Best Soloist: Bethan Plant (principal cornet) Hebden Bridge Band
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BlogSunday 1, 20:15:16
Youth presentation gallery...
On Saturday the Youth awards were presented...
ChampionshipSunday 1, 18:52:08
Overall Predictions:
Steven Mead:
1. Tredegar Band 2. Cory Band 3. Foden's Band 4. Brass Band Schoonhoven 5. Valaisia Brass Band 6. Stavanger Brass Band
Christopher Thomas:
1. Tredegar Band 2. Cory Band 3. Foden's Band 4. Valaisia Brass Band 5. Stavanger Brass Band 6. Brass Band Schoonhoven
Our guests went for overall top 3's of:
Patricio Cosentino
1. Tredegar Band 2. Foden's Band 3. Cory Band
Mark Good
1. Tredegar Band 2. Cory Band 3. Foden's Band
ChampionshipSunday 1, 17:19:52
The Result and Award Ceremony for the Challenge and Championship sections will follow the Gala Concert featuring Cory Band and Louis Dowdeswell Big Band at 9.30pm. Join us later this evening for when the results are announced.
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ChampionshipSunday 1, 17:17:17
Top 6 Predictions: Own-Choice Test Piece
Steven Mead:
1. Tredegar Band — 198 2. Foden's Band — 197 3. Cory Band — 196 4. Valaisia Brass Band — 194 5. Brass Band Schoonhoven — 193 6. Stavanger Brass Band — 192.5
Christopher Thomas:
1. Tredegar Band 2. Cory Band 3. Foden's Band 4. Valaisia Brass Band 5. Stavanger Brass Band 6. Brass Band Schoonhoven
We have been delighted to welcome Patricio Cosentino who has listened to all the band's today and his top 6 are as follows:
1. Tredegar Band 2. Foden's Band 3. Cory Band 4. Stavanger Brass Band 5. Valaisia Brass Band 6. Hauts-de-France Brass Band
We were also joined by Mark Good of British Bandsman who opted for a top 6 of:
1. Tredegar Band 2. Valaisia Brass Band 3. Cory Band 4. Foden's Band 5. Stavanger Brass Band 6. Brass Band Schoonhoven
ChampionshipSunday 1, 17:07:20
11. 3BA Concert Band (Corsin Tuor)
Other Lives (Oliver Waespi)
A new piece by Oliver Waespi, very well played by the German band.
Full of his characteristic pseudo disco music juxtaposed with more melodic elements. At times frenetic, but it got the full attention of this committed and dynamic young German band. Outstanding trombone soloist is not to mention solo euphonium , solo and soprano cornets.
No doubt it was very well played. How did the judges take that right at the end of the day. It could surprise some. For me the musical substance left a slightly empty feeling despite the quite brilliant playing at times.
Well done.
Technical accuracy: 19 Rhythmic precision and clarity: 18 Control of full dynamic range: 20 Ensemble precision: 19 Tuning/intonation: 19 Band sound quality: 19 Balance/clarity of textures: 18 Quality of soloists: 19 Overall understanding: 18 Total musicality from the band: 19
Total: 188
Steven Mead
Oliver Waespi's Other Lives takes as its premise human transformation, morphed into musical form.
A fascinating concept but one that does not have to be pondered upon too deeply to appreciate the vast range of expression and emotion that the music demands.
Vividly dramatic in the opening expression of rage, not all of the detail is heard with total clarity in what is a dense textural picture. The solos that follow are not always uniformly secure and this just lacks something in its range of tonal colour. The result is that it is hard to be fully drawn into the performance a complete entity.
The final section does not always knit together with ensemble sometimes disjointed and the performance seems to lose its way progressively as it reaches the 'Renewal' of the final section.
This had huge spirit and energy but not always matched by sheer detail and clarity.
Christopher Thomas
ChampionshipSunday 1, 16:36:14
10. Hauts-de-France Brass Band (Vertommen)
Sinfonietta no.2 ' Four Impressions (Pierre-Antoine Savoyat)
Some amazing and colourful playing by the French champions.
Showcasing several of their star players, none more so than the brilliant Lilian Meurin on euphonium. The piece of course is very French, seemingly a pastiche compilation of five or six of your favourite French composers. Structurally more like a suite of pieces than a normal through-composed test piece, but most enjoyable and very refreshing on the aural palette at this time of the weekend.
Merci!!
Technical accuracy: 18 Rhythmic precision and clarity: 19 Control of full dynamic range: 19 Ensemble precision: 19 Tuning/intonation: 17 Band sound quality: 19 Balance/clarity of textures: 19 Quality of soloists: 20 Overall understanding: 20 Total musicality from the band: 19
Total: 189
Steven Mead
A work that will be new to everyone in Symphony Hall from the French band in the form of Pierre-Antoine Savoyat's Sinfonietta No. 2 Quatre Impressions.
The allusions to Debussy and Ravel at the opening are clear, the language coloured by impressionist inspired harmonic and melodic gestures and figurations that are colourfully captured by the band. This is engaging music and an interesting choice alongside some of the technical power house prices we have heard on occasions today.
The gentle Asian tainted colours of the opening Prelude to a Distant Land give way to a virtuosic 'Fabulous Procession' that tests every section of the band in its depiction of animals, jugglers and magicians. There's an undoubted charm about this but whether it will find favour in the box is so difficult to say.
The evocative Dialogue of the Wind and Mountains that follows is an unashamed homage to Debussy's La Mer, a stream of impressionist pastel shades that are given space and pliability by Luc Vertommen and the band, with the final movement of 'Feria' a whirlwind of festival fever that the band clearly relishes with true Gallic fervour.
Christopher Thomas
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ChampionshipSunday 1, 16:09:42
9. Stavanger Brass Band (Allan Withington)
The Turing Test (Simon Dobson)
Another brilliantly planned and executed performance by Stavanger Brass Band.
Both of their performances have been shaped entirely by the music, and there was so much to impress today. Just the smallest little errors dotted throughout the performance take off the final shine.
Who knows what the judges think? This could be near the very top.
Bravo all, and thank you for two beautifully crafted musical performances this weekend.
Technical accuracy: 17.5 Rhythmic precision and clarity: 19 Control of full dynamic range: 19 Ensemble precision: 19 Tuning/intonation: 20 Band sound quality: 20 Balance/clarity of textures: 20 Quality of soloists: 19 Overall understanding: 20 Total musicality from the band: 19
Total: 192.5
Steven Mead
Allan Withington and Stavanger return to a piece that has become somewhat synonymous with the band in recent years in the form of Simon Dobson's The Turing Test.
The ticking of Turing's machines from which the opening grows darkly, says much about the inner recesses of Turing's mind, but aside from the technical mastery that emanates from the passages that follow, it is Allan Withington's masterful pacing of the musical argument that makes this so compelling.
There is such careful attention to clarity of the myriad detail that springs from the score's pages, but the luminosity, the carefully coloured sounds and textures of the sombre, unsettling tones that explore Turing's state of mind when subjected to chemical castration are truly eerie and unnerving.
The chaotic nature of the final section is shattering in its impact; relentless, violent, unforgiving. This has been playing of raw yet thoughtfully judged aggression from Stavanger. Powerful stuff indeed.
November 4 • Dobcross Silver Band are looking for a couple of cornet players. You are rewarded with enjoyable rehearsals, concerts and a progressive contesting band. If you’re a team player, get in touch…..NOW!!
November 4 • We're looking for a TENOR HORN player to join us, following invitation to the Spring Festival 2025. . We are a friendly and dedicated band with many contesting ambitions.
November 4 • Hucknall& Linby Band ( 1 section ) are looking for a Bflat bass player to strengthen the ranks. We rehearse on Thursday 7.30 - 9.30 in Hucknall, Nottingham.
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