frank’s 25 years of festive fun · issue no. 5592 – 19 december 2009 price £1.25 frank’s 25...

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Issue no. 5592 – 19 December 2009

Price £1.25

Frank’s 25 years of festive fun

Packed RAH thrilled by the sound of brass

BB 1.indd 1 15-12-2009 16:47:01

BRITISH BANDSMAN PAGE 2

6. Candlelight Carol ............... Rutter, arr. Chris Mallett7. I Saw Three Ships ....................... arr. Judith Hayes8. The Babe in a Manger .................... arr. Chris Mallett9. Sleigh Ride (Glenn Miller style) ...... arr. Philip Harper

10. Troika (A Midnight Sleigh Ride) .......... arr. Ray Farr

Transcriptions1. Light Cavalry ....................... Suppe, arr. Greenwood2. Nabucodonosor ........................................ Verdi3. William Tell .................. Rossini, arr. George Hawkins4. Les Preludes ................... Liszt, arr. William Rimmer5. Hungarian Rhapsody No. 2 .... Liszt, arr. Drake Rimmer6. L’Italiana in Algiers ................................ Rossini7. Poet and Peasant ............. Suppe, arr. George Hawkins8. Royal Fireworks .................... Handel, arr. D. Wright9. Farandole (L’Arlesienne) ........... Bizet, arr. D. Rimmer

10. The Magic Flute ................... Mozart, arr. W. Rimmer

Light Concert Items1. Donegal Bay ........................... Paul Lovatt-Cooper2. Faith .................... George Micheal, arr. Philip Harper3. Don’t Stop Me Now ... Freddie Mercury, arr. Philip Harper4. Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go ...... arr. Philip Harper5. A Hebridean Lullaby ...................... Philip Harper7. Fat-Bottomed Girls ....... Brian May, arr. Philip Harper8. Salsa Pa’Gozar ............................. Philip Harper9. Copacabana ............ Barry Manilow, arr. Philip Harper

10. Softly Softly .................... Bridget Fry, arr. Ray Farr11. Recado Bossa Nova (The Gift) ... Ferreira, arr. Ray Farr12. Hawaii Five-O ............ Mort Stevens, arr. Philip Harper13. Riverdance ......................... Whelan, arr. Ray Farr14. Salsa Tres’Prado ........................... Philip Harper15. (It’s Just) Talk .............. Patrick Methany, arr. Ray Farr16. The Muppet Show ........ Jim Henson, arr. Philip Harper17. Battle of the Planets ........... Curtin, arr. Philip Harper18. A Gaelic Blessing ................. Rutter, arr. Darrol Barry19. The Incredibles ............ Giacchinno, arr. Philip Harper20. The Circle of Life .......... Elton John, arr. Philip Harper

Marches1. Slaidburn ................................ William Rimmer2. The Champions ........................... G. H. Wilcocks3. Punchinello .............................. William Rimmer4. The Contestor ................................. T. J. Powell5. Castle Coch ..................................... T. J. Powell6. The Cossack ............................. William Rimmer7. Cross of Honour ........................ William Rimmer8. Castle Caerphilly ............................... T. J. Powell9. True and Trusty ......................... J. A. Greenwood

10. The Australasian ....................... William Rimmer

Christmas Items1. Yule Dance ............................. arr. Philip Harper2. Little Drummer Boy .................. arr. Philip Harper3. Frosty the Snowman ................... arr. Sandy Smith4. Little Drummer Boy .................. arr. Philip Harper5. A Christmas Dream ................ arr. Derek Broadbent

Original Works1. Lionheart ......................... Philip Harper2. A Gallimaufry Suite ............ Philip Harper3. A Slaidburn Festival ........ Beverly Ann Stoll4. A Celebration of Youth ........ Philip Harper5. Beyond the Tamar .............. Philip Harper6. Festival Suite ...................... Clive Bright7. London River Overture ......... Reginald Heath8. Cornish Festival Overture ............. Eric Ball

Solos With Piano1. The Acrobat .................... John Greenwood2. Grandfather’s Clock ........... George Doughty3. Rule Britannia .................. John Hartmann4. Weiderkehr ...................... John Hartmann5. The Ash Grove ........................ H. Round6. Silver Threads Among the Gold .... W. Rimmer7. Jenny Jones ..................... William Rimmer8. Weber’s Last Waltz ............. William Rimmer

Solos With Band1. Donegal Bay (bari) ....... Paul Lovatt-Cooper2. A Hebridean Lullaby (bari) ... Philip Harper3. Grandfather’s Clock (euph) .... G. Doughty4. The Acrobat (trom) .......... John Greenwood5. Cappricio Brillante (hrn) Belstedt, arr. Smith6. Rule Britannia (cnt/euph) ... John Hartmann7. Hailstorm (cnt) ............... William Rimmer8. Beneath the Willows (flugel) ..... Philip Harper

Books, Albums & Tutors1. The Extended 120 Hymns for Wind Band2. The Extended 120 Hymns for Brass Band3. Starting Out Book 1 (A beginner’s tutor)4. Starting Out Book 2 (The next step)5. The Complete Method6. Soloist’s Companion Vol. 37. Soloist’s Companion Vol. 28. Soloist’s Companion Vol. 1

The top 5 full band sets(all categories)1. Donegal Bay .................. Paul Lovatt-Cooper2. Faith ..............................arr. Philip Harper3. Don’t Stop Me Now .............arr. Philip Harper4. Wake Me Up ............... .......arr. Philip Harper5. Yule Dance ....................... arr. Philp Harper

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BB 2-3.indd 2 15-12-2009 16:43:32


NEWS

The Christmas journeyI’ve come to see Christmas in a different light

this year. In the past, I would typically reflect

on it as a time of celebration, a time for family,

a time of peace…but this year, I’ve been

prompted from a number of different sources

to see Christmas as the start of a journey.

Journeying is part of the Christmas story –

Mary and Joseph travelling to Bethlehem to

be registered in order to pay their taxes, the

wise men and shepherds faithfully setting

out on their long journey, following the star

to Bethlehem to witness the arrival of a very

special baby. And with the birth of that baby,

the world changed. With his humble arrival into

this world, the baby Jesus set out on a journey

that would change the world forever, and what

might have seemed the end of the journey

for his life on earth – his death on the cross –

became the start of a journey for mankind.

In life, we each travel our own personal

journey, our hopes and aspirations being

entirely personal to each one of us. We are

bound in that journey variously by family,

friends, loved ones, social circles, religious

belief and, of course, for us, banding. As we

look to the new year, all bandspeople set out

on a journey of their own – aspiring towards

excellent concert performances, contesting

success, stirring the souls of audiences or,

in some cases, simply surviving for another

year. The banding journey can be a tough

one, requiring commitment, teamwork,

expense and, at times, sheer perseverance.

We sometimes allow ourselves to get a

little lost on the journey – we see too often

the destruction that can come about from

personal interests being placed above those

of the band, the desire to win at all costs

being placed above the joy of competition,

and sometimes the damaging lack of personal

trust in those who organise or judge our

all-important contests. These are but a few

examples of the ‘cul de sacs’ in which we

can find ourselves during the course of our

banding journey.

Christmas was the start of a world-changing

journey for a baby named Jesus – our banding

journey will not be quite so world-changing,

but individually and corporately we can still

impact the world around us. Let’s make sure

that impact is positive.

The best wishes of all of us at British

Bandsman are extended to you this Christmas

and, as you look forward to banding in 2010,

our hope is that you will enjoy the journey.

Trevor Caffull

Silver anniversary for Renton and the ‘Stars’Frank Renton’s Concert Brass was centre-stage at the Royal Albert Hall last Thursday

(10th) for the TV Times Christmas Carols with the Stars event, which raised over £150,000

for Leukaemia Research, the 25th successive year that the doyen of brass band

broadcasting has hosted the sell-out event.

With the line-up of the band featuring leading players from around the UK, including

Martin Britt (soprano), Gary Wyatt (principal cornet), Alan Wardrope (horn), John Storey

(euphonium) and Philip Trudgeon (percussion), the programme featured mainly seasonal

fare, but the musical highlight of the night was former Grimethorpe Colliery flugel star,

Mark Walters, who gave a performance of Rodrigo’s Concierto de Aranjuez that had the

entire audience enraptured. The Fanfare Trumpeters of HM Coldstream Guards were also

featured in the programme, which concluded with Tony Audenshaw and White Van Man

joining the assembled cast in an extravagant performance of The 12 Days of Christmas.

Since the first presentation in 1985, Christmas Carols with the Stars has raised well over

£2,000,000 for the leukaemia charity, while literally hundreds of stars from stage and

screen have appeared in the annual jamboree. Speaking to BB earlier this week, Frank

Renton commented: “We hoped that the 25th show would be a special one, and so it

has turned out to be. I’ve been inundated with calls and emails from people who have

commented that it was possibly the most enjoyable one yet, but there’s something

extraordinary about performing to a packed audience in a great venue for such a good

cause, and to do it in the company of such great performers is even better.”

Next year’s Christmas Carols with the Stars will be held at the Royal Albert Hall on 9

December. Picture (including front cover): White Van Man

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BB 2-3.indd 3 15-12-2009 16:43:49


PRODUCT NEWS

The Perfect Mouthpiece?by Dr. Roger Webster

Q: What is the perfect mouthpiece for me?A: One that helps me get to my musical destination, or at least well on my journey, with the most ease.

Many mouthpieces can, at least in the ‘honeymoon period’, make

high notes easier, or give a fuller sound, but what is really needed is a

mouthpiece that helps you find your ideal sound without sacrificing

range, production, projection and comfort.

Having been part of the original design team for the Alliance Products

range of mouthpieces, I can honestly say that they have exceeded my

every expectation. From my early testing (performing on flugel at the

BBC Proms in Mussorgsky’s Pictures at an Exhibition and in winning

performances at the National Brass Band Championships, or playing solos

on trumpet - all performed with prototypes), the mouthpieces were up to,

and beyond, my every expectation. The feedback both from amateur and

professional players is also outstanding; from our tuba mouthpieces to

our piccolo trumpet ones, the results come back the same – ‘superb!’

The technological advancements made in engineering and acoustic

design enable us to examine competitors’ mouthpiece characteristics and

remove design flaws – effectively making any existing ‘industry standard’

mouthpieces better. They also provide increased comfort, enabling

better stamina, better projection, clearer and warmer sound, crystal-clear

articulation, enhanced range capabilities… the list goes on and on.

In product design,

it is sometimes

difficult to

gauge fact from

sycophantic

comments

(especially if you

are paying for the

testing), which is

why at Alliance, all

of the mouthpiece

tests were carried

out by professionals

and amateurs without remuneration, ensuring honest unbiased feedback.

Our constant commitment to research and development mean that these

comments are not only encouraging, but also immensely helpful. Our

range of orthodontic approved mouthpieces (for people using dental

braces) is just entering the production stage, and will undoubtedly make

a big impact worldwide. This is just one new example of product research

and development initiated by customer needs (thanks Hayley!).

There is room in the market for many manufacturers of quality products,

so chose wisely, ask, try and listen… there is ‘the’ one for you waiting out

there.

BB 4-5.indd 4 15-12-2009 16:46:03

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NEWS

Doubts over brass repertoire at BASCA AwardsRoy Terry reports from the British

Composer Awards

Organised by the British Academy of

Songwriters, Composers and Authors, the

2009 British Composers Awards ceremony

was recently held in the splendid hall of the

Law Society.

A number of the nominees and winners

had featured in previous years, including

Sir Harrison Birtwistle, Sir John Tavener,

Alexander Goehr, Mark-Anthony Turnage

and Judith Bingham. However, the

chairman, Sarah Rodgers, pointed out

that the nominations of newcomers were

equally significant because they showed

the emergence of new composing talent.

Among these were Simon Dobson,

nominated for Penlee.

Prior to presenting the awards, Sir Nicholas

Kenyon expressed the view that new

composers were flourishing in the last

20 years as never before, despite the

challenge of finding an individual voice.

Whereas Brahms only had to contend with

the shadow of Beethoven, today’s young

composers have a much wider range of

composers ‘breathing down their necks’.

The Academy is clearly committed to

celebrating diversity, hence the thirteen

categories in fields as various as education

projects, sonic art, and, for the first time this

year, contemporary jazz – won by Jason

Yarde. Since the Academy is committed to

fostering composition in neglected areas

it’s strange that wind and brass bands are

thrown together in one category. Inevitably

there were fewer nominations here, 15

in all, although it has not been possible

to ascertain how many were specifically

for brass band. The Wind Band or Brass

Band category was won by Adam Gorb for

Farewell, the judges commenting that the

winning piece is a ‘highly original work,

beautifully scored, brave and epic.’ The

climax of the piece they describe as ‘aurally

devastating’. In conclusion, ‘The winning

work is in a class of its own, crafted by a true

master of the genre.’

Discussion with one of the organisers

showed that there is a strongly held view

that too much current writing for brass

band is ‘musical carpentry’ produced to

order to meet the too rigid requirements

of contest organisers. The obligatory

acrobatic cadenzas were quoted as a

particular problem. Given such demands,

maintaining compositional integrity can be

highly problematic. Another consequence

of the contest stranglehold is that a vast

gulf is opening up separating the very

best bands from the rest. The occasional

virtuoso work aside, much orchestral

music is as accessible to decent amateur

orchestras as it is to professionals. When

every player is expected to play at virtuoso

level, the strength of the brass band as

an essentially ‘mixed ability’ ensemble is

being seriously eroded. Yet repertoire now

regarded as technically within the reach

of Lower Section bands can still prove

musically challenging for ‘elite’ bands. In

a recent interview, the renowned French

pianist, Aldo Ciccolini, questioned about the

technical difficulties of some piano music

said that a composition isn’t a masterpiece

because it’s difficult to play: it’s difficult to

play because it’s a masterpiece.

As has been the case with many of the more

substantial brass band works in the last few

decades, Simon Dobson’s Penlee was the

result of a commission, not from contest

organisers but from a youth band.

The national amateur music body, Making

Music, sponsors an award with nominations

being selected from music produced

through its ‘Adopt a Composer’ scheme.

The scheme funds amateur music groups to

collaborate with a composer who produces

a ‘tailor-made’ piece for them. Not only does

this replenish the range of work available to

amateurs, it also enables amateur musicians

to gain first-hand insight into the process

of composing. Perhaps more brass bands

should join Making Music to try to take

advantage of such a creative initiative.

Change of Adjudicator at YorkshireThe organisers of the Yorkshire Regional

Championships have announced that there

has been a change of adjudicators from

those previously announced. Dr. James

Gourlay has withdrawn from adjudicating

the 1st Section, and Kevin Wadsworth has

moved from adjudicating the 4th Section

and will now judge the 1st Section with

Lynda Nicholson.

Philip Sparke has been appointed to replace

Kevin Wadsworth and will judge the 4th

Section with Steve Pritchard-Jones.

The Yorkshire Regional Committee has also

announced the continuation of the Youth

Adjudication Panel, to encourage young

people’s interest in adjudicating, supported

by British Bandsman and 4barsrest. The

young people will adjudicate the 4th Section

and Philip Sparke and Steve Pritchard-Jones

will support this initiative by speaking to

the youth panel prior to their adjudicating

duties. Further information on this initiative

will appear in January.

On a separate matter, Regional Secretary,

Peggy Tomlinson, commented: “To help

alleviate health and safety issues raised

by management at St. George’s Hall,

allocated seating only was introduced

for the 2009 Championship Section at

Yorkshire. After positive feedback from both

management and audience, this system will

continue for the 2010 Yorkshire Regional

Championships.”

Ticket prices remain the same (£6.00) and

will be available from St. George’s Hall

Box Office on 01294 432000 or via www.

bradford-theatres.co.uk from Monday 4

January 2010. Updated information on the

Yorkshire Brass Band Championships is

available from www.regional-contest.org.uk/

yorkshire Philip Sparke

BB 4-5.indd 5 15-12-2009 16:46:14

FEATURE

Taking coals by Kenneth Crookston

One of the most encouraging aspects of world

banding in the past ten years is the increasing

frequency with which bands from other

continents have visited these shores. High-

profile visits by Brisbane Excelsior, Woolston

and Dalewool Auckland from Australasia and

the brass bands of Illinois, Central Florida

and Fountain City (FCBB) from the USA have

all made their own mark on the contesting

scene in the UK, laudably encouraged by the

organisers of the British Open, All-England

Masters International and Brass in Concert

championships, and it is to be hoped that the

trend will continue in the decade about to start.

Although Michael J. Garasi and his Brass

Band of Central Florida made a major impact

at the 2006 Brass in Concert Championship

by finishing in fourth place and taking

the entertainment award, none of the

aforementioned fine bands actually managed

to head home with a top prize – until now.

History records the victories at Belle Vue by

Newcastle Steel Works of Australia in 1924

and the National Band of New Zealand in

1953, and although very few readers of BB

will remember these occasions clearly, both

of these groups comprised many of the finest

players from Commonwealth countries in

which there was already a strong brass banding

culture. The victory, however, of Fountain City,

a band formed only in 2002 in a part of the

USA with little or no British banding influence,

at the Scottish Open last month represents

the not-so-thin end of a very big wedge, as

the leading overseas bands start to join our

continental cousins of Eikanger-Bjørsvik and

Brass Band Willebroek in claiming major scalps

and demonstrating that the rest of the world is

getting better at this much quicker than we are.

Even after time for reflection, Fountain City’s

win at Perth was of the resounding variety,

beating an on-form Pemberton Old by a

crushing three points, but perhaps more

significantly, leaving in its wake the three

Scottish bands that have all been multiple

prize-winners at the British Open over the past

decade – Whitburn, Co-operative FuneralCare

and Kirkintilloch – all on their own patch too.

This is no mean achievement in itself, but

Fountain City has also made a deep impression

on concert audiences the length and breadth of

these islands, something that is in no small way

down to the vision and artistry of the band’s

Musical Director, Dr. Joe Parisi, who made the

following comment to BB when asked about

the success of the band’s recent UK tour.

“The hospitality and warm reception by

everyone we met in the UK was terrific,” he

began, adding, “Among the highlights for us

were sharing concerts with the Govan Salvation

Army Choir and the Boscombe Salvation Army

Band, having tea and cakes with the mayors of

Gateshead and Banbury, meeting Lord Foster

of Bishop Auckland at The Sage Gateshead,

who invited FCBB to the Houses of Parliament

on our next visit (and gave me his mobile

number!), the Morley Town Hall recording

session, meeting John Miller at the Royal

Northern College of Music and having a clinic

with Garry Cutt, spending our Thanksgiving

in Peckforton Castle and performing Highland

Cathedral with the Fair City Singers at the

Scottish Open Gala. However, watching the

band grow over the two weeks was something


BB 6-7.indd 6 15-12-2009 16:42:37

FEATURE

to Newcastle

special, and I have no other description for our

trip than ‘surreal’.”

We understand that Fountain City Brass Band

is still in negotiations for a possible follow-up

tour in 2010, although undertaking such a

major project two years in succession is sure

to present many difficulties for any amateur

organisation. However, the organisers of both

Brass in Concert and the Scottish Open will

undoubtedly welcome these fine musicians

with open arms if they do decide to return

here (both events being on the same weekend

next year will make for a challenging few days

in anyone’s terms, but one imagines that that

minor detail wouldn’t stop Fountain City).

Those of us who had the privilege of meeting

and listening to Fountain City Brass Band will

look back in the years ahead at that fortnight in

November 2009 with fond memories. Perhaps

some of us might even use it as yet another

excuse to get the instrument out and practise

a bit more often. To those who didn’t get a

chance to witness it, don’t make the same

mistake the next time this remarkable group

flies over here, but let’s all hope that it is soon.

Fountain City Brass Band, North American and US Open Champion for the past three

years, recently undertook a tour of the UK. Sandwiched between its appearances at the

Brass in Concert Championship and the Scottish Open, a joint festival with Boscombe

Salvation Army Band on Friday 20 November proved how one group of players,

motivated by its spiritual base, can effectively unite with another group with different

reasons for performing, and still make an impact. In both individual and massed playing,

the two bands produced music of superb quality.

Under the leadership of Bandmaster Dr. Howard Evans, Boscombe’s short programme

was intentionally geared towards portraying the essential role of a Salvation Army band.

The programme opened in traditional style with a march written by the doyen of all

march composers, John Philip Sousa (arranged by Ray Steadman-Allen) which Sousa

dedicated to, and titled simply, The Salvation Army. This was followed by meditative

music, an arrangement of the Welsh tune, Myfanwy, by Kenneth Downie, and an Erik

Leidzén classic, The Call, interspersed with prayer. In contrast to the controlled and

soulful playing required by this music, Boscombe Band concluded with a spirited

performance of Paul Lovatt-Cooper’s Vitae Aeternum.

Much of the music played by Fountain City was arranged by the band’s young solo

euphonium player, Lee Harrelson, including the opening number, music from The Limpid

Stream by Shostakovich. The band’s conductor, Dr. Joe Parisi, explained how, by listening

to Brighouse and Rastrick Band playing a march at the Whit Friday contests a couple of

years back, he has tried to perfect the art. The band then proceeded to give a stirring

performance of Charles Anderson’s ORB (Oldham Rifle Brigade). From somewhere on the

3rd cornet bench, Raquel Rodriguez, a university professor, stepped forward and gave

an outstanding performance of Carnival of Venice, which received tumultuous applause,

before returning to her seat on the back bench. It was no surprise to hear that she was

the US Open soloist winner in 2008. Contrasting items followed with Len Ballantine’s

Mid all the Traffic (Shenandoah) and Feelin’ Good by Anthony Newley and Lesley

Bricusse. A surprise came when a number of the band rose to sing the opening bars of

Ave Maria, before joining the other instrumentalists in this beautiful setting by Franz

Beiber. Fountain City concluded this segment of the programme with an outstanding

performance of Malaguena by Ernesto Lucuona, arranged by Bill Holman and transcribed

for brass band by Lee Harrelson, during which cornets were exchanged for trumpets and

other soloists emerged throughout the band with scintillating effect.

The massed bands of Boscombe and Fountain City brought this exciting evening to a

conclusion with Eric Ball’s march Star Lake, which Howard Evans described as bringing

together the two traditions of the American and UK brass banding, the music having

been written to commemorate the early Salvation Army Music Camp in New Jersey, USA.

A moving performance of Kenneth Downie’s In Perfect Peace preceded the finale, William

Gordon’s arrangement of the last movement from Tchaikovsky’s Symphony No. 2, The

Little Russian, after which both bands received sustained applause.

Ramsay Caffull


BB 6-7.indd 7 15-12-2009 16:42:40

The big talking point on the concourse at The

Sage Gateshead during the recent Brass in

Concert Festival was the debate concerning the

age of many adjudicators and their suitability to

continue to be reliable judges in band contests.

Even at that point, every commentator on the

debate had taken ample opportunity to air

their views, but on bumping into Brian Hillson

in the café area before the afternoon concert,

I wondered what his expert opinion would be.

His answer surprised me.

He began: “I’ve followed the correspondence

with some interest and also some amusement,

because almost everything that has been

pointed out about the sense of hearing as an

age-related gift is pretty well correct.”

I replied that everyone seemed to have a

different viewpoint, so they couldn’t all be

right, to which he added: “Let me explain. The

fact that our range of frequencies deteriorates

with age is not in dispute; it’s just that the

conclusion that this one fact disqualifies older

people from the role is incorrect in my humble

opinion.”

I pointed out that he was well qualified to give

an expert opinion, since I have watched him

at work producing many CDs, and so know

that he has an acutely critical ear. He’s also

approaching retirement age and is moving

closer to the age bracket of many of the

adjudicators who are the subject of criticism

at the moment, plus he’s passionate about

the subject of sound, since his work involves

not only recording brass bands, choirs and

orchestras, but also designing sound systems

and lecturing on sound engineering and

acoustics. So, I pressed him to provide his own

conclusion as an expert on the subject. He

modestly responded: “Firstly, I’m no expert,

so I’m not formally qualified to speak as an

authority, but I do have an opinion and I’m

happy to add to the debate. Let me first give

you an analogy, which might preface my

answer and tell you where I’m coming from.

Kenneth Crookston meets Brian Hillson, one of the most respected figures in the

brass recording industry, who has his own profound views on the current ‘hot

potato’ in banding – adjudication.


TALKING POINT

Imagine an art a painting in a

BB 8-9.indd 8 15-12-2009 16:43:15

Imagine an art tutor viewing a painting in

a gallery with a student. He asks the young

woman what she sees in front of her? ‘Ok,’

she says, ‘It’s a landscape; it’s a nice cottage

in the country, demonstrating a very good

perspective of the foreground detail and

distant rolling hills. What do you see?’ she asks.

The tutor places his glasses further toward the

end of his nose and waves his hand over the

exhibit and continues, ‘See how the light is

catching the clouds to give them a deep red

hue, that means its evening in late summer,

and there’s a light breeze coming from the east,

deliberately chosen so it reflects off the barley

to give us this gold vignette texture. The brush

strokes are deep in oils to inform us of its rich

harvest and…and so on.’ ‘By the way,’ he says,

‘Can you read the signature of the artist? I can’t

make it out at this distance.’”

I said that was very philosophical for a Saturday

afternoon, but asked him what his point was.

Does the comparison with sight hold good

for a complex argument in respect of hearing

and, particularly, in the context of contest

adjudication?

He continued: “It’s a fact that hearing for

everybody is best at the age of ten, and from

then on it’s all downhill. Even for people

with no hearing impairment, we lose 10khz

(10,000 cycles or oscillations per second)

with every decade we advance in years, so

by the time we’re 60, we will not be able to

hear the very high frequencies, and struggle

more with discerning very low level sounds. If

we’ve incurred some further hearing damage

or impairment, then the symptoms are

exacerbated. In this example, the art student

could see better than her tutor, but her facility

to really look in an informed way was not as

developed. Hence, the best critical analysis was

demonstrably given by her ageing mentor.

So my point is that the human ability of aural

perception is partly a function of the ear to

translate sound into electrical impulses to send

via the auditory nerve through the cortex to the

brain, and partly the function of the brain to

interpret that signal into recognition and detail.

Just one other example in every band rehearsal;

the ability of the conductor to hear wrong

intonation is nothing to do with hearing or age,

but everything to do with psycho acoustics –

the interaction with the brain.”

I was quite impressed by this explanation,

but not sure whether it brought clarity to the

continuing debate. Let’s be clear, does Brian

Hillson then say that deteriorating hearing is

not a relevant argument for the case to have

younger people in the box?

“Not on its own,” he said, adding, “Remember

my first answer; all the opinions expressed have

been valid – hearing does deteriorate with age

and people have pointed out that exposure

to loud music (and certainly sustained brass

band levels over years of exposure) can further

damage hearing, and that’s true. It’s a fact that

overtones beyond the usual range of 20Hz

to 20Khz do exist and add subtle information

to perceived sound, and while that’s true, we

wouldn’t ask a ten year-old to adjudicate just

because he has the best hearing. Clearly that’s

because the most important faculty of the

sense called hearing is that of discernment, and

that’s a cerebral function. My point is that both

components are necessary to good judgement,

and a younger person with excellent hearing

may hear more than an older person with

reduced frequency range, but an equally

important factor is the developed sense of aural

perception - the ability to process and interpret

the sound into other contexts, even though

the window through which it is heard may be a

reducing one.”

Ok, I understood the principle, but was he

saying that age has no effect on critical faculty,

in an area that is ostensibly entirely based on

a listening exercise? He continued: “You’re

trying to draw me into the controversy of

the debate, and I’m trying to add an entirely

impartial technical perspective. Frequency is

again only one component of audio perception

and, in fact, the 80/20 rule is also relevant here

in as much as the vast majority of the audible

information in a brass band is in the lower and

mid frequencies of the spectrum, (probably

from 80Hz up to 5 or 6Khz) which are largely

unaffected by deterioration of hearing with

age. This aspect on its own would be absolutely

crucial if we were asking the panel to review a

HiFi system for Which magazine, but less key in

making an informed decision in a band contest

in which all the other components of style,

musicality, tempo, timbre and dynamics which

are all part of the incredible God-given gift

of hearing and which are interpolated by the

brain. It could even be argued that, since the

adjudicators are doing a relative listening test,

as long as a person can judge one performance

against another it is less relevant if one persons

perception of sound is more mellow or more

bright than another’s – who knows anyway if

we all hear the same sound!”

That was too nimble a dodge of the question;

too much like a politician, so I asked him what

his personal view on the seeming insistence

of using older adjudicators was, to which he

replied, “If I were Sir Alex Ferguson, I’d say

that football referees need to be fitter! You

asked me about the sense of hearing, and

that’s been the focus of my replies. However, if

hearing deteriorates with age, so does the brain

function, and I wouldn’t presume to comment

on anyone’s mental faculty, but having said

that more than 50 percent of the hearing

process is cognitive, then you can’t divorce

the function of an individuals’ processing

power from their age. Of course, this particular

faculty varies even more from one person to

another. This introduces important questions

about one’s ability to concentrate for long

periods, remember detail after the event, the

ability of good judgement itself, and these are

probably more important than simply age-

related hearing issues. Even the adjudicator’s

box must itself offer some resistance to very

high frequencies due to the thickness of the

material, but that may only affect sounds much

higher in the spectrum with a wavelength of

less than a couple of millimetres (up in the 17k

range) and have no impact at all on low notes.

The impact of the box is probably more to do

with isolation from other stimuli than pure

audio.”

There have been lots of suggestions, some

more helpful than others, and I asked Brian if I

thought this would run and run? He concluded:

“Let me give a personal answer. I hope to be

able to lend a critical ear as a record producer

for a good many years yet and continue to

mentor my team of younger engineers, all

of whom have infinitely better hearing than

me, and arguably worse judgement. I want

them to perpetuate the pursuit of excellence,

which has been my mantra for all these years.

Perhaps the best combination for the future

of this ‘movement’, which we all love and feel

passionate about, is for the established judges

to introduce the next generation and pass on

their experience to the young guns so they

benefit from the honed skills of the old guard.”

I said thanks to Brian and he left, leaving me

to take in his balanced argument and thinking

about the little story of the art gallery. Maybe

the art teacher’s best legacy would be that

some of his students went on to be the best

qualified art critics the world had known, but

hopefully before their eyesight deteriorated!

t tutor viewing a gallery…


TALKING POINT

BB 8-9.indd 9 15-12-2009 16:43:15

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BB 10-11-12-13.indd 10 15-12-2009 16:35:58


On Saturday 12 December, Cobham Band presented a Christmas concert at St. Andrew’s Church in Cobham, under the musical directorship

of David Ruel. The concert opened with the march, Christmas Joy, and featured a number of Christmas favourites such as I Saw Mommy Kissing

Santa Claus, Christmas Swingalong and Mariah Carey’s All I Want for Christmas is You. The audience was in fine voice to sing a selection of carols

throughout the evening, closing with Hark the Herald Angels Sing, which was followed by rapturous applause. The band performed one extra item -

White Christmas, which was met with a standing ovation!

At its Christmas concert last year, the band raised in excess of £900 for the Shooting Star Children’s Hospice and Christopher’s Hospice. It is,

therefore, absolutely delighted to be able to announce that this year it raised in excess of £1,000 for Help for Heroes and Newlife Foundation for

Disabled Children.

A presentation of awards was made at

the Spennymoor Town Band annual

Christmas concert. Saffi Hutchinson

(aged 12) was awarded the President’s

Trophy for the Most Improved Player.

Long Service Awards for more than

50 years of service to brass bands

were also awarded to band stalwarts,

Don Lavery and Mike Johnson. These

awards were made by George Bramfitt,

President of the Durham County Brass

Band Association. The photo shows

Mike Johnson, George Bramfitt, Don

Lavery and Saffi Hutchinson.

BRASS ROOTS

BB

BB

BBTrombone soloist, Lisa Sarasini, will be flying in

from Italy to join the 65 young musicians of the

Cornwall Youth Brass Band (CYBB) as guest

soloist at its Christmas residential course at Truro

from 27 to 30 December.

Lisa began to play trombone at Wardle High

School in Rochdale and then studied at the

University of Huddersfield and the Royal Northern

College of Music, where she gained distinction

in both her Masters Degree in Performance and

Postgraduate Diploma in Performance. She joined

Fairey Band and freelanced with the Hallé, BBC

Philharmonic, Opera North and Royal Liverpool

Philharmonic orchestras. Having spent six months

with an orchestra in Finland in 2008, she is now

studying trombone and teaching music in Italy.

As guest conductor, the band welcomes back

Garry Cutt, who has developed a reputation as

one of the banding world’s most successful and

has recently visited Australia, the USA, Japan,

Denmark, Holland, Norway and Sweden, where he

has just led the Windcorp Brass Band to victory at

the Swedish Championships.

Since its foundation in 1955, the CYBB has always

sought to bring the best guest Conductors and

soloists to Cornwall for the benefit of the young

brass musicians of the county, to enable them to learn from musicians of the highest level of expertise and experience available. Held at the Truro High

School for Girls, the course follows the band’s monthly rehearsals, which are taken by the local tutors led by Music Co-ordinator, Brian Minear. At the

end of the course, the band will give a public gala concert at St. Michael’s Church in Newquay at 7.00pm on Wednesday 30 December.

BB 10-11-12-13.indd 11 15-12-2009 16:36:02


BRASS ROOTS

Wessex Brass Band Association held its

annual contest on Saturday 28 November and,

after 50 years, it has been ringing the changes.

Last year, the Association decided to split

the contest for youth and training bands

away from the senior contest and give the

younger bands their own special occasion.

So successful was the move that they once

again held a separate youth and training

band contest this year on 31 October at the

Trafalgar School, Downton, near Salisbury.

The Association was delighted that, once

again, the contest was sponsored by the Royal

Marines.

The adjudicator for that contest was

Lieutenant Colonel Nick Grace, Commandant

of the Royal Marines School of Music and

Principal Director of Music Royal Marines.

The results were:

Youth Section

1. Test Valley Youth

2. Wilton District and Two Castles Youth

Training Section

1. Wilton District and Two Castles Training

2. Test Valley Training

Overall winner: Wilton District and Two

Castles Training

Best Hymn Tune: Wilton District and Two

Castles Training

Deportment Cup: Downton Training

Best Bass Section: Test Valley Training

The wind of change has also embraced the

senior contest this year, with the decision that,

for the first time, it would be an own-choice

contest. The response from bands was very

encouraging, with 23 bands entered.

The contest took place at The Pavilion Theatre

in Weymouth, its home since 2002, and the

adjudicator was C. Brian Buckley, Secretary of

the Association of Brass Band Adjudicators.

Woodfalls Band performed a short concert to a

packed auditorium before the announcement

of results and presentations.

The results were:

Championship Winner:

Woodfalls

1st Section:

1. Michelmersh Silver

2. Sandhurst Silver

3. Ocean Brass

2nd Section:

1. Shrewton Silver

2. Verwood Concert Brass

3. Phoenix Brass

3rd Section:

1. Bath Spa

2. Brunel Brass

4th Section:

1. Test Valley Brass

2. Weymouth Concert

3. New Forest Brass

British pop pioneer, Vince Eager, is set to

appear alongside two of Nottinghamshire’s

leading amateur music groups in a Christmas

celebration in Radcliffe-on-Trent tonight

(19th).

Vince Eager will link together a selection of

seasonal favourites, presented by Radcliffe-on-

Trent Male Voice Choir and Newstead Brass in

the second of two charity Christmas concerts

at St. Mary’s church in Radcliffe-on-Trent on

Saturday December 19th at 7.00 pm.

As a member of the legendary Larry Parnes

stable, along with Tommy Steele, Marty Wilde,

Billy Fury and Joe Brown, Vince Eager became

a household name in the early 1960s with

over 100 TV appearances on shows such as

Drumbeat, Six Five Special and Oh Boy. Later

success came as a live performer in cabaret

and theatre, including a five-year starring role

in the award-winning West End musical, Elvis.

Earlier in the day, the band and choir will be

joined by BBC presenter, Quentin Rayner, and

children from Radcliffe Junior School for a

matinee performance commencing at 2.30pm.

Proceeds from both performances will support

the Lincolnshire and Nottinghamshire Air

Ambulance.

BB

BB 10-11-12-13.indd 12 15-12-2009 16:36:08

BRASS ROOTS

In January 2010, Tullis Russell Mills Band

will launch a new youth band project and will

be looking to recruit up to 30 primary school

pupils from years 5 and 6 in the Glenrothes

area. The aims and objectives for this new

venture are very straightforward - to teach

young Glenrothes pupils to read music and play

a brass instrument with the aim of playing in

public by 2011.

A new set of instruments has been ordered

and will be delivered very soon, with funding

provided by a large grant from Awards for All

Scotland and the Tullis Russell Group, while the

senior band also gave generously.

In the past, Tullis Russell Mills Band always

had a good junior band, which has provided

many players for the senior band, but over the

last 20 years the numbers have fallen away

to one or two individuals. However, with the

renewed spirit in Fife and Scotland in general

towards re-establishing youth bands, it is hoped

that Tullis Russell Youth Band will once again

become a feeder band into the senior band and

allow Tullis Russell to become a major force in

Scottish banding once again.

The management team of the Tullis Russell

Youth Band is very grateful to Awards for

All Scotland, the Tullis Russell Group and

the Tullis Russell Mills Band for the financial

support which has allowed this project to

come to fruition and it is hoped that the

Glenrothes public (and further afield) will get

the opportunity to hear this new youth band

in the very near future. The Scottish Brass

Band Association’s Development Officer,

Alan Edmond, has also been closely involved

with this project working as the liaison officer

between the band and Fife Council Music

Services.

Tullis Russell Mills Band recently celebrated

its 90th anniversary with a gala concert in the

Rothes Halls in Glenrothes. Formed in 1919 by

Sir David Russell as a social outlet for his mill

workers, the band has had a distinguished

history over the last 90 years. The gala concert

featured the current band in the first half

conducted by resident conductor, Andy Shaw,

and the band’s professional conductor, John

Hinckley. Joining the band on stage was another

local group, the Glenrothes Choral Society,

conducted by Kenneth Clarke. The concert also

featured the newest member, ten year-old Colin

Cameron, who has only been playing for five

months but took centre stage playing a specially

arranged cornet solo, In a balloon by Phillip

Sparke. The second half of the concert featured

a massed band made up of former Tullis Russell

players from all over the UK who returned to join

forces with the current band.

Tullis Russell player, Aileen Russell, was

honoured on the night by being presented

with a life membership medal from Peter Fraser

of the Scottish Brass Band Association. John

Wallace OBE, who started his playing career

with Tullis Russell, was the guest soloist and he

didn’t disappoint the audience with a stunning

rendition of Arban’s Carnival of Venice. Former

conductor, Gavin Lindsay, also returned to

conduct part of the second half of the concert.

The gala concert was all about the last 90

years of the band’s history and featured music

from the last nine decades, which included

a performance of An English Garland by John

Greenwood, with which the band won its

first national contest prize at the inaugural

4th Section Scottish Championships in 1925.

Former players from the 1930s to the 1990s

were brought on stage to take a bow for their

contribution to the band over the last 90 years.

Events organiser for the band, Steven Craig,

said “When we booked Fife’s largest concert

hall for our gala concert, we were concerned

about being able to sell enough tickets to cover

the costs, but it looks like we had seriously

underestimated the popularity of the band in

the Glenrothes area, as the concert became a

sell out, which is a fantastic achievement for

a 2nd Section band. Tullis Russell is the only

surviving mill band in Scotland and is in the

fortunate position of having had the support

of the Tullis Russell Group over the last 90

years and look forward to the next 90 with

confidence.”

BB

BBChristmas cheer arrived early for Dodworth Colliery Band and the band can announce important new arrivals to its line-up for the start of 2010.

Dodworth welcomed Alan Garbutt on principal cornet and Sarah Marson on 1st horn, both previously from Dodworth’s neighbour, Old Silkstone

Band.

Speaking on behalf of the band, Rob Lowkes commented: “The principal cornet seat had been vacant for a while after previous incumbent, Josh

Green, had taken up a career as a musician in the Royal Marines Band and, after several other key players moved on, the outlook was not looking

favourable. However, the band kept its spirits up and hoped that, if it could get players into the bandroom, they would see what Dodworth was

about. Sure enough, we were approached by a number of quality players to fill the vacant seats within a few weeks.”

Dodworth’s conductor, Eliot Darwin, is looking forward to building for the future with the new line-up and hopes that all the new players will

have a long happy association with the band. He added: “It shows the beliefs and work ethics of the band have proven themselves and attracted

some quality key players to the organisation.”


BB 10-11-12-13.indd 13 15-12-2009 16:36:10


FEATUREWIRELESS BRASS PROFESSIONAL NETWORK


RICHARD ADAMS. Conductor, Adjudicator, Head of Music, Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts, 151 Bencoolen Street, Singapore 189656. Phone: +65 9451 8398. [email protected]

DEREK ASHMORE. www.hallamshiremusic.co.uk Tel: 01507 358141 Fax: 01507 358034.

MAURICE BALE. BSc, Arranger, Godiva Music. 18 Raleigh Road, Coventry CV2 4AA. Tel. 024 76 459 409. PETER BASSANO. FRCM HonRCM North Lodge, Potter Row, near Gt. Missenden, Bucks HP16 9LT. Tel.01494 868240 mobile; 07985 101244. E-mail :[email protected] www.peterbassano.com

DUNCAN A. BECKLEY. BA. Conductor, Band Trainer, Adjudicator. 26 Ruskin Avenue, Wrenthorpe, WakefieldWF1 2BD (MOB) 07973 389707 E-mail: [email protected]

JOHN BERRYMAN. ALCM, LTCL, Conductor, Adjudicator. 12 Beaufort Drive, Barton Seagrave, Kettering, Northants. NN15 6SF Tel. (01536) 722991.

NICLAS BLIXT. Music Director, Band of the Swedish Home Guards, UppsalaIngvarsgatan 28 UppsalaTelephone home: 46018267613Email: [email protected]: http://www.niclasblixt.info

DEREK M. BROADBENT. Conductor and Adjudicator. 17 Corrance Road, Wyke, Nr. Bradford, BD12 9LH Yorks. Tel/Fax. (01274) 670459.

MALCOLM BROWNBILL. Band Tutor, Conductor, and Adjudicator. 49 Pike House Road, Eccleston, St. Helens, Merseyside. WA10 5JZ. Tel. (01744) 28642.

C. BRIAN BUCKLEY. C.Chem., FTCL, LTCL, ALCM, Conductor, Adjudicator, Band Teacher. ‘Egmont’, 81 Gabalfa Road, Sketty, Swansea, West Glamorgan SA2 8ND. Tel. (01792) 205896.

DOUG CLARKSON. MISM Conductor/Arranger/Composer33 Ings Mill Avenue Clayton West HuddersfieldTelephone mobile: 07872539378Telephone work: 01484437437Fax: 01484437436 Email: [email protected]

BOB CHILDS. DMA, M.Mus(dist), ARCM(hons), FLCM, PGCE, Euphonium Soloist, Conductor, Teacher. 13 Parc Plas, Blackwood, Gwent NP12 1SJ. Tel 01495 226106 (home), 07966 263881 (mobile). [email protected] http://www.bobchilds.co.uk/

ROY W. CURRAN. Conductor, Adjudicator. 6 Mary Street, Burnley, Lancs. BB10 4AJ. Home: 01282 426203;Mobile: 07973 788812.

DAVID DAWS. Cornet Tutor, Conductor3 Chevalier Close, Stanmore, Middlesex HA7 4YWTelephone mobile: 07956844364Email: [email protected]

DR. KENNETH DOWNIE. DMA. BA(Mus) Dunelm. Kantara, 8 Downs Road, South Wonston, Winchester, SO21 3EU. Tel: (01962) 883031 Internet: www.kantaramusik.com

JOHN DURRANT. MA. Soloist, Conductor, Composer, Adjudicator. 3 Todmorden Road, Lytham St. Annes, Lancs. FY8 2QL. Tel: 01253 721903. Or 07985 191623 (Mob).

J. STUART FAWCETT. OAM, LDBBA. Conductor, Adjudicator. 23A Mill Moor Road, Meltham, Holmfirth, HD9 5JT. Tel: 01484 309500.

BRUCE FRASER. Adjudicator, Conductor, Composer. Lomond Music, 32 Bankton Park, Kingskettle, Fife. KY15 7PY. Tel. (01337) 830974. E-mail: [email protected]

MORTEN E. HANSEN. Conductor and Adjudicator. Fjelldenden 10, Stavanger, Norway. Tel 0047 9901 4386. E-mail: [email protected]

COLIN HARDY. Member NABBC, Adjudicator and Conductor, 25 Thirlmere Avenue, Wyke, Bradford, W. Yorks. BD12 9DS. Tel/Fax. (01274) 674174. E-mail: [email protected]

DAVID HIRST. Conductor and Adjudicator. The Cottage, Main Street, Milton, Newark, Nottinghamshire. Tel. 01777 872339 Fax 01777 872852 E-mail: [email protected]

ALAN JENKIN. B.Sc., LTCL, BBCM, Cert. Educ., Conductor, Adjudicator. 4 Beauchamp Close, Neath Hill, Milton Keynes, Bucks MK14 6HZ. Tel/Fax. (01908) 604818 (Home), 224251 (Music Centre) 07901 552235 (Mobile), E-mail [email protected]

ALAN HOPE. Conductor, Teacher and adjudicator. 113A Fatfield Park, Washington, Tyne & Wear. NE38 8BP. Tel/Fax 0191 4161008 Mob: 0776 5656729 E-mail: [email protected]

TERRY JOHNS. A.R.A.M. Composer/Conductor/Adjudicator55/6 Waterfront Avenue Edinburgh EH5 1JDE-mail: [email protected] Mobile: 07777603675

NORMAN C. LAW. Conductor, Adjudicator, Band Trainer, Private Teacher. Lawholme, 4 Farfield Drive, Hepworth, Huddersfield, W. Yorks HD7 1TU. Tel. (01484) 685354.

STEWART LEWINS, BA (HONS) Conductor74 Southampton Street, READINGTelephone mobile: 07786694491Email: [email protected]

ALAN R LEWIS. B.Phil, LTCL. Website: arlmusic.com Akay Lodge, Sedbergh, Cumbria, LA10 5SH.Tel: (015396) 22230 (w)

STAN LIPPEATT. B.A., L.R.S.M. Conductor, Adjudicator. 60, Sixth Avenue, Edwinstowe, Mansfield, Notts. NG21 9PW. Tel (01623) 822672 Mobile 07875 138776

JANE LLOYD. MA FVCM, LGSM, ALCM, PGCetEd, Dip Mus. Conductor, Performer, Arranger, Teacher. Northampton & East Midlands Area. Tel: 01604 675188

KEITH MacDONALD. N.A.B.B.C., A.L.C.M. Conductor, Band Trainer, Adjudicator, Author (see website). 20 North Haven, Seaham, Co. Durham SR7 0DS. Tel: 0191 581 4224 (home), 07949 947703 (mobile) Email: [email protected], [email protected] Website: www.keithmacdonald.co.uk

MAJOR IAN McELLIGOTT. Conductor, Adjudicator, Composer/Arranger, Brass Teacher. 41 Weaver Moss, Sandhurst, Berks. GU47 9BQ. Mobile: 07903 137659

JOHN MAINES. Conductor, Adjudicator. 46 Hill Crest Road, Offerton, Stockport. SK2 5QL. Tel. 0161 292 9443. (Mobile) 07901 528059. Website: www.johnmaines.co.uk

STEVEN MEAD. Euphonium Soloist, Conductor, Adjudicator. 10 Old Forge Road, Fenny Drayton, Nuneaton, Warwickshire CV13 6BD. Tel/Fax: (01827) 711964, Mob. 07971 843668, E-mail: [email protected].

ALAN MORRISON. FTCL, LRAM. Soloist, Conductor and Adjudicator. 25 Acaster Drive, Garforth, Leeds LS25 2BH. Tel. (0113) 286 3374, Fax. (0113) 287 3947, Mob. 0775 197 3176. E-mail: [email protected] website.lineone.net/~alan-morrison

Dr. ROY NEWSOME. PhD, B.Mus, FRCO, ARCM. 17 Belmont Drive, Seddons Farm, Bury, Manchester BL8 2HU. Tel. 0161-764 2009.

PHILIP NEVILLE. MIMIT.Brass Instrument Repair Technician74 Babington Lane, DERBYTelephone mobile: 07790676282Telephone work: 01332290762Fax: 01332290762, Email: [email protected]: http://www.nevillebros.com

GRAHAM O’CONNOR. Conductor, Adjudicator, Band Trainer. 1 Ralston Croft, Halfway, Sheffield S20 4TU Tel: 01142 280195 Mobile: 07903 310951 E-mail: [email protected]

MAJOR PETER PARKES. ‘Kamet’, Holme Lane, Rockley, Retford DN22 0QY. Tel: 01777 839 144 Mobile: 0781 800 6965

We take every possible precaution to ensure the accuracy of

the details given below. However, we cannot be responsible for

changes to stated times or running order.

Friday, 25 December, 2130-2200. BBC Radio 2

Listen to the Band. No programme this week

Listen to the Band is also available all week via Radio 2’s website www.

bbc.co.uk/radio2. Click on the playback section to hear the show, on

demand, for a week following transmission.

World of Brass Radio. John Maines introduces a weekly one-hour

programme of the best of international banding. Commencing on

Fridays, the rolling programme of the most recent four shows can be

accessed 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 52 weeks of the year on

www.worldofbrass.com (then click on the WOB Radio link) or www.

worldofbrass.com/wobradio

This week’s programme includes: Black Dyke (Nicholas Childs):

Christmas Piece (Richards - narrator: Ken Greenwood, Scrooge: James

Sykes), March from The Nutcracker (Tchaikovsky); Brass Band Luzern

(Ludwig Wicki): James Bond Collection (Barry); New York Staff Band

of The Salvation Army (Ron Waiksnoris): Huron Carol (Norbury - solo:

Michael Baker); Grimethorpe (Peter Parkes): White Christmas (Berlin);

Foden’s (Nicholas Childs): Stop the Cavalry (Lewie); BNFL (Richard

Evans): Somewhere Out There (arr. Barry); Fairey (Peter Parkes):

Christmas Triptych (Curnow); International Staff Band of The Salvation

Army (Stephen Cobb): Christmas Tidings (Redhead - trio: Andrew

Justice, Bradley Turnbull and Gordon Camsey); New England Brass

(Douglas Yeo): Stille Stille Stille (Curnow); Foden’s (Thomas Wyss): Epic

Themes (Williams); Sellers and Huddersfield Choral Society (Brian Kay): A

Christmas Fantasy (Langford).

Local Radio for next weekSunday, 20 December, 1905-2000. Sounds of Brass. FM

frequencies: Bristol 94.9, Cornwall 95.2, Devon 103.4,

Gloucestershire 104.7, Guernsey 93.2, Jersey 88.8, Swindon 103.6,

Wiltshire 104.3.

Available on the World Wide Web at 1905 British time or at any time for

seven days after the broadcast. To hear the programme, access www.

bbc.co.uk/devon and click onto Listen Live or Listen Again.

Phillip Hunt presents a programme of brass band recordings and news.

This week’s edition includes: Black Dyke Mills (James Watson): Bells of

Christmas (Bulla); New England Brass (Douglas Yeo): Russian Christmas

Music (Reed arr. De Salme); Brass Band De Wâldsang (Rieks van der

Velde): It’s Beginning to Sound Like Christmas (Willson arr. Middleberg

- soloist: Hans van der Weide); International Staff Band of The Salvation

Army (Stephen Cobb): Yule Dance (Harper); Massed bands of The

Salvation Army (Alfred Punchard): Adeste Fideles (arr. Goldsmith); King’s

Division Waterloo Band (Capt. C. E. Hicks): Savoy Christmas Medley

(Somers arr. Beechfield-Carver); Black Dyke (Nicholas Childs): When a

Child is Born (arr. Barry - soloist: Brett Baker), A Time for Peace (Graham -

soloist: Brett Baker), Christmas Finale (Lovatt-Cooper).

Requests and comments are welcome at e-mail: brassmanpgh@uwclub.

net

Monday, 21 December, 2100-2200. Manx Radio

Time for Brass. Frequencies 97.2, 89 and 103.7 FM and 1368 AM

and worldwide on www.manxradio.com

Click on Listen FM or Listen AM for the programme at the time of

broadcast or on Listen Again for a week following transmission.

Ian Cottier presents a programme of brass band music and comment.

BB 14-15.indd 38 15-12-2009 16:41:49


FEATURE

The leading international brass band magazine Incorporating Brass

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Julian Bright

Dr. Robert Childs

Chris Helme

Pat Herak

Lt. Col. Graham Jones MBE

Ron Massey

Dr. Peter Meechan

Tim Mutum

Frank Renton

Robert Richardson

John Stirzaker

David Thornton

Carl Woodman

Malcolm Wood

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A list of forthcoming events that have been advertised in British Bandsman.

JANUARY

16 - Stroud. Leyland, 7.30pm, Subscription Rooms.

23 - 24 - 25 - Skegness. 7th Butlins National Mineworkers Open Brass Band Festival.

FEBRUARY

13 - Stroud. Smithill’s Senior Band, 7.30pm, Subscription Rooms.

14 - Blackpool. Action Research Youth Brass Entertainment Festival, Winter Gardens.

MARCH

20 - Stroud. Rothwell Temperance, 7.30pm, Subscription Rooms.

APRIL

17 - Stroud. Tredegar Town Band, 7.30pm, Subscription Rooms.

18 - Manchester. National Youth Brass Band Championships, Royal Northern College.

MAY

8 - Stroud. Fairey Band, 7.30pm, Subscription Rooms.

JUNE

10 – Tonbridge. The Big Brass Bash, events all day including performances by Aveley

and Newham and Bones Apart, concluding with a 7.30pm gala concert by Cory Band, The

Hop Farm Family Park.

27 - July 3 - Holland. Allan Withington’s Conductor Summer School, Leeuwarden,

contact [email protected] for more details.


INSURANCE

MIDLAND CDWe hold one of the world’s largest selections of brass &

military band CDs including most BB-reviewed CDs.

Order on-line at www.ukcd.net


Tel: 0044 (0) 121 244 4605 or 6

Fax: 0044 (0) 121 680 9018

CDs

Visit Steven Mead’s website:

www.euphonium.net

www.euphoniumstore.net

INSTRUMENTS

MUSICIANS

Instruments & accessories online

Tel: 01332 290762

Brass Band Insurance Services

312 High Street, Harlington, Hayes,

Middx. UB3 5BT

Tel: 020 8759 0825. Fax: 020 8564 9063.

THE ORIGINAL SCHEMEOFTEN COPIED—NEVER BETTERED

Underwritten by Norwich Union

Bass and Bb/F trombones

for sale, several including Bach, King,

Sovereign and Yamaha.

Tel: 07974 412269

INSTRUMENTS

BBb tuba. Yamaha YBB321.

4-inline. £675.00 Bargain! Contact 07974 412269

Eccles Borough Band is looking for a

Principal Cornet

as current principal wishes to move to 2nd

man down. Also required, Eb and Bb basses to

strengthen and move forward this friendly 3rd

Section band for the contesting season. Please

telephone Val Davies on 0161 865 1599 or

07747 116158 or contact us via our website

www.ecclesboroughband.org

Looking for a new conductor

in 2010? Call our Advertising

Manager on 0113 270 7214

NEW!

BB 14-15.indd 46 15-12-2009 16:41:50

BB 16.indd 16 15-12-2009 16:47:28

frank’s 25 years of festive fun · issue no. 5592 – 19 december 2009 price £1.25 frank’s 25...

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