BB 1.Indd 1 26-11-2008 13:59:00 Working Closely with Some of the World’S Leading Musicians Has Helped Yamaha Produce a Range of Percussion Instruments Without Equal

Issue no. 5537 – 29 November 2008 ‘Audacious’ 2008 for euphonium virtuoso

CD of the Year honour for Foden’s Price £1.25 and Tovey

BB 1.indd 1 26-11-2008 13:59:00 Working closely with some of the world’s leading musicians has helped Yamaha produce a range of percussion instruments without equal. Meticulous attention to detail is applied to everything from student glockenspiels to the professional 5-octave marimba chosen by soloist Simone Rebello. And from student concert bass drums to the new rosewood concert snare drum developed with and played by Neil Percy - Principal Percussionist with the LSO and Head of Timpani and Percussion at the Royal Academy of Music. With world-beating quality and a vast selection of instruments, Yamaha is the first choice of brass bands, orchestras and soloists. Call 01908 369255 or visit us online to find out more.

BB 2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9.indd 2 26-11-2008 15:08:26 NEWS Win for BTM at Treorchy

The South East Wales Brass Band Association held its annual contest at Treorchy on 15 November, at which BTM Band scored a clear victory under the baton of Tom Davoran. It was the final event in the series to decide the Welsh Champions of 2008.

The full results were: Championship Section: 1. BTM (T. Davoran) 193 2. Burry Port Town (C. Roberts) 191 3. Tongwynlais Temperance (P. Harper) 188 4. Newbridge Celynen (P. Holland) 187 5. Abergavenny Borough (G. Ritter) 186 6. Pontardulais Town (P. Jenkins) 185 7. Tylorstown (G. Davies) 184 Best Instrumentalist: Ceri John, euphonium, Burry Port Town Best Trombone: Jonathan Pippen, BTM Best Bass Section: BTM flugel picking up the prize for the Best Horn. The adjudicator, 2008 Welsh League Champion: Tongwynlais Temperance Success for Youth Runner-up: Newbridge Celynen Stephen Brodie, praised all of the bands for their efforts, 1st Section: Brass 2000 at admitting the contest had flown by. The Mayor of Tameside, 1. Markham and District (A. Morton) 190 Councillor Jack Davis, was in attendance to present the prizes. 2. Penclawdd Brass (T. Small) 189 Following the closure of Tameside Hippodrome, the sponsor 3. RAF St. Athan Voluntary (A. Bourne) 187 Tameside of the event, Tameside Council acted swiftly to secure the venue for the contest, which was an overwhelming success. 4. Rogerstone (J. Jones) 186 Youth Brass 2000, conducted by Peter Collins, took the spoils 5. Briton Ferry (C. Jenkins) 185 Next year’s event has already been confirmed for Sunday 22 at last Sunday’s Tameside Youth Festival, held at Dukinfield 6. Ammanford Town (C. John) 184 November 2009. Town Hall. The winning band went home with £1,100, with Best Instrumentalist: solo cornet, Penclawdd Brass the winning cheque of £1,000 enhanced by a further £100 2008 Welsh League Champion: Markham and District Full Results: from gaining the prize for the Best Bass Section. Youth Runner-up: RAF St. Athan Voluntary 1. Youth Brass 2000 (P. Collins) 192 Brass 2000’s winning programme featured Duke Ellington’s Second Section: 2. Poynton Youth (A. Hirst) 190 1. Blaenavon Town (L. Price) 186 Caravan, soloists, Alice Norman (flugel) and Sarah Lenton 3. Bare Trees Community (J. Collins) 189 2. Ynyshir (D. Evans) 184 (euphonium), and Peter Graham’s Shine as the Light. 4. Smithills School (C. Wormald) 188 3. Crosskeys (K. Bowden) 182 Poynton Youth (Andrew Hirst) from Cheshire pushed the 5. Stockport Schools (P. Pavey) 187 4. Gwaun Cae Gurwen (G. Davies) 181 winner very close, with a programme that not only saw 6. Sellers International Youth (M. Bousie) 186 5. Ogmore Valley (I. Barnett) 180 Danielle Miller, the band’s principal cornet receive the prize 7. Elland Youth (S. Harrison) 185 6. Llwydcoed (R. Griffiths) 179 for the Best Cornet, but also featured by the music of Peter 8. Macclesfield Youth (L. Renshaw) 184 7. Lewis Merthyr (F. Nicholas) 178 Graham in Cat Walk, from Cats Tales, and Dimensions. 9. Lions Youth (N. Birch) 183 Best Instrumentalist: Evan Smith, euphonium, Blaenavon Town Debutant at the event, Bare Tree Community (John Collins), Best Cornet: Poynton 2008 Welsh League Champion: Blaenavon Town took third place and £700, with its programme dominated by Best Basses: Youth Brass 2000 Runner-up: Ynyshir a confident reading of Paul Lovatt-Cooper’s The Dark Side of Best Percussion: Bare Trees Community 3rd Section: the Moon. Smithills School and Chris Wormald took the last Best Horn: Flugel, Sellers International 1. City of Cardiff (Melingriffith) (G. Ritter) 184 podium prize of £200 with music that paid homage to Frank Best Trombone: Elland Youth 2. Upper Rhondda (E. Monteith) 181 Sinatra, Andrew Lloyd-Webber and Michael Jackson. Best Euphonium: Bare Trees Community 3. Crwbin (R. Davies) 179 Defending champion, Sellers International (Mark Bousie), Youngest Player: Emily Collins, 8, Bare Trees Community 4. Pontypool Brass (P. O’ Leary) 178 had to be content with sixth place, despite producing a well- Adjudicator: Stephen Brodie 5. Newport Borough (A. Hathaway) 177 balanced selection of music that included Craig Walker on 6. Ebbw Vale Town (C. Thomas) 176 Best Instrumentalist: Alexander Rees, soprano, City of Cardiff (Melingriffith) 2008 Welsh League Champion: City of Cardiff (Melingriffith) Gourlay for Grimethorpe Runner-up: Upper Rhondda Grimethorpe Colliery Band has announced that the renowned tuba soloist, James Gourlay, is to become its new Musical 4th Section: Director from 1 January 2009, an arrangement that will see him working in tandem with Allan Withington, the band’s 1. Corus (Port Talbot) (C. Hogg) 180 Principal Conductor. 2. Cwmtawe and District Youth (W. Pedrick) 177 3. Ystradgynlais (P. Williams) 175 Speaking to BB on behalf of the band, Terry Webster commented: “Naturally we are delighted that we have been able to Best Instrumentalist: Elaine Williams, flugel horn, Corus (Port Talbot) attract a musician of James Gourlay’s stature. Phillip McCann will also continue to work with the band in the position of 2008 Welsh League Champion: Cwmtawe and District Youth Associate Conductor, and I’m sure everyone in banding would agree that we have a team that is sure to keep Grimethorpe Runner-up: Ystradgynlais Junior Festival: Colliery at the top of the highest echelons of banding. Everyone connected with the band is excited and looks forward to a Cwmtawe Training (W. Pedrick) Gold Award successful 2009 on the concert and contest platforms.” Tongwynlais Youth (R. Hacket) Gold Award James Gourlay’s first concert with Grimethorpe will be at Worthing on 24 January. Adjudicators: Stan Lippeatt and Peter Roberts

BRITISH BANDSMAN PAGE 3

BB 2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9.indd 3 26-11-2008 15:08:26 TICKET OFFICE 0121 780 3333

Sunday 25 January, 3pm, Symphony Hall BLACK DYKE BAND

Nicholas Childs director of music All tickets £12.50

SUPPORTED BY

BRITISH BANDSMAN PAGE 4

BB 2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9.indd 4 26-11-2008 15:08:32 NEWS

the increasing number of entries that the contest was now 1. Verwood Concert Brass 187 (6) Double Honours attracting. 2. Oddfellows Brass 186 (7) The new venues of Garendon High and Burleigh Community 3. Chinnor Silver 185 (4) for Ratby at College appeared favourable to performers and supporters 3rd Section Leicester alike and Lesley Bentley commented: “On behalf of the LBBA 1. Matlock 188 (7) committee, I would like to thank all volunteers and stewards 2. Chalgrove 187 (5) Ratby Co-operative Band took top honours in two sections at that helped to event to run so smoothly.” 3. Verwood Concert Brass 186 (6) the Leicestershire Brass Band Association (LBBA) Contest, held Results: 4th Section at Loughborough on Sunday 16 November. Ratby Co-operative Championship Section: 1. Rushden Town Band 183 (3) Senior Band and conductor, Mike Fowles, fought off stiff 1. Ratby Cooperative 188 (drawn 6) 2. Watford 182 (8) competition in the Open Section, with Jaguar (Coventry) and 2. Jaguar Coventry 187 (3) 3. Croft Silver 181 (9) Newstead Brass taking second and third places respectively, 3. Newstead Brass 186 (10) Adjudicator: Roy Sparkes while in the Unregistered Section, Ratby Juniors also took 1st Section Unregistered Section home first prize under the watchful eye of its young Musical 1. Bollington Brass 186 (6) 1. Ratby Co-op Junior Director, Becky Moss. 2. Stannington Brass 185 (5) 2. Yarwell & Nassington Britannia Adjudicator, John Roberts, commented in his closing 3. Bedworth Brass 183 (9) 3= Enderby Junior remarks that he was impressed with the standard of the Adjudicator: John Roberts 3= Hathern Youth bands’ performances throughout the day and commended 2nd Section Adjudicator: Garry Sleath Phoenix rises above the rest at Leamington Spa

Report by Christopher Thomas Of the four sections on the day, the five bands competing in enthusiasm to a new contesting year and the fresh challenges A total of 28 bands, along with adjudicators, Major Peter the 2nd Section found the going to be the toughest although, it will no doubt bring with it. Parkes and David Hirst, braved the early morning snow to as David Hirst commented afterwards, this was in some Results compete across four sections in the West Midlands Brass Band cases attributable to choices of piece that erred on the side 1st Section Association (WMBBA) contest held in Leamington Spa last of ambition to say the least. Stourport-on-Seven proved to 1. Phoenix West Midlands (D. Maplestone) 192 Sunday (23rd). be the second band of the day to achieve victory on Philip 2. Chalford (S. Tubb) 186 The own-choice format for all sections ensured a wide- Sparke’s Kaleidoscope, with Mike West injecting plenty of spirit 3. Bedworth Brass (G. Bennett) 186 ranging and entertaining choice of test-pieces, with very little into a performance that was not without its slips, but high in 4. Wigston (G. Sleath) 187 duplication, making for an enjoyable day of contesting that enthusiasm. With opinion wavering in the hall, it might just 5. Carlton (W. Ritchie) gave both adjudicators and audience alike no shortage of have been a close call for David Hirst, as Oddfellows Brass Best Instrumentalist: cornet, Phoenix West Midlands talking points. and Rob Boulter took the runner-up spot with a vigorous, yet 2nd Section With the first band on stage at 9.30am, it was an early start controlled, performance of Peter Graham’s Dimensions that 1. Stourport-on-Seven (M. West) 186 for the eight pre-drawn 4th Section bands, the ultimate also saw the band’s solo euphonium player carry off the Best 2. Oddfellows Brass (R. Boulter) 185 winner emerging from a number five draw in the form of Instrumentalist prize. Yiewsley and West Drayton’s choice of 3. Yiewsley and West Drayton (C. Cole) 184 Amington and Wesley Kendrick. With 3rd Section contesting Dean Goffin’s Rhapsody in Brass pushed the band all the way, 4. Arrow Valley Brass (D. Stanley) 183 just around the corner for Amington in 2009, it was a but did enough to squeeze into third place ahead of Arrow 5. Leicestershire Co-op Snibston (G. Jacklin) 182 confident and musically commanding performance of Rodney Valley Brass. Best Instrumentalist: euphonium, Oddfellows Brass Newton’s Four Cities Symphony that secured victory, while 3rd Section the band’s principal cornet player, Steve Cross, deservedly Despite its new 2008 status in the 1st Section, Phoenix West 1. Matlock (R. Jepson) 88 carried off the Best Instrumentalist prize. Newhall and Kevin Midlands is a band that is already making quite an impression 2. Rushden Windmill (J. Fletcher) 87 Holdgate’s bold choice of the demanding Henry V by Vaughan at the higher level. An impressive second place on James Cook- 3. Avonband (Evesham) Brass (N. Smith) 86 Williams proved to be a successful one in securing the runner- Circumnavigator at the Midlands Regional Championships 4. Denmead Brass (D. Johnson) 85 up spot, with third place going to Burbage Silver, improving earlier in the year set the scene, with Eric Ball’s Resurgam 5. Amington (W. Kendrick) 83 on the band’s equal sixth place in Leicester the previous being the piece that helped to secure victory for the band in 6. Stantonbury Brass (A. Jenkin) 82 weekend. Leamington. David Maplestone’s characteristically committed 7. Cubbington Silver (P. Johnson) 81 The 3rd Section saw the biggest entry of the day, with ten direction dared to take risks along the way and, although 8. City of Birmingham Brass (W. Belshaw) 80 bands taking to the stage. Having taken top honours seven the band occasionally found the demands challenging, the 9. University of Warwick (S. Hogg) 79 days previously in Leicester, it was to be the double for Roger passion of the playing found clear favour with Peter Parkes. 10 Melton (Graham Sutton) 78 Jepson and Matlock, with a performance of Philip Sparke’s In second place, Chalford delivered a controlled and musical Best Instrumentalist: trombone Matlock Kaleidoscope rich in detail and atmosphere that could well performance of Eric Ball’s Sinfonietta - The Wayfarer, marked 4th Section have competed for 2nd Section honours. In the hands of John by secure soloists around the band, while Bedworth’s bold, 1. Amington (W. Kendrick) 180 Fletcher, Rushden Windmill was another band on the rebound confident performance of James Curnow’sTrittico offered 2. Newhall (K. Holdgate) 179 from Leicester, securing second place with a performance plenty of excitement and could easily have fared higher, were 3. Burbage Silver (A. Ellis) 178 of Kenneth Downie’s Purcell Variations that, although not it not for some individual slips around the stands. 4. Wantage Silver ‘B’ (D. Dulforce) 177 without lapses in tuning, offered plenty of excitement. In As ever, the West Midlands Committee ensured the smooth 5. Bletchington Silver (N. Hall) 176 third place, Avonbank (Evesham) looked back to the 2008 running of events throughout the day and, with the successful 6. Shipston-on-Stour Town (H. Gibbs) 175 ‘Area’, fully exploiting the colourful, dynamic scoring of Paul introduction of Bedworth as the new venue for the Midlands 7 Dunchurch (M. Dutton) 174 Lovatt-Cooper’s The Dark Side of the Moon to complete the Regional contest earlier in the year, many of the local bands 8 Melton (G. Sutton) 173 prize winners. involved in this event will now look forward with renewed Best Instrumentalist: cornet, Amington

BRITISH BANDSMAN PAGE 5

BB 2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9.indd 5 26-11-2008 15:08:33

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BB 2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9.indd 6 26-11-2008 15:08:36 MAILBOX HAVE YOUR SAY

there is a widely held view that Classic FM should not only Vaughan Williams, be refusing to play music performed by brass bands, but they Call to arms answered brass bands and should be presenting programmes dedicated to this type of ensemble. The audience is wide and a brass band programme I will be writing to the BBC following David Johnson’s call for Classic FM on Classic FM would gain wide appeal. May I respectfully bands to have more air time but, for some time, I’ve been suggest that your station considers presenting brass music; unhappy about the BBC’s policy regarding light music in This letter was originally sent to the radio station, Classic FM there are after all, many fine presenters able to produce a general. This year sees the 50th anniversary of the death of Ralph regular programme. When at home, or in the car, I often listen to BBC local radio Vaughan Williams and this anniversary has been marked It is my intention to circulate this missive as an open letter and am appalled at the repetition of certain songs and artists. throughout the year including, of course, on Classic FM. His throughout the movement, to British Bandsman magazine It’s as if the BBC can only afford to play the likes of Elton John, Lark Ascending is the most popular piece and his dedication to and those journals of the national press that will reproduce The Beautiful South, Barry White, Womack and Womack. popularising English folk music is well known to your station it. I do hope that you consider my views and I look forward to Switch to Radio 2 in the daytime and the fare is much the and to his admirers around the world. hearing from you soon. same. The music is pleasant enough, but there are surely limits Many of his adaptations of folk music are manifested in M. Richardson to the number of times we should have to be subjected to the arrangements for the brass band medium, in particular, his Derby same song or artist. There must be at least one generation English Folk Song Suite and the Sea Songs March. One of the growing up unaware of the wealth of light music we have: last pieces that the great man composed was the test piece popular songs from the 50s through to the 70s, the wonderful for the National Brass Band Championship of Great Britain in Arise Sir Roy? tunes of the likes of Leroy Anderson, Ernest Tomlinson, Vivian 1957, less than one year before his death. The piece, Variations Ellis, Billy Mayerl, Frank Chacksfield, even the zany humour of With the possibility of a brass band revival in the air, I for Brass Band, was typical of his style and ideally suited of Spike Jones. Not forgetting brass bands, much of this music wondered whether you would consider if now was the time to course to the brass band medium, which he loved so well. He is timeless. seek official recognition from the nation? often used to remark that it was no coincidence that his best About three years ago, I raised with one presenter (of the There are brass bands that have existed since before Queen friend (Gustav Holst) was a trombone player who also wrote Late Show on BBC West Midlands) his choice of music and he Victoria was born, 100 years before the BBC and the Arts many pieces for brass bands. Such was his affinity with the explained that the choice was not his, but more a corporate Council were formed, and before most, if not all, of our great brass band sound that he dedicated his Prelude on Three Welsh decision. Independent selection seems to have declined since orchestras were founded. This said, the latter of this group Hymns to the brass band segment of The Salvation Army, for the introduction of the digital storage of music. It appears that has an abundance of musical directors that have received which it is still a major part of the repertoire. if a piece of music is not on the current list of BBC-approved knighthoods as a result of their involvement with the It seems a sad irony that Classic FM should ignore not only music it never gets played. orchestral world, but where are the brass band knights? the influence upon brass bands of Vaughan Williams and I appreciate there are niche programmes for particular types The great Harry Mortimer came closest with a CBE, which Holst, but also of many others. Among the great composers of music but adopting that policy tends to attract only the was perhaps the most that could be expected in a world who have written for brass include Sir Edward Elgar, Sir aficionados, whereas a more eclectic selection of music would that probably thought that a qualification for playing in a Arthur Bliss, Granville Bantock and John Ireland. Indeed, this surely be more interesting for the general listener. band was to wear a cloth cap and own a whippet. Times very year, the great Black Dyke Band has issued a new CD of L. Platt have changed, for brass bands are no longer just made up of Elgar’s music conducted by Sir Colin Davis. It is also worthy Tarporley, Cheshire. manual workers, although what was wrong with that I do not of note that the Black Dyke Band and Grimethorpe Colliery know, as I was one myself for part of my career. Band have, within the last year, made appearances at the As the media representatives of a proud and ancient British BBC’s Promenade Concerts. The BBC has also recognised the culture, I ask you to consider putting a case to the Cabinet It’s all in the small print burgeoning talent of young players in the movement. The Office for a brass band knight. Such a person would be well newly-crowned Young Musician of the Year is 12 year-old I have been a subscriber of BB for 20 to 30 years and have known, have done a lot for all sectors of the movement and Peter Moore, the principal trombone player of Wingates Band, always enjoyed the content. Recently, though, this has been helped brass bands to be heard live by more persons than one of many teenagers in principal positions in top bands. spoilt be the size of the font used in printing the articles. I (say) opera. In my youth, I used to look forward to the time when the wear glasses for reading and still have to squint to read the quality, skill and dexterity of top brass players would outstrip words. Even my wife, who has very good sight, finds the font We have many persons who, if they had chosen the symphonic the leading orchestral brass players of the day. Now, of course, very small. Apart from this one complaint, we find BB very or operatic cultures, would doubtless have received a pat on most top brass players come from the brass band movement. good and informative, we hope you will think about this the shoulder from Her Majesty, but have not done so. So of It is ironic that, whilst the movement grows, Classic FM matter. the many candidates for consideration who, if you feel there is wilfully refuses to play brass music. I have recent experience J.W.H. Rogers a case for action, would you choose? My own view is that Dr. of phoning the mid-day request programme to have Mozart’s Cardiff Roy Newsome is a person for consideration. Marriage of Figaro played. My request was initially accepted, Editor: We take note of Mr Rogers’ comments and those of a If you feel there is a case for action, I have downloaded a form but ultimately refused when I asked that it be played by Black number of other readers with a similar view. We will address from the web and would be happy to complete some of it as Dyke Band. The refusal was on the grounds that Classic FM the matter very soon in the hope that every aspect of BB can be a starter for 10. If you decide to proceed, then a presentation did not play music “with a beat”. Such a comment is risible. enjoyed equally by all readers. completed and approved by you all could be sent via the four The ensuing conversation with the telephone operator clearly MPs of constituents local to your HQs. showed an ignorance of what is going on in this country and If you feel I am living in dream world, I understand. only enhances the view that Classic FM is only concerned with D. Johnson the ‘opera set’. AAAAAAAA Such is the growing popularity of the brass band medium that Tonbridge

BRITISH BANDSMAN PAGE 7

BB 2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9.indd 7 26-11-2008 15:08:36 PRODUCT NEWS ‘Long-standing’ essentials for quintessential band from Amadeus! by John Ward

Concerts and tours can really have a wearing effect on your band’s stage equipment, no matter how much care is taken in transportation. Amadeus has provided BB with some products it has in the market, to satisfy the wants of value for money and durability. “The Hamilton range of music stands contains two models,” Josie Hirsch of Amadeus commented, adding, “The Encore Symphonic KB95E (automatic clutch) and the KB95D (knob height adjustment) have a three-year manufacturers warranty against defects in materials and workmanship and are staples in education and public performance venues, offering outstanding quality at a competitive price.” Made with a steel desk, each stand features engineered solutions that resist bending if tipped over, a secure desk and a bottom post and hub that are firmly attached in a tapered cup, eliminating wobble. Lamps are available, as are several other types of stands, all of which can be transported and stored in the KB100 Storage Cart. So, now you have the stands, what about the banners? Amadeus offers embroidered designs to your specification. Josie Hirsch: “The banners are of exceptional quality and offer fantastic value. They can be made with or without a fringe and are available in a large range of fabric colour options. We have supplied embroidered banners to many prestigious customers and recently provided a large number for the Lord Mayor’s Show in London. If your preference is one single large banner we can accommodate this as well.” Amadeus also provides podia in a wide range of options, as Josie Hirsch explained: “All podia are made to exacting standards to suit the demands of our customers. Our joiners take great pride in their work and use the best materials available. There is a choice of finishes available and a hand-rail can be provided in timber, brass or chrome.” She concluded: “At Amadeus we are always looking for ways to improve the offer to our customers, why not contact us to discuss the needs of your group.”

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BRITISH BANDSMAN PAGE 8

BB 2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9.indd 8 26-11-2008 15:08:37 NEWS Higgins work on BBC Radio 3

BBC Radio 3 is to feature Gavin Higgins’ Forest Symphony next Wednesday (3 December), in a recording made at the RNCM Festival of Brass by the RNCM engineers of the RNCM Brass Band, conducted by Chris Houlding.

The work has been nominated by Paul Hindmarsh for a British Composer Award in the brass and wind category, and has reached the final three. Although John Pickard’s Eden got to the last three in 2006, a brass band piece has yet to win the award. The other nominations this year are by Adam Gorb and Joseph Phibbs – both wind orchestra works.

The awards ceremony takes place on 2 December and will be broadcast on Radio 3 the following day at 7.00pm. A full house expected for Dutch National Championships

Last year’s winner of the Dutch National Brass Band Championships, Brass Band De Wâldsang, is ready to defend its title at the Martini Plaza in Groningen on Friday 28 and Saturday 29 November. Concerto Grosso by Derek Bourgeois will be the test-piece for the Championship Section. In contrast to many test-pieces at this level, Concerto Grosso will offer a relatively easy time for the percussionists, but all the brass players will certainly have their work cut out! When asked by the Dutch magazine, Brass Info, what the essential requirements for a successful performance of the piece were, Dr. Bourgeois replied, “It needs to sound beautiful, that’s all - and I think there’s enough percussion in this piece!” The Martini Plaza is expected to be full and the adjudicators for the four sections will be Alex Schillings, Tijmon Botma, Steven Mead, Dirk Lautenbach, Frank Renton and Karl Øle Mitbö.

Cornets (B flat) B&H Sovereign (silver-plate) 1 of 2, excellent condition Used 550.00 B&H Sovereign (silver-plate) 2 of 2, excellent condition Used 550.00 Besson Sovereign (lacquer) 1990 build, not original case Used 550.00 Courtois 106LR Chambord II (lacquer) fair finish Used 585.00 Getzen Eterna 850 (lacquer) medium bore Used 700.00 Besson Sovereign (lacquer) m/l bore, very good condition Used 775.00 Getzen 850 Custom (silver-plate) good condition Used 800.00 Besson Prestige (silver-plate) Used 1,150.00 Cornets (E flat soprano) Yamaha YCR-261S (silver-plate) Used 200.00 Tenor Horns B&H 400 (lacquer) virtually brand new Used 350.00 Courtois 180 (silver-plate) very good condition Used 1,200.00 Besson Sovereign 950 (lacquer) Used 1,225.00 York Preference 3049 (lacquer) no trigger Ex-demo 1,540.00 York Preference 3050 (lacquer) with trigger Ex-demo 1,750.00 INSTRUMENT Baritones B&H 400 (lacquer) Used 200.00 Amati (lacquer) Used 485.00 Jupiter JBR-360 (lacquer) 3-valve Ex-demo 649.00 OFFERS Besson Sovereign 955 (lacquer) 2005, some brown spot Used 1,650.00 Courtois 169 (lacquer) Nearly new 1,650.00 York Preference (lacquer or silver-plate) 3-valve Ex-demo 1,875.00 Yamaha YBH-621 (lacquer) 4-valve Ex-demo 1,950.00 York Preference (silver-plate) 4-valve Ex-demo 2,555.00 Used and ex-demonstration brass instruments Euphoniums 775.00 at attractive prices. Jupiter JEP-570L (lacquer) 4-valve Ex-demo B&H Imperial (silver-plate) 4-valve Used 1,300.00 Besson Sovereign 967 (lacquer) Used 1,750.00 Prices include workshop check and set-up, York Preference (lacquer or silver-plate) Ex-demo 2,695.00 delivery and VAT. Miraphone M5000 (lacquer) case not included Ex-demo 2,750.00 York Eminence (silver-plate) Ex-demo 3,395.00 Tenor Trombones (B flat) Yamaha YSL-647 large bore, 8½-inch bell Used 275.00 Besson BE-638 clean student model Used 330.00 Bach 42G large bore, gold brass bell Used 850.00 Schmelzer Model 2 gold-plated Used 975.00 Bach Stradivarius LT16M virtually as new Used 1,050.00 rosehillinstruments.co.uk Schmelzer Model 2 sterling silver bell Used 1,200.00 Tubas (E flat) 64 London End, Beaconsfield, Bucks HP9 2JD York Preference (silver-plate) 4-valve Ex-demo 3,700.00 Showroom: (01494) 671717 Mail Order: (01494) 685131 Besson Sovereign 981 (silver-plate) 4-valve Ex-demo 4,275.00 Email: [email protected] Tubas (B flat) York Preference (lacquer or silver-plate) 4-valve Ex-demo 4,849.00 Miraphone M9000 (lacquer) Ex-demo 4,995.00

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BB 2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9.indd 9 26-11-2008 15:08:38 TALKING POINT Time for a ret by Iwan Fox

Has it really come to this, I wonder? Forget the credit crunch, looming deflation, war, famine and the usual wall-to-wall coverage of football. The biggest news story of the year has undoubtedly been the decision of the former BBC Political Correspondent, John Sergeant, to leave Strictly Come Dancing. Nothing befits a man more than the manner of his departure and, for the hangdog hoofer, his was as elegant and perfectly timed as his dancing skills were uncoordinated and comedic. As one rather acerbic commentator described his efforts when dragging his beautiful Russian partner across the dance floor in the tango, “he even made that look like he was taking the weekly household rubbish out in the wheelie bin.” The financial world may be in chaos, house prices falling through the floor and Arsenal unable to win a football match for love nor money, but in the artificial, media-hyped world of BBC ‘light entertainment’, the degree of public outcry over a rotund middle aged man, with two left feet and a face only a mother could love, having to suffer weekly humiliation from a panel of egotistical judges, was too much for the great old British public to bear. And they certainly made their opinions felt – by voting to keep him in the contest long after his dancing skills surely deserved it. The judges on ‘Strictly’ (as true aficionados call it) are the pantomime villains of a programme that has cleverly repackaged itself from a traditional, dated and unique British cultural pastime, into essential Saturday night family viewing. What the great British public now sits back on its sofa and enjoys every weekend is as far removed from the reality of actual ballroom dancing as John Sergeant himself is from becoming the next Fred Astaire; for Strictly Come Dancing is an entertainment programme disguised as a dancing competition. Entertaining as this discourse into the world of sequined dresses, false tans and rictus smiles may be, what on earth, you may think, has this to do with the banding world in which we live? Everything really, because current brass band entertainment finds itself very much in the same boat. A fortnight ago at The Sage Gateshead, we had our own equivalent of Strictly Come Dancing – a brass band contest that, to many people, is fast disguising itself as a light entertainment programme. At this rate, even the BBC may well consider televising it in future. Thankfully, there were no John Sergeant wannabes on stage (although one or two efforts did come close in the hopelessness stakes), but some enthusiasts left The Sage with the opinion that Brass in Concert is in danger of becoming more a contest of hyped visual entertainment than of true musical excellence. If there had been a text vote or a premium rate phone line, it would have been interesting to see which band would have garnered the votes from the paying public instead of the judges. Would Cory have won with its more traditional approach, or would the title have gone to the more flamboyant spectacle that was Fairey?

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BB 10-11.indd 10 26-11-2008 14:00:15 TALKING POINT ethink over our version of ‘Strictly’?

We haven’t quite come to the stage where the audience crunched money, and to clearly understand a transparently I would have said were not possible. It’s opened my eyes – at Brass in Concert starts to rebel over the decision of the simple method of choosing a winner. the efforts of composers and players and conductors have judges as to who has won or lost, but given that some of the At the last Granada Festival in 1987, Bram Gay repeated opened my eyes to wider horizons of technical and musical competing bands in Gateshead will inevitably find themselves his feelings about the contest and its development, and an possibilities.’ ‘voted off’ next year’s entry list, the rumblings of discontent extract from his contribution to the Arthur R. Taylor book, Bram Gay not only appreciated the overall developments may grow significantly louder if things do not change. Labour and Love, reads: ‘It’s a contest with nothing to fall that the entertainment format had made, but crucially, the There is a growing degree of scepticism that the current back on. They (the bands) are expected to be excellent at technical and musical ones too. However, his endorsement adjudication process doesn’t accurately reflect what the whatever they stick their necks out at – that is a tremendous of the ‘entertainment’ factor of visual presentation was very listening public, or the competitors themselves, now want, challenge, because it means that the band is stretched to its prescient. He could have been writing not after the 1987 and when the public doesn’t like something, it tends to vote ultimate level. Sometimes, of course, they stretch themselves Granada event, but after the 2008 Brass in Concert contest. with its feet (or, in the BBC’s case, 170,000 text messages and in silly directions – but you know, the man that never made To be fair, Dr. Roy Newsome has sent out the odd missive to premium rate phone calls). The contest could soon be heading a mistake never made anything – and there has been some competing bands reminding them that Brass in Concert is for its very own ‘Sergeantgate’ moment. absolute tomfoolery at the Granada Festival. Not recently, still very much a brass band contest, first and foremost, and Historically, the method of deciding the winner at Brass in but we have seen in the early years, sheer idiocy. They’ve a light entertainment ‘Ant and Dec’ flurry of fun and games Concert has not changed since the first contest in 1977. It learned now, they’ve learned taste. People are now delivering with occasional bits of brass band music thrown in for good was based on the successful formula used at Granada Band convincing scores in performances of pieces which, frankly, measure, a distant second. of the Year – a brass band contest that was televised, despite However, given that the process of picking a winner hasn’t the lack of useless celebrity performers and Bruce Forsyth as changed in over 30 years, you can’t blame the bands for compère. tailoring their performances to match the lopsided arithmetic The raison d’être of ‘Granada’ (as brass band aficionados that continues to make up the final scoring system. called it) was summed up by Bram Gay in his programme What, for instance, is the real difference between Fairey’s notes for the very first contest programme in 1971, which comedic Sugar Plum Fairey’s of a decade ago and its Michael read: ‘… Our best bands have come together to prove not Jackson Thriller-inspired programme of 2008? merely that they are better than the rest, but also that they The answer may well lie over the North Sea in Norway. The are capable of offering to the public, through the medium of Norwegians themselves have their own version of ‘Strictly’ television, a valuable and entertaining musical experience. called Skal vi danse? (Shall We Dance?), although it is unclear Our Festival will, I think, be difficult to adjudicate. That is why who their version of John Seargent is. In banding terms, they we have designed a new method of judging – not in a spirit of also have a premier entertainment contest in the SIDDIS experiment for its own sake, but because the demands made Championship, which is now in its 26th year. There they have on our adjudicators are unusual. Our contest has no test-piece, amended the mechanics of the marking system to place the since the choice of music is an important matter in the contest emphasis on innovation firmly with the playing of the bands’ itself. The ability of the bands to present themselves well chosen programmes. The adjudicators give marks out of 100 visually is also important, though to a much lesser extent.’ for the standard of what they have heard, plus a further ten The judges for technical excellence awarded 100 points, while marks for the musical content of the programme – a balance a second panel awarded a further 100 for the musicianship that seems to work. displayed and the aptitude of the music for its purpose. A third The visual aspect of presentation is taken into account in the panel awarded 25 points for visual effect and 25 for variety award of those ten marks, but the difference between the and interest of the music, making a total of 250 points from bands in that category is much less volatile – just 4 marks five judges – an early version of ‘Strictly’s’ Bruno, Arlene, Len separated the nine bands there this year, compared to the and Craig, then. 13 that separated the 12 bands at The Sage (at which only By the time Brass in Concert was launched six years later, 15 points separated all the bands in the opinion of the music the Granada blueprint was copied almost without variation. judges). With a much closer spread of marks for musical There were five adjudicators, with two awarding a total of 200 content, the importance of the actual playing of their chosen points for the quality of the performance (there was closed programme remains; the result is still dependent on how and adjudication for the first few years) and three others having what they perform, not just what they look like in doing it. 20 points each to award for entertainment and presentation. Doesn’t that approach also come much closer to maintaining Crucially, it was deemed that each band’s performance should the ethos of the original ‘Granada’ concept too? ‘…a valuable be ‘designed to provide a well-balanced and entertaining and entertaining musical experience’, ‘The ability of the bands programme.’ to present themselves well visually is also important, though Since that time, the structure of the Brass in Concert system to a much lesser extent’? has been tweaked, with the two musical judges now in the If that was right way to go in 1971, then isn’t it still the right open and two entertainment judges now given 30 points way to go in 2008? each, but the method, first pioneered nearly 40 years ago, If Strictly Come Dancing had opted for that system then even remains the same. John Sergeant may have still have been dancing away instead What has changed irrevocably, however, is what the listening of having to jump ship, so to speak, and book onto a cruise public now wants to see and hear for its hard-earned, credit- ship holiday instead.

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BB 12-13.indd 12 26-11-2008 13:58:36 EVENTS Come to Grenland for a unique brass band experience by Morten Hansen For 12 years, the Grenland International Brass Festival has been a highlight of the Norwegian brass band calendar, as well as for bands from other parts of Scandinavia and further afield. In the last weekend of April 2009, bands will travel to the small city of Skien, in the province of Telemark on the south-east coast of Norway, two hours south of Oslo. Here, in the district of Grenland, brass band enthusiasts have managed to create a festival unlike anything found anywhere else in the brass band world. Not bad for an area better known for being the hometown of the famous Norwegian author, Henrik Ibsen, than for its brass bands. So, what is so unique about the Grenland Festival? First of all, it’s a festival for all bands, in all sections. However, the really special thing about this Festival is that all bands have to give at least two performances over two days before there is a winner in each of the four sections of the contest. Before the winner of the Championship Section can be crowned, that band will have to perform three times over two days, and prepare 60 minutes of music. The Festival will start on the Friday afternoon, with Championship Section and 1st Section bands performing a specially devised programme in the magnificent Skien Cathedral, while the 2nd and 3rd Section bands play in the Ibsen House, the city’s concert hall. Skien’s small, but lively city centre will be the focal point for bandspeople, who will swap stories and views about the performances, and speculate on what the adjudicators might have made of the first day of the contest. Saturday will start with the Championship Section and the set test-piece. The Festival committee always picks a well-known work as the set test for the championships, but also has a policy of commissioning new music to be used as test-pieces for the other sections. In 2008, the Festival commissioned Svein Henrik Giske to write test-pieces for the 2nd and 3rd Sections, and, for 2009 the 1st Section will play a brand new piece by Lars Erik Gudim, Director of Music of the Norwegian Army. This will be Gudim’s first piece for brass band, having written some fantastic music for big band and wind band. The Festival organisers are very proud of being able to première his new work next year. The other test-pieces will be Cambridge Variations by Philip Sparke for the Championship Section, The Pioneers by Philip Sparke for 2nd Section and Hymn for Africa by Peter Meechan for 3rd Section. Philip Sparke himself will be one of the adjudicators, along with Russell Gray and well-known Norwegian musicians such as P.K. Svensen and Yngve Nikolaisen. Later on the Saturday, all sections will play their own-choice programmes in one of the halls of the Ibsen House. The Gala Concert on Saturday evening will be given by Black Dyke Band and will be followed by the results and a big party for all the bands. On Sunday, the Festival will be over. This year, the participants included bands from Norway, Sweden, Denmark, England and the Netherlands. It was truly an international contest and the Festival organisers would like to invite bands of all sections from all over Europe to join them next year. Skien is just 45 minutes bus drive from Oslo Torp, its international airport (also known as Sandefjord Airport). Ryanair has direct flights there from Stanstead, Glasgow and Liverpool, as well as from several other places. There are also ferries from Sweden and Denmark to ports near Skien. The Festival homepage, www.grenlandbrass.com, may be consulted for more information.

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BB 12-13.indd 13 26-11-2008 13:58:39 BRASS EDUCATION Masterclass part two: Hymns for concerts In the second part of an occasional series, Professor Philip Wilby talks about creating concert hymn arrangements for brass band

In the first part of this article, I discussed the traditional skills are as much concerned with the musical arrangement as needed to make a well-crafted hymn arrangement for brass with the foreground melody. New material, in the form of band. By extension, this present article looks further and introductions, episodes and appropriate conclusions, need to investigates the more individual discipline involved in creating be invented, and it is precisely the quality of such creation that a larger canvas for an extended hymn-based composition. raises this above skilled arranging and towards the sphere Whereas my previous essay dealt with those arrangements of free composition. There are two linked threads of musical that are suitable for congregational singing, today’s discussion originality at work, one containing an evolving setting for the seeks to investigate a more creative approach, suitable for hymn tune, and another providing the symphonic argument. solely instrumental performance. There is no doubt that such In a similar manner, some authors choose to view their hymn items are very popular parts of concert programmes and that texts on a number of different levels. Words have precise the European ‘church concert’ tradition has a great deal to meanings and can often tell a particular story. However, commend it. beneath that story may lie a moral, just as the parables in the As I said in part one, from the solemnity of Remembrance bible say one thing but imply a secondary greater meaning. Day to those uplifting TV spectaculars such as Songs of Praise, Just so, then, may our hymn arrangements form a parallel or from Grimethorpe’s recent best-selling CD to Black Dyke’s to the text of the original hymn. Goff Richards’ setting of evergreen Cathedral Brass, the potent combination of brass Crimond has a pastoral flavour, reminiscent both of the natural band plus favourite hymns still finds a warm place close to the landscape and the text The Lord’s my Shepherd, I’ll not want. In nation’s heart. However (and perhaps the grandest possibility the same way, my setting of Handel’s great tune for Thine be of all), it is possible that such an arrangement will be a form the Glory, Risen Conquering Son uses three fanfare groups to of brass band fantasy using a well-known hymn tune as a celebrate the words as well as the melody. springboard to a more creative result. Goff Richards’ classic arrangement of Crimond may serve My final example pushes this trend a little farther than most. as a good example. Starting distantly, with a solo cornet, In August, I visited Holland and played at an organ and band it gradually moves forward in the aural spectrum, building church concert in Almkerk. Gerard Klaucke of GK Graphic inexorably to a thrilling climax. Not only is the growing shape Design had asked me to provide a hymn arrangement for of the score symphonic in conception, but the arranger uses the occasion and he chose the hymn-tune, Repton, as its other techniques which combine to lift his arrangement out of illustrations of the process. basis. It is usually sung to the words, Dear Lord and Father the realm of hymn accompaniment, and into a new world of The sweep of The Day Thou Gavest, with its extravagant of mankind, forgive our foolish ways, and I wanted to catch creative reinterpretation. As I have said, the instrumentation orchestral gestures, where blazing tuttis are counterpointed something of the nobility of these sentiments. Accordingly, grows from solo to duo, to solo quartet, to a verse using cup- with breathless pianissimos, places it firmly into the ‘romantic I chose to compose a setting for three solo trombones and muted cornets surrounding the melody with chains of quavers fantasy’ tradition. Lord of the Dance, however, is rather band. I would use Parry’s original melody, of course, but the and a final resonant tutti. However, the score also chooses different. Written for BBC’sSongs of Praise, it was to be used text, which describes Jesus stilling the storm in the Sea of to transpose this last verse, upwards in the higher parts and in an episode about the Tall Ships Race in the North-east, Galilee, must also make its mark. My final result, Still Small downwards in the bass, to further emphasise the glorious and I knew that it would be filmed against a backdrop of Voices, combines both text and melody in a hymn setting with finality of these bars with triumphant fanfare figures and an shipyards, factories and various forms of industrial landscape. dramatic pretensions. As the storm rises, there are solos for increased role for the percussionists. This is, quite simply, a Accordingly, the accompaniments to the traditional Shaker each of the soloists,(example 2) as well as trio settings of the hymn for instrumentalists to play. melody were themselves mechanical and repetitive, and melody (example 3). Peter Graham’s thrilling version of How great Thou Art is served to illustrate the camera’s eye view as much as music similarly inspirational in being written out of the comfort zone written to accompany a film scene. As must be appropriate to a piece that describes Jesus calming of traditional hymn singing. Also arranged as a crescendo, and In common with all the other illustrations that have been the waters, the piece has a tranquil ending. It hopes to also using key changes to give extra stimulation to the climax, mentioned, Lord of the Dance is continuous and the spaces inspire thoughtfulness rather than applause, and to take its this is a justly famous item in many concert programmes, with between verses of the hymn are filled with original music. place in a long and venerable tradition. Earlier generations The Salvation Army and elsewhere. Clearly, it touches some On this occasion, however, I can still see the original pictures of composers, such as Eric Ball and his colleagues, would religious response deep inside its listeners. Equally, it uses in my memory when the piece is played. The arrangement recognise the concept quite clearly, not to mention Buxtehude the familiarity of the original hymn to advantage, while re- subsequently formed part of my Partita: Postcards from Home and J.S. Bach. The hymn tune tradition goes back as far as expressing the original material in contemporary terms. As in and has been played widely in the 3rd Section. I wonder how the earliest days of instrumental music in the 17th century. Crimond, the arranger uses the full range of modern orchestral many, or few, of its performers can still see that escape of However, as times have changed, Salvationist composers and possibilities to enhance the musical argument, and it satisfies brilliantly coloured steam that my mind’s eye provides at the their admirers now have the exclusive rights on a worthy all listeners on all levels. key change from F major to A flat? musical form that speaks directly to its listeners. Creating I have always admired the ‘common touch’ nature of such Edward Gregson’s Variations on Laudate Dominum is an early these ‘concert hymn’ arrangements, using both melody scores, whose success is to re-interpret traditional hymn work, but one for which the composer has an enduring and text, is rewarding to all concerned. In a real sense, the melodies that serve as a link between the past and the affection. It uses this tune (example 1), usually sung to the composer is linking many loose ends together, using music present. They remain close to the heart of brass band words, Oh, Praise ye the Lord, as the basis of a fine sequence to promote a measure of thoughtful understanding, perhaps culture at a time when most other musical media has closed of ingenious variations. In 2007, Gregson revised his original even composing with the theology! an indifferent door on religious music with mass appeal. publication with the addition of some new music. It remains What of our own church concerts in Britain? Sounding Brass However, my own work contains a number of ‘big canvas’ one of his most popular early scores, and has some things in and Voices and Songs of Praise are familiar, yet popular, hymn arrangements, and the popularity of The Day Thou common with his most recent piece, Rococo Variations. formats for bands to move into wider circles where their Gavest or Lord of the Dance suggests that they are good You will have gathered that these larger hymn settings efforts are gratefully received. Black Dyke visited Bristol

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BB 14-15.indd 14 26-11-2008 13:57:29 BRASS EDUCATION

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Cathedral recently and gave a wonderful Saturday It was indeed a proud moment, but one which could night concert. However, the icing on the cake came be replicated in most towns on most Sundays. All on the following morning. Nicholas Childs had we have to do is follow that particular dream. Just announced at the concert that the band would also imagine if we had a ‘Band Sunday’, when every local take part in the Sunday morning service and, once band played in its local church on the same day. What again, the building was full to bursting with local social cohesion we could produce. enthusiasts. There were two choirs on that day. Bristol How about Whitsuntide, a companion to the Whit Cathedral Choir was joined by the choir from Sydney Friday Marches, on the first Sunday in June? Cathedral in Australia, and they began the service in Thirty years ago, the Poet Laureate, Sir John Betjeman, stately fashion with organ accompaniment. However, made his last broadcasts. Entitled Sweet Songs of when the band appeared at the halfway point, Zion, he spoke these last words on BBC Radio 4 in traditional banding simply raised the worship to 1975: “Hymns are the poems of the people. From previously unattainable heights. A sequence of great Abide with Me to Onward Christian Soldiers, they hymn arrangements began, starting with Guide me, provide us with memories of happier, more devout Oh Thou Great Redeemer, introduced by an off-stage days of Sunday School and school assemblies, of fanfare that would have been clearly heard in South weddings and funerals. They’ve given phrases to the Wales. Communion was accompanied by Bach’s Air language: ‘change and decay’, ‘bright and beautiful’, on a G String, Hyfrydol rolled in like an ocean wave, ‘soft refreshing rain’, ‘all is safely gathered in’, ‘meek and the last hymn, complete with those three fanfare and mild’, ‘God moves in a mysterious way’, and groups mentioned above, surrounding an amazed dozens of others. Even today, when it is assumed that Mark Lee, Director of Cathedral Music, was Thine be we’ve all given up religion, millions of people enjoy the Glory. To seal the deal, the band accompanied the programmes on the radio and television that consist choir out with one of the world’s most famous pieces solely of people singing old familiar tunes. And you of organ music, Widor’s Toccata. There were two choirs, can still catch milkmen and bus conductors whistling three organists, and four conductors… but only one hymn-tunes (especially if they happen to be West band! Indians).”

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BB 14-15.indd 15 26-11-2008 13:57:33 2008 BRASS IN CONCERT Postcard from Th

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BB 16-17.indd 16 26-11-2008 14:59:08 2008 BRASS IN CONCERT he Sage Gateshead

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BB’s photographer, John Stirzaker, got so many great shots from this year’s Brass in Concert Championship that we decided to share some more of them with our readers. From top left, they are: 1. A young participant in the highly successful workshops; 2. The versatile Glyn Williams does a Stevie Wonder impression in Another Star; 3. Leyland’s bass section gets in the groove; 4. Fairey Band thrills the Sage audience with its spooky spectacular; 5. Fairey’s fl ugel soloist, Neil Hewson, fi nds himself in a head-turning 11 pose; 6. Cory’s remarkable percussion trio steals the show in Sing, Sing, Sing; 7. Never one to be outdone, Frank Renton makes a guest appearance with Fairey; 8. A bicycle built for two helps Rochdale Borough Youth entertain at Saturday’s Youth Brass in Concert; 9. James Chamberlain of Whitburn, aka George Michael, starred in Faith; 10. Desford’s fanfare trumpets couldn’t quite battle to victory in On Bosworth Field; 11. The Italian Stallion, Michael J. Garasi, gets into the ring with Grimethorpe at the end of Fanfare for Rocky; 12. Allan Withington has a hypnotic eff ect on the girls of Stavanger Band.

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BB 16-17.indd 17 26-11-2008 15:00:11 BRITISH Bandsthe leading internationalman brass magazine BRITISH BandsThe leading internationalman brass magazine Issue no. 5536 – 22 November 2008 REACHING FOR THE LEADING THE SKY CIRCULATING MAGAZINE IN THE WORLDWIDE

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Overseas subscribers can RIDING THE CREST OF A WAVE now have the online A Cutt above the rest Ian Porthouse leads Welsh dragons into battle at RAH edition delivered direct to their desktop Fantastic Foden’s victory provides fourth accolade for conductor

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BB 18-19.indd 18 26-11-2008 14:14:17 SEASONAL SOUNDBITES Seasonal Soundbites 2008

British Bandsman’s look forward to Christmas begins here, with a look back over the recording highlights of 2008 and some of the hottest products in the marketplace this year. We introduce the Band and Solo CDs of the Year, and look forward to our year-long project to identify the best brass band CD ever made. Rodney Newton looks back at the making of The ISB’s new recording, Together, Steven Mead reviews a remarkable year that has included numerous recording projects, and we look at some of the new CDs and DVDs on the market this Christmas. However, we begin, as ever, with our list of the best-selling recordings of the year.

WoB Tunes top selling complete albums; Egon label 1. Essential Dyke Volume VIII - Black Dyke Band 1. Hymns - Grimethorpe Colliery Band (SFZ 141) 2. Daystar - The International Staff Band 2. The Incredible PolySteel Band - PolySteel Band (SFZ 142) 3. Walking with Heroes - Black Dyke Band 3. The Arban Collection II - Russell Gray with Leyland Band (SFZ 145) 4. Hymns - Grimethorpe Colliery Band 4. Grimethorpe in Concert Volume III - Grimethorpe Colliery Band (SFZ 134) 5. Regionals 2008 5. Basso Bravissimo! - Steve Sykes (SFZ 138) 6. Classical Dyke Vol. 1: Elgar - Black Dyke Band 6. Katrina - Katrina Marzella with Leyland Band (SFZ 144)

WoB Tunes top selling individual tracks; SP&S label 1. Walking with Heroes - Black Dyke Band (from Walking with Heroes) 1. Daystar - The International Staff Band (SPS 236 CD) 2. Music for Battle Creek - Grimethorpe Colliery Band (from National Brass Band Championships 2007) 2. Trailblazers - Household Troops Band (SPS 238 CD) 3. The Dark Side of the Moon - Black Dyke Band (from Regionals 2008) 3. Sanctuary - Boscombe Band (SPS 227 CD) 4. Vitae Aeternum - Black Dyke Band (from Essential Dyke Volume VIII) 4. Endless Praise - Kettering Citadel Band (SPS 234 CD) 5. Goldcrest - The International Staff Band (from Goldcrest) 5. Boscombe & Foden’s LIVE - Boscombe Band and Foden’s Richardson Band (SPS 235 CD) 6. Variations on Laudate Dominum - Black Dyke Band (from Essential Dyke Volume VIII) 6. Favourite Marches of The Salvation Army - Boscombe Band (SPS 178 CD)

World of Brass label Obrasso 1. Brass in Concert 2007 DVD (WOB 128 DVD) 1. Fantastic Overtures, Vol. 2 - Black Dyke Band (CD 927) 2. European Brass Band Championships 2008 DVD (WOB 134 DVD) 2. Strangers In The Night - Brighouse and Rastrick (CD 929) 3. RSA 85 DVD (WOB 127 DVD) 3. Fantastic Overtures, Vol. 3 - Black Dyke Band (CD 931) 4. Epic Brass II DVD (WOB 132 DVD) 4. Fantastic Overtures, Vol. 1 - Black Dyke Band (CD 915) 5. Expressions - Regent Hall Band and Songsters (WOB 125 DVD) 5. Christmas With Black Dyke - Black Dyke Band (CD 925) 6. Gospel Arts Concert 2008 (WOB 133 DVD) 6. Virtuoso - Slokar Trombone Quartet (CD 926)

Doyen label Polyphonic 1. Essential Dyke Volume 8 - Black Dyke Band (DOY CD242) 1. Masters of Space and Time - NYBBGB (QPRL 225D) 2. Regionals 2009 - various brass bands (DOY CD246) 2. World of the Trombone Vol. 1 - Brett Baker (QPRZ 026D) 3. European Brass Band Championships 2008 (DOY CD253) 3. Shout! - Brett Baker (QPRL - 227D) 4. Walking with Heroes - Black Dyke Band (DOY CD245) 4. Mosaic - RNCM Wind Orchestra (QPRM 152D) 5. Classical Dyke Vol. 1: Elgar - Black Dyke Band (DOY CD168) 5. Master Brass Vol. 18 (2007) (QPRL 226D) 6. Actaeon - Cory Band (DOY CD241) 6. 1992 European Brass Band Championships (QPRL 051) The year ahead in 2009

Next year promises to be a vintage one for brass recordings, especially for lovers of the popular projects is sure to be the International Staff Band’sHeritage series - Salvation music of Gilbert Vinter. The release of a centenary CD will include archive recordings by Army brass band music by the decade, starting with the 1930s. Black Dyke Mills Band from the 1960s and 70s, and the Eminence Quartet will feature all As well as a disc of hidden gems from Flowers Band, Polyphonic is to produce two further of the brass quartets by the composer, who died in 1969. discs featuring new music by Philip Sparke and Martin Ellerby. March will see the release of the 2008 Brass in Concert DVD, and the winner of that The outstanding Norwegian contender at this year’s Brass in Concert Championship, particular event will celebrate its 125th anniversary with a double CD in June. Stavanger Band, has also been in the studio recently and its eclectic mix of music from Black Dyke will record The Great Marches of The Salvation Army and one of the year’s more around the world is sure to be a hit with listeners in 2009.

BRITISH BANDSMAN PAGE 19

BB 18-19.indd 19 26-11-2008 14:14:20 SEASONAL SOUNDBITES The greatest Blitz Black Dyke Mills Band Conductor: Major Peter Parkes Chandos CHAN 8370 brass band Released 1984

CD ever Although Blitz was the very fi rst CD featuring a brass band, it wasn’t a new recording. The music had originally been issued on an LP with the same title in 1982 (Chandos BBRD 1014 – May 1982). It was highly acclaimed (both within and outside made? of banding) not only for the music, but also for the quality of by Kenneth Crookston the recording. It was made by the Chandos team of Brian and drink and interfering with the Devil’s business. Ralph Couzens in Dewsbury Town Hall on 27 and 28 February Whene’er to drink you are inclined, 1982. The disc features four compositions that have entered Or cutty-sarks run in your mind, banding folklore. Think! You may buy the joys o’er dear – Have you ever wondered what is the greatest brass band CD When it was made, ‘Dyke’ was virtually invincible in the Remember Tam O’Shanter’s mare.’ ever made? It’s one of those subjects that could engender contesting arena. The recording is a celebration of what Among the many mainstream musical luminaries invited to endless conversations after band rehearsals or on Internet Major Peter Parkes describes as ‘that happy day’, referring write for banding was Herbert Howells, and his Pageantry forums, but the answer, of course, is purely in the ear of the to 3 October 1981, when the band won the National completes the programme. Progressive at the time of its beholder. It is likely that some afi cionados have a taste for a Championship for the 15th time, playing the title track, Blitz writing in 1934, Pageantry still represents a major challenge particular band, conductor or composer, while others will try by Derek Bourgeois. Although Bourgeois had already written to bands. The titles of the three sections tell the story of this to remain objective enough to judge purely on the quality some mammoth band pieces, this was his fi rst great success popular and enduring work: of what they hear, but until now there has never been a and arguably still is his fi nest. Blitz could round off the fi rst 1. King’s Herald defi nitive opinion on the ‘best ever’ from a large cross-section half of a typical brass band concert if the conductor explained 2. Cortege of the banding population. it. As Parkes rightly points out, ‘it would be worth hearing just 3. Jousts for the last 30 bars. The lip glissandi and the chromatic fall at So, why is it pertinent to embark on such a task right now? the very end are marvellous.’ Chandos Records and brass bands parted company many years Well, the simple answer is, 2009 marks the 25th anniversary Blitz ends with disaster and collapse, but Eric Ball’s journey ago, partly, in my view, because bands only saw recordings of the release of the fi rst brass band Compact Disc on the (Journey Into Freedom) points towards an idealistic inner as a revenue stream and not the musical opportunities. It is a Chandos label - Blitz, by Black Dyke MiIls Band and Major freedom in which he fi rmly believed. Compiling a list of great shame, as Chandos was very skilled in recording bands Peter Parkes. With literally thousands of titles being released favourite Eric Ball pieces would be moderately easy, and this – the quality speaks for itself – but the product overall oozed by almost every active group in the banding world in the rhapsody, in one complete movement divided into six short class and CDs could often be found in ‘high street’ record shops years that have since passed, there seems like no better time sections played without a break, would surely feature. giving valuable exposure to bands. to put British Bandsman readers’ powers of recall to the test, Like Eric Ball, Denis Wright has a fi rm place in the aff ections Thankfully, Blitz and many other Chandos CDs are still readily as well as providing a great excuse to dig out those favourite of banding people, but probably more for his other available and at good prices. I would certainly recommend discs from bygone years. achievements than for his compositions. Certainly, Tam this one – the impact of the opening of Blitz will hit you O’Shanter’s Ride is one of his more successful works. It has a immediately, and by the end of Pageantry, I think you will Between now and next November, it is our intention to recall story line, which is based on the poem of Robert Burns: recognise this as a pioneering recording in every respect. a diff erent ‘classic’ recording every month, some of which ‘A cautionary tale of the dangers of taking too much strong Tim Mutum will be chosen by our expert panel, with others nominated by readers. Prior to next November’s Christmas Recordings edition of British Bandsman, we will put twelve discs to a popular vote (details of which will be announced at the time), with the author of the best piece outlining the reason for their choices receiving a bumper selection of brass band CDs and DVDs.

Nominations for the greatest brass band CD of all time should be sent by email to [email protected] or to British Bandsman, 66 - 78 Denington Road, Wellingborough, Northants, NN8 2QH.

There would appear to be no better place to start than at the very beginning, and here, Tim Mutum recalls a disc from an unforgettable combination that has its own place in brass band history.

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BB 20-21.indd 21 26-11-2008 13:59:54 SEASONAL SOUNDBITES New Music takes the honou by Kenneth Crookston

One of the most pleasurable tasks of the year for the Editor he had in second place: “I honestly believe that the playing of British Bandsman is the quest to find the band and solo in Elgar’s Severn Suite, in which Black Dyke is led by Sir Colin CDs of the year, and I am pleased to report that 2008 has Davis, is among the finest I have heard from a band in many been no exception. Quick phone calls to three ‘old friends’ of years, and if this level of consistency had been maintained for the process established that Frank Renton, Alan Jenkins and the entire recording, it would have been a much closer call. As Tim Mutum were more than keen to add to their personal CD for the others, although the playing on Actaeon was very good collections, all for the sake of putting them into some sort indeed, I found the programme rather dull and, despite being of order of preference, and it was a pleasure to welcome on outstanding in places, the National Youth Band came unstuck board this year the well-known Salvationist musician, Richard in Severn Suite. Black Dyke’s Battle Creek perhaps suffered from Phillips. the programme items all being very similar in nature, so that With the illustrious panel sorted out, it only remained for ruled it out as a leading contender for me.” short lists to be drawn up in the two categories, and that Although also recognising the Foden’s recording as is arguably the most difficult part of the job. As a result of outstanding, Alan Jenkins had a pleasant surprise in the shape accepting informal nominations from a number of sources of the NYBBGB: “Once again, as you would expect, the playing throughout the year, as well as indulging in in-depth is sky high on all the short-listed CDs; perhaps not surprisingly discussion with some trusted friends and colleagues, BB’s in the case of Black Dyke, Cory and Foden’s, but a real eye- short list for Band CD of the Year emerged (in alphabetical opener from the National Youth Brass Band of Great Britain, order) as follows: despite the high expectations that surround this gifted Actaeon (Cory Band) ensemble. Astonishingly good!” Classical Dyke Volume 1 (Black Dyke Band) Alan Jenkins continued: “In fact, with just one or two Masters of Time and Space (National Youth Brass Band of Great reservations, I enjoyed the young people’s Masters of Space Britain) and Time programme and performance immensely and, Music for Battle Creek (Black Dyke Band) although I placed it fourth, there will be pieces from this New Music for Brass Band (Foden’s Band) programme that I will be playing more frequently than any Quite a list, I’m sure most readers would agree, and there other. Despite the accolade, when it came down to the nitty- would have to be a certain amount of sympathy for those that gritty, I had no reservations whatsoever in opting for New just failed to make the final cut, including Walking with Heroes Music for Brass Band, played sublimely by Foden’s under the (Black Dyke), Hymns (Grimethorpe Colliery), Highlights of the inspirational leadership of Bramwell Tovey. The beauty of 2007 National Brass Band Championships and The Incredible this music is that, although taxing, it is in every case simply PolySteel Band. However, these weren’t included in the the music that captivates the mind with nary a thought of packages sent to the judges, and after listening to the ones such details as technique, all of which makes you understand that were, Messrs Renton, Jenkins, Mutum and Phillips came that, musically, a brass band’s resources are not always best up with the following order: served by contests. Another big plus was the economical, but 1. New Music for Brass Band (Foden’s) interesting programme notes of Paul Hindmarsh. While the 2. Classical Dyke Volume 1 (Black Dyke) playing of Cory in Actaeon rarely descends below the brilliant, 3. Actaeon (Cory) for me the band’s programme is not quite as convincing and 4. Music for Battle Creek (Black Dyke) therefore I have placed it second. Possibly the most brilliant 5. Masters of Time and Space (National Youth Brass Band of playing of all is presented by Black Dyke in Music for Battle Great Britain) Creek, featuring the mainly exhilarating compositions of Philip Each panel member listed the discs in order, with five points Sparke. Alas, my strong feeling is that these pieces would have allocated to each winner and each subsequent position been better served spread over two separate programmes, receiving one point less. As Chairman of the panel, I only hence the third place.” ever use a casting vote, but it wasn’t necessary this time, Brass recordings specialist, Tim Mutum, relished this challenge with three out of the four judges giving top marks to Foden’s as much as ever, commenting: “Music for Battle Creek and Bramwell Tovey, meaning a clear margin of victory over brightened up January with its première studio recordings Classical Dyke Volume 1. So, what was it about this recording of Dances and Alleluias and the title track, and the rest of the that singled it out in such illustrious company? programme had much to commend it, but Sparke’s music Frank Renton was in no doubt, commenting: “Everything always does. However, from March onwards, I had Classical about New Music for Brass Band was outstanding, from the Dyke Volume 1 as the album to beat. Attracting Sir Colin programme choice to the terrifically high standards of musical Davis to conduct the band was inspirational, as is the result reproduction by Paul Hindmarsh, as well as a band on great in Severn Suite. The impact is obvious, the music having the form under a conductor who oozes music from his every pore. space and opportunity to unfold. A wonderful performance This is brass band music at its best and everyone involved with captured so well in the fine acoustic of Cadogan Hall, London. this project deserves our congratulations.” There is much to commend on the National Youth Brass Frank Renton also had a word for Black Dyke’s Elgar CD, which Band of Great Britain’s release, but this, while venturing into

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BB 22-23-24-25.indd 22 26-11-2008 15:10:21 SEASONAL SOUNDBITES ours for Foden’s and Tovey

new territory with the solo and Bruce Broughton selections, conductors, but just didn’t give me as much excitement as the quite rightly, also had to balance things out with some more music of Philip Sparke. Here is a hugely talented composer familiar programming. On any other day, an album of the who seems to ‘ring the bell’ every time his pen touches quality of Actaeon could have won. Not many bands would paper. Sparke, ‘Dyke’ and Childs, a winning combination! The commit three major, lengthy works on one disc, including a remaining three CD’s had some wonderful moments, but not particularly successful ‘Open’ test-piece, but there aren’t wouldn’t be played on my CD player as much as the top two.” many bands of the quality of Cory and it doesn’t usually have Although not needing to vote this time, my thoughts agree to compete against Bramwell Tovey and Foden’s!” entirely with those of the overall panel. New Music for Brass Waxing lyrically about the eventual winner, Tim Mutum Band by Foden’s and Bramwell Tovey is among the best continued: “The Foden’s issue is a lovingly-crafted album brass band CDs to be released in recent years and thoroughly from Paul Hindmarsh, the one independent visionary left in deserves any accolade it receives. the brass band world who ceaselessly toils to try and show The producer of New Music for Brass Band, Paul Hindmarsh, the musical world that the brass band has a worth. He has was understandably elated on hearing the news that it had put together a programme that Bram Tovey will have simply been selected by BB’s panel as CD of the Year, commenting: relished conducting. “I am thrilled that a CD of non-contesting repertoire of “It is such an absorbing programme and, until this was substance by this group of leading composers has been released, I thought nothing could beat Sir Colin Davis recognised in this way by the distinguished British Bandsman conducting Elgar’s Severn Suite as my CD of the Year. However, panel. Of all the CDs I have produced over the years, this this has, by virtue of the richness, diversity and quality of one means more to me than most, having been involved its content of major brass band concert music on a serious in commissioning, editing or arranging quite a lot of the independent record label. It should do brass bands some good music, as well as preparing the awesome Foden’s Band for and they certainly need it.” the sessions with the inspirational Bramwell Tovey – what a Although evidently impressed by all the contenders, Richard diff erence he made when he arrived!” Phillips took a diff erent view from the other panel members: He added: “Foden’s has had a terrifi c year – Open Champion “It must be said at the outset that all the CDs feature bands and runner-up in London – creating a great impression in performing at the highest possible standard and each of them some very testing repertoire. Some the music that the NMC contain elements that could sway an opinion of a reviewer to committee and I chose for this CD turned out to be even more consider it worthy of the title of CD of the year. Having said complex, but the players and Bramwell rose to the challenges that, my choices for the top spots were based on technical magnifi cently. Thank you to one and all.” ability, musicality, programme balance and cover design and Looking ahead to future projects, Paul Hindmarsh concluded: content. The band CD that best displayed these attributes, by “I have ideas for fi ve or six other recordings in mind, but this the narrowest margin, was Music for Battle Creek. The music of award will give me the impetus to move them forward even Edward Elgar is beautifully presented and interpreted by both more now. I’m absolutely thrilled.”

1 2 3 4 5 How the judges voted

TM RP AJ FR Total Pos New Music for Brass Band - Foden’s 5 1 5 5 16 1 Classical Dyke Volume 1 – Black Dyke 4 4 1 4 13 2 Actaeon - Cory 3 3 4 2 12 3 Music for Battle Creek – Black Dyke 2 5 3 1 11 4 Masters of Space and Time – NYBBGB 1 2 2 3 8 5

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Meadby Kenneth Crookston leads the low

There’s probably no scientific reason for it, but it was unusual to hear David play a high note to end Kenneth Downie’s The that this year’s six nominations for British Bandsman Solo CD Sally Gardens, which ends with the words ‘but I was young and of the Year were all by low brass players. Quite a selection it foolish and now am full of tears’. But that is an infinitesimal is too, with the generally high standard of solo CDs produced quibble in a programme that provides the listener with a in 2008 persuading us to select a sixth disc to send to the surfeit of genuine pleasure. Meanwhile, Katrina Marzella’s judging panel of Frank Renton, Alan Jenkins, Tim Mutum and programme for her baritone CD, Katrina, reflected the artist Richard Phillips, all of whom appear to have approached with herself, entirely captivating and, as befits a double British the same relish and enthusiasm that they did the Band CD of Open Solo Champion plus Ern Keller winner, her playing was the Year process. exemplary. Leyland Band played well for her, if perhaps not The six contenders were (in alphabetical order): quite as well as Cory played for David Childs.” Audacious (Steven Mead) Always keen to see new repertoire being explored, Tim Badinage (Les Neish) Mutum was more than taken by the waves made by Katrina Brass and Wines (Steven Mead) Marzella’s new release, commenting: “Like last year, I found Celtic Charm (David Childs) the solo CD much trickier than the band CD. All the shortlisted Debut (Joe Cook) CDs feature lower end instruments – possibly a first? – and Katrina (Katrina Marzella) three were devoted to the euphonium. The two euphonium With points from six down to one being awarded by each of soloists – David Childs and Steven Mead – have done more the judges, this turned out to be a tremendously close affair, than any other on this instrument to take it into the real world with victory going to Steven Mead for the second time in of music and very successful they have been too. The disc by three years, by a single point from Katrina Marzella and David David Childs has a great theme and some excellent choices Childs close behind in third place. but, in reality, Celtic Charm is pitched at ‘middle England’ and So what did the judges think of the contenders? Frank Renton completely risk free. On the other hand, both the releases was keen to point out that making a good solo recording from Steven Mead stretched the boundaries, Audacious in isn’t just about the soloist, but that the accompanying group repertoire and Brass and Wines for its supporting act - Spanish is a vital element, and this had played a large part in his Brass - and for most of the selections. It was slightly let judgement: “I was very impressed with both of the releases down by a moment of madness with the inclusion of Queen’s by Steven Mead, who goes to great lengths to produce a fine Innuendo. The two tuba CDs were very different.Bandinage product with only the very best performers accompanying is a lively, clear and bright recording and I enjoyed the him. Spanish Brass is outstanding in Brass and Wines, but the programme, but Les Neish, a great player, is really just a guest piano playing by Tomoko Sawano in Audacious is astonishingly artist for Fuoco Brass. The programme is fairly ‘hum drum’ good, in what can only be described as challenging repertoire. in the context of an award and no matter how well you play One or two of the other contenders would do well to listen to it, Fred Muscroft’s Carnival for Bass really isn’t a good selling these recordings and learn the benefits of an accompaniment point for the tuba. On the other hand, Joe Cook’s programme that is always in sympathy with the soloist as well as being contains two cornerstones of the tuba repertoire – the technically secure. However, the technical achievement by Vaughan Williams and the Gregson concertos – and the CD Steven Mead, who continues to discover new repertoire and is a great advert for the instrument and what it is capable of break down barriers for the euphonium, is what really makes achieving musically. However, in the end, Messrs Mead and this an great recording and it is my clear choice for Solo CD of Cook were blown out of the water by Katrina. The first solo the Year.” CD for the baritone with a performer who has worked so hard Alan Jenkins was less certain than he had been with the to give it deserved recognition, the programme sends out band CD of the Year, his choice being dominated by two great a message so loud and clear – ‘I’m going to show you what euphonium players: “I had a more difficult problem separating this instrument is capable of!’ A substantial, commissioned the soloists than the bands and toyed with placing Audacious concerto from Martin Ellerby, some virtuoso numbers, ahead of Celtic Charm. The trouble is, I was indeed ‘charmed’ gorgeous slow melodies, a slice of contemporary and an by David Childs’ mellifluous sounds and engaging programme, arrangement of a Ponchielli concerto for ‘bass flugel horn’ a mix of poignant Celtic ballads and joyous jigs wonderfully make up a varied, but quality programme and all played with supported by the excellent Cory Band. I think it was the extra such feeling and style.” colour of the accompaniment that swayed me in the end and Another vote for the Celtic euphonium of David Childs came the better-recorded sound and balance. Nevertheless, Steven from Richard Phillips, who commented: “My choice for top Mead’s wonderfully high standard of performance, together solo album was based on similar attributes to the band CD with his enterprising programme, may very well deserve first and, once again, all could have been justified for claiming place. Furthermore, I did have a minor quibble amidst the the top spot. I have voted this time in favour of Celtic Charm, ‘charm’. When an instrumentalist plays a song, I believe it pays which exemplified some wonderful musical lines, a plethora to be familiar with the words so that they can set the tone and of technical gymnastics and the unexplainable ‘wow’ factor. mood of the performance. Thus, it was slightly disappointing This CD just tipped away the Katrina Marzella album, which

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BB 22-23-24-25.indd 24 26-11-2008 15:10:30 SEASONAL SOUNDBITES ow brass charge

with fi ne tuba playing on both CDs, and Fuoco brass also, for recording this fi ne CD with limited rehearsal time. New repertoire features on all of the nominated soloists’ albums, which is good to see and demonstrates to me a willingness to move brass music forward, ever challenging composers and players.” Once again, I will only add my own endorsement to that of the panel, although I really do not know what criteria I would have used to split such an outstanding group as Steven Mead, Katrina Marzella, David Childs, Les Neish and Joe Cook, had it been necessary. Brass bands are lucky to be blessed with such talent, and it is to be hoped that they all continue to push boundaries in their solo and recording careers in the years ahead. Commenting to BB after hearing that he had again won the CD of the Year award, a delighted Steven Mead said: “Its a great honour to receive this award. I wasn’t expecting it as it’s really at the ‘cutting edge’ of euphonium solo repertoire, and more serious in terms of depth and complexity of music than I’ve recorded before, but it was an album I’ve always wanted to do. When the chance came to record it with a brilliant accompanist such as Tomoko Sawano, I made sure I was really prepared for it. I’m most grateful to all involved with the making of Audacious, especially my production team, who were so supportive and sensed from the beginning that this could be something very special. Thanks to the panel at the BB for recognising the high value of serious brass recordings and I hope this award will encourage more performers to be ‘audacious’ in their choice of music, and maybe it will be a stimulus for today’s generation of composers to continue to demonstrates some stunning and beautiful baritone playing. write great new music for the euphonium.” I must mention the immense contribution that Steven Mead has made to expanding all things euphonium. While his It only remains for me to thank Frank Renton, Alan Jenkins, two CDs were of a more serious nature, they are technically Tim Mutum and Richard Phillips for their diligence and stunning, as we would expect, and pushing against the professionalism in selecting this year’s winners and off ering boundaries with brass ensemble accompaniment and new the congratulations of all at BB to Foden’s and Steven Mead repertoire. Debut and Badinage also deserve a mention, for producing two such remarkable recordings.

1 2 3 4 5 6

How the judges voted TM RP AJ FR Total Pos Audacious - Steven Mead 5 4 5 6 20 1 Katrina - Katrina Marzella 6 5 4 4 19 2 Celtic Charm - David Childs 2 6 6 2 16 3 Brass and Wines - Steven Mead 4 3 2 5 14 4 Debut - Joseph Cook 3 2 3 3 11 5 Badinage - Les Neish 1 1 1 1 4 6

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BB 22-23-24-25.indd 25 26-11-2008 15:10:39 AWAY IN A MANGER, Leslie Condon: £19.95 BLEAK MID-WINTER, Kenneth Downie: £24.95 A CAROL FANTASY, Eric Ball: £24.95 CAROLCADE, Trevor Davis: £24.95 CHRISTMAS CALYPSO, Peter Graham: £24.95 CHRISTMAS JOY, Erik Leidzen: £24.95 CHRISTMAS PRAISE, Noel Jones: £24.95 COMFORT AND JOY, Martyn Thomas: £24.95 DECK THE HALLS, Barrie Gott: £24.95 THE FESTIVE SEASON, Morley Calvert: £39.95 GAUDETE, Kevin Norbury: £39.95 GOD REST YE MERRY GENTLEMEN, Leslie Condon: £19.95 I WONDER AS I WANDER, Andrew Blyth: £19.95 IL EST NÉ (HE IS BORN), Kevin Norbury: £29.95 JINGLE BELLS, Norman Bearcroft: £29.95 JOYOUS CARILLON, Norman Bearcroft: £29.95 LITTLE LORD JESUS, Neils Silfverberg: £24.95 THE MANGER SCENE, Leslie Condon: £19.95 Send for our latest catalogue, now available from: R. Smith & Company, 66-78 Denington Road, Wellingborough, MASTERS IN THIS HALL, Norman Bearcroft: £24.95 Northants, NN8 2QH, England THE NEW BORN BABE, Bruce Broughton: £29.95 THE PROCLAMATION OF CHRISTMAS, Stephen Bulla: £29.95 SHEPHERDS FAREWELL, Hector Berlioz/Ray Steadman-Allen: £29.95 THE SHINING STAR, Peter Graham: £24.95

Friday 16 January 2009 7.30pm Celebration Concert with the Grimethorpe Colliery Band conducted by BBC Radio 2’s Frank Renton Barnsley Metrodome Arena Special guest appearance from Pete Postlethwaite (‘Danny’ from Brassed Off) Tickets £14.00 Available from: 01226 730098 or email: [email protected]

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BB 26-27.indd 26 26-11-2008 13:52:34 SEASONAL SOUNDBITES Milestone for Listening Post by Kenneth Crookston

R. Smith and Company has been around since 1857 and is synonymous with brass band music, its impressive list of publications including many of the great classics of the genre, like Resurgam, Epic Symphony, Pageantry and Comedy Overture, among many others. Like many companies, it has found it prudent over the years to diversify its interests and, when brass bands started to make LPs in volume in the late 1960s, R. Smith saw this as an opportunity and began to retail them. It went on to produce catalogues listing recordings and tracks but, 17 years ago, recognised the need to step up a notch and off er something more than this basic information.

So, in June 1991, Ken Kendall, who is now Commercial Director of R. Smith, rang Tim Mutum with the idea of adding some editorial to the catalogue. Tim had written countless reviews for brass band magazines, is an authority on band recordings and their history and was seen as obvious choice to help readers through the plethora of recordings being issued and off er them some recommendations. Through his contacts with recording companies, Tim was also able to give readers early news of forthcoming releases and other recording news. In September 1991, the fi rst issue of Listening Post was published. Tim cannot remember how the title came about. “I know I had chats with Ken Kendall about the format and layout, but I have forgotten how we arrived at a title,” he recalled, adding, “I do know that the fi rst recommended recording was The Music of Eric Ball, featuring Brighouse and Rastrick Band conducted by Geoff rey Brand on the Harlequin label.” Two or three pages of reviews and news were followed by a section with all the latest releases, and then a catalogue of all the available brass band recordings. produces them. “I can’t abide sloppy booklets with misspelt When asked to name a favourite disc (or two or three) from all music titles and composers, or poor information on the music. those Listening Posts, Tim just laughed and said, “Impossible. In the early days, the emphasis was purely on reviews, I also like to know where and when the CD was made and There have been so many good ones, and, while I don’t think but in recent times, Tim has turned the style into more of details of music publishers,” he said. bands have really stretched themselves at times to get beyond a conversation with the reader. Clearly his role is to help the brass band market place and into the wider musical R. Smith sell CDs and DVDs (and cassettes in the early Today, three issues per year are produced, and the 75th issue world, we have been treated to some stunning recordings and days). However, Tim is not afraid to point out some of the has just been printed and mailed out to the loyal readers. hopefully still will be in the months and years to come.” defi ciencies and glaring errors in recordings, no matter who “I must have featured between 400 and 500 recordings over those 75 issues, not that I have actually counted them, although I could, as I am probably the only person with a complete set of 75,” he joked, continuing, “In that 17 years, there have been some astonishingly good recordings. The CDs Elgar Howarth made with Grimethorpe stand out, as do many Black Dyke recordings, like those featuring music by Walton, Holst, Elgar and George Lloyd. We must also remember the contribution made by David King and YBS, as well as some great performances from Fairey, Foden’s and Cory.”

Tim refl ects on some of the lesser CDs that he feels are just strung together: “Needless to say, they found no place in Listening Post and, while I am keen on the serious repertoire bands have recorded, there have been some really good lighter programmes too. There have also been some really fi ne self-produced eff orts, and no self-respecting soloist can go on the road these days without at least one solo disc to their credit.”

BRITISH BANDSMAN PAGE 27

BB 26-27.indd 27 26-11-2008 13:52:44 CHANDOS BRASS Chandos – serious about brass bands Hear well-loved melodies alongside contemporary repertoire performed by some of the UK’s finest Brass ensembles

CHAN 4516 CHAN 4509 CHAN 4510 CHAN 4525 150 Years of Black Dyke Complete Champions Champions of Brass Showcase for Brass Black Dyke Mills Band Black Dyke Mills Band Black Dyke Mills Band Besses O’ Th’ Barn Band ‘…their Famous British Marches ‘…music-making of the highest ‘…this is sheer magic.’ ‘This is a cracking disc and Medley tingles the spine with order.’ Classical Collection worthy of any brass collection.’ patriotism…’ Essex Chronicle Welsh Evening Star Modern Dance

CHAN 4533 CHAN 4504 CHAN 4542 CHAN 4550 Spectrum of Brass Blitz French Bonbons White Christmas Black Dyke Mills Band Black Dyke Mills Band Grimethorpe Colliery Band Grimethorpe Colliery Band ‘…the very best of Gordon ‘colourful and brilliant effects… ‘…delightful performances… ‘Only the stoniest hear would Langford’ highly explosive and dynamic…’ you would be hard pressed to do fail to be captivated by the Brass Review Gramophone better in the brass-band idiom’ musicianship, the warmth of Fanfare tone, the technical excellence and sheer verve of it all.’ Yorkshire Post

CHAN 4552 CHAN 4543 The Melody Shop Bone Idyll Grimethorpe Colliery Band The Williams Fairey Band ‘The music-making and recording ‘The sound of the band is are top drawer.’ wonderful and the feeling for the Classic FM Magazine music is all first class.’ Brass Review

All titles on the Brass label are available as either a CD or as an mp3 download; compatible with all mp3 players – and at 320kbs! Also shop for Doyen and SP and S recordings – available as mp3s from www.theclassicalshop.net

BB 28-29.indd 28 26-11-2008 13:56:36 SEASONAL SOUNDBITES Anniversary celebrations at Doyen by John Ward

2009 will see Doyen Recordings celebrating its 21st increasing recording needs that modern technology demands. can be a daunting experience, but Doyen’s package makes Anniversary, the Company having been founded by Robert With recent enhancements within the Doyen Mobile, our team sure that all the organisation’s needs are catered for, and and Nicholas Childs in 1988. It is now established at the will be able to accommodate the latest technology serviced by Alison Childs commented: “From a band’s initial contact, I will forefront of location recording, and the Doyen Mobile highly qualified producers and engineers.” personally guide it through this exciting time, with helpful continues to expand its range, both musically and technically. For bands inexperienced in the recording studio, making a CD hints of ensuring an enriched recording experience for all the Speaking to BB about the year ahead, Nicholas Childs band’s members. John Maines, qualified as Batchelor of Music commented: “With releases from Brass in Concert, a wonderful and Doyen’s in-house producer, brings with him a wealth of CD featuring marches of The Salvation Army and a stunning experience as a player, conductor and broadcaster, with a recording project celebrating 125 years of Cory Band, to name professional, yet personal and encouraging manner to bring but a few, 2009 promises to be really special for us.” the best out of every band.” As well as its involvement with the leading brass groups around today, Doyen is also proud of its releases on its sister Highlighting the experience in the Doyen team, Alison Childs label, Amadeus, which feature Camborne Youth, Lions Youth, concluded: “Richard Scott also has over 20 years of recording Oldham (Lees), West Lothian Schools, Langley and Bratton experience, having received the highly-acclaimed Tonmeister Silver bands among others, all of which have taken advantage Batchelor of Music honours degree in recording techniques, of the expertise of Doyen’s recording team to produce CDs in and is a wizard in kaking the sonorous sounds to shine order to raise money for their own funds. through on your recording session.” Dr. Childs added: “The Doyen team is constantly aware of ever- When thinking of your next recording, give Doyen a call.

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Doyen Recordings Ltd. P.O. Box 42, Denshaw, Saddleworth, Oldham. OL3 5WQ Tel 01457 820138 website: www.doyenmobile.com email: [email protected] RECORDINGS

BRITISH BANDSMAN PAGE 29

BB 28-29.indd 29 26-11-2008 13:56:40 SEASONAL SOUNDBITES Cats Tales Roger Webster (cornet) Brass Band Buizingen Conductor: Luc Vertommen Brass Band Buizingen CD 88680-2 Available from World of Brass, Midland CD, 4Barsrest

This self-produced CD by one of Belgium’s leading brass bands features an adventurous and entertaining programme, as well as a guest appearance by arguably the fi nest cornet player of his generation, Roger Webster, all under the guidance of the outstanding musician, Luc Vertommen. Leslie Condon’s march, Celebration, opens the disc in style, with the band suitably strident, although this style doesn’t always pay off in the next piece, Phillip Sparke’s A Pittsburgh Symphony, which was originally written for the River City Brass Band and Robert Bernat. The two central movements of this work, River City Serenade and Mountain Song, will be familiar to many listeners, but hearing them in context shows them an entirely new light for those who, like this listener, are unfamiliar with the complete work. Kenneth Downie’s Peace is a companion work to his more familiar In Perfect Peace, both of which are included on this recording, and the cantabile style is well captured by Brass Band Buizingen, with the middle and lower band sounds in particular creating a feeling of warmth in the band’s sound. Johan Evenepoel is perhaps best-known in brass band circles for his mammoth test-piece, Ginnungagap, which the band featured on its excellent 2004 recording, Ad Optimum. It should almost go without saying that the playing, by Roger Webster, of Evenepoel’s Cornet Concerto is impeccable, the ‘bluesy’, often muted style in the extended opening section being one with which the soloist is most defi nitely ‘at home’. One minor criticism would be that the recording suff ers from being over-engineered in places, with the soloist appearing to move around somewhat. Interestingly, according to the extensive and well-researched programme notes, the solo was premièred by Luc Vertommen himself; he must have been good! Goff Richards’Homage to the Noble Grape is described as a ‘trip through the vineyards of Europe, each piece suggesting the nationality as well as the character of the drink.’ As well as being terrifi c fun, the piece gives solo opportunities for the xcellente Harmen Vanhoorne (cornet) and Pieter Nevejans (tuba), both of whom perform excellently despite sounding as if they recorded their solo lines in an echo chamber. Edvard Grieg’s Ved Rondane is given a sublime reading by Roger Webster, although the same problem of placing the soloist in relation to the position of the band exists as in the previous solo tracks. Peter Graham’s Cats Tales, a fi ve-movement suite heavily infl uenced by jazz, closes the programme, which should provide a welcome diversion for anyone requiring something just a bit ‘outside the box’ this Christmas. Kenneth Crookston Now that’s what I call brass! Vol. 6 Various bands and soloists World of Brass WOB 140 CD (double album) Available from World of Brass, Midland CD, 4Barsrest

With Christmas fast approaching, the problem of Christmas presents raises its perennial head. This compilation CD might be just the thing as a stocking-fi ller, being comprised of various tracks from recent releases. Many of the big names are there - Black Dyke, Cory, Grimethorpe, Fairey - in company with other bands from within and without The Salvation Army. The programme is eclectic and gives a good idea of how these bands are faring at the moment. Recent ‘live’ test-pieces come from Grimethorpe (Music for Battle Creek) and Cory (Brass Blót) with further substantial studio contributions from Black Dyke (Elgar’s Severn Suite and Pines along the Appian Way), Eikanger- Bjørsvik (Torstein Aagaard-Nilsen’s Riff s and Interludes) and Fairey (Philip Lawrence’s eff ective transcription of Siegfried’s Funeral Music from Wagner’s Götterdämmerung). Sacred music is represented by Grimethorpe (Crimond, Robert Redhead’s Refl ections in Nature and Martin Nystrom’s As the Deer), The Household Troops (The Lord is Gracious), Boscombe Citadel (Eric Ball’s Sanctuary), Kettering Citadel (Praise Tribute), The International Staff Band (Leslie Condon’sSong of the Eternal) and the late lamented Gothenburg (Ravenswood). There are solo contributions from David Childs with Cory (Ar Lan y Mór and Philip Wilby’s A Celtic Charm), Richard Marshall with Black Dyke (James Curnow’s Concertpiece for Cornet) and Steve Sykes with de Bazuin (Denzil Stephens’ Rondino). Makeweight tracks include Philip Sparke’s arrangement of Widor’s Toccata (Black Dyke) and Philip Harper’s arrangements of Copacabana and The Water of Tyne (Polysteel). As a mixed showcase, this compilation works reasonably well, with most of the performances of a high standard, although my major grouse is a complete lack of booklet notes. Track listings are provided, but no indication of who is conducting - somewhat remiss, particularly when the conductor of Severn Suite is the internationally-renowned Sir Colin Davis! That minor point aside, this collection should brighten the Christmas morning of any lucky recipient. Rodney Newton

BRITISH BANDSMAN PAGE 30

BB 30-31.indd 30 26-11-2008 14:08:37 SEASONAL SOUNDBITES Day of Freedom North York Temple Band (Toronto) Bandmaster Glenn Barlow Available from e-mail: [email protected]

Day of Freedom is the latest CD from North York Temple Band of Toronto. The band has seen a resurgence in recent years, due in no small part to the direction of Bandmaster Glenn Barlow, who assumed leadership of the band in 2004. A product of Boscombe Corps in England, Barlow also served as the Enfi eld Citadel Band’s soprano cornet player for fi ve years under James Williams. The CD opens with a sparkling rendition of Turkington’s march, Able, rescored for full band by Bill Himes. The fi rst major work follows.Music for a Joyful Occasion was written for the Canadian Staff Band’s 24th anniversary concert, for which the composer, Kenneth Downie, was the guest. This is challenging music, as one would expect from Downie, but it presents no diffi culties for the band. Bob Venables’ choice of Redhead’s Life Abundant for this recording is an interesting one, as this solo was written for Deryck Diff ey when Bob was a student in Toronto, and would have sat down the bottom of the front row of the CSB cornet section as Deryck played the solo. Here the student assumes the role of master, as Venables gives as fi ne a performance of this solo as I’ve ever heard. Well worth havingthe CD just for this item alone. Following a refl ective reading of another Downie piece, Jesus answers prayer, and Bill Himes’ lovely arrangement of Christ is all, featuring Mark Hall on euphonium, the band returns to another Redhead composition, Quintessence. Written for Melbourne Staff Band’s visit to the UK in 1978, the work takes on an Australian fl avour and features songs and themes associated with that territory. Two of Bob Venables’ sons are featured in solos. Brindley displays a pleasing cornet sound in Joy Webb’s Share my Yoke and Barrington demonstrates fi ne technique in Peter Graham’s trombone solo,The Guardian. Other off erings on the disk include another Downie composition, Into the Future, and RSA’s moving arrangement of the song, O take me as I am, is given a sensitive reading by the band. Also included is a vocal item in the form of the old Erik Leidzen song, Homeward Bound. I enjoyed this, as it’s been many years since I last heard it. The fi nal major work on the recording is Martin Cordner’s Day of Freedom, which has become popular in the last few years and has been recorded by other bands. Barlow and the NYTB give a confi dent account of this descriptive music, which takes as it’s main theme two contrasting songs, the 17th century German hymn, Lobe den Herren, and The Midnight Cry. The band tackles this challenging work with a fl air and confi dence not often found in corps bands, and thus ends the recording in a triumphant fashion. The CD comes with colourful and informative sleeve notes, and I would recommend it as a welcome addition to any collection. Stan Ewing Katrina Katrina Marzella (baritone horn) Leyland Band, Conductors: Russell Gray, Jason Katsikaris, John Wilson (piano), World of Sound SFZ 144, Available from World of Brass, Midland CD, 4Barsrest When it comes to brass band soloists, cornet and euphonium players have traditionally hogged the limelight, and the contemporary ‘giants’ of these instruments, like Roger Webster, Martin Winter, Richard Marshall, David Childs, David Thornton and Steven Mead, have been mainly responsible for the cornerstone recordings of recent years. Great exponents of the horn, trombone and tuba have also had their share of the spoils, but no great impression on the brass recording market has ever been made by a baritone soloist - until now! There have, of course, been great baritone players in the past, like John Slinger and Peter Christian of Black Dyke fame, and there still are plenty of excellent ones around in our leading Championship Section bands, but even the title of this album alludes to the fact that there is only one Katrina. To use a sporting analogy, Katrina Marzella is the Bob Beamon of the baritone – the one who took a discipline and extended its horizons like no other has before, reminiscent of the great American long jumper, who blew the athletics world apart when he smashed the existing record in his chosen discipline by nearly two feet at the Mexico Olympics in 1968. Martin Ellerby’s Concerto for Baritone is the fi rst work on the recording. Commissioned in 2007 by the soloist, it was written to be ‘specifi cally a baritone concerto and not a euphonium concerto masquerading as the former’. After an energetic and colourful opening Fusions, the second movement, Soliloquy, contains some of the most beautifully sensitive playing that this listener has heard on any brass instrument and alone is worth the purchase price of this disc. The lively Tangents closes the work, which will surely become one of the most important in the baritone repertoire in the years ahead. The familiar Donegal Bay receives characteristically elegant treatment from the soloist and she continues to display great artistry in Pedro Iturralde’s Pequeña Czarda, in which the opening melody is followed by a Greek-style dance that builds up to a spectacular fi nale. John Wilson is the accompanist for the following two works (Leyland Band is the accomplished accompanying group on the rest of the disc), Saint Saëns’ The Swan and Rachmaninov’s Lied, which are subtly handled by both performers. Philip Harper’s haunting A Hebridean Lullaby allows the performer to demonstrate her affi nity with her maternal ancestors’ homeland (her father is of Italian extraction, clearly the perfect recipe for a baritone player!), before perhaps the most fascinating work in the collection, Torstein Aagaard-Nilsen’s Feber-Fantasi, a piece originally written for euphonium, in which the soloist is accompanied only by nine cornets. Among Katrina Marzella’s many achievements were the back-to-back British Open and Ern Keller solo titles that she won in the past two years, and the piece that she performed en route to these victories, Concerto per Flicorno Basso by Ponchielli, is appropriately featured as the fi nale to this truly outstanding collection by a unique player and musician. By way of an encore, the Eva Cassidy-inspired Over the Rainbow serves confi rmation (as if it were needed) that Katrina’s lyrical playing could almost bring a tear to a glass eye and that, in the proper hands, even the humble baritone can be way up high. Kenneth Crookston

BRITISH BANDSMAN PAGE 31

BB 30-31.indd 31 26-11-2008 14:08:54 SEASONAL SOUNDBITES The ISB reaches out to the world Rodney Newton takes a look at the background of Together, the International Staff Band’s new CD, produced in collaboration with Universal Music, and aimed at the widest possible audience

Bandmaster Dr. Stephen Cobb Major David Hinton Producer, Jon Cohen

BRITISH BANDSMAN PAGE 32

BB 32-33.indd 32 26-11-2008 13:52:07 SEASONAL SOUNDBITES

With the announcement (in BB issue 5530, 11 October) of a brass bands meant two things - the 1996 movie, Brassed Off, Symphony; Dean Goffin’s transcription ofNimrod ; When I major recording contract between The Salvation Army and and Salvation Army bands. Thus, a project was envisaged Survey the Wond’rous Cross; You’ll Never Walk Alone (sung by Universal Music, the International Staff Band (ISB) has added involving The Salvation Army’s flagship band playing Lesley Garrett in an arrangement by Peter Graham); Nearer a whole new dimension to its ministry. Not restricting itself arrangements of a variety of pieces, some in unusual settings. my God to Thee; The Wind Beneath my Wheels; Make Me a to Salvationist listeners, nor even to the world of brass bands We contacted the ISB Bandmaster, Dr. Stephen Cobb, and Channel of Thy Peace (sung by Aled Jones); O Christmas Tree; as a whole, the ISB is reaching out to as wide an audience went to hear the band. Being very impressed with what we Going Home (a choral version of the New World Largo sung by as possible with this album, to be released on 24 November, heard, we entered into negotiations with Major David Hinton Fron Male Voice Choir) and an unusual treatment of Gustav which, it is hoped, will appeal to everyone, whatever their (Secretary for Business Administration for The Salvation Holst’s carol melody, In the Bleak Midwinter. On Friday, 21 background, creed or circumstances. Entitled Together, Army in the UK and the Republic of Ireland), and a recording November, the ISB appeared with Lesley Garrett live on This this collection of popular melodies, arranged in a more contract was drawn up. We then asked Jon Cohen if he would Morning (ITV1) and, on 1 December, the band will appear live commercial style than one is used to from this source, provides produce the album.” on Classic FM, to launch the popular radio station’s Christmas a message of hope and inspiration in these times of instability programmes, both programmes featuring music from this in insecurity. The contract negotiated, band having been engaged and release. The brainchild of Universal Music, the recording company’s the sessions booked, it was then time for Jon Cohen to select Looking at the project from the point of view of The Salvation Artist and Repertoire Manager, Tom Lewis, explained to BB the pieces and have the arrangements made. An arranger Army, Major David Hinton told BB: “This venture was never how the project came into being: “We had two albums on himself, he was able to undertake much of the work, but he just about the music. Through it, we hope to make the work of the market, Voices of the Valley (with Fron Male Voice Choir of also invited Professor Peter Graham and a young commercial The Salvation Army much better known to a wider public and Llangollen) and Spirit of the Glen (with the Band of the Royal arranger, Cliff Masterson, on board to assist with the task. The the royalties received will go to benefit our many charitable Scots Dragoon Guards), in which popular national music was result is a collection of well-known melodies, some religious activities, including our centres for the homeless, drug addicts, given a contemporary feel by the producer, Jon Cohen (who and some secular, performed by the ISB, with the addition community centres (we have 800 of these throughout the holds four Classical Brit nominations for Best Album, four No.1 of keyboards, synthesisers, acoustic and electric guitars, an nation). After the Government, The Salvation Army is the next classical albums, has produced CDs for the Opera Babes and electric bass and drums. In addition, two special guest artists biggest provider of social services in the UK, and the money Vanessa-Mae, and has the sale of over a million albums to appear - singers, Lesley Garrett and Aled Jones - as well generated from the sales of this CD will be channelled into his credit). Both of these albums were very successful, with as Fron Male Voice Choir. Jon Cohen further revealed, “We helping those members of society who have ‘fallen through Spirit of the Glen gaining a platinum award, and it was decided wanted the album to have a ‘feel-good’ factor, as people often the net’.” that we should follow these up with another in a similar vein, turn to music during times of difficulty. As with my other two Finally, the Bandmaster of the ISB, Dr. Stephen Cobb, but one which would inspire people at this time of financial albums, we have retained the elements that make a brass commented to BB, “This has been a new conception for the stricture and uncertainty. A Universal staff member, Becky band special, but have added other touches in an attempt to band. We have been recorded and produced in a slightly Allen, whose parents had been active in Salvation Army bands give the collection a broader appeal. Some tracks, however, different way than we are used to, but the whole experience and Songster groups in Mansfield and Sutton-in-Ashfield, feature the band alone, without any additions.” of making a more commercial CD has been really engaging. suggested that we might do something involving a brass The tracks on the CD include, Let it Be; Somewhere over the We hope the public will appreciate this mixture of popular band. We reasoned that, in the minds of the general public, Rainbow; You Raise me Up; the Largo from Dvorak’s New World music.”

BRITISH BANDSMAN PAGE 33

BB 32-33.indd 33 26-11-2008 13:52:11 SEASONAL SOUNDBITES Fantastic Overtures Volume 3 Black Dyke Band, Conductor: Nicholas J. Childs Obrasso CD 931 Available from World of Brass, Midland CD, 4Barsrest

This third volume of overtures features arrangements by Howard Lorriman throughout, and very eff ective they are. The programme consists of overtures not often encountered in brass band transcriptions (with the exception of Franz von Suppé’s Light Cavalry) and this release is all the more valuable for that. Following an impressive reading of the Suppé (with superb cornet and tenor horn solos by Richard Marshall and Sandy Smith), Johann Strauss II takes us into the world of the Hungarian gypsies in his overture to The Gypsy Baron, full of romance and fi re, but with a beguiling waltz tune. Off enbach’s delightful overture to La Belle Hélène brings the cheeky world of Parisian operetta to life, while a Suppé rarity, the overture to The Jolly Robbers, make the eponymous thieves sound like a very amiable bunch. Another Off enbach favourite, his overture to Orpheus in the Underworld, receives an idiomatic reading with a lovely euphonium solo from David Thornton, and the band really letting its hair down in the famous can-can. Johann Strauss’s seldom-heard overture Waldmeister (an Austo- German drink, as Howard Lorriman informs us in his comprehensive booklet notes) which follows, turns out to be a lilting work, before a pair of Suppé’s overtures, Morning Noon and Night in Vienna and Poet and Peasant, stylishly complete the collection (the latter not quite banishing memories of Spike Jones’ irreverent treatment). Black Dyke’s playing is alert and sensitive throughout and the recording from Morley Town Hall, by John Maines (producer) and Richard Scott (engineer), is of demonstration quality. The perfect CD for Christmas morning, New Year’s Day (or any ‘morning, noon or night’ for that matter), this release will make an ideal gift. Warmly recommended. Rodney Newton

The Arban Collection II Russell Gray (cornet) Leyland Band, Conductor: Michael Fowles Egon SFZ 145 Available from World of Brass, Midland CD, 4Barsrest

As a follow-up to Russell Gray’s fi rst volume of cornet solos by Jean Baptiste Arban, this collection is worthy of its predecessor. Many of the arrangements for brass band are by Gary Westwood, although there are contributions from Marc Owen (Variations sur Le Carnival de Venice), John Durrant (Souvenir de Kroll) and Iain McKnight (Bonheur de Revoir), sometime creating their arrangements from a single solo line. These pieces are still prime examples of their genre, and it is a brave soloist who commits them to disc for posterity. However, when it comes to the playing of this repertoire, Russell Gray need fear no comparisons. His playing is assured throughout, whether it be in the acrobatics of Souvenir de Kroll or Vois tu la Niege qui Brille which requires a tongue like the proverbial rattlesnake. His tone is luminous, as evinced by Cavatine et Variations, and his articulation of absolute clarity, as heard in his fl eet-footed performance of the briefCasino Polka. This is not music of great profundity, but it is music which does its job perfectly, that of providing material for technical exercise, while also creating showcase for an outstanding soloist. The pieces are pleasant to listen to and pleasingly varied, with marathons like the Sur un Thême Favori (de Weber) and the eight-minute Air Varie sur le petit Suisse (not to be attempted by the faint-hearted!), rubbing shoulders with slightly less demanding pieces such as Bonheur de se Revoire. The accompaniments, by Leyland Band under Michael Fowles, is of exemplary discretion, and the recording, by the team of Brian A. Hilson, Adam Goldsmith and Richard Sutcliff e, of demonstration quality. With this album, Russell Gray has achieved his ambition of recording all 18 of the solos to be found at the back of the Boosey & Hawkes edition of the Arban’s Grande Méthode. A personal ‘Everest’ now conquered, and currently much involved in conducting, one hope it will not be too long before one is able to catch one’s breath at the cornet virtuosity of Russell Gray once more. Strongly recommended. Rodney Newton

BRITISH BANDSMAN PAGE 34

BB 34-35.indd 34 26-11-2008 13:58:11 SEASONAL SOUNDBITES Epic Brass II Black Dyke Band, The International Staff Band Conductors: Nicholas J. Childs and Stephen Cobb World of Brass WOB 132 DVD Available from World of Brass, Midland CD, 4Barsrest

In 2001, Black Dyke Band and the International Staff Band of The Salvation Army (ISB) shared the stage of the Royal Albert Hall in a gala concert entitled Epic Brass, given on the evening following that year’s National Final. This year, the two bands met in friendly collaboration yet again at The Sage Gateshead for a sequel event, here captured ‘live’ by the rather restless cameras of Timeline Vision and the microphones of Doyen Recordings. The ISB starts the proceedings with a spirited performance under Bandmaster Dr. Stephen Cobb of Leslie Condon’s Call of the Righteous, followed by Kenneth Downie’s transcription of an Ave Maria by Anton Bruckner, followed by a short documentary feature with Julian Bright in conversation with Drs Stephen Cobb and Nicholas Childs in which Dr. Cobb introduces Dudley Bright’s tone-poem, The Cost of Freedom, specially written for this concert. A very substantial work, it is based on the life of the German theologian, Dietrich Bonhoeff er, hanged in Buchenwald concentration camp for his steadfast opposition to the Nazi regime, and receives a powerful, ommittedc performance. Black Dyke begins its programme with Philip Sparke’s spectacular transcription of Widor’s Toccata, followed by an immaculate performance of Frank Simon’s Miss Blue Bonnett from solo cornet, Richard Marshall. Peter Graham’s Cartoon Music follows, an accurate pastiche of the Bugs Bunny - Tom and Jerry cartoon scores of Scott Bradley and Carl Stalling, while Black Dyke’s Composer-in-Residence, Paul Lovatt-Cooper’s contributes Immortal, a tribute to his band’s distinguished history which involves a soaring cornet solo for Richard Marshall. The two bands then join forces for a tribute to Peter Graham. His arrangement of the ‘sunrise’ opening of Richard Strauss’s Also Sprach Zarathustra comes fi rst, sounding magnifi cent (if a little ragged round the edges), and is followed by the ubiquitous Shine as the Light, with both bands clearly relishing this popular piece. David Thornton is the euphonium soloist in Peter Graham’s Fantasy on Semper Libera from Verdi’s La Traviata, before Cats Tales, an entertaining tribute to the Bernsteins (Elmer and Leonard), Henry Mancini, Sonny Rollins and George Gershwin, is given a spritely performance. The grand fi nale is Peter Graham’s transcription ofPines along the Appian Way, from Respighi’s Pines of Rome, which gets a full-blooded rendering and makes an interesting comparison with Howard Snell’s better-known version. Both bands the bid adieu with How Great Thou Art, conducted by Professor Graham himself. All this would be attractive enough in itself, but World of Brass has hidden a gem among the bonus tracks. These consist of a montage of Black Dyke images, underscored by Paul Lovatt-Cooper’s Immortal, a rather faded copy of a salute to the ISB on its 75th anniversary, with commentary interspersing performances shot at Regent Hall (the soundtrack is distinctly ‘low-fi ’ but the images of the ISB of the day are fascinating), and a real treasure - a complete BBC Omnibus programme entitled Top Brass (transmitted on 22 January 1968). Centered around Black Dyke, GUS Footwear and Woodfalls Silver (as it was then), the programme’s producer, Ian Engelmann, allows bandsmen and conductors to speak for themselves. A dashing Geoff rey Brand leads Dyke to victory at the 1967 National Final on Eric Ball’s Journey into Freedom, with sequences taken from his own rehearsals, together with those of Stanley Boddington (conducting GUS) and Courtney Bosanko (conducting Woodfalls). Many bandspeople have their say, including the conductors listed above, and there are appearances by Roy Newsome and James Shepherd (both looking very young!) as well as backstage footage from the Royal Albert Hall of Eric Ball, Gilbert Vinter, Frank Wright and a rather offi cious Edwin Vaughan Morris. The copy is only a monochrome ‘work print’, complete with fl ickering time-code readout (used by the BBC for editing purposes), but as a historical document, it is absolutely priceless and should be seen by everyone with even a passing interest in brass bands. All in all, this is a signifi cant release for a number of reasons and self-recommending as a gift this Christmas. Rodney Newton Regionals 2008 Williams Fairey Band, Foden’s Richardson Band, Black Dyke Band, Cory Band Conductors: Major Peter Parkes, Michael Fowles, Nicholas J. Childs, Robert Childs Doyen Recordings Doy CD246 Available from World of Brass, Midland CD, 4Barsrest

Intending doing some practise on next year’s Regional test-piece over the Christmas holiday? Well, there’s no better place to start than the latest in the long line of ‘Regional’ CDs, featuring the tests selected by the Kapitol Promotions Music Panel for the fi ve sections of the National Brass Band Championships of Great Britain. The Championship Section piece, Gilbert Vinter’s Salute to Youth, is revived in a mid-1990s performance by the leading band of the day, Williams Fairey, under Peter Parkes. For those unfamiliar with arguably Vinter’s most diffi cult test-piece, numerous ‘tricky corners’ pervade the work, and not even the great Fairey Band conquers them all, the two outer movements tripping the band up somewhat and the syncopated part near the end fl agging-up an obvious ‘banana skin’, around which all bands will need to tread very carefully in March. Those who think that Salute to Youth is too easy for today’s Championship Section bands will therefore do well to think again. Graham Cole’s Pentacle is performed by Foden’s under Michael Fowles and based on the elements of the fi ve-pointed star of the title.Earth, Wind, Fire, Water and Quintessence are all represented, with rhythms and intervals throughout the work heavily based on the number fi ve. Fowles and Foden’s take it in their stride, but this is a work that will require hard work for most 1st Section bands. Dan Price’s New World Sketches provides the 2nd Section test in March, and it will unquestionably prove an enjoyable challenge for the bands at that level. Sidewalk, The Deep South and Rodeo are the three movements performed with ease by Black Dyke and Nicholas Childs. The Once and Future King by Andrew Baker is a three-movement work based on Arthurian legend, here performed by the European and Brass in Concert Champion, Cory, under Robert Childs. Descriptive but relatively straightforward, this work is naturally easily within Cory’s grasp, but 3rd Section bands will have enough to get their teeth into in the coming months, although the best of them should be able to make the music come alive. Frank Hughes, the composer of the 4th Section test-piece, is from an older generation than the composers of the three other Lower Section works, having played with Foden’s under Harry Mortimer earlier in his career. The Talisman is another three-movement work and is arguably more challenging than the pieces chosen for this division in previous years, although the best of them at this level will manage to clear the hurdles. Cory Band, of course, manages it with ease. This is an enjoyable collection of works, all given accomplished performances in this collection, which itself has proved to be among the most popular discs of the year. Kenneth Crookston

BRITISH BANDSMAN PAGE 35

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BB 36-37.indd 36 26-11-2008 13:53:03 READER CONTEST CAPTION COMPETITION

Win a CD or DVD of your choice from the World of Brass catalogue by devising the cleverest or funniest caption for the picture on the left.

Exactly what was Roger Webster saying to assistant principal cornet, Ian Shires, after Grimethorpe Colliery Band’s performance at this year’s British Open Championship at Symphony Hall, Birmingham?

E-mail your answers to [email protected] for your chance to win our great prize.

The closing date for entries is 13 December 2008, the editor’s decision is fi nal, and the winning entry will be announced in BB’s edition of 27 December.

Good luck!

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BRITISH BANDSMAN PAGE 37

BB 36-37.indd 37 26-11-2008 13:53:11 SEASONAL SOUNDBITES Quite a year for the audaci

2008 has been a busy and successful year for not to overlook in case I would wake up one day soon unable euphonium”. Gerard Klaucke’s artistic front cover summed it up Steven Mead, during which he has recorded to play! Each was completely different and saw me work in in a different way, with a menacing shark (could this be the masterworks, teamed up with Europe’s arguably six different countries - England, Spain, Austria, Japan, USA critics?) closing in a gleaming treasure chest and euphonium. finest brass quintet, recorded in Scotland with and Scotland. I want to tell you in particular about three The rest of the programme added some breadth to the Whitburn and ‘jazzed’ it up in Austria, as well as of them that are released now on my own label, Bocchino expressive scope, Hungarian Melodies (V. Bach), Mosaique throwing in a few live recordings in Japan and USA Music (pronounced Bok-eeno in case it ever comes up in (Boutry), Gliere’s expressive Impromptu and Tchaikovsky’s for good measure. For someone with such a busy conversation), which is Italian for mouthpiece (and something virtuoso violin classic, Valse Scherzo (the latter two both and diverse recording schedule, there is no better less polite, I discovered some months after I named it thus!). specially arranged by Luc Vertommen). The Friday-Sunday place to discuss a year of achievement than British Firstly is the double CD titled Audacious, which was recorded recording was a physical marathon in the best recording Bandsman’s Christmas Recordings issue, so here is in Studio 7 at the RNCM with the incredible Japanese pianist, tradition, and I was so appreciative of the help I got from the euphonium virtuoso himself. Tomoko Sawano. She is remarkable, in that her fearsome Richard Scott, Keith Farrington and my good friend and former technique and constant drive for perfection in everything student, Mark Bousie. Tomoko once again worked her brilliant For those who have bought my CDs over the years, I thank she does is matched by her extraordinary musicality and brand of piano magic for the whole weekend, never once you. Why on earth, I hear you say, in the year of the credit ability to predict exactly what the soloist will do next. To complaining about repeating the hardest sections for me, and crunch, would I want to embark on yet more recordings? hear such power and precision from this slip of a lady around often insisting that she replay some of her solo sections over Good question, to which I will attempt a long-winded answer. five foot three is almost beyond belief. For years, I’ve wanted and over, even although they seemed perfect the first time! Firstly, I didn’t see the credit crunch coming and it’s not my to record the Euphonium Concerto by the Finnish composer For several years, I’ve had the pleasure to be associated fault anyway! Over the years, I have enjoyed going into studios Yukka Linkola. The word ‘fearsome’ sums this work up mildly, with a professional 12-piece brass ensemble from Upper to make CDs with brass bands, wind orchestras, chamber with too many high Es, Fs, F#s and Gs to be funny, but it’s Austria, SoundInn Brass. We’ve toured together in its orchestras and pianos, and each time there has been a good truly great music too, full of memorable, dramatic and lyrical homeland, as well as Germany, Spain, USA and South Korea. reason, usually driven by repertoire or a creative project I just moments. Peter Graham’s new concerto, which he wrote for The programmes have always been a nice mix of classical couldn’t resist. The three Euphonium Magic multi-track CDs me and the Osaka Municipal Band (Japan), imaginatively arrangements, original brass music and some big band items were an enormous ‘studio’ challenge, to make an orchestra of titled In League With Extraordinary Gentlemen was also just towards the end of the second half of concerts. Since I also euphoniums sound live and powerful, the series of The World completed in its version with piano, and I just had to record took on conducting SoundInn Brass about two years ago, we of the Euphonium with the Polyphonic company allowed me this too. My good friend from Hungary, Roland Szentpali, have moved towards more popular styles, which highlight to record pieces for the instrument which helped to popularise had also just finished a new sonata (Sketches 1998), full of the rich talent within the group and have given me a chance new pieces for players around the world, and the older invention and style, and so the programme was falling into to become a lot more stylistically aware myself. Collecting recordings I did with Howard Snell and Fairey (Oration, The place. I decided it would be an album of the most difficult together some great arrangements from sources within the Essential... and Bravura) were such a pleasure to do. pieces, a ‘sadomasochistic musical fantasy’,or, as Iwan Fox so group, we found that we had the basis of a terrific programme This year provided me with a series of quite unique cleverly put it, “..dons the crampons and wields the ice pick to and one that we ‘tried out’ on audiences around Europe. The opportunities which, at the advancing age of 46, I was keen tackle some of the last remaining fearsome high peaks for the recording was then inevitable, as frankly we were just having

BRITISH BANDSMAN PAGE 38

BB 38-39.indd 38 26-11-2008 13:54:32 SEASONAL SOUNDBITES cious euphonium virtuoso

too much fun to keep it to ourselves. When I heard that Hans wrote a piece called Kaleidoscopic Overdrive especially for us, from Japan. Peter Graham was also there on the night in June, Gansch would come in and play on a few tracks too, I was and Professor Henry Howey, who contributed two fabulous as I gave the world première of his euphonium concerto. It’s delighted and we ended up recording in a recital hall at the arrangements, perhaps the most notable of which is the finale a superb work and one that will be heard played its brass picturesque Music School in St. Martin, Upper Austria. It’s just of the Tchaikovsky Violin Concerto, which is perhaps the most band version by David Thornton and Black Dyke at the RNCM released now, entitled Strike Up The Band. It gave me a daunting five minutes or so that I’ve ever recorded (even more Festival of Brass in January. All of Peter’s most loved hallmarks chance to do some real jazz playing for the first time, complete so than the Linkola, if that’s possible!). The recording took are in this three-movement concerto, and the audience with improvisations, and it gives a chance to show off one of place just outside Valencia and the editing and production adored the piece, as I knew they would. the greatest young players of his generation, Salzburg-based took place in the UK, and a big thanks goes to Richard Scott Finally, a live recording was made of the Brass Spectacular Johannes Baer. We hear his genius as composer, arranger and for his invaluable help with this project. The members of the concert in Charlotte, North Carolina, USA, just a couple of jazz trumpeter. We’ve just toured Austria with this programme Spanish Brass Quintet are the ultimate professionals and weeks ago, when an all-star brass band, made up of members to unbelievably good audience reactions, so I hope that recording with them was a real privilege, in fact one of my of the New York Staff Band, other local SA bandsmen and some of the more traditional brass band audiences will be career recording highlights. We’ve given about eight concerts women, Fountain City Brass Band and other pro players in attempted to have a listen too. Mike Moor was the brilliant in Spain now, with plans for further projects in different the area, under the baton of Scotsman, Jamie Hood, came technical master in the UK for me with this project countries. These are five guys who enjoy their music, their own together for a superb weekend of music-making. This CD of SA I first heard the Spanish Brass Quintet company and take great pride in what they do. They always classics should be released early in the new year. (www.spanishbrass.com) about seven or eight years ago and warm-up, eat and travel together and discuss every facet So, it’s been a year of opportunity to record some memorable was immediately impressed by the wonderful tonal quality, of the quintet’s planning and strategy. You feel this bond of music with really fine musicians. For me, recording a CD typically Spanish flair and incredibly perfect intonation. I was understanding in every note they play. has never lost its challenge and responsibility. Technology fortunate to be invited to take part in a couple of the courses Many in the band world will know of my relationship now continues to assist us to come up with a ‘perfect’ product, it hosts with international teachers that attract high level with Whitburn Band, and earlier this year we recorded a aided by the intricacies of digital editing and skilled people students from all over Spain. At one of these courses near CD that will be released in time for the ‘Area’ contests next assisting with the application of these techniques. The final Valencia, about two years ago, we played together for the March. This has some of my favourite euphonium literature part for me, once the playing has been completed, is always first time in a little arrangement by Carlos the first trumpet on it, including Thomas Ruedi’s supreme arrangement of to care for the details, ensuring corners are not cut, presenting player. Everybody recognised that the combination had Tchaikovsky’s cello masterpiece, Rococo Variations, Vernon the product so that people are pleased to have it in their possibilities and, subsequently, we discussed a recording, Briggs’ excellent brass band arrangement David Gillingham’s hands. Before too long, the traditional CD as we know it will which has finally come to fruition. The group commissioned Vintage, Peter Graham’s Caanan’s Land and Luc Vertommen’s probably be gone, replaced by digital downloads. This is such two leading Spanish composers to compose original works arrangement of Bizet’s famous Carmen Fantasy, as well as a pity, as the compressed MP3 formats lose so much richness for this combination, one of which is the title track of the several other beautiful contrasting works. of sound and depth. Hopefully, however, with the support of disc, Brass and Wines. I was fortunate to be offered repertoire Completing this year’s series of recordings are two live discs, keen listeners, who will, in turn, support musicians by buying from Peter Meechan, who contributed his beautiful Elegie, one of which has just been released, Symphony of Fables, their CDs, its demise could be some years away. Ben McMillan, a talented young American composer, who by the Osaka Municipal Band, a professional wind orchestra Happy listening!

BRITISH BANDSMAN PAGE 39

BB 38-39.indd 39 26-11-2008 13:54:36 COUNTERPOINT Get more brass for your brass with by John Ward

As the temperature plummets, let BB bring the high street to you! There are some fantastic deals to be had over the Christmas period, so why waste valuable practise time trudging round freezing town centres or the tropical climate of the local shopping centre?

Glyn Williams Music Instruments opens up our special gift Are you dedicated enough to practise on Christmas Day, but Vibrass is off ering the latest CD of the sensational Austrian feature with an off er of £50.00 worth of vouchers to anyone have a house-full of friends and family trying to listen to the brass group, da Blechhauf’n, with every Vibrass purchased who spends £1,000 or more. Glyn is the authorised dealer Queen’s speech? Yamaha Silent Brass is just the thing for this Christmas. This new device was exhibited at the Final for Sterling instruments, which off ers customised options to you. Its innovative system off ers players the ability to rehearse of the National Brass Band Championships of Great Britain suit individual needs, so perhaps now is the time to consider in almost any environment without disturbing others and is at the Royal Albert Hall in October and caused quite a stir. It that new instrument you were thinking about. As the proud a ‘must have’ accessory for brass players. Yamaha boasts that is designed to restore tired and aching lips by relaxing the holder of the Best Soloist awards at both the British Open and Silent Brass provides ‘even and consistent intonation’, and muscles and increasing blood circulation to the embouchure National Championships, Glyn Williams can off er an expert when compared with conventional mutes, ‘performs closely and is endorsed by many leading players. one-on-one consultation. Give him a call on 07976 628956 with that of open playing’, with the aim of providing more Da Blechhauf’n is one of the most entertaining and versatile productive rehearsal time. brass groups ever, and brings wit and humour to its virtuoso Revel in the sounds of classic brass band recordings this performances. The group has to be heard to be believed! Christmas! From the mid-1970s onwards, Chandos was Its latest CD, Entertainment Live!, demonstrates its brilliant responsible for producing some of the most signifi cant playing in every style from march and show music to jazz and recordings in brass music and now has them available for the big band styles, all played with typical zany humour. Give bargain price of £4.99! yourself a buzz with Vibrass! Contact your local brass shop for The Complete Champions – Black Dyke Mills Band – the fi nest details or see www.deniswick.com for a list of retailers. band ever? Major Peter Parkes and his legendary ‘grand slam’ winning band perform some of the most loved pieces in the repertoire. Those conductors and players wishing to fi nd out more about Salute to Youth for next year’s Regional Championships could do a lot worse than listening to this recording. Its performances of Wilfred Heaton’s Contest Music and John McCabe’s Cloudcatcher Fells are also widely acknowledged as defi nitive versions. White Christmas – Grimethorpe Colliery – 21 tracks full of festive cheer! Includes When a Child is Born, Troika, Winter Wonderland and Mark Freeh’s sumptuous arrangement of the title track. Best served next to a warm fi re with a fresh mince pie for maximum Christmas eff ect! Blitz – Black Dyke Mills – see page 21 for full article The Melody Shop – Grimethorpe Colliery – It’s popular melodies all the way from this popular band. Peter Parkes and Garry Cutt direct the band through Galop from William Tell Overture, MacArthur Park, Prelude to Act 3 from Lohengrin and many more! Grimethorpe’s star soloists impress too: enjoy the smooth slide work of Jonathan Beatty’s Everytime We Say Goodbye, the purity of Richard Marshall’s Ave Maria and Mark Walters ‘letting his hair down’ in Light Walk. Chandos has a comprehensive of CDs to purchase and downloadable MP3s. See www.chandos.net or call 01225 225220.

BRITISH BANDSMAN PAGE 40

BB 40-41.indd 40 26-11-2008 15:15:21 COUNTERPOINT th BB’s Christmas shopping guide

World of Brass has a gift for every brass fan. New to its From the Band Supplies sleigh comes a special off er this product range this year is the Black Dyke Band souvenir yuletide season. With every purchase of a cornet or trumpet, collection. This clothing range consists of polo shirts,ties, receive a free set of Humes and Berg mutes (straight and cup) pin lapel badges, cuffl inks, belts and baseball caps. absolutely free! The above items are all the rage in the fashion capitals of New Band Supplies also provides brass and woodwind instruments York, Paris, Milan and Queensbury, so don’t miss on that all- from most of the leading brands, as well as accessories, sheet important stocking-fi ller! music and CDs. Other items include trolley key-rings, pens and mugs. Contact Chris on 0113 2453097 for full details. Also from World of Brass this Christmas, a new DVD featuring Black Dyke Band at the Holland Brass Festival (includes a performance of the favourite of many, Paganini Variations) and the Now That’s What I Call Brass Vol. 6 including performances from Eikanger-Bjørsvik, International Staff , PolySteel and Grimethorpe Colliery bands. This double CD is FREE with every CD or DVD purchase of £50.00 or more (£13.95 usual price) Visit www.worldofbrass.com or contact 01933 441807 Don’t struggle with the Christmas TV guide – turn the DVD player on and transport yourself to the festival atmosphere of the Whit Friday March Contests! Paul Rayner Photography was there to capture the excitement of this world-famous evening and has available performances from Brighouse and Rastrick, Pennine Brass and the charity ‘scratch’ band, Boobs and Brass, to name but a few! Avoid pop ‘wannabes’ and celebrities clamouring for audience phone votes…Whit Friday is where the real competition is! Contact 01484 451115.

FEATURING BLACK DYKE BAND Music Director Dr. Nicholas J. Childs

BRITISH BANDSMAN PAGE 41

BB 40-41.indd 41 26-11-2008 15:15:51 BRASS ROOTS BB Dodworth Colliery Band is riding the crest of a wave after another win at The Wilkinsons has also recently welcomed new members, Katy Saxton on cornet, Morag Mackay on Bb bass Northern Open Championships a fortnight ago. Conductor, Eliot Darwin, chose to perform Goff and Hilary Mateer on Eb bass. Richards’ Oceans in the own-choice contest, which resulted in the band becoming the ‘B’ Section Dodworth Colliery is now steering a course to the Butlins Mineworkers’ Championships in Champion to add to the ‘C’ Section title that it won at the event last year. January, its 2008 performance at the event having resulted in a second place on the first outing as a newly-promoted 2nd Section band. Dodworth has also welcomed back on board Roy Taylor on flugel and his wife, Linda, on Another positive note for the band’s future has been the formation of a junior - beginner band, percussion, both returning after six months shore leave due to work commitments. The band thanks to the foresight and drive of solo horn player, Bob Woffinden.

As well as looking for new rehearsal facilities, City of Cardiff (Melingriffith) Band is now in the market for a bigger trophy cabinet, having completed a clean sweep of all the prizes in the 3rd Section of the South East Wales Brass Band Contest, held at the Parc and Dare Hall, Treorchy. As well as being placed first out of the six competing bands and being awarded the Mel Huntley Memorial Trophy, the band’s horn section was awarded the Mavis Thomas Memorial Trophy for the Best Horn Section in the class. Then, 11 year-old Alexander Rees was awarded the Rhondda Cynon Taf Trophy as the Best Instrumentalist in the section.

This result means that City of Cardiff (Melingriffith) has been placed first in each of the three qualifying contests for the second year running, so becoming the Welsh 3rd Section Champion Band, gaining promotion to the Second Section and being awarded the T.J. Powell Trophy, which was particularly poignant, as T.J. Powell was the band’s legendary conductor from 1920 to 1965.

Summing up the Band’s success over the past twelve months, Gareth Ritter, the band’s Musical Director, said: “I am delighted that the commitment and effort shown by the band’s members has received the reward they all deserve. Promotion to the 2nd Section was our main objective this year and to achieve it is very satisfying. Now we look forward to the challenges we shall face next year and, knowing the players as I do, I am certain we can achieve even more success in the higher grade.”

This weekend marks a busy period in the European brass band calendar and also a busy time for the composer, Paul Lovatt-Cooper. MORE Along with other brass band contests taking place around Europe, the Dutch and the Swiss national championships take place this weekend, and will feature performances of two major works by Paul Lovatt-Cooper, one a world première.

Paul’s Lower Section composition, The Dark Side of the Moon was selected as this year’s 3rd BAND Section ‘Area’ test-piece, proving to be a favourite with bands and audiences across the UK. The work was also selected by the Dutch Federation of Brass Bands as the set work for the Dutch National Championships 3rd Section, which was due to take place last night (28th). Paul will travel to Groningen with his father (to whom the piece is dedicated) to Groningen, WIDTH marking the start of a whistle-stop trip, as he then departs to fly back to England the next day to meet up with his fellow players, trustees and special guests at tonight’s (29th) annual Black Dyke Dinner and Awards Ceremony.

Straight after the dinner, Paul then flies to Montreux, Switzerland to hear the première of Our stock of brass band music is his Championship Section test-piece, Antarctica, which is being performed by one of the one of the largest available in the UK competing bands as its own-choice test-piece in the Championship Section on Sunday (30th). and expert sales staff are always on hand Dedicated to Paul’s teacher and friend, Peter Graham, the piece paints a musical portrait of to help you. The newly reﬁ tted showroom the continent, featuring its great beauty and, in contrast, its barren, harsh weather conditions. Antarctica will receive its UK première when it is performed by Black Dyke Band at the RNCM has an extensive display of instruments, as well Festival of Brass on Friday 30 January. as an extensive selection of CDs and gift items. Paul commented to BB: “I’m looking forward to an action-packed weekend and it will be BanksMusic great to hear the various performances of ‘Dark Side’ and the world première of Antarctica. The Complete Music Retailer Sandwiched in between is the Black Dyke dinner, one of the band’s favourite gatherings, which

18 Lendal, York, YO1 8AU Tel 01904 658836 is always a glamorous event with everyone looking stunning in their dinner suits and ball Fax 01904 629547 Email [email protected] gowns.”

BRITISH BANDSMAN PAGE 42

BB 42-43.indd 42 26-11-2008 13:57:08 BRASS ROOTS Obituaries

Gwynne James Price, LGSM (1936 – 2008) Stuart Broadbent George ‘Roy’ Whitten (15 March 1924 – 30 August 2008)

Trumpet player, conductor and music tutor, Gwynne Price, has The sad news of the passing of Stuart Broadbent is a Roy Whitten started banding on cornet with the Boys Brigade died after a prolonged illness, aged 72. great loss to the brass band movement. His early career as a in Dun Laoghaire, near Dublin, in 1935. He progressed Gwynne began his playing career with Drybrook and District cornetist saw him play for Huddersfi eld bands; Hade Edge, through the ranks and instruments, becoming an offi cer Band in 1950, conducted by the late J.A. Greenwood. He Hepworth, Lindley and then a move to the famous CWS and Company Bandmaster. However, by this time, Roy was joined the Staff Band (Alamein) Royal Tank Regiment on (Manchester) Band under Alex Mortimer and Hammonds too old to play in the band, so he got together with other cornet and trumpet in 1954 and progressed to Kneller Hall, Sauce Works Band under Geoff rey Whitham. His career ‘old boys’ and they formed their own band, The Stedfast where he studied with the great Jack Mackintosh. spanned the 1950s, 60s and 70s. Band, the name of which they took from the motto of the After leaving the forces in 1963, he became a professional He was also a prominent member of the National Youth Brass Boys Brigade – ‘Sure and Stedfast’ . Not content to be a mere trumpet and cornet player, spending the majority of his Band of Great Britain. player, Roy became Secretary and Deputy Conductor. As well playing career performing with London orchestras, the Joe His work with Barratts of Manchester and then his own as continuing as Bandmaster of the BB company. Loss Band and in the pit at numerous West End shows. He company, Fred Rhodes of Manchester, until his retirement continued his brass band connections by playing with, and over ten years ago, saw him looking after many bands in the In 1960, Roy and his wife, Kitty, moved to England and sometimes conducting, Watney’s Silver Band, and regularly UK and abroad. He thought nothing of travelling hundreds banding took a back seat for 20 years until 1980, when he featured with it playing Edrich Siebert’s The Lazy Trumpeter. of miles to many bandrooms, giving dedicated service to joined Farnborough Brass in Hampshire on BBb bass and was In 1964, Gwynne co-founded the PM School of Music in his many banding friends. His was always a friendly face at again involved in the running of the band. Twickenham with his long-time friend and business partner, the various trade stands around the country and he was an Albert Meek, and went on to tutor brass instrument pupils enthusiastic member of the Association of Band Traders. Another move took the family north to Fleetwood in at Tiffi n Boys School (Kingston-upon-Thames), Wandsworth When he met Jacques Gaudet of Courtois Instruments over Lancashire, but this time there was no delay and Thornton Boys School and Thames Valley Grammar School. His pupils 20 years ago, he was appointed as the UK main agent and Cleveleys Band was the benefi ciary of Roy’s talents, both as a went on to win at the National Youth Finals on no less than together they had the idea of starting the British style brass player and as a committee member. four occasions. band in France. This developed into the founding of the Three years later, the family moved south again and he Illness forced Gwynne to retire to the West Country in 1974, French Open Brass Band Championship, which celebrates 15 joined the Charles Church Camberley Band on BBb bass and but he continued to stay involved with the brass band years in 2009. Stuart, along with Jacques and Pascal Caraty, subsequently as principal Eb bass. He once more became an movement, taking Glastonbury Town from the 4th section to made it into the event it is today. Earlier this year, Stuart was active committee member and Contest Secretary and we the Championship Section in the 1980s. once again working as Chairman of the jury at this unique all appreciated his great sense of humour, enthusiasm and In the early 1990s, Gwynne became conductor of St. Dennis contest and he will be greatly missed by all connected with friendly advice and encouragement. Band in Cornwall, which saw it quickly return to the former this Festival. glory of the Eddie Williams era; it successfully regained the Our thoughts go to Barbara, daughter and son, Jane and Banding was a big part of Roy’s life and, although he did Royal Trophy at the West of England Brass Band Festival Howard, along with his fi ve treasured grandchildren. not always enjoy good health in recent years, he remained (Bugle) in 1994 playing Eric Ball’s Journey into Freedom, and one of the most reliable and conscientious members, often was also promoted back to the Championship Section. Stuart’s funeral will be held at 10.30am on Monday 1 cancelling or curtailing family celebrations in order to support In the late 1990s and through the turn of the century, December at Christ Church, New Mill, Huddersfi eld and then the band. Gwynne returned to his brass band roots in the Forest of Dean at Huddersfi eld Crematorium, Fixby at 11.30am. and became resident conductor of Cinderford (Swanbrook) In March 2008, his outstanding contribution was marked at David Horsfi eld Band. He continued to give conducting support to other the band’s AGM with the presentation of a silver salver. bands until very recently, such as Bugle Band in Cornwall. Gwynne’s passion for all music (but brass band music in Roy will be sadly missed by all who were privileged to know particular) was passed onto all of his children, with Tanya, him. Dale and Ashley playing in bands such as Camborne, Yeovil and Weston-super-Mare over the years and several of his J.R. Roberts grand children now following in this family tradition. His funeral will be held at St. Mary’s Church, Wedmore, Somerset, on 2 December at 12:00 and afterwards at Wedmore Village Hall. Anyone wishing to send fl owers should send them to George Williams Funeral Directors, Penn Farm, 54 Redcliff e Street, Cheddar, Somerset BS27 3PF.

Ian McLaren

BRITISH BANDSMAN PAGE 43

BB 42-43.indd 43 26-11-2008 13:57:08 mfb

Founded in 1984, music for brass ltd is fast approaching its 25th birthday. During that time it has been responsible for many changes in the world of brass band publishing. It was the first publishing house to ‘computerise’ its type setting and the first to use comb binders on the conductors score. Prior to 1984 most of the music on sale was hand written and poorly presented on paper sizes dating back to the turn of the 19th century. Staples were often used to bind the score and conductors struggled to keep their page. mfb ltd changed all that and now A4 & A3 sizes and properly bound scores are seen as industry standard. Music for Brass Ltd. became well known for giving ‘unknown’ arrangers and composers their first break in published works and can claim such world famous names as Alan Morrison and David Twitchings among their early writers. In fact mfb ltd was not only the first publisher to put Alan’s work into print it was also the sponsor of Alan’s “Cornet Technique - Tuition Video” where Alan admirably demonstrates just how some of their publications should be played. Under the guise of its parent company- Aceprint - it sponsored the Aceprint Brass Band to some stunning wins around the contesting circuit. mfb ltd are still going strong after almost twenty five years and have several pieces of music on the syllabus’ of various examining boards. Ring music for brass ltd on 01924 261154 Unit 1 Warneford Avenue, Ossett. WF5 9NJ Order your music by telephone and pay by CC POST FREE in the UK Download an up to date catalogue any time. Buy on line at: www.musicforbrassltd.co.uk email:[email protected]

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BB 44-45.indd 44 26-11-2008 14:18:01 MARKETPLACE 121 years old and still the market leader by John Ward

In the current fi nancial climate, companies are under more pressure than ever to make the best possible use of advertising budget. Since it was established in 1887, British Bandsman has been, and continues to be, an essential part of many companies’ promotional and marketing activity within the brass world. Why? We asked some of today’s major players in the marketplace:

“Advertising is a time-proven method of generating brand awareness and sales, yet we all sometimes worry about the ‘cost v return’ of ads in places like British Bandsman. “Well, after our very fi rst advert, all doubts were totally blown away. The day our advert ran in BB, the Alliance phone lines went crazy! As a relatively new Company entering a well-saturated market, we were surprised by the volume of sales generated solely by the BB advert. A new and dedicated phone system was set up and the numbers only publicised in the aforementioned ad. “I can say, without any hesitation, that our decision to use BB was a great move, as we recovered the advertising costs (and a little something extra for the bank manager!) in the fi rst day. “BB readers are well informed and quite a canny set, but if they don’t know of a product, event or service, they cannot purchase, take part or attend. I wholeheartedly recommend using British Bandsman as an advertising medium, simply because it works.”

Roger Webster Alliance Products (part of Websters eco-lube ltd.)

“British Bandsman is a key part of Yamaha’s marketing and promotional strategy within the brass market. BB is such a well- known publication within the brass world (a magazine I knew about long before joining Yamaha) and off ers us a frequent, up-to-date and well-read publication in which to be a voice to the movement. We wouldn’t use it if it didn’t work!”

Ian Frankland Product Manager for Yamaha UK

“Band Supplies has been advertising with British Bandsman for 29 years there is a new product on the market, it’s got to go in BB! The responses and. Over returns that time,from eachit has advert been clear have to shown us that, that if our message is reaching the right people. If you want to reach the brass world, do it through British Bandsman.”

Chris Tudball Band Supplies (Leeds)

British Bandsman is much more than just a click on a website, it is a long-established, widely-read and tangible publication in which to promote your product, event or vacancy. Call John Ward today at BB advertising on 0113 270 7214 to discuss your advertising requirements or check out our website at www.britishbandsman.com

BRITISH BANDSMAN PAGE 45

BB 44-45.indd 45 26-11-2008 14:18:13 WIRELESS BRASS PROFESSIONAL NETWORK Dr. ROY NEWSOME. PhD, B.Mus, FRCO, ARCM. KEVIN WADWSORTH. Musical Director, Conductor, WIRELESS BRASS 17 Belmont Drive, Seddons Farm, Bury, Adjudicator, ABBA. Wheatfield Cottage, Smithy Place, Manchester BL8 2HU. Tel. 0161-764 2009. Brockholes, Holmfirth. HD9 7AH. Tel. 01484 666805 (home); 07836 511357 (mobile). We take every possible precaution to ensure the accuracy of the details GRAHAM O’CONNOR. Conductor, Adjudicator, Band Trainer. E-mail: [email protected] given below. However, we cannot be responsible for changes to stated 1 Ralston Croft, Halfway, Sheffield S20 4TU Tel: 01142 280195 ROGER B. WEBSTER. 92 Bence Lane, Darton, Barnsley, times or running order. Mobile: 07903 310951E-Mail: [email protected] South Yorkshire. S75 5DA. Tel/Fax 01226 388806. Mobile 07973 157907 MAJOR PETER PARKES. ‘Kamet’, Holme Lane, Rockley, Email. [email protected]. Friday, 5 December, 2130-2200. BBC Radio 2 Retford DN22 0QY. Tel: 01777 839 144 Mobile: 0781 800 6965 MELVIN WHITE. GLCM, LTCL, ARCM, Conductor and Listen to the Band. Frank Renton presents a session by Cory, the current European LEIGH ANTHONY PHILLIPS. BA Mus. Composer, Arranger. Adjudicator. 25 Sinclair Way, Darenth, Nr Dartford, Kent DA2 and Brass in Concert Champion, conducted by Robert Childs. Arrangements made by request, especially film music. 7JS. Tel. (01322) 293230 (home). 07802 796630 (mobile). Sherwood Music, Flat 1, Bolgoed Rd, Pontardulais, Swansea, ROB WIFFIN. OBE, BA, FTCL, LRAM, ARCM, conductor, West Glamorgan, SA4 8JE Tel: 07929 528226, composer, arranger, adjudicator. 5 Cotterell Close, Bracknell, Listen to the Band is also available all week via Radio 2’s website www.bbc.co.uk/ E-mail: [email protected] RG42 2HL Tel: 01344 301946. E-mail: [email protected] radio2. Click on the playback section to hear the show, on demand, for a week following RICHARD PHILLIPS. Dip RCM, ARCM. Conductor, DENNIS WILBY. Conductor and Adjudicator. “Marden” 83 transmission. Adjudicator, Composer, Arranger. 161 Butland Road Lion House Park, Mill Road, Hailsham, East Sussex, BN27 2SE. Oakley Vale, Corby, Northants, NN18 8FN Tel/Fax. (01323) 449083. Tel:Tel: 01536 741447 Mob: (07905) 383645. (Mobile) 07762 889520. World of Brass Radio. John Maines introduces a weekly one-hour programme of the E-mail: [email protected] E-mail: [email protected] best of international banding. Commencing on Fridays, the rolling programme of the STEVE PRITCHARD-JONES. FTCL LTCL DipMusEd G.Mus DR. KEITH M. WILKINSON. 4120 Meadow Knoll Road, most recent four shows can be accessed 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 52 weeks LDBBA QTS. Conductor, Adjudicator, Teacher Delaware, OH 43015, USA. 12 Greenacre Road, Copthorne, Shrewsbury, Shropshire, Tel. 00 1 740 362 4588. Fax. 00 1 740 362 4770. of the year on www.worldofbrass.com (then click on the WOB Radio link) or www. SY3 8LR. Tel: 01743 270489 07834 855064 Email: E-mail: [email protected] worldofbrass.com/wobradio [email protected] Web: www.stevepritchardjones.com JOHN WINTERFLOOD. ARCM, LGSM, Conductor and Adjudicator. 103 Drove Road, Swindon, Wilts. SN1 3AE Tel. This week’s programme includes: Boscombe Band of The Salvation Army (Howard DAVID READ. FLCM, FTCL, LRAM. Conductor and Adjudicator. (01793) 421511. 19 Arundel Road, Hartford, Huntingdon, Cambs. PE29 1YW. Evans): The Young Salvationist (Coles); New York Staff Band of The Salvation Army CHRISTOPHER WORMALD. Conductor, Adjudicator, Tel. (01480) 451252. Arranger, Horn Soloist, ‘Steinbach’ 42 Sandileigh Drive, (Ron Waiksnoris): Call of the Cossacks (Graham); Carlton Main Frickley Colliery (Allan Sandfield Park, Bolton BL1 8UF. Tel/Fax. (01204) 307555. JOHN ROBERTS. conductor, adjudicator Ramsay): Adagio (Rachmaninov); Foden’s (Michael Fowles): Pentacle (Graham Cole); (Mobile) 07759 236080. (member of ABBA) 17 Belfry Court, Outwood, Wakefield WF1 E-mail: [email protected] Fairey (James Gourlay): Carrickfergus (arr. Roberts - soloist: Keith Muggeridge); Foden’s 3TY Tel 01924 871413 mobile 0773 672 1939 email [email protected] (Nicholas Childs): Lezghinka (Khachaturian); Brass Band of Central Florida (Michael ORGANISATIONS Garasi): Rolling Thunder (Fillmore); Cory (Robert Childs): The Force of Destiny (Verdi); PETER ROBERTS. .B.A. (Hons) LRSM. Soprano Cornet Soloist, Adjudicator. Tel: 01977 792120, Mob. 07876 205212. Black Dyke (Nicholas Childs): Hine e Hine (Graham); Amsterdam Band of The Salvation [email protected] BRITISH ASSOCIATION OF CHRISTIAN BANDS Secretary: Mike Priscott, Army (Howard Evans): Celebration of Contemporary Song (Himes). ROY ROE. Conductor, Adjudicator, Rienzi, 370 Bloomfield Rod. Bath BA2 2PD 01225 832041 72 Thorne Grove, Rothwell, Leeds, LS26 0HE. Email: [email protected] Local Radio for next week Tel. (01132) 822776 (home). E-mail: [email protected] THE ASSOCIATION OF BRASS BAND ADJUDICATORS. Sunday, 30 November, 1905-2000. Sounds of Brass. FM frequencies: Secretary: C. Brian Buckley, 81 Galbalfa Road, Sketty, Swansea. SA2 8ND. Bristol 94.9, Cornwall 95.2, Devon 103.4, Gloucestershire 104.7, Guernsey PHIL RUSTON. Brass Band CDs Tel: 01792 205896 Website: www.abbadjudicators.org.uk 93.2, Jersey 88.8, Swindon 103.6, Wiltshire 104.3. www.cosbrass.co.uk E-mail: info@the colourofspring.co.uk THE BRITISH FEDERATION OF BRASS BANDS. Available on the World Wide Web at 1905 British time or at any time for seven days National Office, Unit 12, Maple Estate, Stocks Lane, Barnsley, after the broadcast. To hear the programme, access www.bbc.co.uk/devon and click JAMES SCOTT. BA. I Riverbank Road, Lower Heswall, Wirral, South Yorkshire. S75 2BL. Tel. (01226) 771015. Fax: (01226) 771482. Website: www.bfbb.co.uk onto Listen Live or Listen Again. CH60 4SQ. Tel. 0151-342 5190. NIGEL G. SEAMAN. ARMCM, ARNCM, Conductor, Teacher CHARLES CROSS MUSIC SCHOOL. Correspondence courses Phillip Hunt presents a programme of brass band recordings and news. This week’s and Adjudicator. 3 Garth View, Bedwas, Caerphilly, CF83 8EW. in arranging for brass band and BA (Hons) degree foundation Tel. (02920) 851198 or Mobile. (07779) 329446. course. Advanced tuition in all brass instruments. Telephone edition marks the birth of Wilfred Heaton on 2 December, 1918 and includes: Cornwall Tony Evans on (01752) 263069 or 07966 370962. Youth Brass Band (Garry Cutt): Praise (Heaton); International Staff Band of The ROY SPARKES. MISM, TECH(CEI) MIE, Conductor, Adjudicator, NABBC and ABBA member. EUROPEAN BRASS BAND ASSOCIATION. Salvation Army (Stephen Cobb): Annie Laurie (Heaton - soloist: Kevin Ashman), Glory 76 Lear Drive, Wistaston, Crewe, Cheshire, CW28DS. Ulf E Rosenberg, President EBBA Glory (Heaton), The Golden Pen (Heaton); Enfield Citadel Band of The Salvation Army Tel. 01270-569290. Mobile. 07788 166777. Mobile 47/92 86 63 00, Tel. O 47/51 50 18 26 E-mail: [email protected] Øvre Strandgate 75 Fax O 47/51 89 30 05 (Richard Phillips): Just As I Am; South London Fellowship Band of The Salvation Army N-4005 Stavanger, Norway (George Whittingham): The Call (Leidzen); Sheffield Citadel Band of The Salvation Army DENZIL STEPHENS/SARNIA. 12 The Meadows, St. Dennis, e-mail [email protected] Cornwall. PL26 8DR. Tel/Fax. (01726) 821148. E-mail: denzil. Internet:www.ebba.eu.com (Ian Wileman): Great and Glorious (Marshall); Black Dyke (James Watson): Prelude from [email protected]. Richard lll (Walton). Website: www.sarnia-music.com NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF BRASS BAND CONDUCTORS. Secretary: Ted Howard, 30 Havant Road, Horndean, Hampshire. RAYMOND TENNANT. DRSAM, Dip.NCOS. Conductor and PO8 0DT. Tel. 023 9259 8162. E-mail: [email protected]. Requests and comments are welcome at e-mail: [email protected] Ajudicator. 1 Newark Drive, Paisley. PA2 8NU. Tel. (0141) 589 6466 or 07860 102708 (mobile). NATIONAL YOUTH BRASS BAND of GREAT BRITAIN. Philip Biggs, Administrator, 2 The Coppice, Impington, Monday, 1 December, 2100-2200. Manx Radio STEPHEN TIGHE. ARCM, MLIA (dip), FPC, LDBBA, Conductor, Cambridge, CB4 4PP. Tel/Fax (01223) 234090. Band Trainer, Adjudicator. 10b Main Street, Clopton, E-mail: [email protected] Time for Brass. Frequencies 97.2, 89 and 103.7 FM and 1368 AM and Kettering, Northants, NN14 3DO Website: www.bandstand.demon.co.uk worldwide on www.manxradio.com Tel: 01832 720505 or 07970 458079 (mobile). E-mail: [email protected] SOUTHERN COUNTIES AMATEUR BANDS ASSOCIATION. Click on Listen FM or Listen AM for the programme at the time of broadcast or on Listen Secretary and Contest Manager: Ian Carter, 10 Church Road, Again for a week following transmission. BARRY THOMPSON. Conductor, Adjudicator. West Drayton, Middx. UB7 7PT. Tel: (01895) 420007 E-mail: 15 Hall Park Avenue, Crofton, Wakefield, [email protected] Ian Cottier presents a programme of brass band music and comment.

BRITISH BANDSMAN PAGE 46

BB 46-47.indd 46 26-11-2008 15:17:08 CLASSIFIED Diary Dates Adverts BandsBRITISH man the leading international brass magazine CDs A list of forthcoming events that have been advertised in British Bandsman. The leading international brass band magazine Incorporating Brass Band News, British Mouthpiece and International Bandsman MIDLAND CD Managing Director NOVEMBER We hold one of the world’s largest selections of brass & Trevor Caffull 29 - Perth. Scottish Open, Shield and Cup contests, Perth Concert Hall. military band CDs including most BB-reviewed CDs. Finance Director Order on-line at www.ukcd.net Gordon Camsey 30 - Perth. Scottish Youth Band Championships, Perth Concert Hall. E-mail: [email protected] Director of Media Tel: 0044 (0) 121 244 4605 or 6 Nicola Bland Fax: 0044 (0) 121 680 9018 Editor DECEMBER Kenneth Crookston Associate Editor 13 - Stroud. Pemberton Old Wigan JJB Band, Subscription Rooms. Professor Philip Wilby Visit Steven Mead’s website: Features Editor JANUARY 2009 Rodney Newton www.euphonium.net Contributors and consultants 16 - Barnsley. Grimethorpe Colliery Band with special guest Pete Postlethwaite, 7.30pm, Peter Wilson Anthony Banwell Barnsley Metrodome. INSURANCE Julian Bright 16 - 19 - Skegness. The Butlins National Mineworkers’ Open Brass Band Festival, Butlins Resort. Dr. Robert Childs Iwan Fox Please note that day tickets are only available for the Saturday. Brass Band Graham Fraser Insurance Services Chris Helme 17 - Stroud. Rothwell Temperance Band, Subscription Rooms. 312 High Street, Harlington, Hayes, Pat Herak Middx. UB3 5BT 18 - Crawley. The British Army Brass Band, 3.00pm, The Hawth. Tel: 020 8759 0825. Fax: 020 8564 9063. Lt. Col. Graham Jones MBE THE ORIGINAL SCHEME Ron Massey 24 - 25 Newark. Newark Brass Festival. OFTEN COPIED—NEVER BETTERED Peter Meechan Frank Renton Underwritten by Norwich Union 24 - Cardiff.Black Dyke Band, 7.30pm, St. David’s Hall. Robert Richardson John Stirzaker FEBRUARY 2009 MUSIC David Thornton Carl Woodman 1 - Blackpool. Youth Brass Entertainment Festival of Great Britain, Empress Ballroom. Malcolm Wood BRASS BAND MUSIC Editorial 14 - Stroud. Virtuosi GUS Band, Subscription Rooms. ORDER ON-LINE Telephone: 01506 882985 22 - Crawley. Cory Band, 3.00pm, The Hawth. SPECIAL OFFERS ON Fax: 01506 881596 E-mail: [email protected] INSTRUMENTS Display and classified advertising MARCH 2009 www.bandsupplies.co.uk John Ward Tel: 0113 2453097 Telephone: 0113 2707214. 21 - Stroud. BTM Band, Subscription Rooms. E-mail: [email protected] Accounts 22 - Crawley. Hepworth Cookson Homes, 3.00pm, The Hawth. MUSICIANS Hazel Foster Telephone: 01933 445442 Chinnor Silver Band APRIL 2009 Subscriptions and Trade Orders (2nd Section) Andrew Hall 18 - Stroud. Flowers Band, Subscription Rooms. requires: Telephone: 01933 445442 Principal Cornet Typesetting and Artwork 5 - Manchester. National Youth Brass Band Championships, Royal Northern College of Music. GK Graphic Design VOF Good book of concerts and contests 24 - 26 - Norway. Grenland International Brass Festival, Skien. Contact David Pegram on 01844 352291 Cover price: £1.25 16 - Stroud. Wingates Band, Subscription Rooms. or email [email protected] SUBSCRIPTION RATES 12 months 6 months All applications received in strictest confidence UK £56.00 £30.00 Europe £75.00 £45.00 DVDs Rest of the World £115.00 £60.00 Musical Director (52 issues per year) required for DVDs for Christmas DIRECT DEBIT (only for subscribers living in the UK) Saint Sebastian Wokingham Band B&R, Boobs & Brass, Pennine Brass, One month: £4.85 (saving nearly 10% on the cover price) 12 months: £52.00 (saving www.wokinghambrassband.org Hepworth, Hail Smiling Morn and others. 20% on the price of a weekly copy from newsagents). Contact us for a direct debit form. Friendly but ambitious 3rd Section band near Junction 10 of M4. Rehearsals every Monday E-Bandsman - Only available to overseas readers - online edition direct to your desktop. All titles £10.00 + p/p £52 per year or £30 for 6 months. You can subscribe to E-Bandsman with a credit or and Thursday. Excellent rehearsal facilities and secure financial future. Full concert and contest Call Paul Rayner Photography programme including civic duties. Vacancy arisen due to current MD’s new day job. debit card, or pay by a sterling cheque/bankdraft. Apply in confidence to Chairman, Damon Emes on 01484 451115 log onto www.britishbandsman.com 0118 978 1558 (office) or email: [email protected] Please make cheques payable to British Bandsman. FOR SALE Subscriptions, accounts and general enquiries Bass trombones for sale, Telephone: 01933 445442 Make this space work for you by advertising in British Bandsman classified. Fax: 01933 445435 several including Bach, King, E-mail: [email protected] Telephone: 01933 445442 Sovereign and Yamaha. E-mail: [email protected] Tel: 07974 412269 Internet: www.britishbandsman.com ALL CLASSIFIED ADVERTS PAYABLE IN ADVANCE (inc. VAT) Silver Bb Bass, Boosey & Although we welcome unsolicited editorial contributions, photographs Rate 42p per word. 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Must be collected from Sunbury Material in this publication may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form Classified Dept., British Bandsman, 66-78 Denington Road, Wellingborough, Northants. without the Editor’s written permission. NN8 2QH to be received not later than first post on the Monday 12 days before the desired on Thames TW16 6PZ. Tel British Bandsman is published weekly and is a wholly owned subsidiary of publication date. David Larmar on 01932 785197 or email: Salvation Army Trading Company Ltd. [email protected] Address: 66 - 78 Denington Road, Wellingborough, Northants. NN8 2QH.

BRITISH BANDSMAN PAGE 47

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BB 48.indd 16 26-11-2008 14:13:12