Saturday 24 October
Test piece: The Torchbearer, Peter Graham
Adjudicators: David King and Peter Graham
Commences: 1230hrs (GMT+10)

What do we think?

A interesting one this. Very similar to what we had last week in terms of . One band stood out for us though — Kew Band Melbourne were a class ahead for us. Here's our top 3.

1. Kew Band Melbourne
2. K&N Spring Gully Brass
3. Gunnedah

Official results will be announced tomorrow at the end of the entertainment contest.

Live comments:

Warringah Concert Brass, John Saunders, 7

Opening — Var 1:
Insecure to start but recovers. var 1 has a good style if a touch scrappy and hard in tone. Nearly tuba. Euph also.

Vars 2-3:
MOves with purpose with solos lines that are a touch insecure. Var 4 starts scrappily but recovers with good momentum.

Var 4 — Reprise:
Lyrical solo cornet with nice lower end band sounds. Euph shows style as does flugel. Nicely played. 241 is a touch fragile though and the intonation at times is distracting. Reprise is well handled to a poweful — if untuneful end.

Overall:
A promising performance that turned into a bit of a split fest. A shame as this had so much going for it a times.

St Marys Band Club, Paul Terracini, 6

Opening — Var 1:
Insecure opening section with intonation problems. Brittle sounds in Var 1 make it hard on the ears. All a bit forced in character. Well done tuba and good effort euph.

Vars 2-3:
Var 2 seems unsettled. Solo lines are a mixed bag of lollies. Var 3 has drive but there's a lack of detail in the ensemble.

Var 4 — Reprise:
Needs a bit more movement for us. All a bit laboured. Solo lines are played but without panache. 241 onwards is insecure in execution but has the right intent. Unlucky cornet. Lead to Reprise has the right feel. Reprise itself shows restraint and moves well to a well delivered end.

Overall:
Hit and miss. Farr too many insecurities to really challenge here today.

Kew Band Melbourne, Mark Ford, 5

Opening — Var 1:
Fairly secure to open. Harmon mute sounds do sound a little out of character. Well controlled stuff and var 1 has style and detail. Ensemble could be tighter though in places. Stylish tuba well done euph.

Vars 2-3:
Moves well with sensitivity. Excellent baritone. Not without little annoying errors though. Var 3 moves with pace and is exciting. Not all detail is heard but it brings a smile to the face. Nice linknig section.

Var 4 — Reprise:
Lovely solo cornet sounds and sympathetic ensemble. Just gets a little loose at times. 241 — a few intonation problems but the overall picture is well portayed. Solo cornet — nearly perfect! Builds well to Reprise that is understated with broad sounds. A touched milked for us though...

Overall:
A performance that had many quality moments. The top of the pile for us so far.

K&N Spring Gully Brass, Bruce Raymond, 4

Opening — Var 1:
Secure to start with some nice sounds. Var 1 is scrappy and a touch harsh in upper band. Moves with purpose but the hard sounds are really hard on the ears at times. Excellent tuba and good effort euph.

Vars 2-3:
Lacks a touch of subtlety at times but solo lines are well executed. Nice tempo for var 3 but not always clean. Powerful bass trom sounds give nice depth. Link to Var 4 is a touch messy.

Var 4 — Reprise:
Some nice solo sounds if a little forced at times. Good effort at 241 — just lacks warmth. Build to Reprise has drive that leads to final section played with style but never milked.

Overall:
Better. Some moments of real quality sprinkled with fragility and hardness of tone.

Brisbane Brass, Jon Christodoulides, 3

Opening — Var 1:
Great opening bar followed by a plethora of unforced errors. Var 1 is ragged and lacks style. The tempo makes for some exciting playing but the execution lacks clarity. Good efforts from tuba and euph.

Vars 2-3:
Lacks movement and purpose. Sounds strained in execution. Nice bass trom sounds though! Var 3 — now we move with purpose but not without the insecurities.

Var 4 — Reprise:
Nice cornet sounds leads to a section calmness. 241 shows some sensitive playing. Well done cornet into 265. Reprise comes at the right time as the band show signs of tiredness to close.

Overall:
Another performance that struggled with the music.

Footscray Yarraville City Band, Ken MacDonald, 2

Opening — Var 1:
A nervous insecure opening that takes time to settle. Var 1 is scrappy with more insecurities. Lacks precision and detail. Well done tuba. Euph well played but why not longer on the top E?

Vars 2-3:
Lots of space given to the soloists that play the notes but it's a touch cold in execution. var 3 — better here. More ensemble insecurities and sounds a touch forced.

Var 4 — Reprise:
Intonation problems galore but solo lines are well played. 241 in safe in terms of dynamics and lacks a little direction. Reprise comes with those same fragilities.

Overall:
A performance littered with little clips and which seemed to lose it's way in the latter stages. Will strugle today we feel.

Gunnedah Shire Band, Nigel Weeks, 1

Opening — Var 1:
Not quite together to open but recovers with nice sounds and some lyrical playing. Var 1 is steady and confident. Some insecurities in the ensemble but it has style. Nice tuba and well done euph.

Vars 2-3:
More nice spacious playing with good solo lines especially baritone. The odd careless moment but doesn't detract too much form the musical picture. Var 3 — scarppy to start and a touch ragged in places. Well done timpani. Plenty of drive through here and nice linking section.

Var 4 — Reprise:
Nice solo cornet — touch more warmth perhaps? Confident solo lines with plenty of space for the music to come through. A few unforced errors emerge but it has lots to admire. Well done cornet into 265. Reprise starts with lovely sounds. Very well controlled ending with broad sounds.

Overall:
Plenty of quality playing on show here. Not always top drawer stuff but a good marker as they say...