Well, we have reached the end of another enjoyable Brass in Concert weekend, and Cory have once again shown that they are an unstoppable force on the contest stage.
They close the year as Brass in Concert, BrassPass.tv Band of the Year, British Open, European and National Champions.
Those present here and watching online will have savoured Cory's victorious programme whilst rivals head for home wondering just how on earth can they be beaten...
Talking of things to savour — the Youth Brass in Concert Championship was superb, as was David Childs in the Gala Concert with Brighouse & Rastrick, whilst the taster sessions and elementary education classes were brilliant as always.
Our thanks go as always to the Brass in Concert team for their hospitality.
Don't forget you can log on to www.worldofbrass.tv to relive the action for £12.95
That's it — hope you enjoyed our coverage — we certainly did bringing it to you
Sunday 17, 18:43:37
Results:
Adjudicators:
Ian Bousfield & Dr Nick Grace (Music-Quality of Performance) Jeremy Wise (Programme Content) Chris Jeans & Mike Lovatt (Entertainment & Presentation) Les Neish (Soloist and Individual Awards)
Music/Music/Content/Entertainment = Total Bousfield/Grace/Wise/Jeans/Lovatt = Total
* denotes Quality of Performance points take precedence in order of tied placings (SEE BELOW)
The Brass in Concert management team has stated that there was an error in the original announced placings of Friary Band and Brass Band Schoonhoven, and that their 6th and 7th placings respectively should be reversed.
The results above have now been amended accordingly to the order above.
Both bands scored 148 points, and while the combined Quality of Performance points should have been used to break the tie, in this case the placings of Judge A only (Ian Bousfield) were used in error.
A spokesperson for the event commented: "This was a clerical error for which we accept full responsibility.
Although the results are checked prior to posting, mistakes do unfortunately happen sometimes when working under the pressure of time."
They added: "We apologise sincerely to the members and supporters of both Friary and Schoonhoven for the error and are currently putting into place a system that eliminates the possibility of any such mistakes in the future.
Both bands gave excellent and well-received performances and we congratulate them and the other 16 competing bands over the weekend on their wonderful efforts in creating a very successful event."
Individual Awards:
Don Lusher Trombone Award: Isobel Daws (Friary) Harry Mortimer Best Principal Cornet Award: Tom Hutchinson (Cory) The Fesa Trophy for Best Flugel Award: Danny Winder (Tredegar) The Gateshead MBC Trophy for Best Soprano Award: Steve Stewart (Cory) The Louis and Colin Johnson Trophy for Best Percussion Section: Cory Best Euphonium: Chris Robertson (Brighouse & Rastrick) Best Baritone: Ben Stratford (Tredegar) Best Horn: Zoe Wright (Hammonds) John Fletcher Best Basses Award: Brighouse & Rastrick Best Entertainment and Presentation: Cory Audience Entertainment Prize: Friary Best Programme Content: Cory Quality of Performance: Cory Best Soloist: Kirsty Abbotts (cornet) Carlton Main New Composition/Arrangement Award : Philip Harper (La Surrey de los Tontes) Winning MD: Philip Harper Youngest Player: Harry Porthouse of Tredegar (aged 15)
Sunday 17, 18:17:53
Round up and prediction...
Interesting, intriguing and a very enjoyable day with plenty to debate.
Cory's performance this morning was breathtaking, thought provoking and so musically clinical in its execution. Have they played better than that here we wonder?
Behind them we go for Tredegar's high quality show which was underpinned by some seriously impressive playing that deserves not to be forgotten off Kelly's eye.
The quartet of ensembles that offered contemporary programmes could well be split by very little, but any of them could dislodge Tredegar.
Those four of Brighouse & Rastrick, Carlton Main Frickley, Flowers, Dutch champion Schoonhoven and Tredegar could finish in any order behind Cory.
Friary's super entertaining set that could well fare well too — and could the real dark horse of the contest.
4BR Prediction:
1. Cory 2. Tredegar 3. Brass Band Schoonhoven 4. Flowers 5. Brighouse & Rastrick 6. Carlton Main Frickley
Dark Horse: Friary
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The Dawn of Christianity (Jacob Vilhelm Larsen) Pilgrims Lament (Jacob Vilhelm Larsen) Soloist: Phillip Tait The Real Northern Powerhouse (Jonathan Bates) Excerpts from Fraternity (Thierry Deleruyelle) Reflections of Tyne (Matthew Hall)
A homegrown, home inspired set from the north of England champion that had a firm narrative feel running through it like a seam of South Shields coal.
The opening item looked back to the earliest days of Christian civilisation — echoes of Lindisfarne monks and illuminated manuscripts revealing the message of God to the heathen masses. It did too.
If that set the tone, the lovely soprano cornet playing of Philip Tait was well worth any pilgrimage — a lament of touching lyrical beauty.
Governments are all talking about the 'Northern Powerhouse' — but this was music inspired by the area's rich industrial heritage that is still in place awaiting to reawakened.
The hammers on metal and sounds of labour permeated the score in a clever, well observed piece.
The excerpts from 'Fraternity' seemed a little out of context given its French/test-piece hinterland — but it just about worked, helped by the narrative displayed on the multi-media screen. Mining communities have a linked affinity from whatever part of the world they hail.
The final piece was a great dollop of panache and pizzazz — with the stamp of composer Matthew Hall's clever thinking all over it. Think of his prize winning 'Legends of Cyfarthfa' transported to the north of England.
It made for a super finisher from a band that gave it their all and more.
Overall:
A nicely put together set that played on well known and understandable themes. Bravo.
Sunday 17, 16:34:28
10. Brighouse & Rastrick (Russell Gray)
Spirit of the Gods
Ragnar'k (Kjetil Djonne) Only in Sleep (Eriks E'envalds arr. Jinjun Lee) Soloist: Kyle Lawson (cornet) The 'sir (Vanir War) (Fredrick Schjelderup) Revelry (Tom Davoren)
Nordic myth and mysticism for the West Riding band — played as if they were inhabiting the icy fjords of Bergen let alone the bucolic hillsides around Brighouse.
The storyline (projected onto the multi-media screen) of the battles between the likes of Thor, Loki, Odin and the rest of the gang was played out in red blooded fashion from the off — although it did take the audience a bit by surprise.
Kyle Lawson brought a fine sense of peacefulness to the proceedings to follow — playing of beautiful tonal intensity under the spotlight on high.
More mystical musicality followed — led by a haunting solo horn as the band entered the realms of the chief gods — the ones with power over mere mortals. It was a battle for the souls; pacy, dramatic (the lighting made it even spookier) and quirky, even in its mischief making and vicious mayhem. Music from a different worldly realm.
Tom Davoren's finale sets pulses racing — medieval high energy playing to open, followed by more musical mysticism and a return to the brilliant triumphalism before a huge overpowering climax — the MD bringing his baton down like Thor smashing his hammer on his anvil.
Overall:
Entertainment cleaved right out of the rocks of Nordic myth this from Brighouse — different but engrossing in its obvious richly defined drama.
Sunday 17, 16:21:53
Meeting up with Clarence Adoo
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Overture to The Flying Dutchman (Wagner arr. Robbert Vos) Prelude for a Hero (Joop van Dijk) Or Safety Found in Sleeping Sound (Paul McGhee Soloist: Rommert Groenhof (bass trombone) Leviathan Against Kraken (Franco Cesarini arr. Christian)
An inventive mix of Dutch musical seafaring heritage and passion from their newly crowned National champion — one that opened with the Wagnerian sounds of the 'The Flying Dutchman'.
Not all of it though — just a quick dash like Arjen Robben sprinting up the yardarm.
The effective use of the sand sculptor added an extra dimension to the narrative throughout their set too — and by heck his images were good.
Rembrandt eat you heart out as these Dutchmen and women took to the brass band waves — also helped along by the great narrator (who happened to be the conductor's wife).
The antiphonal 'Prelude for a Hero' was a great segue effect to keep the story-line moving, before we headed into the melancholic world of an ungodly man cursing his luck and fate washed down with lashings of alcohol and poisonous thoughts.
It was portrayed by the fantastic cavernous-throated tonality of the bass trombonist — staring into the abyss with his playing. Any lower and he would have unearthed the foundations of the Sage. Dark and dangerous depth-charge trom playing that.
The battle against the Kraken (whose been a busy boy in the last two performances it seems) is won by sheer force of will and power from an ensemble in overdrive, before we end with a return to Wagner's eternal, cursed anti-hero.
Overall:
A fine idea played out with a real inventive feel for the evocative atmosphere of the story of a doomed soul set on an eternal sea of despair — helped greatly by the sculptor and narrator.
The playing had a high class hallmark from start to finish in a programme with a serious intent. The entertainment factor was different from many other rivals today for certain — but it was just as persuasive.
Sunday 17, 15:13:04
8. Flowers (Paul Holland)
Captain Nemo's Forgotten Journal
Dawn of a Voyage (Dan Price) The Descent (Christopher Bond) Soloist: Jamie Smith (cornet) Monster Thrash (Paul Saggers) La Cathedrale Engloutie (Debussy arr. Dan Price) Escape the Kracken (Dan Price)
It's been music inspired by Jules Verne for Flowers — and the excitement that came from an unearthed forgotten journal of another journey 20,000 leagues under the sea with the saturnine Captain Nemo.
All that was missing was him playing the nuclear steam powered organ — (as in the famous Disney film) although the band made up for that at times with the wattage of power they expelled.
The opening Dan Price work set the scene — all bubbles and blasts of oxygenated air as the ensemble plumbed into the depths.
It was followed by a lyrical interlude of clear water beauty from principal cornet Jamie Smith — a descent that rather incongruously got higher in timbre as it went along. Some player though — so secure and tonally assured.
The 'Monster Thrash' was that and more — two huge leviathans of the deep grappling against each other for supremacy — all aided by some pretty spectacular solo interventions from the scuba divers on cornet and sop in particular.
Debussy's sunken cathedral had a bold mystical quality — bubbling (literally) in evocative spirit as the Nautilus meandered amongst the sunken columns. Clever that.
The final battle with the awesome Kracken is surprisingly light of touch, but then it got into a WWE wrestling match that knocked lumps out each other all the way to a great close.
Overall:
A bold story told in exciting fashion by Flowers with each page of the journal brought to life in musical technicolour. Lots of super high quality playing emerged from beneath the waves too.
Sunday 17, 14:34:44
7. Carlton Main Frickley Colliery (Dr David Thornton)
Different Trains:
Last Train Home (Pat Metheny arr. Robin Dewhurst) Night Train (Jimmy Forrest arr. Robin Dewhurst) Going Places (Robin Dewhurst) The Quiet Zone (Robin Dewhurst) Mind the Gap (Robin Dewhurst) The Railway Children (Johnny Douglas arr. Robin Dewhurst) Soloist: Kirsty Abbotts (cornet) Pacific 231 (Arthur Honneger arr. Robin Dewhurst)
Cool midnight jazz inflections and train track influences for David Thornton and Carlton Main — all arranged by Robin Dewhurst.
It soon got up a head of steam with Pat Metheny's 'Last Train Home' — complete with steam-driven start and the pulsating, sinuous sound of the euphonium leading out of the station.
It was followed by the intense sounds of 'Night Train' — a crepuscular musical journey into the suburbs with the wheels powered by a splendidly deep-throated trom section.
The wickedly TGV pace of 'Going Places' — whizzing along at 125 miles an hour plus — caught the breath — as did the 'Mind the Gap' carriage tagged onto its end.
The great memories of Dinah Sheridan, Bernard Cribbins, Jenny Aguter and a Victorian middle England of steam trains and intrigue was recalled with 'The Railway Children'. What's not to enjoy with music making like that — especially when it's played so tenderly by Kirsty Abbotts and the accompaniment.
Oh we all cried when father came home, walking into the arms of his family out of the steam in the film — and how this very nearly brought a tear to the eye too. Perfect.
There was something darkly disturbing about the dream-inspired finale — but all in the right way (the images of the forlorn looking teddy bear sent a shiver up the spine).
No late running commuter train horrors from King's Cross with this thankfully — but a journey just as terrifying — although it ends in triumph. That worked so well in an oddly engaging way.
Overall:
A nice developed idea for a programme, well balanced and delivered by Carlton Main — taking in different aspects of the evocative age of steam.
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Erin Shore (Trad arr. Leigh Baker) The Whale (arr. Howard Lorriman) Anchor of the Soul (Andi Cook) featuring Neil Day (cornet) and Melanie Ornsby (euphonium) Sea Fever (Kenneth Downie) Excerpt from Voyage to World's Unknown (Peter Graham)
A set rooted in the salty waters that surround our island nation and the city of Hull in particular — one that pays homage to its proud past, present and future.
The opening had an evocative feel and rich sense of atmosphere — led splendidly by principal cornet Neil Day. The music built with a heave and wash of the waves lapping on a windswept outcrop.
A hint of Herman Melville with the bold leviathan Moby Dick of a march, 'The Whale'.
'There she blows!' — great robust spouts of sound with some neat filigree work to ornament it. Captain Ahab would have loved it.
More evocative sounds followed with the twin points of hymnal focus on the euphonium and cornet — aided by the multi-media presentation that reflected on lives lost to the cruel sea.
Kenneth Downie's 'Sea Fever' — 'Bobby Shaftoe' on shore leave, is played with gusto and a fair bit of revelry — as if the deck hands had just hopped off ship at Gateshead quay and into the nearest pub. That was fun.
The nautical theme is rounded off with a spectacular voyage across the waves to the USA — all grandeur and a sense of anticipation of a new future. Exciting playing with the boldest of finishes.
Overall:
A rather poignant programme this — but always engaging and entertaining in a different way. Good to hear this different type of approach — proud and passionate.
April 17 • Thoresby Colliery Band are inviting applications for an SOLO Trombone player. . We are at the top of tables for the 1st section Midlands Area, with a sensible calendar of Contest and Contests.. .
April 17 • Crewe Brass are looking for FLUGEL player to join our highly motivated 4th section band. We are a very welcoming and sociable band, with a positive outlook and a reasonably busy calendar of engagements. Other enquiries are welcome.
April 17 • Crewe Brass are looking for BACKROW CORNET players to join our highly motivated 4th section band. We are a very welcoming and sociable band, with a positive outlook and a reasonably busy calendar of engagements. Other enquiries are welcome.
