A Grade
Hymn and Test
circa. 530pm
Test: Paganini Variations, Wilby
Adjudicator: Professor David King

At the end of the hymn and test there was no real performance which clearly stood out. The top two bands were quite a way ahead of the rest of the field, each had strengths and weaknesses in different places. Some outstanding solo performances were a highlight. So for us at the half way point?

What do we think?

1. Dalewool
2. Woolston
3. St Kilda
4. Marlborough

8. Marlborough Districts Brass, Kevin Moseley
Hymn: I Know Thou Art Mine, Ballantine
Confident opening. Some intonation issues in the horns. Full sound but not always warm. Nice tubas. Needed a smoother approach.
Test:
Great opening. Stylish euph and flugel work. Band not always together. Tutti cornet statement powerful but clippity. Well played euph and flugel. Quieter moments expose weaknesses and insecurities in intonation and quality of sound. Fine overall balanced band sound in louder tutti sections. Technical clarity not always true.

OS Guest: Rick Casagrande, Eb Bass

7. Dalewool Auckland Brass, Howard Taylor
Hymn: Peace, Kenneth Downie
Smooth and flows nicely. Wonderful euph and flugel sounds. Wanting more depth of sound from tubas. Great choice.
Test:
Tentative opening and cornet sounds don't balance. Moves on well. Beautiful interweaving euphs. Nice soprano sound. V good trombone. Occasional moments when band not together. Controlled and accurate playing. Band works hard to get dynamic contrast. Overall technical command v good. Some great playing — particularly from sop. Maybe overall depth of sound in the louder dynamic left us wanting more.

OS Guests: Mike Kilroy, Euphonium; Adrian Dadds, Percussion

6. The 'Trusts' Waitakere Brass, Steven Booth
Hymn: Deep Harmony arr. Golland
Interesting stage formation.
Arrangement may not do this band any favours. Melody line difficult to distinguish.
Test:
Secure beginning with solid support and lead from Euphonium. Intonation problems creep in and don't want to go away. Band does not always start and finish together. Sop sometimes too strident, sometimes not. Technically shakey in sections. Absolutely glorius euphonium. Band plays its best towards the end.

OS Guest: Ashley Gittins, Euphonium

5. Ascot Park Hotel Brass of Invercargill, Dave Gallagher
Hymn: St Clement arr. Wilby
Lovely opening from Euph. but then...oops. Some insecure intonation and production in the supporting parts. Nice sounds at times. Perhaps a little slow in tempo?
Test:
Safe opening. Generally tempos seem to be a little under. Performance lacks excitment. Some rich tutti sounds at times — concise and neat but not always secure technically. Softer,slower playing well shaped. Well done flugel and sop. This performance gains in strength. Just some inconsistencies in intonation and technical command.

OS guests: Paula Russell, cornet; Kevin Joughin, cornet; Stuart Bent, trombone

At the half way point, Hymn and Test combined, we would place Woolston in front, followed by St Kilda, and then Pelorus.

4. St Kilda Brass, Steve Miles
Hymn: Elegy, Leigh Baker
Some beautiful playing in what we think is a gorgeous piece of music. Some intonation issues. A very tasty performance.
Test:
Opening confident and dynamic. Cornet sounds are not balanced and do spoil what was an otherwise great start. There is much to like about this performance — particularly some of the tutti solo cornet work. Intonation issues upsets some of the quieter work. Tasty soprano.
Percussion to end OTT.

OS Guests: Stephen Wilkinson, Cornet & Mick Donohue, Bb Bass

3. Pelorus Trust Wellington Brass, Dave Bremner
Hymn: Colne, Thomas Rive
Some lovely sounds and flow but not always balanced. Lost melodic line in second verse.
Test:
Some opening insecurities. Neat solo cornet work. Well linking transitions. Best cornet variation so far. Ensemble not always together vertically. Thats better euph — the band needed be more sympathetic though. Gorgeous cornet sounds. Quieter dynamic just isn't quiet enough. Some fine playing in parts but not always consistent. A very calm ending.

2. North Shore Brass, Peter Adams
Hymn: Reflections in Nature, Robert Redhead
Ok sounds to start though balance issues at times — more bass sounds needed. Intonation fine. Overall lacked passion.
Test:
Brisk tempo to start. Secure cornet work. All travelling along nicely. Linking semiquaver passages not always well balanced. Strong cornet section work. Lacks some continuity between sections, and few musically inspiring moments. Nice flugel and horn accomp work. Solos all fine, if somewhat 'safe'. Piece well within capabilities of the band, and the best we have heard this band in some years.

OS Guest: Martin Britt, Soprano

1. Woolston Brass, Graham Hickman
Hymn: Canterbury Chorale (van der Roost)
Secure start but intonation problems creep in. Quite tentative in the softer dynamic. Nice full well balanced sounds in the louder sections with fantastic bass sound as foundation. More flow perhaps.
Test:
Great opening — mostly. Front row cornet intonation a problem. Superb solo trom. Band definitely more settled in the louder dynamic. Room for more sensitivity and space. Good work from soloists. Solid performance with plenty of detail and clarity. Side drum OTT towards end. Definite strength is quality of sound, particularly troms and basses, and technical control in the louder dynamic. Early insecurities and need for more musical space could cost.

OS Guest: Gary MacPhee, Trombone

Tomorrow: 5pm Own Choice and Results