Issue no. 5551 – 7 March 2009 Price £1.25 Record set at Blackpool as Regional Championships get off to a fl ying start BB 1.indd 1 03-03-2009 16:59:40 MAILBOX HAVE YOUR SAY As a solution to the paying of professional players performing in In agreement with Renton competitions, why not form an ‘Elite’ Section, formed by the top ten bands. These would be classed as professional outfits and, as such, would be able Re: Can we exist without rules? - Talking Point Issue 5540 - at last we have an to pay players as it suited them. article by a respected figure in the banding world, stating facts that we in It goes without saying that they would only compete against other Elite the lower echelons of the ‘movement’ have been aware of for many years. Section bands and those who would perhaps wish to join them from the I fully concur with all that Frank Renton has written and his analogies continent. with professional football are, to say the least, ‘striking’. Both appear to The remaining Championship Section bands would join the other sections have teams that strive for fame and fortune come what may, the results in re-forming the amateur only association where no player is paid. All of of which are easy to see in the press pictures, even those displayed in this this could be achieved without a great deal of re-organisation and, in turn, magazine. would rid us of all this hypocrisy that permeates it at the moment. How long will we wait before seeing a young lady, having performed an Strict enforcement of the amateur rule would be required, with possible outstanding solo, race around the stage waving her shirt in the air? I trust suspension from a competition for misdemeanours and not simply a fine. that, in putting such a thought in writing, some bright spark will not be In the past, changes have been made and welcomed, after all who tempted to encourage such behaviour. would have thought that the Salvation Army Music catalogue would The financial structures of bands, no matter what section they belonged become available to all bands and its bands would appear together with to, were becoming strained well before the present ‘crunch’ emerged. contesting bands? This was a spectacular move that worked brilliantly for The remedy, as always, must lie in their own hands and maybe getting rid both sides of the brass band spectrum. of the idea of paying for guest players to augment a band in contest or Let us hope that 2009 will see only changes for the better and possibly a concert would help along the way. more level playing arena. Following up on this, heaven help us, could lead to bands helping one Brian S. Knowles another free of charge and, in doing so, increase fellowship between them. Willenhall BRITISH BANDSMAN PAGE 2 BB 2-3a.indd 2 03-03-2009 17:11:20 NEWS Cory to celebrate 125th anniversary in style Cory Band, the current European and Brass in Concert Champion, and number one ranked band in the World of Brass – British Bandsman Rankings, has announced plans to celebrate its 125th anniversary with a charity gala concert at St. David’s Hall, Cardiff, on Saturday 20 June. The concert, promoted by World of Brass and entitled Brass & Voices… and all that jazz, brings together a high-quality line up, mixing the long-standing tradition and fervour of Welsh male voice singing from the Morriston Orpheus Choir and the introduction of a largely new artist to these shores in the form of Wycliffe Gordon, a jazz trombonist of international repute. In particular, the appearance of Wycliffe Gordon is a real coup for the band. A former veteran member of the Wynton Marsalis Septet and Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra, Wycliffe Gordon’s extensive performance experience includes work with many of the most renowned jazz performers of the past and present. Not only is this trombone genius renowned for his playing, he is also a composer/ arranger of repute. His composition I Saw the Light, a musical tribute to Muhammad Ali, was commissioned and premièred by the Brass Band of Battle Creek in March 2004 and is scheduled for release on DVD in 2009. Cory Band’s conductor, Dr. Robert Childs, confirmed his delight at the line-up for the concert by saying: “It’s natural that there should be a distinctly Welsh flavour to this event, so we are delighted to welcome our friends from the Morriston Orpheus Choir and we are privileged to welcome Wycliffe Gordon, a rare talent who we know will thrill the St. David’s Hall audience. Wycliffe has had an association for some years now with the Brass Band of Battle Creek, and it is through our connections with that band that we have been able to bring him over from the USA, a flying visit to the UK just to feature in our celebration concert.” Proceeds from the concert and other associated fringe events will be donated to the local charity, Cancer Care Cymru, which specialises in care for cancer sufferers and their families in South Wales. Tickets for Brass & Voices…and all that jazz are available now from the St. David’s Hall box office on 02920 878444 or www. stdavidshallcardiff.co.uk Foden’s in landmark recording The weekend of 21 and 22 February saw a would play many European festival dates where realised that we had the makings of a pretty recording that could prove a landmark in tuba Paraphernalia regularly toured, and the respect unusual CD of works that we had both written performance and composition. and admiration that audiences and promoters for tuba. She had heard the stunning playing Foden’s Band collaborated with Composer- alike displayed towards both Barbara and Jon of Les Neish and Foden’s Band on a recording in-Residence, Andy Scott, and composer/ was noted.” of the world première of my tuba concerto, saxophonist, Barbara Thompson MBE, to record Salt of the Earth, and was so impressed with its a new CD of music written for tuba. The CD, Andy Scott continued: “It was at a performance virtuosity, musicality and warmth that she asked which will be released at the RNCM Festival of her concerto for saxophone quartet and if I knew someone that could re-score Living in of Brass in January 2010 and followed by a string ensemble at the Royal Northern College the Fast Lane for solo tuba and brass band. The prestigious London date, features performances of Music (RNCM) that Barbara Thompson first choice was Jim Fieldhouse, who plays in from James Gourlay, Les Neish, Tubalate and told James Gourlay about her tuba concerto, and arranges music for my group, SaxAssault, Foden’s Band, and comprises five major new Living in the Fast Lane (scored for tuba and has vast big band playing experience and works. big band), which he subsequently performed understanding, coupled with knowledge of at the RNCM Festival of Brass in 2005 and at brass bands, holding the solo euphonium chair Andy Scott commented: “In 2001, Barbara the Glasgow International Jazz Festival in with Hepworth (Cookson Homes) Band.” Thompson and I first collaborated on a project 2007. In the last three years or so, Barbara The two substantial works on the CD are Salt in which she was commissioned to write a work and I would compare compositional notes, of the Earth and Living in the Fast Lane. Tubalate for the Apollo Saxophone Quartet (ASQ), for sending each other scores and recordings of was approached to record a work called Bite the which I play tenor sax. All of us in the ASQ were our most recent commissioned works. As a Bullet, which it commissioned from Andy Scott. fans of Barbara’s playing and composing, having self-taught composer, being able to receive The same composer’s Going Down and Double grown up listening to Barbara and her husband feedback from an established and respected Trouble, a new duet by Barbara Thompson Jon Hiseman’s groundbreaking jazz-rock fellow saxophonist/composer such as Barbara written for James Gourlay and Les Neish, ensemble, Paraphernalia. In the 1990s, the ASQ was invaluable. A point was reached where we complete the programme. BRITISH BANDSMAN PAGE 3 BB 2-3a.indd 3 03-03-2009 17:11:22 Allan Withington’s Conducting Summer School with guest lecturer, Robin Dewhurst , composer and arranger organised in conjunction with Soli Brass, Holland Venue : Leeuwarden, Parnas, Holland Period: 29 June – 3 July 2009 Aim of the course To provide conductors with a chance to further develop their conducting skills with emphasis on technique, score reading, rehearsal and performing techniques, creative programme planning and exploration of new musical territory. Open to all nationalities and age groups. Possibility to rehearse and perform with Soli Brass band. Fee - Euro 350 Fee includes : 1. All tuition. 2. Accomodation. 3. Breakfast, lunch and dinner. 4. Transport to and from Schiphol International Airport. 5. Cost of postage - all course material will be sent out one month before start of course. Applications, together with up-to-date CV to be received by 15 March 2009. Please send name, address and all relevant personal details to: Allan Withington, Apeltunveien 54c, 5222 Nesttun Norway or email: [email protected] or to Anja Abma, Tsjerkebuorren 56 8843 KE Spannum Holland email [email protected] 3URXG6XSSOLHUV :DQWWRSOD\OLNHWKHEHVW" WR 7KH:RUOG)DPRXV 7KHQSOD\WKHEHVW %ODFN'\NH%DQG 'HOLYHULQJ7KH%HVW 'XULQJWKH5HJLRQDOV%DQG6XSSOLHVZLOOEH 6XUSDVVLQJ7KH5HVW H[KLELWLQJWKHIXOOUDQJHRI<RUN3UHIHUHQFHDQG (PLQHQFHEUDVVLQVWUXPHQWVRQWKHLUWUDGHVWDQGV ZZZEDQGVXSSOLHVFRXN 7KHSUHIHUUHGFKRLFHRIWKHZRUOGIDPRXV %ODFN'\NHDQG&RU\%UDVV%DQGV 0HJD %UDVV%DQG <25.