ARTICLES

British Open Championships 2003

The Adjudicators Remarks

We have the full remarks from the three men in the box on Saturday for the top six prize-winning performances on the day. It makes for interesting reading…

1st Place
Yorkshire Building Society
Draw 10

Opening so stylish, balance excellent, basses perhaps a touch heavy for “pp”, but such a fine tone. Euph sinuous and excellent handover to the Andante. Superb soprano as are all the soloists. 84 – a much quieter bass entry, well done, and a word to the previous soloists – great.

E – bar 6 Euph doesn’t finish off well. 100 – Splendid flugel, well in tune throughout the range. F – Reps 2nd note doesn’t speak. Lovely scale Glock and Vibes. G – there is some magic here – a fine ending.

JUPITER

Great start – confident playing. 2 before J last quaver someone played E not G. L – a very robust “f” (I’m waiting for the “ff”) You didn’t disappoint. Andante Maestoso – lets say “very full for mf”. P – is no louder but the “ff” was most effective. R – very powerful. T – effective. 316 – The 1st baritone need not make such a crescendo. W – well balanced. X – full of character – a most musical performance. Well thought out, the playing was first rate and the relationship between band and conductor most impressive.

William Relton

VENUS

This is beautiful beyond description. Band style, balance and sound. The whole thing is brilliantly put together and so certain in its musical purpose. A few minor blips but so insignificant. Absolutely stunning. . I can’t think of a single negative.

JUPITER

Staggering in its brilliance. M – judged to perfection. 194 – Exquisite in its grandeur. This has the hallmark of brilliance – again I can’t think of a single negative and I’m running out of compliments. (Did I miss the triangle at 246 – Tut Tut!)

I can’t praise this highly enough. One of the great contest performances. Brilliant.

Philip Sparke

The opening displays good control and balance as well as full rounded sounds. Lovely sop and flug. Beautiful solo cornet too. Animato moves well into C (slight slip in solo cornets – never mind!)

Well done Flugel. Eb bass entry is heavy 2 before D.

Good tonal balance and colour at Adagio (85). Musically shaped Flug 1000 onwards. Lovely band sound at F. Vibraphone/Glock is well done – just right for balance. Good atmosphere to end and lovely sounds all round.

Jupiter starts in stylish fashion with tight ensemble. Small slip into J. J has lots of character. L – is slow but has good character. N – fantastic sound. O – interesting mute sound – quite like a bassoon actually!! Andante is big and beautiful. Q works well and good climax at R. Good trombones at T. V works well with good intonation. Well graded dynamics into X and a splendid end.

A very fine performance – thank you so much – you’re all stars!

Stephen Roberts.

2nd Place
Whitburn
Draw 8

Opening a bit firm for “p”. Vibes and Glock delicate. Nice lead into Andante. Sweet Soprano and well tuned octaves with flug stylish. Largo, sweet solo cornet. Flug just clips the Bb and also the A natural on next entry. Dynamics very good and the texture of sound is full of variety. E – bar 6 uncertain. 100 impeccable accompaniment in cornets. F – fine music making. G – elegant percussion, most musical.

Jupiter – starts vigorously. H – fine. J- a real swing here, well done dynamics. L- Well balanced nothing overdone. N- Great chord, timps excellent!. Andante Maestoso – You do so well to keep dowm to “mf”. Q – a bit scatchy. 250 – a scramble. R – Great. T – 319 a great run. X – Most effective. A most musical performance with only the tiniest of slips.

William Relton

VENUS – some small sense of nervousness to open, but bar 11 is just gorgeous - superbly balanced. 30 – just right 30 – Sop imperious! B – lovely cornet. This is all so good. The blips are so minor as not to matter – but the range of colour you achieve is remarkable as well as being apposite. This is just so good. Balance is unbelievably good and everything is in context. Brilliant!

JUPITER. – Opening cornets have just a few too mnay noisy accents for me, but tempo is well set and playing is so well controlled.

L – magnificent. M – well judges stringendo. 194 – Lovely style and control again, although I really think there should be no rall into the Andante (as written).

Q – not quite so solid! R – is geat though and you continue in masterful form to the end.

What a brilliant performance. This had everything right about it. Exciting withut losing control, wonderful soloists and a great director. Wonderful – thank you

Philip Sparke

Opening is secure and the balance is excellent at 12 lending a fine homogenous sound. Andante – sop and flug sound well, as does solo cornet. Fine control from sop – well done. Good cresc at 81 – excellent tonal depth and colour contrasts. Good flugel at Andante and good accompaniment. Excellent sop into F – fine control. Good tempo and well judges dynamics to end. A well shaped Venus with some excellent soloists.

Jupiter starts lightly with good build to “ff” before H. j has good “jolly” character. L – is stately but retains good spirit of jollity. Great sound at N – well done timps! Andante is a little sedate in tempo, but sound is classy. 226 – fabulous sound. Q onwards – almost!! All goes well. Good bass trom at X – a fine end.

A fine performance with excellent tonal variation and outstanding performances from the soloists.

Stephen Roberts

3rd Place
Black Dyke
Draw 11

Opening nice diminuendo well balanced cornets, great sound, basses elegant and so very sonorous. Fine lead in to Andante. 7 after B an uncertainty in attack and also the next bar. D – Solo horn late on entry, flug not quite accurate. 100 – Lovely flug playing complimenting the earlier great soprano solo. F – so well balanced. G – very tranquil. Nice Glock and such a great Morendo.

Jupiter

Bright and breezy, great dynamics. J – Jovial! A very well selected tempo. L – fine. M- I like the stringendo. O – lovely integration of these figures and a delicate ending. I found the change of speed to the Andante a bit hard to reconcile with minim equals crotchet. A fine robust tone and well observed dynamics. Q – Very good, so well picked out. T – unexaggerated Meno Mosso, well done. V – Great Glock and Tambourine playing. Well balanced. X – most effective

William Relton

Venus – superb to open (again!). This is playing of the highest order. What doesn’t come across back here is the syncopated pulse of the accomp. (Horns and back row). But the overall musical shape is wonderful. There are a couple of minor slips but not enough to spoil the atmosphere you create. Lovely movement overall.

JUPITER – once again the brilliance of the playing is knitted together into a performance of real stature by the MD.

I won’t write much ‘cos I need to really listen to this!

It was just terrific. If were giving points I’d have to knock off one or two but no more!

Many congrats. Its tough today!!

Philip Sparke

Opening has good atmosphere. Balance is good and dynamics commendable. Sop plays well, as do other soloists. Pulse figure is not totally clear and small intonation lapses, but good playing all round generally. Adagio is at a suitable tempo and there is a lovely spirit of peace. Excellent flugel and good link in to F from euph. Swell before G is a little strong to my taste. A lovely ending – well controlled.

Jupiter begins with effervescence and “fff” yields exciting sounds. Good staccato chords display tight ensemble of band. I really like this tempo – it is energetic as well as clear. Good climax at N. O is effective into Andante, though this slow tempo seems to change gear too much. Good band sound, though “ff” is a trifle forced. Well done at Q – very fine. T has plenty of character. V takes off rather quickly but it’s all very well played. Good to end.

A splendid performance with some tempo changes which did not quite work for me. Well played everyone.

Stephen Roberts

4th Place
Fairey FP (Music)
Draw 9

Opening so very stylish, bar 11 trombones rather wooly in attack. Euph smooth. Andante, very fine soprano. C – Just a tiny blip. Largo – Solo cornet forces a bit D – also the horn. Largo – discreet vibes. E – Well done solo horn and flugel. Andante bar 100 – again a slight click. F – Well balanced and nothing exaggerated. Nice glock, sensitively played. A great ending.

Jupiter – Great dynamics, marvellous to hear “f” than “ff”. J – fine, great baritones bar 76. K – delicate phrasing. Tempi are great. Andante Maestoso just the right speed and texture of scoring. Q – not at all successful, everbody with the shakes. T – fine start here. V – Great.

A very fine musical performance except for the disaster at Q.

William Relton

Venus – opening just wonderful from all. Apart from the minor personal slips, I feel the fluctuations in tempo just feel a little out of context and break up the atmosphere of the whole. But this is superb playing and the overall concept is stunning.

Jupiter – Wonderful once again – played with such character. L to N has really well judged tempi and works the best yet. This is so convincing. 194 – Wonderful sound and is so well shaped.

What a pity Q falls apart a bit but you are back to form at R and WHAT form! V - Brilliant. This has such energy. X – That’s how it goes!!

There were moments of sheer brilliance in this performance. Great band, great soloists and brilliantly directed. Real shame about the few poor bars in Jupiter after Q.

Philip Sparke

A very finely controlled opening with lots of atmosphere. Sop does well – slightly out of tune with flug. B sounds rather rushed and forced. Nice euph at Largo and a good balanced sound at the Adagio. Flug sings at Andante in musical fashion. Ensemble at 110? Blaance not quite so good after F – cornets a little too loud. Good ending.

Jupiter starts brightly with great punch and energy at H. Just a few minor blemishes along the way and occasional feeling of rushing, but great spirit all the while. O - well negotiated. Andante flows well – I like this tempo. Q – oops! (also into Q solo cornet 2) Fine accel into T. Lots of bustle and energy. V is scintillating. X is fine. Exciting to end.

An exhilarating performance with plenty of musicality and shape. I liked the spirit you captured with so mnay fine shapes, but Q let you down and some parts of Venus were a trifle overdone.

Stephen Roberts

5th Place
Brighouse and Rastrick
Draw 17

Opening stylish (a bit firm for “p”) Gentle basses. A gentle fine euph – Andante, great soprano, just the last note failed. 49 – Not a good attack. Largo, sweet solo cornet, well attached flug. 3 of D not quite so successful. 83 – Euph just makes it. E – Nice flug, flexible Euph. 100 – Lryical flug. F – well balanced, great scales on vibes and Glock. calm is maintained, G – in a beautifully tranquil ending.

Jupiter – Boisterous start, so clear, great dynamics. 4 before I a glitch in the sop. J- Very sonorous before L – No rit please. M – fine stringendo. O – neat. 192 – 193 – 194 these 3 bars run at the same pulse, the Andante is a touch slower than it should be. There is a great sonority in this band which you maintain at different dynamics. Well done. Q – has a couple of blips. R – full rich tone. 316 – the run should start quieter. W – great fanfares and a great clarity in the lines, well seperated. X – Very big finish – a great sounding band.

William Relton.

Venus – Gorgeous opening. Sop plays a blinder! Couple of small slips just invade the atmosphere. 58 – lovely climax, great sop again. 80 – superb colours. 85 – bit more vibes please. 94 – beautifully handled. Delicate into F – which nearly works! Lovely atmosphere maintained to the end. Superb close. Just a couple of intonation things at the end.

JUPITER – Cornets very clear texture and this is an appropriate tempo. Superb lower band sounds – big but not overdone. 75+ one or two tiny blips just detract a little. Why rit into L!!! Not needed!

M – works nicely – just the right stringendo. 164 – Timps rather OTT. O – a little too quiet to balance properly. 194 minim = chrotcher???? Andante really fine sense of space, but I don’t think Holst meant it to be at this tempo.

Q – works well but “mp” not “pp” please! In 242 9it is written to be a crescendo) But you still produce such a fine band sound, “glowing”!! and everything beautiful in context. X – Solo cornet 1 and 2 not in evidence completely. Great into 395! Super close. Molto Bravo!

Philip Sparke

Fine opening. Well balanced smooth sounds. Good euph and sop. Just an occasional blemish. The tempos are nicely handled and well judged. Very good into F. Piano is a touch strong at F. A good atmosphere captured. Rit into G is over stylised for me. Ending fades well. A finely shaped performance with just the occasional touch of “de trop” in the stylisation.

Jupiter starts clearly with great articulation. Why the rit into L? These mannerisms do not enhance, they merely detract.

N – big sound. O is clear and, again, well articulated. Andante feels too slow in relation to Allegro with some indulgent mannerisms. “ff” is played with fine sound. Q onwards not quite!! Good sound at R and onward and tight ensemble.

A great sounding band and some fine playing. Some of the mannerisms were overdone and did not always enhance an otherwise fine performance.

Stephen Roberts

6th Place
BAYV Cory
Draw 13

Opening nice start, if rather loud. 11 fine delicate trombone entry. Andante fine soprano and nice octaves with flug . sweet solo cornet. Largo (83) powerful euph, nice bass line. E – Well balanced. 100 - Steady flug. F – Great soprano and a nice forward movement to Euph and 2nd cornets. Nice ending.

Jupiter. Vigorous start, good dynamics well balanced. I – full of character. J – well measured. 100 – well placed solo parts. L – steady. M – good stringendo and Piu Mosso clear. N – great climax. Not a neat change 192 – 193 – 194, it should all be at the same pulse. P – What a good lead from Sop! Q – neat. R – in character. T – Stylish. V.W – clean clear lines. X – Full rich playing. A good band performance of technical ability.

William Relton

Venus – This really is very lovely. Some questions about intonation in muted cornets, but soloists are lovely (Sop is a master!)

My main comment is that it lacks a little musical purpose. Whilst there are lovely individual moments, its not yet gelling into performance. Very clean performance, but more a series of episodes than a complete movement.

JUPITER – once again, you sound like a great Band – standard of playing is high all round the band, but there seems to be no musical cohesion. L – That’s great – this is working really well. O – a little too quiet to work balance wise. P – Timps not in evidence (or triangle at 246), but you continue to play well – very well as the piece progresses. You are now making cogent musical progress.

This was a fine band and on good form, just lacking total musical commitment in places. Thanks

Philip Sparke

Opening is full of atmosphere and the soloists all play well with good sense of line. Occasionally the tempo links are over laboured – they don’t seem to always flow naturally into one another. Great sop at F and well done flug and euph earlier on. Into G is static with extra ritardando. Good ending.
Jupiter. 1st 5 bars not quite there. Good tempo – well done flugel. J has good character. L is fine and jolly and dynamic lifts well into N.

Link into Andante not smooth – pickup crotchets too slow. P – timps? All goes pretty well. T is fun – well done trombones. V takes off at a lick. Big sound at 372 – great.

X is fine and a good end.

Some very fine playing and a good performance which lacked a really strong shape. Many of the tempo changes seemed too discrete and lacked the plasticity required.

Stephen Roberts

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