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Section 2

Test piece: Scot's Miscellany, Alan Fernie
Saturday 26 September
Commences: 9.30am
Adjudicators: Robert Childs and Ray Farr

What do we think?

Really enjoyable contest with lots of bands getting in to the Scottish spirit. It’s between Oldham and East London for us and it could go anyway.

Our top six then…

1. East London
2. Oldham Lees
3. City of Cardiff
4. Camborne B
5. Verwood
6. Flookborough

Live comments

Silk Brass (Macclesfield), James Cant, North West, 17

Movement 1: It’s very bold this – The Ian Paisley school of preaching at times! Ensemble balance is questionable but it is full of character if harshly drawn at times.

Movement 2: A little overwrought on the emotion means a lack of tenderness. It’s solid stuff but needs contrast. Even the Scots are in touch with their feminine side. Uneven to end.

Movement 3: Exciting but lack of precision means a free-wheeling Reel that trips over too often. Big and bold to end but it needed more control.

Overall: Solid as Aberdeen granite but just as hard at times. A little loving would have paid better benefits for us.

Star player: Euph – lots to admire throughout.

Frickley/South Elmsall, David Nichols, Yorkshire, 16

Movement 1: Has purpose and boldness but not really dour and pessimistic. It seems a little non-descript. Just a bit of risk taking would benefit to give more character. Solid though.

Movement 2: More good Methodist virtues. No nonsense and business like. But we do need a bit of emotion now and again. It’s all there though and not many have done that today.

Movement 3: More Scots sensibility. In need of a nip of whisky perhaps but the solid playing has much to commend right to the end.

Overall: A sensible as Gordon Brown this but as inspiring too. Should be ok but it had the potential for more.

Star player: Sop – great little touches from start to finish.

East London Brass, Jayne Murrill, London and Southern Counties, 15

Movement 1: There is a real dark pessimism to this – so full of cynical Calvanist dourness. Spot on. This has a fine stylish intent and there is a clear detail on show. Bravo Sop! Fine stuff.

Movement 2: More quality and sensible approach to balance, style and phrasing. Some tuning issues but the controlled lyricism is a delight. Odd moments but style is so persuasive.

Movement 3: Just the odd blip, but it’s balanced, controlled and has detail. Well done tubas and troms. Builds with style and excitement to a fine close.

Overall: The pride of Miss J Murrill this. Cracking reading and a fine piece of playing too. Right up there for us.

Star player: Sop – Cherry on a Dundee cake.

Deiniolen, Gavin Saynor, Wales, 14

Movement 1: It’s a quick one – was John Knox in this much of a hurry? It is well played but perhaps loses the dour character of the music. Just lacks the pessimistic tone for us.

Movement 2: No nonsense approach has moments but perhaps just needs that sprinkling of sweetness. Solid enough but doesn’t engage.

Movement 3: The odd nasty trip means the Reel isn’t consistent. Has it’s moments but never quite feels secure, despite excitement.

Overall: More Welsh Methodist than Scots Presbyterian o More lively and exciting but perhaps not the ticked on this occasion.

Star player: Euph – good, solid Welsh virtues in a Scottish cause.

Flookburgh, John Iveson, North of England, 13

Movement 1: Dodgy start soon becomes a Calvanist delight – so much detail, dour style. Not always perfectly executed but the patina of polished severity was maintained to the close.

Movement 2: A tasteful and loving portrait this – no milked sentimentality. Plain quartet is top notch. Not everything quite comes off but this is so well shaped by the MD. Tuning detracts to end – a pity.

Movement 3: A little uneven in execution but the style captures the senses. Nearly troms! Just loses focus in the final spirit to finish.

Overall: An authentic Scottish feel for character and style. Not always perfect but the Scots aren’t either.

Star player: Sop – a class apart today!

Houghton Brass, Howard Smith, North of England, 12

Movement 1: Takes time to find its Calvanist stride which is dark but error strewn. The musical creed is a bit non-descript and colourless though. Needed a touch more character.

Movement 2: Decent stuff, but it needs flow. It’s like stirring coal with a knitting needle at times. Well done sop and solo cornet though. Lack of pace hurts a good effort.

Movement 3: A Reel that comes off track at time. Again, it has its moments – fine effort troms – but it never quite knits together.

Overall: Lack of consistency will hurt this one. As mixed as the contents of a haggis, but still tasty at times.

Star player: Trom – slick and precise and all in place.

Verwood Concert Brass, David Johnson, West of England, 11

Movement 1: Slightly dodgy start, but soon there is red character on show. Stern Calvanist tendencies are dour and dark – top notch. As sensible an approach we have heard all day.

Movement 2: Not the same quality – MD just edges to the saccharin sweet at times. Some nerves but quartet is classy. Decent close.

Movement 3: Has moments good and bad. A rough and tumble Reel at times but its exciting if messy high octane close.

Overall: Band and MD got into the sporran swing of things for sure, even if not everything came off. Kilt included.

Star player: Percussion team – another quartet that played their part to the full.

Yiewsley and West Drayton, Christopher Cole, London and Southern Counties, 10

Movement 1: A touch warts and all, but it has that sense of dark Calvanist character and style. Not everything comes off a times, but it’s a persuasive and musical picture.

Movement 2: Tuning! It’s as flat as one of MacBeth’s witches you know in places. The slow burn lyricism is very musical though! Milked a touch by the end.

Movement 3: Just lacks vibrancy and life. A health and safety Reel at times. Wants a bit more rhythmic pulse to end.

Overall: Not quite the sum of it parts this. Had its moments but just needed a touch more Scottish bravura.

Star player: Percussion team. Provided the backbone that never wavered.

Fairlop Brass, Kevin Jordan, London and Southern Counties, 9

Movement 1: A rocky old start takes time to capture that Calvanist underbelly. It struggles in execution and tuning to get the message across.

Movement 2: Tuning is as far apart as Dumfries and Aberdeen at times. A pity as the style is flowing and lyrical. Improves as it goes on and neat to close.

Movement 3: It an uneven Reel this – John Whyte’s Reel is more White and McKay inspired. Struggles in too many lines, but it ends with a flourish.

Overall: Not too many Scots in Fairlop celebrating tonight we feel. Never quite made the journey over Hadrian’s Wall.

Star player: Euph – A solid effort amid the troubles.

At the half way point – our top 3 so far:

1. Oldham Lees
2. City of Cardiff
3. Camborne B

Wellington (Telford), Steve Curtis, Midlands, 8

Movement 1: Perhaps a touch Calvanist ‘lite’ – more Methodist perhaps in dour seriousness. Just lacks that dark stamp of authority in places – a little uneven in execution.

Movement 2: Ensemble tuning takes time to focus. Well done solo cornet – very tasteful. Now it comes to life – shaped and executed well.

Movement 3: Up tempo Reel led by dancing solo cornet. The odd trip spoils but it’s lively and exciting. Good ending.

Overall: Not quite the ‘Heart of Midlothian’ in Scot’s character but decent nevertheless.

Star player: Solo cornet. Solid and dependable.

Arbroath Instrumental, Michael Robertson, Scotland, 7

Movement 1: It’s an inconsistent Calvanist message this. Dark and dour but also lacking balance in execution. A bit too serious in nature. It perhaps needs a touch of Evangelical light!

Movement 2: A question of style for us. It’s lyrical to the point of diabetic sugaryness. The simple musicality is lost and it closes as it opened.

Movement 3: Plenty of snap and swish – exciting but it’s untidy. Great trombones but overall this is messy.

Overall: A disappointing one this. Never got going for us from the word go. A miscellany of mistakes in execution and approach.

Star player: Solo horn – solid and musical.

Oldham (Lees), John Collins, North West, 6

Movement 1: Super character to the music. Stern, precise, dour and then that swish of a misplaced sporran. Has an odd moment or two style wise but it’s well executed.

Movement 2: A very lyrical portrait – at times a touch sugar coated but it comes off. Rep stands but it works – just. Nicely closed.

Movement 3: More bravura playing. Bold, with that feel of Scottish snap. Bravo troms! Holds its style to the odd. Good stuff.

Overall: A colourful as a tartan 3-piece suite. Full of Scottish character and comfy.

Star player: Solo cornet. Like Moira Stewart whispering sweet-nothings in your ear.

Holme Silver (Disposables UK Group), Duncan Beckley, Yorkshire, 5

Movement 1: Stern and deliberate Calvanist style – a touch joyless but it’s in character. Clearly displayed if a touch one dynamic – it had it’s moments this – good and bad.

Movement 2: Nervous. Takes time to find its musical bearing. Fine intent but inconsistent execution robs. A little wayward.

Movement 3: It’s as lumpy as cold porridge at times. The inconsistency is killing off the chances of success. Bold stuff to close.

Overall: One that never quite lived up to the early promise.

Star player: Baritone – did their bit and lent a helping hand to others…

Camborne ‘B’, Alan Pope, West of England, 4

Movement 1: A bold and breezy John Knox and his Calvanist clan. Perhaps lacking that dark edged dourness but confidently done – despite the clips.

Movement 2: Oddly phrased this – pulled back and forth like the Scot’s tug of war team. The simplicity is lost despite the confident approach.

Movement 3: Lots to enjoy in the approach but the execution just lacks a little control at times. It freewheels to and exciting end.

Overall: One that perhaps looked for something hidden when all that was need was Scot’s sensibility. Good enough.

Star player: Soprano – neat, tidy and very tuneful.

City of Cardiff (Melingriffith), Gareth Ritter, Wales, 3

Movement 1: Confident Calvanism this – right from the pulpit. Lots of detail, bold and darkly lived. Impressive start.

Movement 2: A little hard edged at times but well done. Slightly overdone at times in the quartet but holds its form to the close.

Movement 3: Just gets a little scrappy but full of life and bravura playing. Neat end.

Overall: A good one this that should be in the mix – a very confident Welsh, Non-conformist challenge.

Star player: Flugel – lovely stuff.

Shirland Welfare, Andrew Dennis, Midlands, 2

Movement 1: A few smiles crack the grim Calvanist faces but overall the serious religious intent remains to the end.

Movement 2: Brave principal cornet – very tasteful. Some odd moments in the quartet but more solid playing carries to the end.

Movement 3: A great start again – it gets a bit wayward in places but the sense of free-wheeling is there right to the end.

Overall: A solid no-nonsense Scottish portrait. Needed a touch of variety but a good marker.

Star player: Solo cornet – as tasty as a shortbread finger.

Annan Town (Magnox North), David Shanks, Scotland, 1

Movement 1: Not always played with dark Calvanist solidity but decent enough despite the odd blips.

Movement 2: A little sad in pitch but it flows nicely. Why the standing quartet though? The nerves show. A slightly depressed portrait.

Movement 3: An uneven reel – a few too many trips over the shoelaces. A bit hit and miss right to the close.

Overall: An inconsistent one to open really – just in need of more life and precision.

Star player: Percussion team – held things together from start to finish.