Black Dyke's majestic rendition of 'Pageantry' secured a record twenty-first Yorkshire Area title in the most commanding fashion on Sunday evening in Huddersfield.

As the penultimate chord built in fervent intensity, MD Prof Nicholas Childs held his baton high in both hands in front of his face, before plunging it like a sforzando dagger on the stroke of the final note into the hearts of his rival's title winning aspirations: It was a victory that brokered no argument.

The theatrical metaphor was not lost on an audience who were already acclaiming a performance of immense stature well before that final death knell note rang out; one based on forensic detail, dynamic contrast, sublime soloists and a flowing interpretation of the Howells score. As confirmed by the judge's a little later, it won by a clear margin.

Musically rejuvenated

It also brought the MD level with Major Peter Parkes on 30 Championship Section Area wins — a mark he hopes to surpass in Scotland in next weekend.

He, like his band, seem musically rejuvenated; the challenge of also eclipsing Cory in the major championship winning stakes this year injecting a serum of musical determination into his veins that on this inspired form will make for a mouthwatering battle at the Royal Albert Hall in October.

For the here and now however amid the splendid surroundings of Huddersfield Town Hall, they reigned supreme, after an engrossing contest saw rivals let slip their potential title winning aspirations with performances of widely contrasting styles and interpretations.

It meant that the judges Sandy Smith and Stephen Roberts rewarded those who did not try to re-invent the 'Pageantry' wheel: The impressive interpretive neutrality of Hammonds Saltaire and City of Bradford secured the priceless qualification spots from more robust accounts from Rothwell Temperance and Grimethorpe, whilst pre-qualified Brighouse & Rastrick's power-packed approach saw them fall short in fourth.

Personal inspiration

"I'm thrilled for the players,"Prof Childs told 4BR as he celebrated on stage with his wife Alison and daughter Rebecca (who played with City of Bradford). "This is such an important contest for us as it meets our first ambition of every year.

I just felt it was a magical performance, helped of course by my prize-winning solo duo of Siobhan Bates on horn and Daniel Thomas on euphonium. This was a team victory though — and what a team they are."

The MD also revealed that a very personal musical 'aide-memoire' also helped in his pursuit of that 30th Area title. "I've been using my father's old score of 'Pageantry' from 1977 when he won the Welsh Area on it. He loved the piece and so do I, so to rekindle that connection made this victory extra special."

Quite easily

The judges, who gave exemplary pre-results speeches themselves, agreed; with Sandy Smith and Stephen Roberts later telling 4BR that it was that it was the attention to detail, control of dynamics and tempo and the superb musicality on display that gave the Queensbury band victory.

"It was a contest that fell into place quite easily for us in the box,"Stephen said. "There were two outstanding performances at the top with their overall playing. Then came the next two which were very good and then fifth and sixth.

After that it was much closer, but the winners gave us a wonderful account that brought the musical imagery and narrative of heraldry, death and jousting battles to life."

Sandy agreed: "The top two would have graced any major contest stage with their attention to detail. Third and fourth also stood out, but below that some of the tempo choices, especially in the third movement and some musical issues cost dearly.

We were puzzled with some approaches — especially dynamically. Technique is not just about playing lots of notes, it's about control — and that was missing with many today."

Celebrations

That lack of control may only have been found in the celebrations of the players and supporters of both Hammonds Saltaire and City of Bradford late on Sunday, after they secured their places at the Royal Albert Hall with performances that were hallmarked by control of pace and tempo and solid solo and ensemble contributions.

It marked the first time Hammonds have qualified since the last of the halcyon YBS days of David King in 2007 (helped by the outstanding 'Best Principal Cornet' contribution of Philip Varley), whilst City of Bradford will make their Kensington debuts — just five years since they were competing in the Second Section Area contest.

"I felt we gave a great performance,"Morgan later told 4BR. "I gained some inspiration from an old YBS recording I played on, but the way the band performed today was special itself. It's great to get the band back at the National Finals."

Meanwhile, City of Bradford's success rounded off a remarkable day for MD Lee Skipsey, as earlier he led BD1 Brass to Cheltenham in the Third Section — becoming perhaps the first ever MD at the Yorkshire Area to secure two qualification places in two different contests from consecutive performances — last band on in one section and first band on in the next!

Few eyebrows

Although the announcement of the top-six places did bring a few raised eyebrows in the audience, they also re-confirmed the consistency of the findings of the judge's pre and post results remarks.

The more robust, excitable, but occasionally flawed approaches from the likes of Brighouse & Rastrick, Rothwell Temperance and Grimethorpe therefore fell short, despite finding qualification, if not title winning favour, with many listeners in the hall, whilst rather more dynamically compact renditions from Hepworth and Carlton Main Frickley also found that noticeable fragilities cost them dear.

Behind them came 'Pageantry' portraits of varying quality (although the judges praised each band for giving a 'decent performance') — showing once again that it has lost none of its musical or technical integrity despite its venerable age.

And as for Black Dyke and Prof Nicholas Childs, it also showed that they are revitalised and back to their best as well.

I just felt it was a magical performance, helped of course by my prize-winning solo duo of Siobhan Bates on horn and Daniel Thomas on euphonium. This was a team victory though — and what a team they areProf Nicholas Childs

Results:

Championship Section:

Test Piece: 'Pageantry' (Herbert Howells)
Adjudicators: Stephen Roberts and Sandy Smith

1. Black Dyke (Prof. Nicholas J Childs)*
2. Hammonds Saltaire (Morgan Griffiths)**
3. City of Bradford (Lee Skipsey)**
4. Brighouse & Rastrick (Dr David Thornton)*
5. Rothwell Temperance (David Roberts)
6. Grimethorpe Colliery (Phillip McCann)
7. Carlton Main Frickley Colliery (Erik Janssen)
8. Hepworth (Leigh Baker)
9. Elland Silver (Daniel Brooks)
10. Yorkshire Imperial Urquhart Travel (Russell Gray)
11. Hatfield (Stan Lippeatt)
12. Chapeltown (Andrew Dennis)
13. Strata (Alan Hobbins)

Best Principal Cornet: Philip Varley (Hammonds Saltaire)
Best Soloist: Siobhan Bates (tenor horn) — Black Dyke
Best Instrumentalist: Daniel Thomas (euphonium) — Black Dyke
Youngest Player: Lewis Barton (aged 11) — Elland Silver

* Pre-qualified for the National Final at Royal Albert Hall
** Qualify for the National Final at Royal Albert Hall