English National Championship
Saturday 27th June 2009
Guild Hall, Preston
Test Piece: Within Blue Empires — Paul Lovatt-Cooper
Adjudicators: David Horsfield, Steve Sykes & William Relton
Commenced: 10.45hrs
Completed: 17.20hrs
Live Commments:
Iwan Fox
What do we think?
An enjoyable day on a very demanding test piece for all the bands.
Only a couple had a 'whale' of a time.
It's going to be Black Dyke for us but we think they have been closely pushed by Brighouse and Rastrick.
Fodens did enough to get into the frame but not quite for victory today.
A rejuvinated Faireys should be in the mix with Hepworth, Leyland and Reg Vardy perhaps making a mark.
1. Black Dyke
2. Brighouse and Rastrick
3. Fodens
4. Faireys
5. Hepworth (Cookson Homes)
6. Leyland
Dark Horse: Reg Vardy
17.00hrs
Band 14 — Leyland (Jason Katsikaris)
The Deep/Mother & Calf/Prepare to Set Sail:
Slightly unpitched start but the moment passes.
We question the tempo though — the pulse is slower than Michael Jackson's but this one revives with a neat euph jig that has real character.
Feeding/Out at Sea/Calm Waters:
It's certainly colourful and exciting this, but also scrappy at times too.
J.K. is really going for the wide screen — full fat version and it very nearly come off too.
Calm waters — A few too many mis-placed little ripples but the MD creates real atmosphere despite the tension.
The Breach/Finale:
A decent splashdown.
The finale is highly paced and full of that technicolour but slightly uneven approach.
A great big end to close.
Overall:
Throughly enjoyed the descriptive approach on this one. but the excecution never quite matched the ambition.
Performance time: 19m 56sec
16.35hrs
Band 13 — Wingates (Alan Morrison)
The Deep/Mother & Calf/Prepare to Set Sail:
Question mark over baritone opening — single or pleural?
Builds up rather blandly to Irish jig which strays from euph brilliance to Heather Mills McCartney tap dancing on a pub table top.
Feeding/Out at Sea/Calm Waters:
So scrappy this — harsh and messy both in solo lines and ensemble. It's pacey and colourful but so much is not kosher.
Calm waters — so much better this with classy contributions all round. Lovely playing.
The Breach/Finale:
A bit head first to re-enter but it makes a fair splash.
Finale is again safe but also uneven as it cries out for consistency right to the end.
Overall:
A bit of a disappointment.
Too scrappy and inconsistent to feature today.
Performance time: 18m 40sec
16.10hrs
Band 12 — Fodens (Garry Cutt)
The Deep/Mother & Calf/Prepare to Set Sail:
Super opening with its stylish intent, control and sense of expectancy.
Plenty of detail in build and euph leads with a wicked Irish jig — he taps faster than Roy Castle on a hot tin roof.
Feeding/Out at Sea/Calm Waters:
Lots of quality but we get moments of unease and camouflage that don't always come off.
It's full throttle stuff right to the end.
Calm waters — classy this, enhanced by the stunning cadenzas and close.
The Breach/Finale:
No water left in the tank after that whale bomb — Orca would be proud!
Turbo speed to finale, played with real clarity (esp. bass end).
So exciting and leads to a huge finish.
Overall:
A top drawer performance this that perhaps just didn't do enough to claim the title today.
Right up there though.
Performance time: 19m 43sec
15.45hrs
Band 11 — Hepworth (Cookson Homes) (Ian Porthouse)
The Deep/Mother & Calf/Prepare to Set Sail:
Solid opening is well shaped and reveals that sense of impending excitement too.
Fine euphonium leads like a mix of Michael Flatley and Captain Ishmael in the Irish jig.
Feeding/Out at Sea/Calm Waters:
The great lead is not always continued though with scrappy elements amid the fine ensemble work.
Certainly exiting and colourful despite the odd weak link.
Calm waters — more solid stuff and well delivered too. Euph is very classy.
Fine build to the climax.
The Breach/Finale:
A 'bingo-bash' splashdown.
Finale is a little scrappy at times but real purpose and exitement leads to a bold close.
Overall:
A good one this — edgy at times but full of excitement, colour and contrasts.
Should feature though.
Performance time: 19m 40sec
15.20hrs
Band 10 — Brighouse and Rastrick (Allan Withington)
The Deep/Mother & Calf/Prepare to Set Sail:
Superbly shaped opening and build — controlled and balanced with real expectancy — bob on this!
It's as Irish as Moby Dick in a pint of Guinness — Some playing!
Feeding/Out at Sea/Calm Waters:
The swashbuckling style is played with a real panache.
The odd spiky edge but bravo one and all. Trom; the best today.
Calm waters — Played with a lazy beauty that draws you right in.
The Breach/Finale:
What a splashdown — like Fern Britton jumping in a bath before her gastric band was inserted.
Gloriously OTT! Fantastic finale leads to a top notch thumper of a finish.
Overall:
Golly gosh!
Have B&R gone out and killed 'Dyke's' Moby Dick — touch and go!
A superb show though.
Performance time: 20m 16sec
14.55hrs — On Stage
Band 9 — Flowers (Paul Holland)
The Deep/Mother & Calf/Prepare to Set Sail:
Uncertain start is uneven in texture and dodgy tuning?
Recovers well and gets into a controlled stride in time for the Irish jig.
Feeding/Out at Sea/Calm Waters:
Solid playing this — just in neeed of more contrast.
Everything's in its place though and there is clarity in execution. Just a bit more colour for us needed.
Calm waters — A whale drawn by Picasso — it needs more rounded edges. Effective though.
The Breach/Finale:
A neat re-entry and controlled pace at finale has much too admire.
Solid and purposeful — just in need of that extra colour, even at the good old 'bish-bash' ending
Overall:
A bit of an artisan performance. Solid and purposeful but in need of a little more artistic nuance.
Decent though and that could mean a lot today.
Performance time: 20m 11sec
14.25hrs
Band 8 — Fairey (Philip Chalk)
The Deep/Mother & Calf/Prepare to Set Sail:
Solid opening is well paced and shaped but it takes a little time to get into its stride. When it does its bravura stuff.
A little scappy but very Oirish!
Feeding/Out at Sea/Calm Waters:
Its like a scrap in a gypsies junk yard this — rough but bloody exiting!
High octane stuff, if not all kosher.
Calm waters — beautifully played, great band sounds and fine solists — esp. euphonium.
Top notch climax too.
The Breach/Finale:
A real bomber — just what is needed.
Splendid pace to finale which is colourful and exiting if a little scrappy.
Great tub-thumping end.
Overall:
A real technicolour one this — a bit 'splashy' in places but it kept you on the edge of your seat.
Very enjoyable.
Performance time: 19m 48sec
14.00hrs
Band 7 — Hammonds Saltaire (Morgan Griffiths)
The Deep/Mother & Calf/Prepare to Set Sail:
Bold opening is a little fragile in places but it builds with purpose to the Irish jig.
Sensible playing this — within their comfort zone. Just lacks real fizz but has bubbly sparkle
Feeding/Out at Sea/Calm Waters:
All a little bland, lacking real drive and precision. Determined if colourless.
Calm waters — The whales have the upper fin so to speak — in volume, but cadenzas are OK.
The Breach/Finale:
Splashdown causes few ripples but we like the bold approach to pace and style.
Just held onto form for a slightly subdued end.
Overall:
A brave old show this. MD intelligently led a performance that knew its limitations.
Performance time: 18m 45sec
12.55hrs
Band 6 — Black Dyke (Dr Nicholas Childs)
The Deep/Mother & Calf/Prepare to Set Sail:
At last!
Superbly shaped baritone lead. Ensemble plays with style and pulse and there is a real sense of expectancy.
Top notch jig is played with pace but also with razor sharp clarity, precision and detail.
Feeding/Out at Sea/Calm Waters:
More high class playing — great ensemble work is allied to excellent solo lines.
Calm waters seem whale infested to start but it becomes clear why.
So atmospheric with integrated cadenzas that make sense and are so well shaped.
The Breach/Finale:
Lordy! Lordy!
Fantastic splashdown and the fevourish pace in finale is breathtaking.
Quite something this and a fantastic close too.
Overall:
A completely different league of playing.
Brilliantly constructed, conducted and delivered. You'd swear it was written for them !!!
Performance time: 18m 56sec
12.25hrs
Band 5 — Yorkshire Imperial Urquhart Travel (David Evans)
The Deep/Mother & Calf/Prepare to Set Sail:
Solid start develops cautiously although it has hints of unease. Those are now very apparent!
This is scrappy stuff to say the least.
Feeding/Out at Sea/Calm Waters:
Continues in the same vein unfortunately — brave effort but the structure is undermined by lack of precision and ensemble solidity.
Hard work this.
Calm waters — Just about (with obvious help in places)
The Breach/Finale:
A bit of a 'belly flop' breach but bravo for going for it with tempo at finale.
Scrappy but executed as per score. Not many have done this today.
Slightly tired close though.
Overall:
An understandable struggle this.
Never really overcame the piece — but not alone today we think.
Performance time: 19m 42sec
12.00hrs
Band 4 — Mount Charles (Andrew Duncan)
The Deep/Mother & Calf/Prepare to Set Sail:
Fine baritone opens a overall slighty 'nervy' introduction.
Builds well with pulse and style despite some obvious fragile moments.
The sensible pace to the jig doesn't quite make up for the lack of pace and precision.
Feeding/Out at Sea/Calm Waters:
Percussion oblierates again! The lack of balance and pace is so evident.
This is monotone and a touch monotonous.
Calm waters are safe enough with a quality euphonium but it lacks real atmosphere.
The Breach/Finale:
The build is well handled but splashdown is lightweight.
Finale has spirit if not pace. A rather tired ending.
Overall:
A performance that new its limitations — which on this occasion were exposed too often. Average stuff.
Performance time: 20m 57sec
11.35hrs
Band 3 — Redbridge (Jeremy Wise)
The Deep/Mother & Calf/Prepare to Set Sail:
Bold baritone ignores dynamics for safety option to start but the build is nicely balanced and paced to the Irish jig.
This really varies in tempo, it's so uneven that it robs the character.
Feeding/Out at Sea/Calm Waters:
The attempt to obliterate the detail by hitting holy hell out of percussion works a treat — You can hear why though!
Calm waters are safe but just lacking real atmosphere.
The Breach/Finale:
An enjoyable splashdown leads to pacey finale which has purpose, if a little scrappy.
Well balanced but slightly OTT to end.
Overall:
A perfomance of moments — good, bad and downright gormless at times too.
Decent close my save them today.
Performance time: 19m 40sec
11.10hrs
Band 2 — Carlton Main Frickley Colliery (Russell Gray)
The Deep/Mother & Calf/Prepare to Set Sail:
Lonely baritone leads well and it builds as a pulse to Irish jig.
Oh Dear! It's the three legged variety — uneven and very messy.
Lots of blowing and colour but little clarity in the excitement
Feeding/Out at Sea/Calm Waters:
Carries on in same vein — bold but so messy and lacking in inner detail.
Calm seas are beautifully played with outstanding solo playing on show — very lyrical this.
The Breach/Finale:
A touch underwhelming but then it really explodes.
Speed kills the clairity and precision again.
Tired ending but it sees the conductor milk the whale for all its music.
Overall:
An uneven one this — the performance took over 20mins. A superb middle section but the outer sections were too messy and lacked clarity.
Performance time: 20m 42sec
10.45hrs
Band 1 — Reg Vardy (Ray Farr)
The Deep/Mother & Calf/Prepare to Set Sail:
Bold opening from bartione leads to a measured build and onto a high paced Irish jig on the high seas.
Brave playing this — exciting if all a little scrappy.
Feeding/Out at Sea/Calm Waters:
All bells and whistles — literally. It's that precision that is lacking that cutting edge.
Superb euphonium leads to calming whale interlude. This is well handled especially by soloists
The Breach/Finale:
Breach is scratchy and doesn't seem settled — just in need of bit more drive and to hold form to the end of the finale.
Overall:
A decent marker this for what could be a very testing day.
Performance time: 19m 20sec
