The All-England Masters International Championship may have changed both its title and venue over the last few years, but an enjoyable constant has been the recorded highlights of the contest and Gala Concert.

Recall

With its 23rd edition, the latest Master Brass release from 2012 provides the opportunity to recall the contest winning performance of ‘Comedy Overture’ by Tredegar, and the joint  evening concert offerings from Ian Porthouse and his band as reigning champion and Carlton Main Frickley directed by Michael Fowles.

Excellent engineering

Engineers Richard and Stephen Scott have done an excellent job in bringing out the clarity and detail from the deadened stage acoustic at The Lighthouse Theatre in Kettering.

Even though the auditorium wasn’t packed to the rafters for either event, they also manage to bring a sense of appreciative audience atmosphere too.

Commanding Comedy

Tredegar arrived at the contest as defending champion and made the return journey home to South Wales having retained their title with a commanding performance of ‘Comedy’.

John Ireland’s work was certainly a test of musical character for the competing bands on the day, and the judges did have to wait a while before Tredegar took to the stage to stamp their authority on proceedings with a detailed, precise rendition, that also captured the light wit of the writing well.

Relaxed

With the title already in the bag, they are in relaxed concert mode later the same evening, with a bold ‘Olympic, Fanfare & Theme' (the London Games were just around the corner) leading into a nicely judged account of 'Poet & Peasant'.

Principal euphonium, Buzz Newton gave a tasty reminder of what the New Zealand banding public is now enjoying on his return to his homeland in Wilby's 'Greek Dance', whilst there is real warmth to the timbre in 'The Lost Chord' which compliments the pacy sharpness of Saint-Saens 'Bacchanale'.
 
Poor proof

Not as so sharp though was the proof reading by Studio Music before publication, with the excellent Dewi Griffiths delivering a belter on 'People' on trumpet – and certainly not the trombone, as indicated on two occasions on the sparse and very poorly produced accompanying booklet. 

Enjoyable

Carlton Main Frickley under Michael Fowles brought the day's proceedings to a close with an enjoyable set that catered for the lightweight entertainment palette.

'Barber of Seville' is given a fleet footed reading, whilst Percy Grainger's 'Shepherds Hey' sits delightfully on the ear.  

Good form

The Yorkshire band's three soloists were also on good form.  

Toni Durrant dusts off the old classic, 'La Belle Americaine' with ease on euphonium, whilst Heather Law portrays the beauty of 'Donegal Bay' with a real sense of lyricism on baritone.

Principal cornet, Kirsty Abbotts provides yet another reminder of why she remains one of the finest exponents of her instrument with a beautiful rendition of the 'Meditation' from 'Thais'.

To close, Peter Graham's 'Call of the Cossacks' has a hint of tiredness  - but given that it was played at the end of a pretty long and hot day, that was understandable in the circumstances.

Malcolm Wood

Contents

1. Olympic Fanfare and Theme, John Williams, arr. Darrol Barry, Tredegar Town Band, 3.26
2. The Barber of Seville, Gioacchino Rossini, arr. Hawkins, Carlton Main Frickley Colliery Band, 7.15
3. Greek Dance, Philip Wilby, Buzz Newton (Euphonium) with Tredegar Town Band, 2.37
4. The Lost Chord, Arthur Sullivan, arr. Gordon Langford, Tredegar Town Band, 3.43
5. La Belle Americaine, John Hartmann, Toni Durrant (Euphonium) with Carlton Main Frickley Colliery Band, 7.14
6. Comedy Overture, John Ireland,Tredegar Town Band winning performance, 11.18
7. People, Stanley Black, arr. Alan Catherall, Dewi Griffiths (Cornet) with Tredegar Town Band, 4.16
8. Shepherd's Hey, Percy Grainger, arr. Denis Wright, Carlton Main Frickley Colliery Band, 2.06
9. Poet and Peasant, Franz von Suppe, arr. Hawkins, Tredegar Town Band, 9.08
10. Donegal Bay, Paul Lovatt-Cooper, Carlton Main Frickley Colliery Band, 4.22
11. Bacchanale, Camille Saint-Saëns, arr. Keith Wilkinson, Tredegar Town Band, 2.47
12. Meditation from Thais, Jules Massenet, arr. Alan Fernie, Kirsty Abbotts (Cornet) with Carlton Main Frickley Colliery Band, 6.00
13. Call of the Cossacks, Peter Graham, Carlton Main Frickley Colliery Band, 10.14