Being able to rely on the support and love of a family is certainly important at this present time — especially for community brass bands that thrive on a collective spirit of endeavour and musical interaction.

None more so than the Lydbrook Band that contains no less than 10 couples in its ranks who provide a remarkable link, and not just through their music making.

Wye Valley River Festival

This has been celebrated with the band's latest contribution to the 2020 Wye Valley River Festival, where they have performed regularly over the years.

With the event going online this year due to the Coronavirus pandemic they wanted to mark their contribution with something truly innovative through an application funding from Arts Council England to keep senior and Training Band players engaged with their link to their local community.

We Met in Band

One part of this saw poet Beth Calverley, who in association with Wyldwood Arts wrote a work entitled 'We Met in the Band'. The narration accompanied a photoshoot of the couples and individuals from Lydbrook Band as well as drone footage to showcase the beauty of the River Wye in all its glory.

Members of Lydbrook Training Band added their contribution with a soloist showcase, incorporating video recordings from players aged 4 to 16 years.

River of Time

The senior Lydbrook Band also linked with composer Liz Lane to commission her new composition, 'River of Time'.

Written to form an integral part of the festival, concepts and musical material was generated by players who shared with Liz their perceptions of 'Time' — with particular reference to the last few months.

These were also incorporated within Welsh poet Rhys Trimble's poem and narration on the subject.

Written to form an integral part of the festival, concepts and musical material was generated by players who shared with Liz their perceptions of 'Time' — with particular reference to the last few months4BR

Together

Over half the band's members are partners or live in the same households. The music was written with this in mind, with players performing and recording together.

This was then put together conducted by Ian Holmes — bringing the Lydbrook Band 'family' as one for the virtual performance thanks also to the skills of Lukas Greiwe (audio) from the University of the West of England Computer Science & Creative Technology Department, and Gary Andrews (animation and video) to provide a lasting musical memento of these unprecedented times.

Enjoy

To enjoy:
River of Time
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=juf7KbnIyBs.

We Met in the Band
https://youtu.be/Btmk3gtZKPk