The Cory Band has been crowned 2014 Band Cymru Champion, after being declared winners on a special live programme broadcast by S4C television from the Millennium Centre in Cardiff on Saturday evening.

Winner takes all

Although there was no ‘final play-off’ between semi-final winners Cory, Tredegar, Tongwynlais and Capital City Jazz, to see who would finally pick up the ‘winner takes all’ £10,000 first prize, there was however a chance to see highlights of each performance and catch up on the remarks given at the time by the international panel of adjudicators, Gareth Small, Barry Forgie and Oystein Baadsvik.

Fine margins

With representatives and supporters enjoying a free bar and English language translation, presenters Morgan Jones and Elin Llwyd interviewed players and asked for final thoughts from their own experts, Branwen Gwynn and Geraint Cynan, who felt it would be ‘fine margins’ and ‘whims of the judges’ that decided the destination of ‘a very worthy winner’ of the Band Cymru trophy.

Although Tongwynlais had ‘thoroughly entertained’ and Capital City produced ‘a very mature performance’, they felt it was perhaps a close fight between Tredegar, who had shown that they ‘could do it all’, and Cory, ‘who were incredible’, in the climax to a series they said represented ‘a testament to how good Welsh musicians are’.

Fantastic musicianship

Although the judges were not present for the final programme, their pre-recorded final thoughts told the expectant supporters and listeners at home that it had, in the words of Gareth Small, been, ‘...an extremely difficult journey for the judges. The musicianship has been fantastic.’

That was echoed by Oystein Baadsvik who remarked that the playing had, ‘...really been up there with the best in the world’, and Barry Forgie, who added that it had been very difficult, ‘...trying to balance that music moving you emotionally against ensembles that are technically brilliant.

And then you have to measure creativity within an ensemble as opposed to simply producing the notes on the page.’

Crucially though he added, ‘...but I think we have made the right decision’.

Timpani roll

In the end, accompanied by a timpani roll and a few last minute shots of nervous faces, it was Cory’s performance conducted by Nigel Seaman, of ‘Sound the Bells!’ by John Williams, followed by Kenneth Downie’s arrangement of ‘Myfanwy’ and the ‘Finale’ from the Rachmaninov ‘Piano Concerto No 3’ that took the honours.

Oystein Baadsvik remarked that the playing had, ‘...really been up there with the best in the world’4BR

Exceptional Cory

Adjudicator Gareth Small called it ‘exceptional’, whilst a gracious Nigel Seaman, who admitted to being ‘absolutely delighted and a bit surprised as well’ thanked his band ‘for playing their socks off – literally. I’m glad it came right for them’.

With highly encouraging viewing figures reported by the Welsh language broadcaster, boosted by the repeat showing on the S4C Clic service, the producers hope that Band Cymru, which saw over 50 initial entrants, will be commissioned for a second series in 2015.

View again:

The final programme and all four semi finals can be viewed at:

http://www.s4c.co.uk/clic/e_level2.shtml?programme_id=519870663