Adjudicators for the weekend are Steve Bastable, Barrie Gott, and Kenneth Young.
Day 1, Saturday 25 October, 1.30pm (EST)
The 'Yamaha' Australasian Open Championship
Test: Music for Battle Creek, Philip Sparke
Compere: Peter Younghusband
What do we think?
Only two bands really came to grips with the technical demands of the challenging work. XLCR and Woolston were, we think, in front by quite a distance, with both bands having strengths in different places.
The musicianship and dynamic contrast from XLCR were above those of Woolston, whilst Woolston had perhaps more overall strength and technical command. At the end of the day, we have XLCR just in front by a nose.
All bands, though, made attempts to work within their capabilities in what was a very difficult test.
So at the end of the day our predictions are:
1. XLCR
2. Woolston
3. Warringah
4. Footscray
1. Brisbane Brass, Greg Aitken
circa. 1330hrs
Band takes the opportunity for a 2 minute warm-up on stage.
Prelude and Toccata:
Opening took a little time to establish rhythmical pulse. Cornet and Euph solos well handled. Untidy at times.
Elegy:
Confident solos but lacking in warmth at times. Some intonation lapses. More tranquility needed at 174. Generally more quality in sound needed, especially from the basses.
Rondo Finale:
A conservative tempo but perhaps a well chosen one for this band. Distinction between groups of 5's and 3's not always obvious.
However, this is the best we have heard BB play in some time.
2. Warringah, John Saunders
circa. 1400hrs
Prelude and Toccata:
Good opening with pulse established well in opening bars. Good band sound evident. Cornet/Euph section — some minor intonation discrepancies. Bravo euph. Excellent percussion.
Elegy:
Nice work bari. Tasty euph — well done. Solo link ups not always successful 184. Great sounds at Estatico. Lovely work from glock.
Finale:
Excellent cornets. Bravo trombone. Solo horn does well too. Good tempo that suits. Pity about some loose ensemble at the end.
Overall, a good reading of the score.
3. Brisbane Excelsior, Howard Taylor
circa. 1430hrs
Band takes the opportunity for a 2 minute warm-up on stage.
Prelude and Toccata:
Great opening. A feature was the quality of the detail. Cornet/Euph oozes quality musicianship and atmosphere. Drive, rhythm and pulse ‘aplenty’ at 34. Sometimes, though rhythmic figures compress. So much detail. Trombone section excellent.
Elegy:
So much detail, character and above all – quality musicianship. Quite emotional here in the press box!!
Finale:
Again — clarity and detail aplenty. Perhaps not always in 'the groove' though.
Overall, class top show.
4. Footscray-Yarraville, Phillipa Edwards
circa. 1500hrs
Prelude and Toccato:
More balance required in opening bars. Cornet/Euph start well, not always as 'one' but solo cornet takes charge. Band sounds a little strident at times. More inner score is required. Band a bit top heavy throughout. More dynamic effort required from basses.
Elegy:
Good confident baritone. Warmer sounds needed here. More musical shape required in linking solos 184. Basses must really work harder to support the top of the score.
Finale:
Best 'feel' so far — really in the groove. Pretty good effort trom and horn. Bravo cornets — but you need more mates lower in the score. Some excellent detailed work in this movement.
A credible performance of a difficult work.
Just over half way now, so far for us:
1. XLCR
2. Warringah
3. Footscray
4. Brisbane Brass
5. The 'Trusts' Waitakere Brass, Steven Booth
circa.
Band takes the opportunity for a 2 minute warm-up on stage.
Prelude and Toccata:
Takes a few bars for pulse to be established. Detail and subdivision not always clear. Cornet/Euph nervous start and not always secure. Cornet not your day. Sometimes sonority lost through overblowing and agressive character. Although playing soft at 100, this exposes lack of quality in semiquavers.
Interlude — intonation?
Elegy:
Nice effect timpani! Good declamatory style by baritone. Euph lacked some warmth in tone. Another band who were light on in bass sound at Estatico.
Finale:
Starts well. Excellent timpani! Although the tempo was close to the mark it did provide some challenges in terms of clarity and detail.
Some obvious quality in the ensemble.
6. St Mary's Band Club, Paul Terracini
circa. 1610hrs
Band takes the opportunity for a 2 minute warm-up on stage.
Prelude and Toccata:
A careful subdued start. No big sounds here yet. Cornet/euph, although played reasonably well together, quality tone production and expression lacking. Some prominent detailed horn work evident.
Elegy:
Baritone a little nervous perhaps. Nice trombone. Bell beater may be too hard in context with this character and atmosphere. Euph impresses as does horn and flugel in tranquillo. Estatico well shaped and directed — very musically phrasing here.
Finale:
Good start. Super trombone and horn. Although the detail is good, the gear stick is in low. Ahhh yes — better at 369. The bands best playing in this movement.
Well interpreted and obvious work in progress here.
7. Woolston Brass, Graham Hickman
circa. 1635hrs
Band takes the opportunity for a 2 minute warm-up on stage.
Prelude and Toccato:
Cornets don't always link up in opening bars. Great band sound carried over from the warm up. Euph/cornet very well prepared, perhaps a bit more euph in the 'mix' playing an equal role in commanding the lines. Great character, style and rhythmic pulse evident. Strongest corporate balance heard today. Lovely soft bass sounds at 100. Very well crafted throughout.
Elegy:
Superlative sound trombone! Tranquillo: Euph plays with much expression — good use of vibrato too. Horn has a moment and almost creates a domino effect. Not always as secure down to Luminoso. Super sop sounds at Estatico — maybe due to the earlier tacet at 194.
Finale:
Yes! Great rhythmic pulse and feel. Accents sought out and placed. Quite square. Great trombone — classy. Horn and flugel detailed though sounds don't match well. Great display of technical proficiency — thrilling stuff.
Wondering if insecurites and slight lack of emotion in the Elegy may cost.
