Price £1.25 www.britishbandsman.com Issue no. 5660 – 9 April 2011 BB 1.indd 1 05-04-2011 16:51:38 BRITISH BANDSMAN PAGE 2 BB 2-3.indd 2 05-04-2011 16:56:07 NEWS Wilby work chosen for British Open The test-piece for the 2011 British Open a violinist of quality, invokes the spirit of Vivaldi Championship, which will take place at and asks that the work should be played ‘with a Symphony Hall, Birmingham on 3 September, mixture of accuracy and abandoned virtuosity’. supported by Besson, has been announced Speaking to BB on behalf of the British Open as Red Priest by Professor Philip Wilby. This organisation, Martin Mortimer commented: will be the sixth work by Philip Wilby set as an “Whilst this is not the first time that the Open ‘Open’ test-piece, following Paganini Variations has selected a piece previously played by one (1991), Masquerade (1993), Revelation (1995), of the competing bands, historically we have …Dove Descending (1999) and Vienna Nights chosen to commission new works whenever (2006). Red Priest was commissioned by Black possible, in order to challenge the bands and Dyke Band and was premièred at the 2010 encourage first class new music for the brass European Championships in Linz. Philip Wilby band repertoire. The Test piece for the 2012 describes it as ‘a concerto after Vivaldi with British Open will be a new work, and it has spacial separations’ and it includes four solo already been commissioned. We also have other percussion parts. Antonio Vivaldi was known as plans in the pipeline for a new work in 2013, so the ‘Red Priest’ due to his youthful ordination the commitment to the promotion of musical and flaming red hair. The son of a violinist excellence remains in place and we have no at St. Mark’s in Venice, he is remembered doubt that Red Priest will be as well received for his productivity and astonishing energy. both by the bands and the audience as Philip The present composition is inspired by his Wilby’s earlier works.” enormous output of concerto grossi using BRASS BAND soloists in groups. Listeners will recognise Scores for Red Priest will be available from Prima quotations from, amongst others, The Four Vista Musikk from 29 April and tickets for the Seasons, Vivaldi’s most popular work today, and British Open will go on sale on 16 May from the his well known Gloria. Professor Wilby, himself Symphony Hall Box Office. consultation and will appear on the websites of the national bodies. UKBBA invites opinions At a final meeting on 2 July (venue to be confirmed), open to all who wish to attend, there will be a presentation and discussions of the proposals, The Working Group for the proposed new UK-wide banding body has amended as appropriate taking into account the feedback received. released its proposal based on the presentations made at Summit 2 in Everyone in banding is invited via email to [email protected] Manchester in January, incorporating the points made by participants. A Powerpoint presentation of the full proposal can be downloaded from The proposal is being sent out to banding organisations and bands for the BFBB website at http://maincontent.bfbb.co.uk/brass-band-summit-ii SBBA takes control of NYBBS The parent organisation of the National Youth Brass Band of Scotland said George Burt, SBBA President, “and we presented our President’s (NYBBS), the Scottish Amateur Music Association (SAMA) has Award to Neil Cross two years ago in recognition of his excellent work announced that it is to cease operation. for NYBBS. Alan Edmond has been working closely with the NYBBS for the past few years. This new partnership will be benefi cial to all Founded in 1956 to fi ll a major gap in musical provision in Scotland, aspects of Scottish banding in the future.” SAMA has off ered generations of young Scots high quality tuition across a huge range of musical activities, through its annual music Outgoing SAMA Chairman, Ian Mills, commented: “This decision has courses. SAMA is hopeful that many of the successful groups it has not been taken lightly. SAMA was established at a time when there nurtured will continue to function under diff erent auspices and to were very few opportunities for amateur musicians from across the that end the NYBBS is to come under the umbrella of the Scottish country to meet together. Committee members past and present Brass Band Association (SBBA). can take immense pride and satisfaction in the number of musical events they have organised and which will hold happy memories for Neil Cross, NYBBS administrator since 1984, is upbeat about the amateur musicians young and old.” future of the band and all of SAMA’s amateur music groups, as he commented: “While there is a hint of sadness about the demise of For the NYBBS it will be very much business as usual, as Neil Cross added: SAMA, things look very positive for the various groups currently “Students should see no perceptible difference as the band will still be under its umbrella. I am delighted that the NYBBS, founded by SAMA organised by me with the same fantastic tutorial and house staff. With in 1958, will now come under the stewardship of SBBA, which has Richard Evans conducting, every course is a success. The NYBBS has achieved so much in recent years under rejuvenated leadership and already moved on from strength to strength in recent years in terms of with the help of the dynamic Alan Edmond as Development Offi cer.” numbers and quality. The input of SBBA will, I think, help to accelerate our growth even further. It makes perfect sense that the organisation in SBBA is looking forward to its new responsibility, which takes eff ect charge of the brass band movement in Scotland is also in charge of the from 31 May. “We’ve long admired the achievements of the NYBBS,” movement’s ‘jewel in the crown’.” BRITISH BANDSMAN PAGE 3 BB 2-3.indd 3 05-04-2011 16:56:13 EVENTS Japan Staff Band marches on The first ever visit to the UK by the Japan Staff Band of the Salvation Army has taken on a new dimension and special emphasis following the recent tragic events in Japan. On Saturday 28 May, the band will receive a civic welcome to Hythe outside the Town Hall at 11.00am after parading through the High Street, where it will also give a short concert. The main event of the weekend will be the band’s concert on the Saturday evening (28th) at 7.30pm in the SAGA Pavilion, featuring a wide variety of styles of brass band music. The excellent Shepway Community Gospel Choir will provide contrast. For those without transport there will be a mini-bus shuttle. Organiser, Richard Carroll, commented: “Our guests are very gracious people and I am hoping that we will have a full house to give them a friendly Hythe welcome and a public display of empathy. The band is based in Tokyo and I am in constant communication with some of the members including their Bandmaster Hajime Suzuki, who tells me that their preparation has obviously been disrupted because of transport problems and blackouts. Even the band’s recent recording session had to be cancelled, but the band is in good spirits.” Richard added: “I must thank all the sponsors - SAGA for the use of its excellent concert venue, The SAGA Pavilion, The Celia Blakey Charitable Trust, Waitrose and Sainsbury’s.” To book tickets, call Richard on 01303 268354 or send an SAE to Richard Carroll, 13, Crofters Close, Hythe, CT21 6QB. Cheques payable to The Salvation Army. Hadleigh Temple to host the Melbourne Staff Band Hadleigh Temple Corps of The Salvation Army is eagerly awaiting the visit of the Melbourne Staff Band on Friday 3 June at 7.00pm. Speaking about the event, Peter Edwards of Hadleigh Temple commented: “We are indeed privileged to be hosting this fine group of musicians who are touring the UK before taking part in a mammoth series of concerts in the Royal Albert Hall throughout the day on Saturday 4 June”. Melbourne Staff Band is without doubt the premier brass band from the Australian Salvation Army Territory and has been at the forefront of music making - not only at home but also on tours of New Zealand, USA, Canada, France, Belgium, Germany and the UK on several occasions.As with all Salvation Army ‘Staff’ sections, the band, formed in the late 1890s, originally comprised full-time officers or employees. In modern times this is no longer the case, but all members are Salvationists and as such give their time and talents freely to both the band and the organisation. Peter Edwards added: “The evening promises to be a musical brass band extravaganza of the highest order, to be enjoyed by a full house. Hadleigh Temple in Essex is a very fine modern venue with every facility available for musical groups of this calibre to be both seen and heard to their best advantage. So do come along - enjoy - and wish the band well for its appearance the next day at the Royal Albert Hall.” BRITISH BANDSMAN PAGE 4 BB 4-5.indd 4 05-04-2011 16:53:12 ISB 120 Bring on the party! by Major Ken Smith - Deputy Bandmaster, Canadian Staff Band BB begins its look forward to the 120th anniversary celebrations of the International Staff Band of The Salvation Army by introducing the Canadian Staff Band, which eagerly anticipates a return visit to London for the event in the Royal Albert Hall.