Section 4
Saturday 14, 23:35:19
Result:
Fourth Section:
Set Work: Own Choice
Adjudicators: Paul Norley and Brett Baker
4th Section Champions — Crystal Palace (Michael Gray)
1. Crystal Palace (Michael Gray)
2. BMP Europe Ltd Goodshaw (Joshua Hughes)
3. Sherwood Forest Brass (Christine Lippeatt)
4. Woodbridge Excelsior (Chris Lewis-Garnham)
5. Syston (Chris Banks)
6. Banovallum Brass (Horncastle) (Steve Ingham)
7. Sale Brass (Alan Seymour)
8. Great Yarmouth Brass (Colin Swaep)
9. Whitwell Brass (Ryan Stacey)
10. Thurcroft Welfare (Matthew Wright)
11. Kirkby Colliery Welfare (Neville Buxton)
Highest Placed Mining Band: Sherwood Forest Brass
Section 4
Saturday 14, 13:08:27
Chris Thomas's Fourth Section Prediction
It's all over in the Fourth section and it's been an engaging own choice contest that grew in stature as it progressed.
There were two peformances that were well ahead of the field for us with Chris Thomas going for a top three of:
1. Crystal Palace
2. BMP Europe Ltd Goodshaw
3. Sale Brass
Section 4
Saturday 14, 12:56:54
11. Whitwell Brass (Ryan Stacey)
Hazelmere Suite — Peter Graham
There's a bright style to the opening march and although it's not the biggest sound we've heard today, there's good detail on display.
Contrast with second movement is effective. Well done percussion but it just needs a little more energy and verve to convince us.
Tuning is not always precise in the slow movement and makes for a few uncomfortable moments. The Cossack style finale drives on well but it loses its rhythmic focus from time to time and the energy dissipates at the close.
Section 4
Saturday 14, 12:39:16
10. Syston Band (Chris Banks)
Opening is not always rhythmically tight but we hear strong sounds. Frustrating little slips sometimes get in the way but we can sense the efforts of the players to find the images in the music.
A little cautious at times and the flow is not always consistent. Some good individual playing though.
Final movement could do with a little more dynamic contrast and it feels a touch pedestrian at times as a result. Solid playing overall though and a mid table finisher for us.
Section 4
Saturday 14, 12:18:17
9. Sale Brass (Alan Seymour)
On Stage — Sale Brass (Alan Seymour)
A Malvern Suite — Philip Sparke
Another strong opening and although there are one or two slightly uncomfortable individual entries this is finding the style and atmosphere of the music with aplomb. Good dynamic contrasts although the Elgarian opening of the second movement is hesitant and tuning suffers as a result.
Some nice touches of colour and it's a warm sound as the slow movement progresses. Just the occasional. Just the ocasionally blemish but the overall musical picture is always present.
Sprited sounds in the final movement and detail through the ensemble is heard with impressive clarity. We can sense the confidence building as this progresses.
Rythmic interplay is generally well dispatched and it leads to an ending of vigour and brio.
Section 4
Saturday 14, 11:49:06
8. BMP Europe Ltd Goodshaw (Joshua Hughes)
"Where've my players gone", Josh Hughes of BMP Goodshaw
Chorale Variations — Jan de Haan
A bold, confident opening and this is getting to the heart of the score, well balanced sounds, good dynamic contrasts and a young, dynamic MD that clearly engages with his players.
The varying changes of mood and style are well captured and the broad chorale sounds are well sustained.
A few slightly nervy sounds in the more exposed sections but it doesn't upset the impressive flow of the music.
Percussion stays within the textures and as it builds to the conclusion there is once again an impressive sense of musical solidity about the picture with an ending of balanced power.
Section 4
Saturday 14, 11:30:27
7. Crystal Palace (Michael Gray)
Music for Kantara — Kenneth Downie
Confident sounds to open and this has an immediate sense of musical presence about it. Bold sounds, cohesive ensemble and great detail throughout the band. Crucially tuning is also generally secure, a pleasure to hear. Sounds are so well balanced and the first move the ends so well.
Slightly uneven opening to the central movement but lovely lyrical sounds from solo cornet and this unfolds so well. What a lovely close. Gentle and again the balance is somwell observed as are the dynamics.
Lovely opening to third movement and it trips along nicely. This is impressive fourth section music making indeed, directed with a clear musical head from the middle. Well done!!
Section 4
Saturday 14, 11:23:02
6. Woodbridge Excelsior (Chris Lewis-Garnham)
Paul McGhee prepares to play his piece with Woodbridge
Lucid Perspectives — Paul McGhee/Andrew Baker
If there were a prize today for sheer musical entrieprise then this would surely win. A new co-written piece that take the fourth section into contemporary musical territory.
And the band clearly embraces the fact. We hear good detail and the players clearly relish the exciting harmonic and melodic qualities of the writing. Effects are brought off well with just a hint of caution here and there but the approach always engages. It loses its way in the middle a little.......but we hit the final section with jarring energy.
Just those little hesitations again but the momentum builds well and the ending is effective. Challenging writing and not all of it quite came off but overal an impressive acount of an effective new work.
Section 4
Saturday 14, 10:51:57
5. Great Yarmouth Brass (Colin Swaep)
The Dark Side of the Moon — Paul Lovatt-Cooper
The local lads and lasses of Great Yarmouth journey to the other side. The opening is not always in focus but we sense the atmosphere. Hesitant entries sometimes detract from the overall picture but it settles in the haunting central slow section and we hear great solo work from principal cornet.
Tuning is again problematic.....a consistent factor in the performances we heave heard so far today.
Strong bold sounds follow the slow section and this has warmth and emotion about it leading to a mysterious reprise of the opening.
The build to the final bars is well handled and paced and it's a fine close.
Section 4
Saturday 14, 10:35:12
4. Banovallum Brass (Steve Ingham)
Saint Saens Variations — Philip Sparke
Another good opening. One or two moments of strained tuning but it's great to hear a real spirit about this. The players are enjoying the music and are communicating the fact.
Tuning again raises its head in the slower passages. A shame as there is clear emotion in the music making.
Good solid sounds to close a performance of real verve that was immensely enjoyable at times but could have been so much better had intonation not intervened at key moments.
Section 4
Saturday 14, 10:18:57
3. Thurcroft Welfare (Matthew Wright)
Saint Saens Variations — Philip Sparke
What a lively opening. Good strong band sounds and there's a spirit about this that engages immediately. One or two niggling slips along the way but the style is always impressive.
Sustained sounds in the famous organ melody and good work from principal cornet. There is so much to enjoy here.
As the performances progresses it gathers more steam and we can ense confidence flowing. Big sounds and a joyous close cap a sterling effort from Thurcroft. Bravo.
Section 4
Saturday 14, 09:58:08
2. Kirkby Colliery Welfare (Neville Buxton)
A Malvern Suite — Philip Sparke
Opening is a touch nervy but it settles into the style and there are some lively rythems. Those early morning nerves continue to cause a few problems though.
The slower sections continue to cause issues in terms of tuning and nervous entries but we can sense the band trying to find the spirit of what is a very attractive active Sparke score.
The final movement does find some momentum and there's some neat work from the cornet section on display. A decent end but a little unsettled overall.
Section 4
Saturday 14, 09:42:37
1. Sherwood Forest Brass (Christine Lippeatt)
On Stage — Sherwood Forest Brass (Christine Lippeatt)
Partita — Edward Gregson
It's the majestic strains of Edward Gregson's engaging Partita that get the contest off to a start. A little hesitant at times in the opening movement but there is good style on display here.
One or two little slips in the slow movement but a good attempt to get down to the quieter dynamics.
Tuning is a little astray at times but there is again a good style about this. It's a little tired to close but plenty to enjoy in this opening performance in the fourth section.
Section 4
Saturday 14, 09:28:16
Getting ready for the action to start...
We are in Centre Stage — which is very quiet at the moment — waiting for the action to start in the Fourth Section at 9.30am. Some last minute hitches to overcome and then we are off...
Section 4
Saturday 14, 09:17:35
Fourth Section:
Venue: Centre Stage
Draw: 8.30am
Commence: 9.30am
Set Work: Own Choice
Adjudicators: Paul Norley and Brett Baker
1. Sherwood Forest Brass (Christine Lippeatt)
2. Kirkby Colliery Welfare (Neville Buxton)
3. Thurcroft Welfare (Matthew Wright)
4. Banovallum Brass (Horncastle) (Steve Ingham)
5. Great Yarmouth Brass (Colin Swaep)
6. Woodbridge Excelsior (Chris Lewis-Garnham)
7. Crystal Palace (Michael Gray)
8. BMP Europe Ltd. (Goodshaw) (Joshua Hughes)
9. Sale Brass (Alan Seymour)
10. Syston (Chris Banks)
11. Whitwell Brass (Ryan Stacey)
Section 4
Friday 13, 12:28:46
Fourth Section details
Venue: Centre Stage
Draw: 8.30am
Commence: 9.30am
Set Work: Own Choice
Adjudicators: Paul Norley and Brett Baker
Bands
Banovallum Brass (Horncastle) (Steve Ingham)
BMP Europe Ltd. (Goodshaw) (Joshua Hughes)
Crystal Palace (Michael Gray)
Great Yarmouth Brass (Colin Swaep)
Kirkby Colliery Welfare (Neville Buxton)
Sale Brass (Alan Seymour)
Sherwood Forest Brass (Christine Lippeatt)
Syston (Chris Banks)
Thurcroft Welfare (Matthew Wright)
Whitwell Brass (Ryan Stacey)
