Boldly Going Where No Bands Have Gone Before Magnificent Seventh Win for ‘Captain ’ Cutt
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www.britishbandsman.com Issue no. 5588 – 21 November 2009 boldly going where no bands have gone before magnificent seventh win for ‘captain ’ cutt Price £1.25 BB 1.indd 1 17-11-2009 18:12:46 With Christmas in mind, any of these instruments would make Ideal presents. Besson Sovereign cornet BSP £1,195.00 Yamaha Xeno Bb cornet, lacquer £1,265.00 Elkhart 100CR Bb cornet, lacquer £185.00 Prelude CR700 Bb cornet, lacquer £260.00 Besson 1000 Bb cornet BSP £235.00 Yamaha YCR-4330GS Bb cornet, BSP £589.00 Besson 1000 Eb tenor horn, BSP £535.00 Elkhart 100TH Eb tenor horn, lacquer £295.00 Besson Sovereign Eb tenor horn, lacquer £1,895.00 York Prescience Eb tenor horn, BSP £725.00 Elkhart 100BH Bb baritone, lacquer £375.00 Yamaha YBH-301S Bb baritone, BSP £1,365.00 York Preference Bb baritone, BSP £2,450.00 Besson Sovereign Bb baritone, BSP £2,500.00 Elkhart 100EH Bb euphonium, 3-valve, lacquer £399.00 Besson 1000 Bb euphonium, 4-valve, BSP £845.00 Amati Bb euphonium, 3-valve, lacquer £299.00 Besson Sovereign euphonium, 4-valve, BSP £3,795.00 Besson Prestige euphonium, 4-valve, BSP £4,570.00 Yamaha YSL-354 tenor trombone, lacquer £529.00 Yamaha YSL-445 tenor trombone,lacquer £735.00 Yamaha YSL-640 Bb/F tenor trombone , lacquer £1,490.00 Conn 88H Bb/F tenor trombone, lacquer £1,785.00 Conn 88HCL Bb/F tenor trombone, lacquer £2,450.00 Avialable from SP&S Good stocking fillers available, including: mutes, 01933 445 445 music stands; metronomes, mouthpieces and much more. 86 Front Street, Bedlington Northumberland, NE22 5AE T: 01670 822085 F: 01670 820592 E:[email protected] www.dennistoddmusic.com All major credit and debit cards accepted STUDY FOR A BMUS (HONS) DEGREE FIRST CLASS TRAINING EXCELLENT PROMOTION PROSPECTS VARIED SPORTING ACTIVITIES GENEROUS SALARY HIGHLY-COMPETITIVE PENSION 2010 AUDITION DATES: MARCH JUNE JULY BRITISH BANDSMAN PAGE 2 BB 2-3-4-5.indd 2 17-11-2009 18:14:27 NEWS Simon Dobson work nominated for major award Penlee by Simon Dobson, which was commissioned by the Cornwall Youth Brass Band (CYBB), is one of three pieces shortlisted by the British Academy of Songwriters, Composers and Authors (BASCA) in the Brass and Wind Band Category of the 2009 British Composer Awards. Given its first performance by CYBB last December under the Baton of Ian Porthouse, the work is Simon Dobson’s moving reaction to the tragic loss of the Penlee Lifeboat, The Solomon Browne, and its crew off the coast of Cornwall on 19 December 1981. In a note on the score, the composer wrote: ‘Penlee is the result of my feelings regarding the event and is dedicated to all those who lost their lives in Cornwall’s treacherous waters, including the volunteers on the lifeboat, and the crew and passengers of the Union Star.” Following the world première by the CYBB, of which Simon is a former member, the piece was performed by Leyland Band at the Festival of Brass at the Royal Northern College of Music and has been played several times by the National Youth Brass Band of Great Britain. In announcing the short list, a spokesperson for BASCA said: “New names emerge among British Composer Awards nominations, and well over 300 submissions were sent to BASCA for the 2009 Awards, which fete new works receiving their first UK performances between April 2008 and March 2009.” Judging of all 13 categories took place during September and October using a different panel for each category and involving over 60 music professionals including performers, conductors, promoters and festival directors. More than half of the panellists are themselves composers. Senior figures such as Sir Harrison Birtwistle, Sir John Tavener, Dr. Jonathan Harvey and Professor Alexander Goehr have received nominations, together with established names from the next generation in Simon Holt, Anthony Powers and Mark-Anthony Turnage. Previous winners - Judith Bingham, Adam Gorb and Gabriel Jackson - are also on the lists. Sarah Rodgers, BASCA Chairman and Chairman of the Awards said: “These are some of the most remarkable results we have had in the seven-year history of the Awards. The panels are required to judge works, rather than composers and the all-encompassing scope of the nominations proves the integrity of this approach. Emerging talent is a strong feature of this year’s list of nominees and we truly celebrate that.” The Awards Ceremony will take place on 1 December and will be broadcast on BBC Radio 3 at 7.00pm on 2 December. Further details of the British Composer Awards available at, www.britishcomposerawards.com YHBBA workshop a huge success Over 90 brass players, ranging in age from 7 to 70, attended Minsthorpe Community College, South Elmsall, for the annual Brass and Percussion Workshop held on 6 November and run by the Yorkshire and Humberside Brass Band (YHBBA) Association. This ever-popular workshop, which is sponsored by Grimethorpe Colliery Band and Wakefield Metropolitan District Council, benefits from the excellent tutorship of many of the Grimethorpe principals along with Ray Sykes of Carlton Main Frickley Colliery, who tutored the bass section. The course was led by Alan Morrison, who chose a varied programme of music. The students also had the opportunity to accompany Brass in Concert solo prize winner, Michael Dodd, in the euphonium solo, Grandfather’s Clock. The day is hugely popular and includes full band rehearsal followed by sectionals, during which the tutors - Kevin Crockford and Alan studied during the day for assembled relatives enthused and looking forward to the next Morrison (cornets), Arfon Owen (horns), and friends and also included two items by the workshop.” Michael Dodd (euphoniums and baritones), tutors. A vote of thanks was given to Peggy Tomlinson, Gary MacPhee (trombones), Ray Sykes (basses) President of the YHBBA, for organising the and John Watterson (percussion – pictured One of the delegates commented: “I have been course. The next YHBBA Brass and Percussion above with future star, seven-year-old Matthew every year and this was the best one yet. We Workshop will take place on 6 November 2010. Lawrence) - passed on their enthusiasm and have had a great day. Facilities are excellent Details and application forms will be available musical expertise to the delegates. The day and with the help of such good tutors we on the website www.yhbba.org.uk closer to the culminated with a short concert of the music met the challenge and we are going home event. BRITISH BANDSMAN PAGE 3 BB 2-3-4-5.indd 3 17-11-2009 18:14:29 2009 SWEDISH CHAMPIONSHIPS Scandinavians warm to November Music by Graham Crookston Picture by Emelie Palmquist Results Elite division Adjudicators: Jappie Dijkstra, Geir Ulseth, Steve Sykes (Friday), Alan Fernie (Saturday) Test-piece: Gothic Dances (Alan Fernie) 1. Windcorp Brass Band (G. Cutt) 92 (test-piece) + 92 (own-choice) = 92 (average) 2. Stockholm Brass Band (K. Jonsson) 91 + 88 = 89.5 3. Solna Brass (T. Hanson) 87 + 89 = 88 4. Betlehemskyrkans Musikkår, Göteborg (D. Glänneskog) 85 + 85 = 85 5. Malmö Brass Band (J. Winborg) 83 + 86 = 84.5 6. Åsenhöga Missionskyrkas Brass Band (O. Forsberg) 84 + 83 = 83.5 Best Instrumentalist: Madeleine Aaraas, flugel horn, Solna Brass Best conductor on obligatory piece: Garry Cutt, Windcorp Brass Band Division 1 Test-piece: November Music (Alan Fernie) 1. LDK-Ks Brassband 90 2. Smyrna Brass 88 3. Boras Brassband 86 Grey, ghostly mist enveloping the naked trees Peter Graham’s Journey to the Centre of the Best Instrumentalist: Percussion in LDK-Ks in a melancholy and stillness before the onset Earth, certainly showed that it was well Brassband of winter is a fair description the landscape prepared to defend its crown. Excellent solo Best conductor on obligatory piece: Samuel around Värnamo in Sweden last weekend, work throughout the piece showed fantastic Petersson, LDK-Ks Brassband when the annual Swedish Brassband Festival individual quality and was only marred took place. It is also a theme depicted in the slightly by the lack of ensemble precision Division 2 work, November Music, written as the test-piece in places. Windcorp Brass Band, however, Test-piece: Scottish Dances (Alan Fernie) for the 1st Division by Alan Fernie, this year’s had what the other two main contenders 1. Uffes Blås Brassband 91 guest of honour at the Festival. Alan’s work lacked. A well-prepared and directed Rococo 2. Halmstad Brass 89 captured not only the mood of the Swedish Variations (Edward Gregson), led by Garry Cutt, 3. Södertörns Brassband 85 landscape, but also set a fine challenge for the had a solidity of sound, precision and fine Best instrumentalist: Marie Jennesjö, bands, best met by the winning LDK Band (the individual work throughout. Through its two euphonium, Uffes Blås Brass Band Mounted Band of the Royal Lifeguards). performances, it was just a cut above the rest. Best conductor on obligatory piece: Håkan Even in the Elite Division, the chosen test- The evening’s Gala Concert was a cavalcade Andersson, Halmstad Brass piece, Gothic Dances, also from Alan Fernie’s of individual talent. Adjudicator and guest catalogue, performed well in separating the soloist, Steve Sykes, led the evening’s solos, Division 3 wheat from the chaff. Although criticised by accompanied by Stockholm Brass Band, Test-piece: Festival Overture (Alan Fernie) some of the bands as being ‘too simple’, in conductor Kent Jonsson. The band’s virtuoso 1. Torsby Brass, 90 the end, there were very few performances trombonist, Håkan Björkman, gave the 2. Seffle Tower Brass, 87 that satisfied either the adjudicators or the performance of the evening in a solo version 3.