After spending a great weekend recently in Alston Hall with the young players of the Wigan Youth Band and their leader Dave Little, Richard Evans sped off to Manchester Airport to board a plane to Dusseldorf to be driven on to the small town of Heek to lead a German brass band Summer School.
Three bands
When he got there, the assembled players formed themselves into three full-sized British style bands, all working individually for most days, before coming together to create a massed band, somewhat surprisingly called ‘The Big Cup’!
Surreal inspiration
The youngest band was entitled, ‘SchnuBB NRW’ and directed by Roman Marreck their demanding programme of music included Paul Lovatt-Cooper’s ‘Dark Side of the Moon’ as well as the slightly surreal sounding, but wonderfully lyrical ‘Cock up your Beaver’ – inspired by the great Robert Burn’s poem!
Exciting works
Meanwhile, Martin Schadlich conducted a very fine Youth Band called ‘YBB NRW’ performing ‘Enter the Galaxies’, ‘Festive Overture’, ‘The Dawning’ and many other exciting works.
Senior
Richard was charged with the development of the ‘senior’ outfit – entitled, ‘Academic Brass Band’, which comprised players of mixed ages who had not played in a British style band before. They worked on an eclectic set of music from ‘Rhapsody in Brass’ to ‘Saint Saens Variations’ and smaller concert works.
So encouraging
Richard told 4BR: "The accommodation was excellent in the Landesmusikakademie NRW and the rehearsal facilities were second to none. I was very happily surprised to experience the superbly run week, and the enthusiasm from all the delegates to play brass band music and learn our style was so encouraging."
The week was sponsored by Yamaha and by the county of North Rhine Westfalia and by the sponsors and friends of the Landesmusikakademie NRW in Heek.
It was a happy, industrious course. I had a wonderful time, met wonderful people and came home with a happy heart. I can’t wait to go againRichard Evans
Media coverage
Richard was amazed by the amount of media coverage the event had created.
He added: "I found it rather embarrassing as a Brit to witness during the week, two TV companies coming in and filming the activities, two separate newspapers printing articles in their editions and a radio station recording interviews.
What are we doing in our country to reach these media companies? It would appear nothing. Scotland is certainly alive to these matters, and getting involved with marketing, but this was a real eye opener – it wa so professionally organised and promoted."
UK visit
Richard also revealed that the YBB NRW and Martin Schadlich are planning to visit the British Open Championship next year to learn from listening to what they refer to as out ‘big’ bands.
He concluded: "The tutors for the school were a were a wonderful group and so professional. They were wonderfully led by trombonist Chris Houlding, who now lives in Essen, with expert help from Johannes Meures, Bob Sibich Benedikt Blome, Peter Heijen, and a lovely Salvation Army cornet player Heinrich Schmidt.
It was a happy, industrious course. I had a wonderful time, met wonderful people and came home with a happy heart. I can’t wait to go again!"
