The 2010 Lower Section National Finals sponsored by Geneva Instruments.
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Section 2
Saturday 25th September
Test Piece: 'Psalms and Alleluias' — Philip Wilby
Draw: 8.30am
Commence: 9.30am
Adjudicators: Lynda Nicholson and C. Brian Buckley
Comments by Malcolm Wood
An enjoyable contest this where the cream of the bands should find its way to the top without too much of a problem for the judges we think.
The piece proved difficult but the best bands handled it well with some fine musicality from the middle too.
It's very close at the top for us with Diggle, Rainford, East London Brass for the top prize.
Behind them it could well be South Yorkshire, Catterick, Knottingley and our dark horse Tylorstown.
4BR prediction:
1. Diggle
2. Rainford
3. East London Brass
4. South Yorkshire Police
5. Catterick
6. Knottingley
Dark Horse: Tylorstown
17. South Yorkshire Police, Leigh Baker, Yorkshire
A fine opening is well constructed and delivered with a real sense of belief. This is promising stuff played with confidence and no little style.
There is plenty to enjoy about this approach with contrasts between the sections really marked. There is a fine sense of sonority about the playing and the build to the close is so well handled.
Overall: A fine performance this and one that could force its way into the top end of the prize list. One to watch out for.
Star Player: Craig Whitehead put in a real solid contribution.
16. Filton Concert Brass, Bryn James, West of England
A decent start holds promise that is nearly fulfilled but it just loses that early momentum. A touch heavy in the dynamcis, but it makes an impression and the emotive content is high.
Perhaps a little red in tooth and claw in places, but it is confident playing with a pulsating undercurrent right through to the end.
Overall: Not a bad one this and one that may just surprise. It was a heavyweight challenger that may land a prize punch.
Star Player: Danny Winder on flugel had that extra touch of class today.
15. East London Brass, Jayne Murrill, London and Southern Counties
Bold and confident opening is full of rich promise and is backed by a bucketful of detail and warm balance. Lovely ensemble playing is backed again with lead lines of solid virtues.
Some intonation moments just take the high gloss off, but the quality still comes through. Fine build to close and last climax is wonderfully done.
Overall: A high class one this with just that period of intonation making them a potential rather than probable winner.
Star Player: Principal cornet Martin Dawe was a lovely leading voice throughout.
14. Dalkeith & Monktonhall Brass, James Chamberlain, Scotland
Very steady opening gains confidence and flow as the bands finds its feet. Now this is developing nicely with a warmth to the tonality that is appealing and secure technique on show too.
Spoke a bit too soon as the tuning loses focus and it becomes scrappy, but it recovers its poise and the catalyst comes from the man in the middle. The desire to make music remains to the end.
Overall: Certainly one to think of come the results — just that middle section lapse may cost today.
Star Player: The trombone playing of Paul Findlay was a real bonus marker for the band today.
13. Catterick Brass, Stewart Halliday, North of England
A solid opening is played with quality sounds and solidity of technique, but it does take its time to find its feet. There is so much to admire in the playing though with real contrast between the sections.
Euph is class, whilst ensemble isn't too far behind. Little moment here and there but overall there is good playing. Build to final climax and close is so assured.
Overall: Lots of quality and confidence in a performance of some note. In the mix today.
Star Player: Brenden Wheeler — the classiest of a fine bunch today
12. Deinolen, Gavin Saynor, Wales
Confident opening has real purpose, vigour and detail. Good stuff this and there is a persuasive musicality to this that comes with the flow.
Warm lyrical playing is a feature of this one — almost singing through the instruments. Not so great in some of the technical passages but it recovers and that vocal quality returns. Lovely build and closing climax too.
Overall: Lots to enjoy with this one — a real old bible singing congregational one, with just the odd nasty blips.
Star Player: Euph Daniel Ellis Taylor sang his heart out.
11. Cockerton Prize Silver, George Nicklin, North of England
Steady opening just in need of an extra bit of pulse and detail, but solid as she goes. Some nerves on show but things settle and euph sounds classy.
Ensemble takes a bit of time to reach the same level and so we never quite get enough contrast. Good build to the close is the best playing so far, but just tires in the final climax and close.
Overall: A brave effort this that nearly caught the mood and technical challenges — but not quite.
Star Player: Euphonium, Brian Wideroder played his part in full and more.
10. Becontree, Adam Cooke, London and Southern Counties
A cautious opening and a steady approach but the pulse remains constant. It just needs a little more detail and colour to really come to life.
Its has its moments, but moments only — it struggles at times and sounds nervous. A pity as the MD is trying to get the music to sing. Good build leads to robust close, but its a little too late.
Overall: Never quite met all the challenges but they came close.
Star Player: Alan Flower on euph did a sterling job today.
9. Rainford, Neil Samuel, North West
A well paced opening has plenty to admire with detail and balance on show. There is a good appreciation of dynamic too, and solo cornet is a lovely lyrical voice.
We like what the MD does here, even if he is taking a risk or three with the emotional input — its a little elastic in places. Purposeful and driven and the build to the close is very well handled. Fine last climax.
Overall: Up there today for us — lots of quality, but a question mark over the emotive stuff perhaps today?
Star Player: Anna Spedding led the band with a touch of classy reserve today.
8. Diggle, James Shepherd, North West
Lovely opening — really high church inspired stuff. It sings with a true lyrical quality and the detail. This has the hallmark of understanding the requirements of the score from the MD — it flows and maintains the pace from the beginning.
Bravo cornet and other lines and we hear detail and balance from ensemble. Just has the odd moment but recovers for a glory packed ending. Bravo one and all.
Overall: A performance of stature this — and understanding from the middle. Classy stuff.
Star Player: Nigel Lawless on euph was the pick of a high class bunch.
7. Knottingley Silver, Dr Owen Wedgwood, Yorkshire
An opening of purpose and drive has real energy. We are hearing real deatil here and it impresses! Lyrical episodes are well handled too — with a neat flow and sense of musicality.
There are blemishes but the music really does sing like a old methodist bible bashers of old! Really joyful and triumphant close too. Bravo one and all — this was really well executed.
Overall: One of the best today — a performance that really got to the heart of the musical matter.
Star Player: Steve Clayton take a bow — a principal of true leadership material today.
6. Shrewton Silver, Mike Dunford, West of England
Starts well and shows promise this, but a nasty moment or two just takes the sheen off — a pity. Fully committed playing this from one and all and despite the odd blips there is something that registers in the musicality.
They try just a bit too hard to impress at times and it gets hard in the ensemble. It's got a touch agressive and lost that early sense of promise to close.
Overall: An uneven one this — had the promise to start but the desire to impress just lost that high polished opening sheen.
Star Player: Chris Friend on euphonium was a solid anchor all the way through today.
5. Alder Valley, Roger Burke, London and Southern Counties
Cautious start takes a bit of time to settle and it sounds a little nervous in places. Finds its feet now as if the band couldn't quite get the hang of the acoustic.
Gets better as we go along and there are some fine individual efforts and some trenchant ensemble playing. Never quites settles though and loses focus, but a brave old effort this to close.
Overall: This was on the edge at times, but when they settled there was plenty of solid work on show. May not make an impression today though.
Star Player: Solo cornet Peter Haigh did his bit and more for the cause today.
4. Tylorstown, Gary Davies, Wales
A solid opening has the hallmarks of good detail and balance and there is that essential pulse of energy too. Cornet does well but so do other leading lines.
There is a stylish approach to this that is persuasive despite the little blips and blobs. Euph — classy! It's getting passionate and a little over wrought, but you sense the desire to impress right to the end here.
Overall: One that certainly made an impression — maybe a little emotive, but one that could feature.
Star Player: Stand tall Angela Westacott on euph — a very classy contribution.
3. Blidworth Welfare, Martin Heartfield, Midlands
Purposeful opening has style and sense of confidence and a pulsating energy. Lyrical cornet is a lovely counterpoint — this is good stuff.
Just loses focus in places and the band strives for that extra 10% but there is much to enjoy with this. More good warm playing and the drive to the end is well done.
Overall: The best so far for us — solid and musical.
Star Player: Top man Andrew Street — even his X Factor celebrations were first class!
2. Coalburn Silver, Gareth Bowman, Scotland
Confident musical opening and it continues in the same vein for the Scots. It get a touch untidy in places and solo cornet is a classy lead.
Just loses focus at times but you still hear detail and warmth and there is no shortage of confidence either. Nice stuff if a little excitable to close.
Overall: A good one this, just let down by the untidy playing in places.
Star Player: Joel Harding on principal cornet sang like a little Scottish canary — classy playing all the way through.
1. Tintwistle, Simon Wood, Midlands
A steady opening is solid but cautious but we hear nice sounds that are broad and warm. A little more energy in places in the quicker stuff perhaps, but there is a feeling of flow and musicality.
MD is certainly enjoying the lyrical episodes of the piece and so too the band. Just needs that extra touch of oomph for us to close though.
Overall: A performance of merit off the number 1 draw that perhaps just needed a touch more brio in places. A good marker though for the rest to measure up against.
Star Player: Principal cornet Michelle Barrow led from the front.
