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Sunday 30th May
Test Piece: 'An Epic Symphony' — Percy Fletcher
Draw: 8.45am
Commence: 10.00am

Adjudicators: Derek Broadbent, David Read MBE, Dennis Wilby

What do we think

An interesting rather than thrilling one today, with just two bands really standing out by a margin from the rest of the field.

We think it is going to be a battle between Tredegar and Brass Band Willebroek for the title, with little to choose between them. Both were very classy indeed.

Behind them we think it could be a battle between Redbridge, Carlton Main, Lyngby Taarbaek and Aeolus. Dark horses could be Pemberton Old and Zone One.

4BR Prediction:
1. Tredegar
2. Brass Band Willebroek
3. Carlton Main
4. Redbridge
5. Lyngby Taarbeak
6. Aeolus

Dark horses: Zone One & Pemberton Old

Draw
22. Jaguar (Coventry) (Dave Lea)
5.02pm
Recitare:
Bob on in terms of style and tempo, but the execution is average (solo cornets go AWOL). Recovers, but it is not helped by sloppy playing in some lead lines and ensemble. You feel that sense of pending reflection, but the mirror is cracked to pieces. Finely shaped close shows they can play this.

Elegy:
Again the execution is killing this off. Lovely lyrical approach but the nasty errors are so annoying. Lovely cornet and fine sop lead to lyrical euph, but accompaniment is at times awful. Recovers to a lovely close. So frustrating this for MD.

Heroic March:
More good style, but poor substance. It's exciting and has that essential Edwardian feel of nobleness, but those clips and sloppy details tarnish the picture. Gets harsh to close as stamina wanes.

Overall:
A frustrating one this for the MD, as the musical intentions were clear and totally correct. The execution let it down — at times badly.

21. Brass Band Willebroek (Frans Violet)
4.41pm
Recitare:
This has a real stamp of quality — so clean and precise and spot on with style too. Young Lode Violet on solo cornet is a classy solo lead, and troms are not far behind. There are some wonderful ensemble sounds due to fine internal balances. We hear that touch of reflection too as the movement comes to a fine close.

Elegy:
Poor start takes time to find its ghostly tread, but when it does it is so lyrical. Cornet and sop are solidly impressive if not quite as wistfull as required, but euph is lovely and that sense of guilty loss flows from the music. Wonderful stuff. Just a touch over emotive at the climax, but a magical close.

Heroic March:
More class, with a wonderful sense of nobility about this. The security of the playing is admirable too — hard to find fault. It gets clumsy in filigree work but this is soon overcome. We hear a wonderful chorale and close of rare class.

Overall:
A wonderful performance this — so well structured, styled and delivered. Right up there for us in the battle for the Masters title. Bravo.

20. Brass Band Schoonhoven (Erik Janssen)
4.20pm
Recitare:
Confident playing to start, but there is one heck of a nasty moment in the horns to follow. Quizzical smile from the flugel tells the story. It recovers, although it lacks real warmth of tonality in ensemble and solo lines. It's being played this, but with little understanding of the required style. Solid close.

Elegy:
Another horn moment to forget to open and its the question of style again. Why the lack of flow? Some neat interventions, but it isn't reflective or wistfully lyrical this. Euph does well, but this all comes to a rather strident, if safe, close.

Heroic March:
This is so much better. Bold but noble and with clarity in all the lines. Exciting too. Justs gets a little ahead of itself in places, but just holds form. Good closing reprise and fine chorale leads to bold, classy old ending.

Overall:
One that improved from a poor start. Had real quality by its close, but by then it was too little too late.

19. Aveley & Newham (Nigel Taken)
4.01pm
Recitare:
Scrappy ensemble lacks real clarity and precision, and it doesn't alway knit together well. Solo lines sound nervous in places, but troms rescue things with classy aplomb. The reprise isn't good though, and again the lack of clarity means the style is compromised right to the close.

Elegy:
Uneven. Nice sense of ghostly style but there are far too many moments of unease. Euph brings a lovely lyrical appreciation to the lead line, but it is surrounded by a sea of inconsistency. Sombre close is fragile.

Heroic March:
Up tempo, but played with a neat sense of nobility. This is very good stuff. Spoke too soon, the wheels just about come off with the filigree back row work. It recovers, but the damage has been done — and enhanced by ludicrous climax emphasis before final section. Why?!! This becomes sloppy in chorale to close.

Overall:
Not a good one. Far too many inherent problems not helped by some strange musical choices. Will struggle we think.

18. Zone One (Richard Ward)
3.40pm
Recitare:
Bold and bravura playing shows technical clarity and style. Back row take time to catch up, but it soon settles with some sparkling leading contributions. Three very different approaches from the troms and a fine solo cornet feature well. Reprise gets a touch untidy but a finish of style.

Elegy:
There are some super indivdual contributions on show here, but all undermined by such a lack of flow. It should reflect on death not linger like a rubber necker at a car crash. A real pity as the execution is so confident. This was bordering on the morbid.

Heroic March:
Up tempo start if full of life! The quality of execution is clear and precise, if the style is a touch more questionable. It motors along, so that Elgarian sense of nobility is lost. Technically very secure and impressive. Very broad orchestral delivery to close.

Overall:
Hard to find much fault with the techncial side of things, but the style was indivdual to say the least at times. The approach to the Elegy may cost them dearly today.

17. Stavanger (Allan Withington)
3.19pm
Recitare:
A touch scrappy this and takes time to settle. When it does the MD goes for the music — at times it borders on the indulgent and lacks flow, but it is very stylish. Troms ok but the reprise again just lacks that extra touch of polish. It is good though.

Elegy:
Not a great start but it has a dark, introspective feel, even if it is almost played at a funeral pace. The MD is taking risks here. Solos are solid if not wistfully lyrical, but euph is so lovely. The ending has a touch of magic — the first today.

Heroic March:
Up tempo start is bold and again just lacks that extra high polish sheen. It's exciting stuff despite the scrappy edges — some very scrappy indeed. Elgarian? Not for us, but the close is played with flair and fine robust sounds.

Overall: A nearly one for Stavanger. Had too many noticeable errors and nasty mistakes to really claim glory, but it could be in the mix.

16. Pemberton Old Wigan DW (Mark Bentham)
Recitare:
Solid, unpretensious stuff this — very little wrong in the execution even if the style is a touch on the brash side. Wonderful solo cornet and solid troms lead to a reprise that has little wrong with it. Decent close is well handled.

Elegy:
More of the same. It never quite brings that feeling of reflective pathos, but it is played with a confident air. Cornet and sop deliver but without real wistfulness, but euph is a classy lyrical presence. It leads to another well managed, if vibby, close.

Heroic March:
Sensible tempo gives air of nostalgic nobility, even if it is a tad brash. You can't find much fault in the playing though — it is very confident and precise. Just gets a bit bogged down, but recovers for an exciting close and fine if harsh, chorale climax.

Overall:
One that could well feature today. Not the most musically staisfying, but admirable in its execution and approach from MD down. A bit of a dark horse?

15. Wingates (Alan Morrison)
2.41pm
Recitare:
A well managed start is played with a touch of classy control and refinement. Well done troms, even if tuning is a little suspect, but that stylish approach continues to flow. Reprise is well handled too, with neat close.

Elegy:
Things get a little more difficult as there is a fragility that causes problems in the ensemble and solo lines. Unlucky, but the damage has been done. It recovers that sombre feel of lyrical poignancy, with another well managed close.

Heroic March:
A little rough and edgy in places as the band search for that exciting, noble feel. It just about comes off, but the little errors are starting to grate. Back row cornets to the rescue, but by its close it starts to wane in quality. Good chorale close though.

Overall:
A bit hit and miss this. The good stuff had real quality, but the nasty moments of fragility were too obvious today.

14. Brass Band Aeolus (Bastien Stil)
2.23pm
Recitare:
Understated style this — not overblown or edgy in any way. Refined playing if a little bland in places. Fine troms and wonderful solo cornet shine, and there is a persuasive sense of reflection to this especially at its close. Tasteful playing.

Elegy:
More of the same, with a wonderful poignant feel to the accompanying bass line. Just gets bogged down in places, but the solo playing is of a very high wistful class and the sense of pathos is palpable from the euph. Again, this is classy and musical.

Heroic March:
A touch of French bluff in places as the ensemble becomes loose and over excitable. They do produce a warm, balanced sound even if the execution is a little wayward in places. Fine noble close too.

Overall:
A persuasive performance of lyrical musicality this. Different in overall dynamic strength to rivals today, but musically this stays in the memory banks.

13. 1st Old Boys Association Silver (Stephen Cairns)
2.06pm
Recitare:
Slightly scrappy to start but the lighter approach to the dynamics gives this a neat musical style. Troms do well as do the solo lines. There is some nasty moments in places but the reprise is well handled and a decent close too.

Elegy:
Unease in the ranks in too many places. The pulse and reflective feel are evident but the execution isn't always secure or lyrically wistful. That sombre style again shows through though and the close is well maintained.

Heroic March:
Scrappy stuff that takes its time recover the poise and the sense of nobility required. Some neat trom playing and good horns, but the filigree work isn't always clear or precise. Runs a little out of breath to close and sounds tired in final chorale.

Overall:
Decent effort but one that may struggle to make an impression today. There was a fine reading from the MD, but the execution wasn't the same class.

12. Tredegar (Ian Porthouse)
1.43pm
Recitare:
This is sparkling playing — so clear and precise and balanced. Troms are razor sharp and despite the odd clip this reeks of class. Solo cornet is a lovely lead and the reprise after super trom trio is so well controlled. Super close.

Elegy:
A ghostly feel pervades everything here — a poignancy of reflection few have come close to today. Wonderful solo cornet and fine sop lead to a euph of lyrical beauty. There are some lovely touches on display and so controlled. The odd moment to close, but this has such a reflective feel.

Heroic March:
A march for heroes played with such ensemble clarity and classy style. Just the odd little clip and blob and the distinct break can be questioned, as does the odd moment of filigree work. The poise and noble feel returns to an superb chorale close.

Overall:
A performance of a very high class this. Odd moments but overall it had the stamp of sheer quality.

11. Reg Vardy (Ray Farr)
1.23pm
Recitare:
This is bold stuff — very bold at times and a tad edgy. It thrills at times, but there are some nasty moments of unease also on display in solo and ensemble. A little too raw in the emotion stakes perhaps? Close is fragile.

Elegy:
The quiet ensemble playing is weak at times, but lyrical solo cornet and solid sop do well. Euph is classy and the underpinning tread is clear if a little over powering. Recovers its sombre poise for a reflective ending of quality.

Heroic March:
More bold and certainly heroic playing. It is confident and stylish too, with fine troms, even though the ensemble is a little scrappy in places in the filigree work. A bit too 'Last Night at the Proms' for us in the jingoism stakes, but it is exciting. Harsh ending.

Overall:
One that certainly wanted to make an impression from the word go — and did. A little too red in tooth and claw perhaps, but certainly exciting.

10. Redbridge (Jeremy Wise)
1.04pm
Recitare:
There is a stamp of class about this, despite the odd ensemble clips and blobs. Wonderful lyrical solo lines are on show from solo cornet, three troms and flugel. The style is so well portrayed — with just the right hint of sombre lyricism.

Elegy:
More quality follows with a ghostly feel of treading feet underpinning the wistful solo lines and melancholic feel of loss. Some little uncertainties and slightly overwrought climax, but it returns to its reflective poignancy.

Heroic March:
Bob on with tempo gives MD the chance to get his band to play with nobility. Loses focus with filigree work, but recovers its poise. Real broad Elgar inspired Englishness this — and no over zealous flag waving jingoism either. Fine close.

Overall:
Redbridge — a land fit for heroes? They couldn't have done much more today in a very fine performance from an excellent reading of the score.

9. Kirkintilloch (Allan Ramsay)
12.43pm
Recitare:
A confident start just has the odd moment of uncertainty, but this is laid out with musical sense and good execution from solo cornet in particular. Troms? Not quite, but still the music flows. Reprise is well handled too, but a slightly hesitant end.

Elegy:
There is much to like about this — from the safe lyrical playing of the solo lines to the flow of the underpinning tread of the ensemble. There is just the odd moment or two, but they do not tarnish. Sombre close just about hangs on.

Heroic March:
Hold the horses! Why the brashness and lack of refined nobility? It's all a bit excitable, despite being well delivered. Too edgy and high octance for the feel of Elgar and Coates. The heroic victory flags are being waved too soon? Brash end.

Overall:
Two very fine movements indeed and one that rather went peetong for us. That final third of loss of fine self imposed control may just cost them today.

8. Newstead Brass (Duncan Beckley)
12.23pm
Recitare:
Scrappy opening lacks clarity and precision. Wrong notes don't help either in horns. Fragile solo lines, and bass trom takes an eternity over his moment in the spotlight. Reprise is a repeat and end is poor.

Elegy:
It's a slow ghostly tread back from the trenches. It lacks flow and has no lyrical pathos. Soloists do well, and it now finds its reflectiveness. Too little too late not helped by another poor close.

Heroic March:
This so much better for the straightfoward approach to tempo and style. It has moments good and bad though but is so non descript. Decent end is well managed but lacking nobility.

Overall:
An odd interpretation from an MD who usually get these things right. Never really came to terms in execution either.

7. Lyngby-Taarbaek (Christian Schmiedescamp)
12.02pm
Recitare:
Tasteful opening sets the scene — plenty to admire in the stylish approach. Three fine troms with cultured bass trom ending. It loses it focus and clarity on reprise (and has some basic wrong notes) but manages to recover for a decent close.

Elegy:
More tasteful playing, but the ghostly tread is a slow one — very slow in fact. The lyrical quality is a touch funereal despite well managed solo lines. There is something about this though, despite the desire to wallow in the pathos.

Heroic March:
Bold but controlled playing is displayed. There is an air of nobility, but all of a sudden it becomes very messy and loses all style. Final push is overdone and the looseness detracts. Tired close just falls away.

Overall:
An admirable performance that just lost its way in the final movement. Should hold its own, but it was close to being a cracker.

6. Co-operative Funeralcare (Michael Fowles)
11.44am
Recitare:
A fine start has detail, balance and clarity. Solo lines are well played, with artistic bass trom. Solo cornet is refined and this movement is so well managed. Just gets a touch scrappy on fanfare reprise, but lovely close.

Elegy:
More quality on display with a ghostly tread underpinning fine wistful solo cornet and sop. Euph is lyrical. Poignant feel is kept to a super, sombre close.

Heroic March:
Bold and heroic without the overdose of flag waving jingoism. MD keeps control of things but it gets so bogged down and loses all flow. Why? A stately as a galleon, or a cross channel ferry? It's lost its flow and sense of nobility to close.

Overall:
A very fine performance up to the last quarter, when all flow was lost in search of emotion. Will hold its own, but that big question mark remains.

5. Marsden Silver (Glyn Williams)
11.21am
Recitare:
Bold start is played with confidence and a touch of raw emotion too. This is confident playing and pretty accurate too. Just gets a tad over wrought and forced in places. Well done troms. Close is a little hesitant.

Elegy:
More emotion here — perhaps a touch misplaced. Solo lines are bold but not really wistful. It need a little more poignancy to work — and right notes too. It all there, but some nasty moments detract.

Heroic March:
More bold playing — and at a pace too. Elgarian? It's confident playing though if a little edgy and messy at times. Loses focus in search of excitement and is overblown. A bit jingoistic for us to end.

Overall:
A bold no holds barred one this. The emotion was palpable and the playing confident, but it lost its control and focus by its close.

4. Carlton Main Frickley Colliery (Philip McCann)
11.01am
Recitare:
A fine opening, certainly stylised by the MD, but played with confidence by soloists and ensemble. Just the little moment of unease to close, but an impressive start.

Elegy:
More stylised playing — with a hint of dark poignancy. Lovely interventions from wistful soloists and melancholic euph. Just the odd moment of unease, but a lovely close is sombre and thoughtful.

Heroic March:
It has the heroic feel without the jingoism this. Neatly laid out despite the little fragilities on show. Just runs away a touch in places but it recovers poise with broad and noble chorale. Fine end.

Overall:
A class apart so far this. A fine reading of the score and delivered with stylish intent and purpose.

3. Virtuosi GUS (John Berryman)
10.42am
Recitare:
My word its a bravura start — bold and at times edgy. Not really precise at times (one horrid horn moment), but very confident. Classy troms, and cornet. Emotive stuff.

Elegy:
More confidence — solo lines are so well played, with sop displaying cultured wistfulness. Flows with a measured tread. The odd loose moment again though does detract.

Heroic March:
Hells bells! Why so brash and brittle — and those nasty little moments really do detract. There is some great playing on display, but some real sloppy stuff too. Bold end is nearly overdone.

Overall:
The fine musical picture was tarnished too often for us by sloppy playing in each movement. A nearly performance this.

2. Sovereign Brass (Major Peter Parkes)
10.22am
Recitare:
A poor start is so untidy and takes time to settle. Troms ok (solo doubles up), but this sounds so fragile in execution right to the close.

Elegy:
Stylish sense of poignancy and flow, but the execution is so varied in quality. Super solo cornet and euph, but not elsewhere. Ending is so nervous.

Heroic March:
Nice style to start but so untidy. There is a lack of Elgarian breadth. It becomes a mess in places. Final chorale lacks warmth.

Overall:
As fragile as a pensioners hip on a marble floor. Stylish in places but oh so brittle and nervous.

1. Metropole Brass Band (Guy Audenaert)
10.00am
Recitare:
Fragile opening lacks precision and style. Troms come to the rescue, but it is so uneven elsewhere.

Elegy:
More of the same — the lead lines sound nervous and it is all a little over wrought. That sense of poignancy is not realy on display.

Heroic March:
Again — not quite the noble sense of style. Too pacy to start and by the end it becomes self indulgent.

Overall:
A poor one to start from the Belgians. Never got the musical style for us.