Test Piece: 'The Devil and The Deep Blue Sea' (Derek Bourgeois)

Opera House

Commenced: 3.05pm

Adjudicator: Jim Davies

Comments by Iwan Fox

What do we think?

What an intriguing contest – the Devil certainly tested these bands and their MDs in the 40 days they spent in the desert preparing for this contest.

At the top end there were three very contrasting performances.

Fairey had the overall clarity, precision and sense of cohesion, whilst Leyland had the all the drama, tension and Satanic pleasures – poor old Dana was set upon like virgin in a Hammer horror movie. Foden’s had the excitement and raw bravura.

It’s between these three for us, with Fairey getting the nod for their control over the kaleidoscopic excitement of Leyland. Foden’s may have lost their title today – but without complaint.

There was a very solid showing from Wingates to take fourth for us ahead of impressive shows for Ashton and Milnrow.

4BR Prediction:

1. Fairey
2. Leyland
3. Foden’s
4. Wingates
5. Ashton under Lyne
6. United Co-op Milnrow

11. Co-op Milnrow (Marieka Gray)

7.05pm

Opening: Bold, darkly hued opening is deliberrate in its growing sense of anxiety and tension.

Prestissimo: 162 is up on the rev counter but it is well handled. MD hold this together with neat authority without losing that Develish intent and sly wit. Just loses focus and gets scrappy to close as tempo enhances.

Finale: A little ripe in places in fanfares but it leads to a flowing, sweet Dana classic. Just tires but closes with a controlled solemnity.

Overall: A performance of solid and intelligent virtues. Just lost focus on occassions but one that kept you interested throughout.

10. Leyland (Michael Bach)

6.40pm

Opening: A very flexible opening ebbs and flows in intensity before growing with dark menace.

Prestissimo: Satan on a Suzuki 750! 167 plus is right on the edge. It holds onto its soul by its fingertips at times — but its certainly exiting. Fugue fizzes like a sulphur pit in hell.

Finale: Fanfares lead into malleable Dana which is manipulated like play-dough at times. Risky but very pursuasive — MD milks this like a Satanic friesian cow! End is touched by beauty.

Overall: A performance inspired by Aleister Crowley and the occult. Dark, satanic and downright rivetting.

9. Ashton-Under-Lyne (Simon Stonehouse)

6.18pm

Opening: Some nervous tension just tarnishes an effective opening of growing drama.

Prestissimo: 157 at the limit but MD keeps the pace up without losing clarity or that Develish drive. The Satanic handbrake is applied in the fugue to good effect. Exciting stuff this.

Finale: Breezy fanfares herald flowing bit of Dana, but it's blighted by some nasty clips. Recovers although tiredness creeps in. Well managed close.

Overall: A solid well-thought account this — helped by the MD knowing his bands strengths and weaknesses. Could spring a surprise today.

8. Pemberton Old Wigan DW (Mark Bentham)

5.58pm

Opening: Well balanced opening has real dramatic pulse and clarity. Builds with intensity too.

Prestissimo: Wayward tempo 155-162 at times gives an uneven feel and some messy moments detract in the pursuit of statanic excitement. Fugue does not knit well. Swagger is lost to brashness and lack of ensemble cohesion.

Finale: Fanfares lead to equally harsh treatment of Dana classic. She didn't have the Devil in her surely? Even the close is so harsh and brash.

Overall: A disappointing one for us from a band striving too hard to impress with volume. Strident, hard and over halfway down the results for us.

7. Blackburn & Darwen (Nick Sheppard)

5.35pm

Opening: Solid opening is played with real conviction and purpose. Builds with stridency and atmosphere too.

Prestissimo: On the edge at 161 — you hear the scrabble of the cloven hooves. It's red in tooth and claw this. Fugue is all over the place though — very random in places in the search for excitement.

Finale: Brash fanfares lead into rather strident Dana Euro classic. Sop plays with velvet draw bag over bell. Why? Sounds harsh and tired — even in the final repose.

Overall: A performance that tried to be something it couldn't. Too harsh and strident to make the contrasts required.

6. Bollington Brass (Peter Christian)

5.03pm

Opening: Just the odd nasty clip takes gloss off a solid opening that built with a well paced intensity.

Prestissimo: It's a flyer at 162 in places but it's so scrappy as a result. Finds its cloven hooves in the fugue at a better tempo, but it's still messy.

Finale: Bold fanfares lead into a persuasive take on the Dana classic. Tiredness is creeping in. Superb horn though and reprise is well handled through to a composed ending.

Overall: A bold effort to master the Devil but old nick had the upper hand on this one.

5. Fairey (Ian Porthouse)

4.40pm

Opening: Imposing opening is full of intense drama and menace. This is set out with such malevolent intent.

Prestissimo: Satan sets out at 160 but with such precise clarity. Just a notch off for the fugue but it's delivered with such elan. The reprise swaggers fabulously.

Finale: Fanfares lead into lyrical contrast that would have made Dana proud. Sweet and delicate desite tiny blips. Great sense of atmosphere to close.

Overall: This was a touch of Beelzebub brilliance from Fairey. A performance to turn Cliff Richard into a satanist.

4. Foden’s (Allan Withington)

4.15pm

Opening: Dark tempered opening bristles with satanic menace. The tension is racked up with a subtle intensity too.

Prestissimo: 156 is pacy but retains clarity and drive. Little blips just marr. Fugue is a model of control but is played with a real sense of swagger and panache.

Finale: Great fanfares are led by zonking bass trom! Sweet contrast comes in Euro reprise — as does elegant music making. Great return to opening statement leads to the calmest of closes.

Overall: A top drawer performance this. A heady mix of the Devil and Dana. It will take something special to beat this.

3. VBS Poynton (Colin Short)

3.52pm

Opening: An uncomfortable opening is beset by nervous problems but recovers to build with tension and menace.

Prestissimo: 154 beats gives drive but the technical work is so inconsistent. Bravery can't mask the deficiencies in the fugue. MD keeps up the pace but this has been a struggle.

Finale: Much better control in the Irish warbler's Euro winner. Lyrical and warm. It held its poise to the final resting place.

Overall: A test of character as well as technique this. A brave effort but it didn't come close to keeping the devil in check.

2. Co-operative Funeralcare NW (Jef Sparkes)

3.30pm

Opening: An uneven start raises questions of balance and tuning. Lacks a sense of impending menace.

Prestissimo: Just up a notch at 156 and it drives along helped by meaty troms. Fugue is messy though — another scruffy devil. It's ragged in places as the pace takes it toll.

Finale: Spikey fanfares lead to a flowing reminder of Dana at her peak. Tasty rubato enhances the lead lines. Odd break though is a puzzle as is the final repose.

Overall: Not quite accurate enough as the Devil incarnate to really bring the darker elements into sharp enough focus.

1. Wingates (Andrew Berryman)

3.05pm

Opening: Solid opening has clarity and atmosphere. It builds with a feeling of tension and dark menace.

Prestissimo: It's around 157 beats plus which allows for pulse and clarity. Fugue is messy though. An exciting if scrappy old Devil this.

Finale: Fanfares herald Dana's Euro winner which is delivered elegantly. Slightly harsh climax before the final repose.

Overall: A solid marker but just a little scruffy around Beelzibub's edges to make it to London.