The very first Bavarian Brass Band Music Camp (Course) was held last week at the Bayerische Musikakademie Castle in Alteglofsheim.

Guidance

The five day course accommodated 90 Bavarian brass delegates under the guidance of James Gourlay, Dave Lea, Berit Palmquist (Sweden) and Tijmen Botma (Netherlands).

The players, who were split into three bands, practised enthusiastically throughout the week, attending individual electives and many hours of band rehearsals, in preparation for what turned out to be a marvellous final concert held in Antony Hall, Regensburg, played to a near capacity audience.

Music

Music performed by the bands included ‘A Tameside Overture’, ‘An American Tale’, ‘Vitae Aeternum’ and ‘Diversions on a Bass Theme’. The concert concluded with the Monster Band (all 90+ musicians) joining together in a performance of an arrangement of Elton John`s ‘The Circle of Life’ – complete with singing/chanting in African too!!

Brass banding in Germany is definitely gaining in popularity and at a real paceDave Lea

Unstinting work

Dave Lea (above) told 4BR: "Brass banding in Germany is definitely gaining in popularity and at a real pace, largely due to the unstinting work of Claus Wittman, conductor and leading light of the German brass band scene, and Franz Matysiak, Director of the Bavarian Brass Band Academy (3BA)."

Dave added: "It was a sheer pleasure and privilege to be involved in the development of brass banding in Germany and to witness its progress."