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SECTION 3

Test piece: Oceans, Goff Richards
Sunday 27 September
Commences: 9.30am
Adjudicators: Robert Childs and Ray Farr

What do we think?

An enjoyable contest this one that had its moments good and bad – and some slightly surreal.

Good news though – the old bloke who fell over at the start is OK. He went on to judge the rest of the contest without a hitch…

A batch of bands stood out today and the result could go one of four ways – its that close.

Coalburn just stick in the mind though – it was a classy show, closely followed by both Brunel and Lostock Hall. Royal Buckley and Douglas should find themselves in the frame with North Skelton putting in a good effort at the death.

For us though…

1. Coalburn Silver
2. Brunel
3. Lostock Hall
4. Royal Buckley
5. Douglas
6. North Skelton.

Live comments

North Skelton, Tim Oldroyd, North of England, 17

Very businesslike this. No nonsense grandeur and deliberate style.

Atlantic: Purposeful playing hampered a little by odd clips but this has all the musical elements in place. Interesting…
Pacific: More quality – from cornet, euph and baritone. Lovely understated feel to this. Little blips again but this has been very nicely played.
Indian: Timp! Careful girl! Exciting for sure this and full of brio Cracking stuff played with real life. Builds well to final section.
Arctic: A little overwrought but it has style and presence right to the end.

Overall: A real impression to finish – just a bit excitable but this is in the mix for us.

Star player: Timp player – By heck she gave it the works! Brill!

Crofton Silver, Tim Sidwell, Yorkshire, 16

Fine opening but it then rather loses focus, precision and clarity.

Atlantic: Annoying little clips take off the gloss of the dark menace. Bravo Euph! It’s a mixed old bag of flotsam and jetsam this. The good stuff is very decent though.
Pacific: Again – those little blips – it’s hurting their chances, as there is lyrical flow to the music and the movement closes so well.
Indian: Better stuff now – some great Young Ones playing. Cliff would be proud. Bravo bass trom.
Arctic: Leads to a rousing reprise and finale that has the bands best playing right to the end.

Overall: If only they could’ve rid themselves of the self inflicted damage – this could have really featured.

Star player: Sop – another performer of high quality on the Devil’s instrument.

St. Sebastian Wokingham, Lee Woodward, London and Southern Counties, 15

Untidy opening means that the first impression lacks grandeur.

Atlantic: The lack of security means that the dark menacing feeling is never achieved. It recovers led by basses and euph.
Pacific: Nice lyrical style but it is those nasty errors that are so expensive. Well done euph. Never settles as execution is never secure.
Indian: The same story – plenty of brio but the Young Ones keep tripping over.
Arctic: Reprise sounds tired despite MD’s brave effort to instil excitement. Tails off to close.

Overall: Too many individual errors blighted this one – from start to finish.

Star player: Euph. Good solid effort amid the troubles.

Dunfermline Town, David Neil, Scotland, 14

Controlled opening has hints of grandeur required but it is undermined by poor tuning.

Atlantic: An uneven swell this. Darkly hued but not really menacing enough or accurate in precision. Well done eu[h, but ensemble work never quite at ease.
Pacific: The lyrical intent is shown but the basic insecurities are obvious. Nicely shaped by MD but the execution never matches.
Indian: The Young Ones show their age and can’t quite catch up MD’s tempo. A touch arthritic this, but they go for it.
Arctic: Sounds tired and a touch messy this. Although they keep something in reserve to close.

Overall: A real hit and miss one this. More the latter unfortunately today.

Star player: Soprano – Solid and secure on a difficult band day.

Cubbington Silver, Gary Smallwood, Midlands, 13

Jackets off and down to business – by heck it’s loud business too. Why so much volume?

Atlantic: The volume doesn’t give us the dark, menacing feel of the music, but ensemble needs warmth to work. It’s powerful though!
Pacific: It’s a powerful swell here too! Just needs less volume to set the right scene. When it’s toned down it sounds so much better. Note everything works at the lower dynamic level though.
Indian: A bit of everything here. Good, bad, odd, barking mad sea dog even. Colourful indeed! Bravo sop! Strange take this.
Arctic: More bold and brash. Not very artic feel. Leads to another rumbustuous ending.

Overall: Certainly went for it, but didn’t quite get there for us.

Star player: Euph – An impressive presence throughout.

Douglas Town, Gordon Higginbottom, North West, 12

A little wayward to open. The uneven execution robs the feel of grandeur.

Atlantic: A bit hit and miss this. Little errors rob the ensemble security of sense of dark menace. Very businesslike this and euph does shine.
Pacific: Has flow and purpose. Well done solo cornet (where ever you are?). It needs a touch more contrast, but there is admirable security on show.
Indian: Pacey and neat. Just gets rough round the edges when the volume is turned up. Careful with the execution and tone. It gets harsh.
Arctic: Reprise is decent enough and builds well to finale and rousing end.

Overall: A decent show this. Lots more plus than minus points.

Star player: Euph – a very classy presense.

Bugle Silver, David Pope, West of England, 11

A very forthright opening this – a little aggressive for the grand approach.

Atlantic: More powerful playing that has edge at times and pronounced style, It’s certainly menacing. Kray twin menacing in fact.
Pacific: Distinct change in pace and style, but it is the right type of lyrical intent. Doesn’t quite knit at times, Trying too hard perhaps?
Indian: Young Ones with knuckledusters – why the aggression? Speed kills this one for us.
Arctic: Reprise has hard edge again. Just a little less effort to impress would have given this one so much more.

Overall: The aggressive pointed approach never sat easy with the ocean character for us.

Star player: Solo cornet – Led by example – just as the MD wanted.

Bakewell Silver, Mark Wilcockson, Midlands, 10

It’s a pacey and rather uneven opening that just lacks that touch of grandeur.

Atlantic: It’s up tempo but hangs in there. Bravo solo cornet! Scrappiness takes shine off. Needs more breadth.
Pacific: Has lyrical style and intent but little clips just rob the picture. Needs more expansive playing to capture the character.
Indian: Vivo vindaloo! It hits the accelerator here! Young Ones on speed! Exciting for sure if messy. Great drunken bass trom to end.
Arctic: Pace robs the cold feel of emptiness but reprise leads to a thumping end.

Overall: Had it’s moments – but the speed may well kill off chances.

Star player: Solo cornet – well played madam.

At the half way point?

For us, it’s

1. Coalburn
2. Brunel
3. Lostock

Dobcross Silver, Grenville Moore, North West, 9

Good opening has a pronounced feel for detail and grandeur.

Atlantic: A very detached style is very clean and clear if in need of more breadth in tonality. Good solo lines enhance this very prolonged feeling of style.
Pacific: Melodic lines do not always knit, but the lyricism is on display despite odd blips.
Indian: It’s a turbo charged one – a vindaloo Young Ones! Very exciting though and well played.
Arctic: Just loses focus at times and gets a little harsh as tiredness creeps in towards the end.

Overall: A good one with a very individualistic style and approach. Not everything came off though.

Star player: Solo cornet – well played and done so true tone.

Lostock Hall Memorial, John Wood, North West, 8

Quality opening captures the grandeur required with detail and balance too.

Atlantic: More quality – little clips but there is a dark rich ensemble that really brings out the musical character.
Pacific: And again – well done MD and band. Nothing over stated – just musical floaw and lyrical playing. Fine solo cornet is pick of high class soloists.
Indian: It’s a lively one this – but so full of life and style. Careful though – it’s turbo charged now! Just messy to close – a pity. This was cracking stuff.
Arctic: Cold and dramatic playing leads to a super reprise. A touch fruity to end, but a fine finale.

Overall: A real top notch one this. So full of musical character and vibrant life.

Star player: Perc team – 3 youngsters on top form.

Garforth Brass, Steven Bailey, Yorkshire, 7

A rather subdued opening which just needed a touch more grandeur.

Atlantic: Tuning has hit the high seas, whilst deliberate tempo lacks cold menace. It needs some life this as errors are plentiful too.
Pacific:Nice lyrical approach but those errors are mounting fast. Well done euph. Things close well.
Indian: Much better this – authentic Young One playing. Not over excited and has a touch of brio too.
Arctic: Sounds tired and messy now. Bold reprise leads to big finish.

Overall: One that struggled to overcome the technical obstacles despite the safety first approach from MD.

Star player: Euph – showed no signs of sea sickness.

South Milford Brass, Richard Wilton, North of England, 6

Insecure start recovers its form and poise in time to find its feet.

Atlantic: There is a sense of cold menace but the cause is not helped by poor tuning and nasty noticeable clips.
Pacific: The broad lyrical intent is there but there are too many structural problems on view that distract and will hurt their chances we think.
Indian: Up tempo leads to excitement – but Cliff and the boys can’t live easily with the Young One pace. Full of life though.
Arctic: A little non-descript and leads into a bit of a tired ending.

Overall: An enjoyable musical picture spoilt by the problems with tuning and ensemble fragilities.

Star player: Perc team – really did their bit and more.

Hungerford Town, Tim Crouter, London and Southern Counties, 5

Deliberate start is a little non-descript but solid enough.

Atlantic: The odd problem surfaces to disturb the cold menace created – it’s a bit one dimensional.
Pacific: OK – but it lacks that broad grandeur. Little blips take their toll. Never quite captures the expansive character.
Indian: Messy if vibrant Young Ones. Lack of precision robs the lightweight style and makes you wince at times.
Arctic: A rather colourless episode – perhaps right, perhaps not. Leads into a slightly tired end.

Overall: A bit of a mixed oceanic journey this. Struggled at times.

Star player: Euph – another performance of Captain material.

Royal Buckley Town, Paul Lovatt-Cooper, Wales, 4

Non-nonsense start – pacey and detailed to open their Welsh account.

Atlantic: Dark and menacing bit with pacey undercurrents. Not all solo lines are secure though – or in tune. Just takes the gloss off.
Pacific: Flowing lyricism. Fine euph leads well. Just little clips blur the overall ocean view.
Indian: More up tempo brio – happy smiley and standing Young Ones (and singing MD at one point!). Certainly lively this!
Arctic: A quick trip to colder climes before a warm reprise and full throttle ending.

Overall: A very PLC inspired performance – full of excitement and life just marred by the blips.

Star player: Euph – A 1st class ocean going journey.

Brunel Brass, John Winterflood, West of England, 3

Good solid start holds promise for the journey ahead.

Atlantic: Fine ensemble sounds but the solo motifs don’t always sing securely. Solid though.
Pacific: More decent stuff. Well done euph. Just in need of a touch more expansive grandeur for us.
Indian: A ‘Delly-Belly’ Young Ones – it runs away in discomfort. Lively though. Great sop! Exciting stuff.
Arctic: Pacey – just loses that sense of inhospility. Fine reprise end – 633 fly past.

Overall: A quality show that certainly made an impression despite the little insecurities.

Star player: Soprano – Playing of the Admiral rank.

Coalburn Silver, Gareth Bowman, Scotland, 2

Confident start has all the basics in place including 633 Squadron and Balke 7 motifs.

Atlantic: Solid, grey and menacing with basses leading the way. Good stuff.
Pacific: Broad and lyrical. Neat pick ups too – this is really well delivered.
Indian: Real Bollywood Young Ones – cracking style and playing.
Arctic: Dark and cold tome is in character and leads to controlled ending of quality too.

Overall: What a good one! Bravo MD for the reading and band for the playing.

Star player: Solo cornet – led from the bridge.

Ynyshir, Dean Evans, Wales, 1

Old bloke falls over in the hall… Pensioner trip seems to have knocked the band out of kilter. Takes time to settle with basic problems evident.

Atlantic: It’s dark but very nervy – too many errors for it to come to life and show character.
Pacific: Has the breadth but lacks the grandeur required.
Indian: Has beat, verve and that Young Ones swing. Decent stuff
Arctic: Cold and menacing but basic problems again surface. Leads to a warm finish however.

Overall: Really tool time to get going this. It could struggle to make a mark.

Star player: Soprano – solid stuff on top.