We've finally managed to get in touch with our Christmas Quiz winner, who will be getting a late New Year present of some trombone mutes and a selection brass band CDs.
Winner
Colin McHardy of Dundee managed to get all the answers right, with the former Whitburn Band percussionist entering into the festive spirit by donating the trombone mutes to his former band to be used by their youth players.
"I really enjoy the 4BR quizzes, and this year it was a bit of a tester,"he said. "I now concentrate on orchestral playing and will be performing 'Symphonie Fantastique' in a few weeks time.
I still keep an eye on the brass band world and think it's great that my old band is investing in the next generation of young players. I hope the mutes come in handy and I will certainly enjoy the CDs!"
Thanks for everyone who took the time to give it a go — but we only had eight correct answers in over 200 entries.
The answers:
1. Three Kings?
The conductor who won the North American National Championship with Fountain City in 2018?
Answer: David King
Where was the famous King's Hall contest venue to be found?
Answer: Belle Vue, Manchester
In which European country does a band receive the King's Cup every other year as part of winning the National Championship title?
Answer: Norway
2. Which 2018 test-piece contains the name of a vegetable you may find on your Christmas dinner plate?
Answer: A Brussels Requiem (Bert Appermont)
3. Which Philip Wilby test-piece has a Nativity in it?
Answer: ...Dove Descending
4. What links the British Open test-pieces of 1884, 1999 and 2015 to a major test-piece by Norwegian composer Torstein Aagaard-Nilsen performed in 2018?
Answer: Birds (La Gazza Ladra; ...Dove Descending; Reflections on Swan Lake; Dawn Songs of the Fabulous Birds)
5. Names the three Mortimer brothers?
Answer: Harry, Alex and Rex
6. Who was the last band to win the Pontins National title in 2010?
Answer: Marsden Silver
7. Who was the first band to win the All England Masters title in 1989?
Answer: Leyland DAF
8. Who are the only husband and wife to conduct winning bands at the Grand Shield?
Answer: Russell and Mareika Gray
9. In which European city will the 2019 European Championships be held?
Answer: Montreux
10. Which composer wrote a test-piece about King Kong in 2018?
Answer: Paul McGhee
11. What does the musical term sciolto mean?
Answer: 'with freedom'
12. Which famous orchestral overture and brass band test-piece is inspired by the life of a famous 16th century Italian Goldsmith, sculptor, draftsman and painter who also happened to be a murderer, braggart and adventurer?
Answer: Benvenuto Cellini
13. What festive occurrence unfortunately links these musicians: George Michael (2016), Eartha Kitt (2008), James Brown (2006) and Dean Martin (1995)?
Answer: They all died on Christmas Day
14. On what musical instrument would you find a wrest plank?
Answer: Piano
15. Which famous trombonist played the theme tune to children's television series 'The Flumps?
Answer: George Chisholm
16. Which former Black Dyke principal cornet player gave the world premiere of the Ernest Tomlinson 'Cornet Concerto' in 1974 at the Royal Albert Hall?
Answer: Maurice Murphy
17. Whose piano concerto did Eric Morecambe 'perform' in the famous comedy sketch on the 'Morecambe and Wise' show featuring Andre Previn — or 'Andrew Preview' as they called him?
Answer: Edvard Greig
18. What is the compositional link between Edward Gregson, Elgar Howarth, Philip Harper and most recently, Maurice Donnet-Monay, conductor of Brass Band Fribourg at the Swiss National Championships?
Answer: They have all written works for brass bands under a pseudonym
19. Buysine is a medieval word for which musical instrument?
Answer: trumpet
20. In which country would you find the famous National Championship 'Caradog Trophy' on permanent museum display?
Answer: Wales
21. Who are the 'Three Figures' in Herbert Howells' test-piece?
Answer: Samuel Cope, John Henry Iles, William Rimmer
22. How many planets are there is Holst's famous orchestral work?
Answer: 7
23. Who is the 2018 Champion Band of Australia?
Answer: Wellington Brass
24. Who was the 'Lone Wolf' composer Simon Dobson was inspired by?
Answer: Bela Bartok
25. Which pop group wrote the following lyrics in their hit song?
And the public gets what the public wants
But I want nothing this society's got
I'm going underground (going underground)
Well the brass bands play and feet start to pound
Going underground (going underground)
Well let the boys all sing and the boys all shout for tomorrow
Answer: The Jam
