4BR reported that the bands at the forthcoming European Championships would have to find a replica of a 2,000 year old Roman musical instrument called a Carnyx to help them play the test piece, ‘From Ancient Times’ by Jan Van der Roost.

Make do and mend

Having given details of the instrument, the problems sought by bands in trying to get their hands on one from instrument makers and the ‘make do and mend’ results of their own efforts in reproducing one, we thought readers would have seen through it – especially as it was printed on April 1st.

Not so it seems, and we had a couple of phone calls and a few e-mails through from people who wanted to find out more.

Not so it seems, and we had a couple of phone calls and a few e-mails through from people who wanted to find out more4BR

Thanks

Our thanks go to Jan Van der Roost and Tim Oldroyd for helping us and the Whitburn and Tredegar Bands who came up with their made up responses.

As for those of you who fell for it? We will remain professionally discreet about it, but we may be open to the odd bribe of a Stella Artois or two in Belgium come the real contest performances….