
with some interest and also some amusement,
because almost everything that has been
pointed out about the sense of hearing as an
age-related gift is pretty well correct.”
I replied that everyone seemed to have a
different viewpoint, so they couldn’t all be
right, to which he added: “Let me explain. The
fact that our range of frequencies deteriorates
with age is not in dispute; it’s just that the
conclusion that this one fact disqualifies older
people from the role is incorrect in my humble
opinion.”
I pointed out that he was well qualified to give
an expert opinion, since I have watched him
at work producing many CDs, and so know
that he has an acutely critical ear. He’s also
approaching retirement age and is moving
closer to the age bracket of many of the
adjudicators who are the subject of criticism
at the moment, plus he’s passionate about
the subject of sound, since his work involves
not only recording brass bands, choirs and
orchestras, but also designing sound systems
and lecturing on sound engineering and
acoustics. So, I pressed him to provide his own
conclusion as an expert on the subject. He
modestly responded: “Firstly, I’m no expert,
so I’m not formally qualified to speak as an
authority, but I do have an opinion and I’m
happy to add to the debate. Let me first give
you an analogy, which might preface my
answer and tell you where I’m coming from.
Kenneth Crookston meets Brian Hillson, one of the most respected figures in the
brass recording industry, who has his own profound views on the current ‘hot
potato’ in banding – adjudication.
BRITISH BANDSMAN PAGE 8
TALKING POINT
Imagine an art a painting in a
BB 8-9.indd 8 15-12-2009 16:43:15
Imagine an art tutor viewing a painting in
a gallery with a student. He asks the young
woman what she sees in front of her? ‘Ok,’
she says, ‘It’s a landscape; it’s a nice cottage
in the country, demonstrating a very good
perspective of the foreground detail and
distant rolling hills. What do you see?’ she asks.
The tutor places his glasses further toward the
end of his nose and waves his hand over the
exhibit and continues, ‘See how the light is
catching the clouds to give them a deep red
hue, that means its evening in late summer,
and there’s a light breeze coming from the east,
deliberately chosen so it reflects off the barley
to give us this gold vignette texture. The brush
strokes are deep in oils to inform us of its rich
harvest and…and so on.’ ‘By the way,’ he says,
‘Can you read the signature of the artist? I can’t
make it out at this distance.’”
I said that was very philosophical for a Saturday
afternoon, but asked him what his point was.
Does the comparison with sight hold good
for a complex argument in respect of hearing
and, particularly, in the context of contest
adjudication?
He continued: “It’s a fact that hearing for
everybody is best at the age of ten, and from
then on it’s all downhill. Even for people
with no hearing impairment, we lose 10khz
(10,000 cycles or oscillations per second)
with every decade we advance in years, so
by the time we’re 60, we will not be able to
hear the very high frequencies, and struggle
more with discerning very low level sounds. If
we’ve incurred some further hearing damage
or impairment, then the symptoms are
exacerbated. In this example, the art student
could see better than her tutor, but her facility
to really look in an informed way was not as
developed. Hence, the best critical analysis was
demonstrably given by her ageing mentor.
So my point is that the human ability of aural
perception is partly a function of the ear to
translate sound into electrical impulses to send
via the auditory nerve through the cortex to the
brain, and partly the function of the brain to
interpret that signal into recognition and detail.
Just one other example in every band rehearsal;
the ability of the conductor to hear wrong
intonation is nothing to do with hearing or age,
but everything to do with psycho acoustics –
the interaction with the brain.”
I was quite impressed by this explanation,
but not sure whether it brought clarity to the
continuing debate. Let’s be clear, does Brian
Hillson then say that deteriorating hearing is
not a relevant argument for the case to have
younger people in the box?
“Not on its own,” he said, adding, “Remember
my first answer; all the opinions expressed have
been valid – hearing does deteriorate with age
and people have pointed out that exposure
to loud music (and certainly sustained brass
band levels over years of exposure) can further
damage hearing, and that’s true. It’s a fact that
overtones beyond the usual range of 20Hz
to 20Khz do exist and add subtle information
to perceived sound, and while that’s true, we
wouldn’t ask a ten year-old to adjudicate just
because he has the best hearing. Clearly that’s
because the most important faculty of the
sense called hearing is that of discernment, and
that’s a cerebral function. My point is that both
components are necessary to good judgement,
and a younger person with excellent hearing
may hear more than an older person with
reduced frequency range, but an equally
important factor is the developed sense of aural
perception - the ability to process and interpret
the sound into other contexts, even though
the window through which it is heard may be a
reducing one.”
Ok, I understood the principle, but was he
saying that age has no effect on critical faculty,
in an area that is ostensibly entirely based on
a listening exercise? He continued: “You’re
trying to draw me into the controversy of
the debate, and I’m trying to add an entirely
impartial technical perspective. Frequency is
again only one component of audio perception
and, in fact, the 80/20 rule is also relevant here
in as much as the vast majority of the audible
information in a brass band is in the lower and
mid frequencies of the spectrum, (probably
from 80Hz up to 5 or 6Khz) which are largely
unaffected by deterioration of hearing with
age. This aspect on its own would be absolutely
crucial if we were asking the panel to review a
HiFi system for Which magazine, but less key in
making an informed decision in a band contest
in which all the other components of style,
musicality, tempo, timbre and dynamics which
are all part of the incredible God-given gift
of hearing and which are interpolated by the
brain. It could even be argued that, since the
adjudicators are doing a relative listening test,
as long as a person can judge one performance
against another it is less relevant if one persons
perception of sound is more mellow or more
bright than another’s – who knows anyway if
we all hear the same sound!”
That was too nimble a dodge of the question;
too much like a politician, so I asked him what
his personal view on the seeming insistence
of using older adjudicators was, to which he
replied, “If I were Sir Alex Ferguson, I’d say
that football referees need to be fitter! You
asked me about the sense of hearing, and
that’s been the focus of my replies. However, if
hearing deteriorates with age, so does the brain
function, and I wouldn’t presume to comment
on anyone’s mental faculty, but having said
that more than 50 percent of the hearing
process is cognitive, then you can’t divorce
the function of an individuals’ processing
power from their age. Of course, this particular
faculty varies even more from one person to
another. This introduces important questions
about one’s ability to concentrate for long
periods, remember detail after the event, the
ability of good judgement itself, and these are
probably more important than simply age-
related hearing issues. Even the adjudicator’s
box must itself offer some resistance to very
high frequencies due to the thickness of the
material, but that may only affect sounds much
higher in the spectrum with a wavelength of
less than a couple of millimetres (up in the 17k
range) and have no impact at all on low notes.
The impact of the box is probably more to do
with isolation from other stimuli than pure
audio.”
There have been lots of suggestions, some
more helpful than others, and I asked Brian if I
thought this would run and run? He concluded:
“Let me give a personal answer. I hope to be
able to lend a critical ear as a record producer
for a good many years yet and continue to
mentor my team of younger engineers, all
of whom have infinitely better hearing than
me, and arguably worse judgement. I want
them to perpetuate the pursuit of excellence,
which has been my mantra for all these years.
Perhaps the best combination for the future
of this ‘movement’, which we all love and feel
passionate about, is for the established judges
to introduce the next generation and pass on
their experience to the young guns so they
benefit from the honed skills of the old guard.”
I said thanks to Brian and he left, leaving me
to take in his balanced argument and thinking
about the little story of the art gallery. Maybe
the art teacher’s best legacy would be that
some of his students went on to be the best
qualified art critics the world had known, but
hopefully before their eyesight deteriorated!
t tutor viewing a gallery…
BRITISH BANDSMAN PAGE 9
TALKING POINT
BB 8-9.indd 9 15-12-2009 16:43:15
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BRITISH BANDSMAN PAGE 11
On Saturday 12 December, Cobham Band presented a Christmas concert at St. Andrew’s Church in Cobham, under the musical directorship
of David Ruel. The concert opened with the march, Christmas Joy, and featured a number of Christmas favourites such as I Saw Mommy Kissing
Santa Claus, Christmas Swingalong and Mariah Carey’s All I Want for Christmas is You. The audience was in fine voice to sing a selection of carols
throughout the evening, closing with Hark the Herald Angels Sing, which was followed by rapturous applause. The band performed one extra item -
White Christmas, which was met with a standing ovation!
At its Christmas concert last year, the band raised in excess of £900 for the Shooting Star Children’s Hospice and Christopher’s Hospice. It is,
therefore, absolutely delighted to be able to announce that this year it raised in excess of £1,000 for Help for Heroes and Newlife Foundation for
Disabled Children.
A presentation of awards was made at
the Spennymoor Town Band annual
Christmas concert. Saffi Hutchinson
(aged 12) was awarded the President’s
Trophy for the Most Improved Player.
Long Service Awards for more than
50 years of service to brass bands
were also awarded to band stalwarts,
Don Lavery and Mike Johnson. These
awards were made by George Bramfitt,
President of the Durham County Brass
Band Association. The photo shows
Mike Johnson, George Bramfitt, Don
Lavery and Saffi Hutchinson.
BRASS ROOTS
BB
BB
BBTrombone soloist, Lisa Sarasini, will be flying in
from Italy to join the 65 young musicians of the
Cornwall Youth Brass Band (CYBB) as guest
soloist at its Christmas residential course at Truro
from 27 to 30 December.
Lisa began to play trombone at Wardle High
School in Rochdale and then studied at the
University of Huddersfield and the Royal Northern
College of Music, where she gained distinction
in both her Masters Degree in Performance and
Postgraduate Diploma in Performance. She joined
Fairey Band and freelanced with the Hallé, BBC
Philharmonic, Opera North and Royal Liverpool
Philharmonic orchestras. Having spent six months
with an orchestra in Finland in 2008, she is now
studying trombone and teaching music in Italy.
As guest conductor, the band welcomes back
Garry Cutt, who has developed a reputation as
one of the banding world’s most successful and
has recently visited Australia, the USA, Japan,
Denmark, Holland, Norway and Sweden, where he
has just led the Windcorp Brass Band to victory at
the Swedish Championships.
Since its foundation in 1955, the CYBB has always
sought to bring the best guest Conductors and
soloists to Cornwall for the benefit of the young
brass musicians of the county, to enable them to learn from musicians of the highest level of expertise and experience available. Held at the Truro High
School for Girls, the course follows the band’s monthly rehearsals, which are taken by the local tutors led by Music Co-ordinator, Brian Minear. At the
end of the course, the band will give a public gala concert at St. Michael’s Church in Newquay at 7.00pm on Wednesday 30 December.
BB 10-11-12-13.indd 11 15-12-2009 16:36:02
BRITISH BANDSMAN PAGE 12
BRASS ROOTS
Wessex Brass Band Association held its
annual contest on Saturday 28 November and,
after 50 years, it has been ringing the changes.
Last year, the Association decided to split
the contest for youth and training bands
away from the senior contest and give the
younger bands their own special occasion.
So successful was the move that they once
again held a separate youth and training
band contest this year on 31 October at the
Trafalgar School, Downton, near Salisbury.
The Association was delighted that, once
again, the contest was sponsored by the Royal
Marines.
The adjudicator for that contest was
Lieutenant Colonel Nick Grace, Commandant
of the Royal Marines School of Music and
Principal Director of Music Royal Marines.
The results were:
Youth Section
1. Test Valley Youth
2. Wilton District and Two Castles Youth
Training Section
1. Wilton District and Two Castles Training
2. Test Valley Training
Overall winner: Wilton District and Two
Castles Training
Best Hymn Tune: Wilton District and Two
Castles Training
Deportment Cup: Downton Training
Best Bass Section: Test Valley Training
The wind of change has also embraced the
senior contest this year, with the decision that,
for the first time, it would be an own-choice
contest. The response from bands was very
encouraging, with 23 bands entered.
The contest took place at The Pavilion Theatre
in Weymouth, its home since 2002, and the
adjudicator was C. Brian Buckley, Secretary of
the Association of Brass Band Adjudicators.
Woodfalls Band performed a short concert to a
packed auditorium before the announcement
of results and presentations.
The results were:
Championship Winner:
Woodfalls
1st Section:
1. Michelmersh Silver
2. Sandhurst Silver
3. Ocean Brass
2nd Section:
1. Shrewton Silver
2. Verwood Concert Brass
3. Phoenix Brass
3rd Section:
1. Bath Spa
2. Brunel Brass
4th Section:
1. Test Valley Brass
2. Weymouth Concert
3. New Forest Brass
British pop pioneer, Vince Eager, is set to
appear alongside two of Nottinghamshire’s
leading amateur music groups in a Christmas
celebration in Radcliffe-on-Trent tonight
(19th).
Vince Eager will link together a selection of
seasonal favourites, presented by Radcliffe-on-
Trent Male Voice Choir and Newstead Brass in
the second of two charity Christmas concerts
at St. Mary’s church in Radcliffe-on-Trent on
Saturday December 19th at 7.00 pm.
As a member of the legendary Larry Parnes
stable, along with Tommy Steele, Marty Wilde,
Billy Fury and Joe Brown, Vince Eager became
a household name in the early 1960s with
over 100 TV appearances on shows such as
Drumbeat, Six Five Special and Oh Boy. Later
success came as a live performer in cabaret
and theatre, including a five-year starring role
in the award-winning West End musical, Elvis.
Earlier in the day, the band and choir will be
joined by BBC presenter, Quentin Rayner, and
children from Radcliffe Junior School for a
matinee performance commencing at 2.30pm.
Proceeds from both performances will support
the Lincolnshire and Nottinghamshire Air
Ambulance.
BB
BB 10-11-12-13.indd 12 15-12-2009 16:36:08
BRASS ROOTS
In January 2010, Tullis Russell Mills Band
will launch a new youth band project and will
be looking to recruit up to 30 primary school
pupils from years 5 and 6 in the Glenrothes
area. The aims and objectives for this new
venture are very straightforward - to teach
young Glenrothes pupils to read music and play
a brass instrument with the aim of playing in
public by 2011.
A new set of instruments has been ordered
and will be delivered very soon, with funding
provided by a large grant from Awards for All
Scotland and the Tullis Russell Group, while the
senior band also gave generously.
In the past, Tullis Russell Mills Band always
had a good junior band, which has provided
many players for the senior band, but over the
last 20 years the numbers have fallen away
to one or two individuals. However, with the
renewed spirit in Fife and Scotland in general
towards re-establishing youth bands, it is hoped
that Tullis Russell Youth Band will once again
become a feeder band into the senior band and
allow Tullis Russell to become a major force in
Scottish banding once again.
The management team of the Tullis Russell
Youth Band is very grateful to Awards for
All Scotland, the Tullis Russell Group and
the Tullis Russell Mills Band for the financial
support which has allowed this project to
come to fruition and it is hoped that the
Glenrothes public (and further afield) will get
the opportunity to hear this new youth band
in the very near future. The Scottish Brass
Band Association’s Development Officer,
Alan Edmond, has also been closely involved
with this project working as the liaison officer
between the band and Fife Council Music
Services.
Tullis Russell Mills Band recently celebrated
its 90th anniversary with a gala concert in the
Rothes Halls in Glenrothes. Formed in 1919 by
Sir David Russell as a social outlet for his mill
workers, the band has had a distinguished
history over the last 90 years. The gala concert
featured the current band in the first half
conducted by resident conductor, Andy Shaw,
and the band’s professional conductor, John
Hinckley. Joining the band on stage was another
local group, the Glenrothes Choral Society,
conducted by Kenneth Clarke. The concert also
featured the newest member, ten year-old Colin
Cameron, who has only been playing for five
months but took centre stage playing a specially
arranged cornet solo, In a balloon by Phillip
Sparke. The second half of the concert featured
a massed band made up of former Tullis Russell
players from all over the UK who returned to join
forces with the current band.
Tullis Russell player, Aileen Russell, was
honoured on the night by being presented
with a life membership medal from Peter Fraser
of the Scottish Brass Band Association. John
Wallace OBE, who started his playing career
with Tullis Russell, was the guest soloist and he
didn’t disappoint the audience with a stunning
rendition of Arban’s Carnival of Venice. Former
conductor, Gavin Lindsay, also returned to
conduct part of the second half of the concert.
The gala concert was all about the last 90
years of the band’s history and featured music
from the last nine decades, which included
a performance of An English Garland by John
Greenwood, with which the band won its
first national contest prize at the inaugural
4th Section Scottish Championships in 1925.
Former players from the 1930s to the 1990s
were brought on stage to take a bow for their
contribution to the band over the last 90 years.
Events organiser for the band, Steven Craig,
said “When we booked Fife’s largest concert
hall for our gala concert, we were concerned
about being able to sell enough tickets to cover
the costs, but it looks like we had seriously
underestimated the popularity of the band in
the Glenrothes area, as the concert became a
sell out, which is a fantastic achievement for
a 2nd Section band. Tullis Russell is the only
surviving mill band in Scotland and is in the
fortunate position of having had the support
of the Tullis Russell Group over the last 90
years and look forward to the next 90 with
confidence.”
BB
BBChristmas cheer arrived early for Dodworth Colliery Band and the band can announce important new arrivals to its line-up for the start of 2010.
Dodworth welcomed Alan Garbutt on principal cornet and Sarah Marson on 1st horn, both previously from Dodworth’s neighbour, Old Silkstone
Band.
Speaking on behalf of the band, Rob Lowkes commented: “The principal cornet seat had been vacant for a while after previous incumbent, Josh
Green, had taken up a career as a musician in the Royal Marines Band and, after several other key players moved on, the outlook was not looking
favourable. However, the band kept its spirits up and hoped that, if it could get players into the bandroom, they would see what Dodworth was
about. Sure enough, we were approached by a number of quality players to fill the vacant seats within a few weeks.”
Dodworth’s conductor, Eliot Darwin, is looking forward to building for the future with the new line-up and hopes that all the new players will
have a long happy association with the band. He added: “It shows the beliefs and work ethics of the band have proven themselves and attracted
some quality key players to the organisation.”
BRITISH BANDSMAN PAGE 13
BB 10-11-12-13.indd 13 15-12-2009 16:36:10
BRITISH BANDSMAN PAGE 38
FEATUREWIRELESS BRASS PROFESSIONAL NETWORK
BRITISH BANDSMAN PAGE 14
RICHARD ADAMS. Conductor, Adjudicator, Head of Music, Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts, 151 Bencoolen Street, Singapore 189656. Phone: +65 9451 8398. [email protected]
DEREK ASHMORE. www.hallamshiremusic.co.uk Tel: 01507 358141 Fax: 01507 358034.
MAURICE BALE. BSc, Arranger, Godiva Music. 18 Raleigh Road, Coventry CV2 4AA. Tel. 024 76 459 409. PETER BASSANO. FRCM HonRCM North Lodge, Potter Row, near Gt. Missenden, Bucks HP16 9LT. Tel.01494 868240 mobile; 07985 101244. E-mail :[email protected] www.peterbassano.com
DUNCAN A. BECKLEY. BA. Conductor, Band Trainer, Adjudicator. 26 Ruskin Avenue, Wrenthorpe, WakefieldWF1 2BD (MOB) 07973 389707 E-mail: [email protected]
JOHN BERRYMAN. ALCM, LTCL, Conductor, Adjudicator. 12 Beaufort Drive, Barton Seagrave, Kettering, Northants. NN15 6SF Tel. (01536) 722991.
NICLAS BLIXT. Music Director, Band of the Swedish Home Guards, UppsalaIngvarsgatan 28 UppsalaTelephone home: 46018267613Email: [email protected]: http://www.niclasblixt.info
DEREK M. BROADBENT. Conductor and Adjudicator. 17 Corrance Road, Wyke, Nr. Bradford, BD12 9LH Yorks. Tel/Fax. (01274) 670459.
MALCOLM BROWNBILL. Band Tutor, Conductor, and Adjudicator. 49 Pike House Road, Eccleston, St. Helens, Merseyside. WA10 5JZ. Tel. (01744) 28642.
C. BRIAN BUCKLEY. C.Chem., FTCL, LTCL, ALCM, Conductor, Adjudicator, Band Teacher. ‘Egmont’, 81 Gabalfa Road, Sketty, Swansea, West Glamorgan SA2 8ND. Tel. (01792) 205896.
DOUG CLARKSON. MISM Conductor/Arranger/Composer33 Ings Mill Avenue Clayton West HuddersfieldTelephone mobile: 07872539378Telephone work: 01484437437Fax: 01484437436 Email: [email protected]
BOB CHILDS. DMA, M.Mus(dist), ARCM(hons), FLCM, PGCE, Euphonium Soloist, Conductor, Teacher. 13 Parc Plas, Blackwood, Gwent NP12 1SJ. Tel 01495 226106 (home), 07966 263881 (mobile). [email protected] http://www.bobchilds.co.uk/
ROY W. CURRAN. Conductor, Adjudicator. 6 Mary Street, Burnley, Lancs. BB10 4AJ. Home: 01282 426203;Mobile: 07973 788812.
DAVID DAWS. Cornet Tutor, Conductor3 Chevalier Close, Stanmore, Middlesex HA7 4YWTelephone mobile: 07956844364Email: [email protected]
DR. KENNETH DOWNIE. DMA. BA(Mus) Dunelm. Kantara, 8 Downs Road, South Wonston, Winchester, SO21 3EU. Tel: (01962) 883031 Internet: www.kantaramusik.com
JOHN DURRANT. MA. Soloist, Conductor, Composer, Adjudicator. 3 Todmorden Road, Lytham St. Annes, Lancs. FY8 2QL. Tel: 01253 721903. Or 07985 191623 (Mob).
J. STUART FAWCETT. OAM, LDBBA. Conductor, Adjudicator. 23A Mill Moor Road, Meltham, Holmfirth, HD9 5JT. Tel: 01484 309500.
BRUCE FRASER. Adjudicator, Conductor, Composer. Lomond Music, 32 Bankton Park, Kingskettle, Fife. KY15 7PY. Tel. (01337) 830974. E-mail: [email protected]
MORTEN E. HANSEN. Conductor and Adjudicator. Fjelldenden 10, Stavanger, Norway. Tel 0047 9901 4386. E-mail: [email protected]
COLIN HARDY. Member NABBC, Adjudicator and Conductor, 25 Thirlmere Avenue, Wyke, Bradford, W. Yorks. BD12 9DS. Tel/Fax. (01274) 674174. E-mail: [email protected]
DAVID HIRST. Conductor and Adjudicator. The Cottage, Main Street, Milton, Newark, Nottinghamshire. Tel. 01777 872339 Fax 01777 872852 E-mail: [email protected]
ALAN JENKIN. B.Sc., LTCL, BBCM, Cert. Educ., Conductor, Adjudicator. 4 Beauchamp Close, Neath Hill, Milton Keynes, Bucks MK14 6HZ. Tel/Fax. (01908) 604818 (Home), 224251 (Music Centre) 07901 552235 (Mobile), E-mail [email protected]
ALAN HOPE. Conductor, Teacher and adjudicator. 113A Fatfield Park, Washington, Tyne & Wear. NE38 8BP. Tel/Fax 0191 4161008 Mob: 0776 5656729 E-mail: [email protected]
TERRY JOHNS. A.R.A.M. Composer/Conductor/Adjudicator55/6 Waterfront Avenue Edinburgh EH5 1JDE-mail: [email protected] Mobile: 07777603675
NORMAN C. LAW. Conductor, Adjudicator, Band Trainer, Private Teacher. Lawholme, 4 Farfield Drive, Hepworth, Huddersfield, W. Yorks HD7 1TU. Tel. (01484) 685354.
STEWART LEWINS, BA (HONS) Conductor74 Southampton Street, READINGTelephone mobile: 07786694491Email: [email protected]
ALAN R LEWIS. B.Phil, LTCL. Website: arlmusic.com Akay Lodge, Sedbergh, Cumbria, LA10 5SH.Tel: (015396) 22230 (w)
STAN LIPPEATT. B.A., L.R.S.M. Conductor, Adjudicator. 60, Sixth Avenue, Edwinstowe, Mansfield, Notts. NG21 9PW. Tel (01623) 822672 Mobile 07875 138776
JANE LLOYD. MA FVCM, LGSM, ALCM, PGCetEd, Dip Mus. Conductor, Performer, Arranger, Teacher. Northampton & East Midlands Area. Tel: 01604 675188
KEITH MacDONALD. N.A.B.B.C., A.L.C.M. Conductor, Band Trainer, Adjudicator, Author (see website). 20 North Haven, Seaham, Co. Durham SR7 0DS. Tel: 0191 581 4224 (home), 07949 947703 (mobile) Email: [email protected], [email protected] Website: www.keithmacdonald.co.uk
MAJOR IAN McELLIGOTT. Conductor, Adjudicator, Composer/Arranger, Brass Teacher. 41 Weaver Moss, Sandhurst, Berks. GU47 9BQ. Mobile: 07903 137659
JOHN MAINES. Conductor, Adjudicator. 46 Hill Crest Road, Offerton, Stockport. SK2 5QL. Tel. 0161 292 9443. (Mobile) 07901 528059. Website: www.johnmaines.co.uk
STEVEN MEAD. Euphonium Soloist, Conductor, Adjudicator. 10 Old Forge Road, Fenny Drayton, Nuneaton, Warwickshire CV13 6BD. Tel/Fax: (01827) 711964, Mob. 07971 843668, E-mail: [email protected].
ALAN MORRISON. FTCL, LRAM. Soloist, Conductor and Adjudicator. 25 Acaster Drive, Garforth, Leeds LS25 2BH. Tel. (0113) 286 3374, Fax. (0113) 287 3947, Mob. 0775 197 3176. E-mail: [email protected] website.lineone.net/~alan-morrison
Dr. ROY NEWSOME. PhD, B.Mus, FRCO, ARCM. 17 Belmont Drive, Seddons Farm, Bury, Manchester BL8 2HU. Tel. 0161-764 2009.
PHILIP NEVILLE. MIMIT.Brass Instrument Repair Technician74 Babington Lane, DERBYTelephone mobile: 07790676282Telephone work: 01332290762Fax: 01332290762, Email: [email protected]: http://www.nevillebros.com
GRAHAM O’CONNOR. Conductor, Adjudicator, Band Trainer. 1 Ralston Croft, Halfway, Sheffield S20 4TU Tel: 01142 280195 Mobile: 07903 310951 E-mail: [email protected]
MAJOR PETER PARKES. ‘Kamet’, Holme Lane, Rockley, Retford DN22 0QY. Tel: 01777 839 144 Mobile: 0781 800 6965
We take every possible precaution to ensure the accuracy of
the details given below. However, we cannot be responsible for
changes to stated times or running order.
Friday, 25 December, 2130-2200. BBC Radio 2
Listen to the Band. No programme this week
Listen to the Band is also available all week via Radio 2’s website www.
bbc.co.uk/radio2. Click on the playback section to hear the show, on
demand, for a week following transmission.
World of Brass Radio. John Maines introduces a weekly one-hour
programme of the best of international banding. Commencing on
Fridays, the rolling programme of the most recent four shows can be
accessed 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 52 weeks of the year on
www.worldofbrass.com (then click on the WOB Radio link) or www.
worldofbrass.com/wobradio
This week’s programme includes: Black Dyke (Nicholas Childs):
Christmas Piece (Richards - narrator: Ken Greenwood, Scrooge: James
Sykes), March from The Nutcracker (Tchaikovsky); Brass Band Luzern
(Ludwig Wicki): James Bond Collection (Barry); New York Staff Band
of The Salvation Army (Ron Waiksnoris): Huron Carol (Norbury - solo:
Michael Baker); Grimethorpe (Peter Parkes): White Christmas (Berlin);
Foden’s (Nicholas Childs): Stop the Cavalry (Lewie); BNFL (Richard
Evans): Somewhere Out There (arr. Barry); Fairey (Peter Parkes):
Christmas Triptych (Curnow); International Staff Band of The Salvation
Army (Stephen Cobb): Christmas Tidings (Redhead - trio: Andrew
Justice, Bradley Turnbull and Gordon Camsey); New England Brass
(Douglas Yeo): Stille Stille Stille (Curnow); Foden’s (Thomas Wyss): Epic
Themes (Williams); Sellers and Huddersfield Choral Society (Brian Kay): A
Christmas Fantasy (Langford).
Local Radio for next weekSunday, 20 December, 1905-2000. Sounds of Brass. FM
frequencies: Bristol 94.9, Cornwall 95.2, Devon 103.4,
Gloucestershire 104.7, Guernsey 93.2, Jersey 88.8, Swindon 103.6,
Wiltshire 104.3.
Available on the World Wide Web at 1905 British time or at any time for
seven days after the broadcast. To hear the programme, access www.
bbc.co.uk/devon and click onto Listen Live or Listen Again.
Phillip Hunt presents a programme of brass band recordings and news.
This week’s edition includes: Black Dyke Mills (James Watson): Bells of
Christmas (Bulla); New England Brass (Douglas Yeo): Russian Christmas
Music (Reed arr. De Salme); Brass Band De Wâldsang (Rieks van der
Velde): It’s Beginning to Sound Like Christmas (Willson arr. Middleberg
- soloist: Hans van der Weide); International Staff Band of The Salvation
Army (Stephen Cobb): Yule Dance (Harper); Massed bands of The
Salvation Army (Alfred Punchard): Adeste Fideles (arr. Goldsmith); King’s
Division Waterloo Band (Capt. C. E. Hicks): Savoy Christmas Medley
(Somers arr. Beechfield-Carver); Black Dyke (Nicholas Childs): When a
Child is Born (arr. Barry - soloist: Brett Baker), A Time for Peace (Graham -
soloist: Brett Baker), Christmas Finale (Lovatt-Cooper).
Requests and comments are welcome at e-mail: brassmanpgh@uwclub.
net
Monday, 21 December, 2100-2200. Manx Radio
Time for Brass. Frequencies 97.2, 89 and 103.7 FM and 1368 AM
and worldwide on www.manxradio.com
Click on Listen FM or Listen AM for the programme at the time of
broadcast or on Listen Again for a week following transmission.
Ian Cottier presents a programme of brass band music and comment.
BB 14-15.indd 38 15-12-2009 16:41:49
BRITISH BANDSMAN PAGE 46
FEATURE
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JANUARY
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MARCH
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APRIL
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MAY
8 - Stroud. Fairey Band, 7.30pm, Subscription Rooms.
JUNE
10 – Tonbridge. The Big Brass Bash, events all day including performances by Aveley
and Newham and Bones Apart, concluding with a 7.30pm gala concert by Cory Band, The
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27 - July 3 - Holland. Allan Withington’s Conductor Summer School, Leeuwarden,
contact [email protected] for more details.
BRITISH BANDSMAN PAGE 15
INSURANCE
MIDLAND CDWe hold one of the world’s largest selections of brass &
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THE ORIGINAL SCHEMEOFTEN COPIED—NEVER BETTERED
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Bass and Bb/F trombones
for sale, several including Bach, King,
Sovereign and Yamaha.
Tel: 07974 412269
INSTRUMENTS
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4-inline. £675.00 Bargain! Contact 07974 412269
Eccles Borough Band is looking for a
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as current principal wishes to move to 2nd
man down. Also required, Eb and Bb basses to
strengthen and move forward this friendly 3rd
Section band for the contesting season. Please
telephone Val Davies on 0161 865 1599 or
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NEW!
BB 14-15.indd 46 15-12-2009 16:41:50