Highest Placed Third Section Band: Cleobury Mortimer
Highest Placed Fourth Section Band: Red Admiral Brass
Best Instrumentalist: David Bird (soprano) — Thoresby Colliery
Best Euphonium: Ben Smith of Enderby
Best Cornet: Archie Hall of Tewit Silver
Most Promising Lower Section Band: Tewit Silver
Best Back Row Cornets: Enderby
All Images copyright: Evie Redfern Photography Contact for permission: evieisabelredfern@gmail.com
Result:
Adjudicators: Ian Porthouse and Alan Morrison
1. Sovereign Brass (Alan Gifford) 2. Jackfield Band (Ryan Richards) 3. Enderby Band (Stephen Phillips) 4. Tewit Silver Band (Martin Hall) 5. Thoresby Colliery Band (Michael Howley) 6. Oddfellows Band (Ben Smith) 7. Cleobury Mortimer Concert Brass (Matthew Ludford-King) 8. Nailsworth Silver Band (Anri Adachi) 9. Regent Brass (Alan Duguid) 10. Red Admiral Brass (Stuart Barton) 11. Amington Band (Alan Gifford) 12. Wakefield Metropolitan Band (Lee Dunkley) 13. Shipston Town Band (Howard Gibbs)
Withdrawn: Greenalls Band (Russell Prescott)
Highest Championship Section Band: Jackfield Band Highest First Section Band: Sovereign Brass Highest Second Section Band: Tewit Silver Highest Third Section Band: Cleobury Mortimer Highest Fourth Section Band: Red Admiral
Most Promising Lower Section Band: Tewit Silver Best Euphonium: Ben Smith (Enderby Band) Best Instrumentalist: David Bird (soprano) — Thoresby Colliery Best Cornet: Archie Hall (Tewit Silver) Best Band Row Cornets: Enderby Band
Saturday 1, 15:58:37
That's the end of the contest...
That's the competitive element done — although it's sad that Greenalls Band were stuck in traffic and couldn't make it to the event. We hope they are able to get back home without any further incident.
We have a short break now and then a short gala concert performance before the announcement of the results.
It's been a really enjoyable day with some solid performances at the top end battling it out for the honours and with some fine efforts in the top-six mix too.
Sovereign Brass showed that extra touch of quality today and could well be the band to lift the inaugural ConsTest Birmingham Open Trophy. Not far behind its Jackfield for us from Enderby for the podium spots, and we really liked Tewit Silver who could just head the likes of Thoresby Colliery and Regent Brass.
All Images copyright: Evie Redfern Photography Contact for permission: evieisabelredfern@gmail.com
Saturday 1, 15:40:18
13. Red Admiral Brass (Stuart Barton)
Hungerford Town (Darrol Barry)
What a fantastic effort to get here from Red Admiral Brass — stuck in traffic for hours on the M6 due to an accident before they finally made it. They were initially drawn number 8 but now close the contest.
It's another opportunity to hear Darrol Barry's melodic 'Hungerford Town' which proved a popular Fourth Section Area test piece this year.
What a fine sounding band they are too — built on a leviathan foundation of five tubas, snappy troms, plump middle bands sounds and neat top end. The two perc players kept things on rhythmic track too.
Lots of stylish playing on show in each of the four sections — with the MD maintaining the flow from start to finish. A fine flugel and sweet sop added some lovely touches and there was that essential warmth to the tonality that drew you in with its good intonation and balance. Lots of energy and uplifting drive closed a fine show from all concerned.
Fingers crossed the journey home doesn't cause any problems.
Iwan Fox
All Images copyright: Evie Redfern Photography Contact for permission: evieisabelredfern@gmail.com
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Saturday 1, 15:19:12
12. Sovereign Brass (Alan Gifford)
Diversions on a Bass Theme (George Lloyd)
George Lloyd's 'Diversions on a Bass Theme' remains one of the great under appreciated works of 1980s brass band repertoire. A wonderfully inventive take on variation form it almost works backwards with the exploration of the thematic material that is first heard in the bass line at the opening.
There is a dark seam of sadness that filters through the music though despite it optimistic outlook. It reflects the composer's character even when seemingly energised. The grandiose lines always hark back somewhere to the past.
Sovereign make a fine fist of it, although never quite totally neutering the feral bite. Super tubas provide a commanding foundation from the start and also show their balletic side in the fast quaver work.
It's not as secure elsewhere but this really does take some playing. Lots to admire about the solo cameos and the ensemble balances though. The MD paced this well, and although it did sound a little frenetic in places that darker grandeur wasn't lost. A bold and brave choice, boldy and bravely played.
Iwan Fox
All Images copyright: Evie Redfern Photography Contact for permission: evieisabelredfern@gmail.com
Saturday 1, 14:48:41
11. Enderby Band (Stephen Phillips)
Paganini Variations (Philip Wilby)
The impact of 'Paganini Variations' in 1991 is still hard to fully appreciate. The traditional concept of a test piece based on a theme and variations was completely revitalised at a stroke, as Wilby balanced extravagant virtuosity with heartfelt emotion in a manner that has perhaps never been bettered (or been more popular).
Like the the biggest roller coaster at Alton Towers though, everyone wants to go on it but few really understand just what makes it work to thrill your pants off.
It's a bold effort from Enderby — full of endeavour and energy, but by heck it is also edge of the seats stuff too. What we miss is the subtle pacing and colouring of the different variations, although there is some splendid individual playing on show — led by the operatic euph who sings like Pavarotti. Others play their part — from sweet sop to artistic Bb tuba and brill timps.
Flugel was the tender lead in the sospirando and the musical flow was always maintained, whilst the trom gliss lead to the finale was great. All the beanz in the world hit the windscreen to close — although it sounded rather frenetic in places.
Just enough in the tank for a banger of a close — rounding off a ride on the Paganini big-dipper full of excitement and eager enthusiasm.
Iwan Fox
All Images copyright: Evie Redfern Photography Contact for permission: evieisabelredfern@gmail.com
The work that really kick started the composer's popularity — a piece pulsating with energy, fission and vibrancy with the first trademark PLC touches scattered about like twinkling stars in the firmament.
As the composer says, "...it portrays a musical picture of the whole experience of being stood on the dark side of the moon as seen in my imagination taking the listener from the rugged landscape to the awesome beauty that sits endlessly in front of you..."
It's given an atmospheric performance too; a nice mix of the lunar as well as more earthly requirements to make the score come to life — aided by a cracking percussion trio who sprinkle the moondust particles to great effect.
The MD kept the music flowing and it was good to hear well balanced and tuneful muted cornets underpinning the excellent solo contributions from the trom, flugel and horn.
The build to herald the return home of the musical spaceship with its 'when you walk' little repeated motif sung like the Anfield crowd on a CD loop was neatly done — as was the energised re-entry and triumphant standing splashdown to close.
Iwan Fox
All Images copyright: Evie Redfern Photography Contact for permission: evieisabelredfern@gmail.com
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Saturday 1, 14:03:37
9. Amington Band (Alan Gifford)
The Lost Village of Imber (Christopher Bond)
An early opportunity to hear Christopher Bond's 'The Lost Village of Imber' — chosen for the Third Section National Finals in Cheltenham later this year and which was initially commissioned by Bratton Silver Band in 2019 to celebrate their 160th anniversary.
The three movement work is inspired by the story of the village on Salisbury Plain that was evacuated in just 47 days in 1943 to enable the British Army to undertake military training exercises.
The eviction of a population that had lived and inhabited the area for over a thousand years was deemed a necessity, although at the end of the war it was not returned to civilian use.
As with his work 'Neverland', the composer gives the MD and ensemble every chance to showcase their solo and ensemble skill sets in an open and melodic way.
Amington certainly do that with the jaunty feel of the opening movement played with just the right sense of folksy naivety that had no inkling of the expulsion to come. The ensemble work was cohesive and compact right from the start.
The central section yearns with a sense of loss — darker and more reflective, as if the villages are looking back over their shoulders on the last buses leaving the village. Some finely played solo and perc work added to the atmosphere.
The final section had a touch of the 'Pines of Rome' in its tread to start and built with dramatic purpose to a free flowing urgency of purpose. The closing theme had a sense of uplifting optimism about it too — all VE Day Union Jacks and a land fit for heroes.
An interesting piece given a thoroughly committed performance.
Iwan Fox
All Images copyright: Evie Redfern Photography Contact for permission: evieisabelredfern@gmail.com
Saturday 1, 13:48:39
8. Shipston Town Band (Howard Gibbs)
Chorale & Toccata (Stephen Bulla)
As we said earlier, there is another opportunity to hear Stephen Bulla's expertly crafted work that was such a stern test of musical character for conductors and players alike at the recent Regional Championship series.
The reason is that academically it is so sure footed in form and function — the opening chorale developing organically without any sense of artifice, the balances refined and cultured. The toccata that follows has a malleable rigidity to it, allowing subtle nuance and changes to give character.
Shipston dust off the Third Section Area test-piece with determination after their 8th place finish at the Midlands Regional Championships and add extra levels of confident playing and cohesion to their account.
Great endeavour on show too — with the trio of tubas giving a firm foundation, the two troms adding a touch of bite and the brace of percussionists keeping things on tempo track and adding colour.
It's a hard working account, aided by the quality of the solo lines led by a fine solo cornet and sweet sounding sop. Lots to enjoy in a performance that was musically engaging throughout.
Iwan Fox
All Images copyright: Evie Redfern Photography Contact for permission: evieisabelredfern@gmail.com
Saturday 1, 12:44:23
Break time and contest update
It's been a cracking morning of entertainment here at the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire — and we now have a break until 1.45pm when we kick off again.
There is a change is the running order as due to a major accident on the M6 motorway. Red Admiral Brass will now play at number 13 with Greenalls at number 14 with the possibility that there may be a further change as one other band is also currently delayed.
We will keep you updated.
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Saturday 1, 12:26:26
7. Wakefield Metropolitan Band (Lee Dunkley)
The Pilgrims Progress (Rodney Newton)
Another chance to hear Rodney Newton's affection homage to both John Bunyan and Eric Ball with his clever take on the allegorical tale of the poor pilgrim's trek to the Celestial City. It is a challenging work both musically and technically for conductor, ensemble and especially soloists. The fulfilment has a spiritual splendour laced with wit and character.
It is performed with both by the band — and the post Area time seems to have been used to put an extra polish on areas that just tarnished things at Huddersfield.
There is drama and boldness when required — led by a super Eb tuba and young perc team that add great little effects and colour. Lots to enjoy with the shaping — from sinuous 'Fry's Turkish Delight' cameo theme to the pilgrim's detour to the set of 'Raiders of the Lost Ark'.
Just the odd occasion when nerves and unease took a touch of gloss off the picture making, but the MD instilled a very musical approach to the score and was rewarded in spades from around the stand.
Great to hear bravura baritones and a special mention to the cultured solo cornet who played so well throughout on a performance that saw the Pilgrim reach his destination with bold resolve.
Iwan Fox
All Images copyright: Evie Redfern Photography Contact for permission: evieisabelredfern@gmail.com
November 25 • Trombone Player. This friendly band is looking for a tenor trombone player to join its ranks. The band enjoys playing at regular concerts each year and is off to the Rhineland next year on its second tour.
November 25 • You need to be quick, we are almost full but just require Eb bass and percussion. We are a friendly, welcoming and ambitious band and start 2025 at the top of our second section ranking table. We rehearse on a Wed evening in our own bandroom in Chinnor.
November 25 • Hathersage Brass Band is a thriving community band. We enjoy making music and have a good gig schedule. An opportunity has arisen for the right person to join our Principal Cornet Ed as co-principal. Are you up for the challenge? This is our only vacancy.
