It may have been an imaginary musical trip to the ballet facing the challengers in the First Section, but it was the harsh realities of brass banding basics rather than an esoteric appreciation of the differences between an arrondi and an arabesque that separated the best from the rest at the announcement of the results.

It was also a point emphasised with clarity by the adjudicators: Alan Morrison (joined by John Maines) ensuring that the audience, consisting of listeners, players and conductors alike, were left in no doubt that was the case.

Imagination

"It is ('Ballet for Band') a delight to listen to and work on — a fabulous piece of music,"he said. "There is so much in it to look for. Joseph Horovitz asks for imagination, but before that we have to get the basics of playing right. Balance is a major factor from the word go."

He added: "A couple stood out from the pack. There was a group in the middle where consistency cost them — and we had a bit of a juggling act with sorting them out."

The couple in question were West of England Area champion St Dennis and North-West winners Vernon Building Society Poynton, whilst the group of increasingly inconsistent challengers was led home by third placed Aveley & Newham. The top-six was completed by Blidworth Welfare, Ebbw Valley and Jackfield Elcock Reisen.

Aggressive style

John and Alan later told 4BR that at times is had been disappointing to hear so many bands play in such an aggressive style — perhaps contributing to the surprisingly high number of unforced errors and careless mistakes.

More tellingly though, and at a time when there is a growing debate about the musical direction taken with modern test-pieces, Alan made sure that the Kapitol Music Panel (including John Maines) was praised for a fine choice of a work that despite its age (written in 1983) had lost none of its refinement, elegance and ability to scythe the legs off unwary bands and MDs.

Musicality

St Dennis certainly gave the judges the type of balance they were looking for between imaginative musicality and technical proficiency just before the mid-point break as they claimed the title in engaging, balletic fashion.

Directed with fluency and understanding by their talented MD Darren Hawken, it was a 'Ballet' of tasteful discernment and gracefulness; a performance that had just the right 'style' they were looking for, especially from their remarkable 15 year old flugel player Ellie Joy, who, after the results, they made a very specific point of congratulating for her contribution.

'Some blips and blops but it has character, yet it is reserved — just letting go just at the right time time,' Alan wrote in his remarks before concluding with; 'Fine musical direction. Super playing here, with a masterful reading that brought the music to life and painted so many pictures. Well done.'

John was equally as impressed in his concise summing up: 'Overall a fine performance that captured the spirit of the music.'

Those key elements made the difference as many rivals failed to give due care to even the opening octave leap, whilst the subtle dynamic variances and tempo graduations that followed were also all too often careless portrayed and over emphasised.

Blown away

"I'm blown away,"a rather shell shocked MD said as he held the National Trophy in a very warm embrace. "We are developing the band for the long term and want to keep making the right steps in the right direction. The players are brilliant, the organisation is great and the atmosphere and friendship is something special."

What was also good to hear was that Darren also thought that the band had benefitted greatly from being relegated from the Championship Section in 2015, as it had given them the time to put in place those long term foundations for future success.

"It became an ideal opportunity,"he said. "Instead of struggling and finding contesting hard we were able to develop our younger players and give them opportunities, keep the experienced players and work together, enjoying our banding."

Terrific young conductor

It was also point taken up by Contest Secretary Rob Hammett and life-long supporter and former player Rodney Richards, who played soprano with the band in the halcyon top flight days of the great Eddie Williams.

"Bands shouldn't be disappointed if they are relegated,"Rob said. "We saw it as the ideal opportunity to build with a terrific young conductor and develop our own players. This win is the end result."

Meanwhile Rodney added: "St Dennis is a proud Cornish community band. We have had our ups and downs over our history, but this is certainly one of the best 'ups' I can remember."

VBS on the up

Another band certainly on the up is Vernon Building Society Poynton under Neil Samuel. They produced a bold, mature rendition, perhaps more inclined towards contemporary dance than 'Ballet Blanc' in places with its vivid excitement, to deservedly claim second place as the penultimate band of the day.

"The top two did produce two contrasting accounts,"John Maines later told 4BR. "There was little to chose between them, but the winners just had that extra bit of refinement we were looking for."

It was a fine rendition, aided by a series of high-quality solo contributions that were headed by the outstanding 'Best Instrumentalist' award winner Anne Britt Hermanen, the principal cornet of Manger Musikklag in Norway who flew over to help the band for the contest.

Early pace

The early contest pace was set by a determined Jackfield Elcock Reisen off the number 3 draw, with a performance that more than held its own to eventually come sixth, whilst Aveley & Newham raised the bar immediately after them under the direction of Rob Nunnery.

Theirs was a rendition did have its moments of unease, but with principal cornet Bob Osbourne showing his classy experience it gave the judges the marker that all but two others failed to better — including Rainford, immediately after them.

Their more compact, controlled approach certainly found favour with many in the hall, but on this occasion it proved to be one of those days when it just didn't resonate with the two men that counted most in the box. Ninth did seem a little harsh though.

Inconsistencies

With St Dennis leading the field by some margin as John and Alan came back from a rather extended mid-point break, the second half rather meandered to its conclusion with a series of performances bedevilled by inconsistencies, unforced errors and nerves.

Bedworth Brass, Brunel (on MD John Winterflood's final appearance) and Lockwood completed the top-ten — with all knowing where they had and had not managed to make a mark.

Blidworth Welfare under Martin Heartfield finally gave the judges something to think as their effectively styled account saw them claim a merited fourth place, whilst Ebbw Valley couldn't quite create history in search of what would have been an unprecedented fourth successive National title.

Despite flugel horn Jeff Thomas recalling memories of the day he won the National at the Albert Hall on this piece way back in 1983 with Cory, it wasn't going to be enough as a high minor error count robbed them of a chance of glory as they ended fifth.

Big Mac

2016 glory deservedly belonged to St Dennis though, as a fine community band led by an inspirational young conductor produced a performance worthy of a curtain call or two at Covent Garden in London let alone The Centaur auditorium in Cheltenham.

Even the waif-like ballerinas there would have been jealous of the post-performance ensemble celebrations — as the MD took his players for a celebratory meal — with Big Macs and fries at MacDonald's.

We are developing the band for the long term and want to keep making the right steps in the right direction. The players are brilliant, the organisation is great and the atmosphere and friendship is something specialMD, Darren Hawken

Results:

Test Piece: 'Ballet for Band' — Joseph Horovitz
Adjudicators: John Maines and Alan Morrison

1. St Dennis (Darren Hawken)
2. Vernon Building Society Poynton (Neil Samuel)
3. Aveley & Newham (Robert Nunnery)
4. Blidworth Welfare (Martin Heartfield)
5. Ebbw Valley (Gareth Ritter)
6. Jackfield Elcock Reisen (Simon Platford)
7. Bedworth (David Maplestone)
8. Brunel (John Winterflood)
9. Rainford (Gareth Brindle)
10. Lockwood Brass (John Roberts)
11. City of Cardiff (Mellingriffith) (Nigel Seaman)
12. Hatfield (Stan Lippeatt)
13. Bo'ness & Carriden (Charlie Farren)
14. Chapeltown Silver (Andrew Davies)
15. Tullis Russell Mills (Paul Kiernan)
16. Ripon City (Martin Hall)
17. Northfleet Brass (Melvin White)

Best Instrumentalist: Anne Britt Hermanen (Principal Cornet) — Vernon Building Society Poynton