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Radio: Time for Brass

There's plenty of great music to enjoy from Ian Cottier this month.

Pontins
 

The 37th Pontins Championships went off the other weekend with their customary smooth professionalism.

Basic formula

I’ve been attending these events as a guest of the company most years since 1982 and while the basic successful formula has remained unchanged a number of other changes have occurred.

One development which everyone would (and did!) applaud however is the annual engagement of the British Army Brass Band to give a concert on the Saturday evening.

Talent

What a talented and entertaining group of musicians they are- but how disappointing that so many of the people attending for the weekend had so little appreciation of their talents as to make a totally unseemly racket in the adjacent bar, spoiling to a marked degree the enjoyment of the rest.

Next year’s contests are already in the diary for a week later, November 4th 2011.

Pleasure

My particular pleasure was to see and hear our own Isle of Man Onchan Silver Band dipping its toe in the often chilly waters of contesting.

Not only that but going home with a cup and a cheque for £500 for their well-deserved fourth place. Four of our bands now blooded in national contesting, one in each of the First, Second, Third, and Fourth Sections.

Who will be next? Rushen Silver? Crosby Silver? One thing is certain; banding is alive and well and thriving in the Isle of Man.

1st November:

1. Walking with Heroes (Paul Lovatt-Cooper)
Black Dyke

2. Force of Destiny (Verdi arr. Frank Wright)
Black Dyke

3. Brilliante (Peter Graham)
Besses o’ th’ Barn
Euphonium duettists: Robert and Nicholas Childs

4. Les Preludes (Liszt arr. Bram Gay)
Cory

5. Whirlwind (Peter Graham)
Austrian Youth Brass Band
Cornet soloist: Selina Ott

6. To a God Like This
(John Larsson arr. Robinson)
The Household Troops Band

7. Temple 85 (Norman Bearcroft)
The Household Troops Band

8. Just Like John (Norman Bearcroft)
The Household Troops Band

9. Nimrod (Elgar arr. Eric Ball)
Foden O.T.S

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the cooperation band

Half century mark for cooperation players

October 7 • Keith Johnstone and Ray Munday have just notched up 50 years of outstanding service to the brass band movement — with an appearance at the Albert Hall to help with the celebrations.


Hindmarsh

Heaton spotlight on Radio 3

October 7 • The life and music of Wilfred Heaton will be discussed by author Paul Hindmarsh on Radio 3's flagship arts programme 'In Tune' next Monday.


Smith and Grezzy

Podcast: Smith & Grezzy's Big Chat Brass

October 7 • The new podcast episode from Sandy Smith and Simon Gresswell is now out.


Hands

Smith and Cutt to lead Slaithwaite Area challenge

October 7 • Jason M Smith and Prof Garry Cutt will be the musical leads as Slaithwaite look to make a qualification mark at the Yorkshire Area next year.


Regent Hall Concerts - Regent Hall Band of the Salvation Army

Sunday 5 October • Regent Hall (The Salvation Army). 275 Oxford Street. WC1 2DJ W1C2DJ


Regent Hall Concerts - Academy Symphonic Brass

Friday 10 October • Regent Hall (The Salvation Army). 275 Oxford Street. WC1 2DJ W1C2DJ


Regent Hall Concerts - Stately Brass Quintet

Friday 10 October • Regent Hall (The Salvation Army). 275 Oxford Street. WC1 2DJ W1C2DJ


Contest: National Brass Band Championships of Great Britain

Saturday 11 October • The Royal Albert Hall, Kensington Gore, South Kensington, London SW7 2AP


Hathersage Band - Hathersage Village Autumn Concert

Saturday 11 October • Hathersage Methodist Church, Main Road, Hathersage S32 1BB S32 1BB


Welwyn Garden City Band

October 6 • We are a friendly & sociable Second Section Band with an exciting and varied Christmas season ahead. Due to an employment relocation, we have an immediate vacancy for a FRONT ROW CORNET player.


Tewit Silver Band

October 4 • Principal Eb Bass. Our established bass section are looking for a strong leader to elevate their performance - could that be you? We have an exciting contest schedule including the Scottish Open and and full set of new Besson basses!


Tewit Silver Band

October 4 • Principal Eb Bass. Our established bass section are looking for a strong leader to elevate their performance - could that be you? We have an exciting contest schedule including the Scottish Open and and full set of new Besson basses!


Steve Pritchard-Jones

FTCL LTCL LDBBA DipMusEd GMus QTS NPQH
Conductor, Adjudicator, Teacher


               

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