9th September 2006 - British Open

Adjudicators: Michael Ball, Nigel Boddice, David Read
Test Piece: Vienna Nights, Philip Wilby
Venue: Symphony Hall, Birmingham

This year’s British Open test piece was a new composition by Philip Wilby, entitled Vienna Nights. This piece depicted a conversation at a cafe in Vienna between Sigmund Freud, Mozart and Schonberg.

The score featured a particular layout for the band, with the cornet section in a semicircle around the conductor, and with the euphoniums and baritones sitting where the back row normally are. There were four complex percussion parts and the band opted to play five drummers again. The piece featured stand up solos for the principal cornet and euphonium, who were then joined at the front of the stage by their respective deputies to play stand up duets. The duets were followed by stand up parts for the horn, baritone, bass and trombone sections, where they stood up and played in their normal positions.

The band played well on stage, but it sounded nervous in places and there were a little too many errors and sections were the playing wasn’t together. Despite some small problems, it was a reasonable performance, and it was felt that the band sound had come across well. We were hopeful of finishing in the top half. Our interpretation did not find favour with the adjudicators however, and the band were placed a lowly fourteenth.

The full results of the contest were:

1. Black Dyke – Dr. Nicholas Childs (11)
2. Buy As You View Band – Dr. Robert Childs (17)
3. Desford Colliery (Aggregate Industries) – Nigel Seaman (12)
4. Scottish Co-op – Allan Ramsay (15)
5. Fairey Band – Simon Stonehouse (8)
6. Carlton Main Frickley Colliery – Russell Gray (19)

7. Kirkintilloch – Steve Bastable (2)
8. YBS Band – Prof. David King (3)
9. Grimethorpe Colliery (UK Coal) – Allan Withington (4)
10. Whitburn – Andrew Duncan (13)
11. Hepworth (Lanson Homes) – Mark Bentham (6)
12. Brighouse & Rastrick – Ian McElligott (17)
13. Fodens Richardson – Garry Cutt (9)
14. Rothwell Temperance – David Roberts (10)
15. Sellers International – Phillip McCann (5)
16. Aveley & Newham – Nigel Taken (18)
17. Reg Vardy – Ray Farr (7)
18. Yorkshire Imperial Urquhart Travel – Chris Houlding (1)
19. Ashton-under-Lyne – Philip Chalk (14)

Black Dyke became the first band in twenty years to retain their title at the Open, but some of the other bands featured in the top six were unexpected. The band were disappointed with their position, and thought they should have a come a few places higher.

the band can now look forward to playing in the Albert Hall at the end of October for the National Finals. This will be their first appearance at the finals since 1999, their first year in the Championship Section.

The band would like to thank the following players for their help at the Open:
* Simon Powell for helping out on Trombone
* Rachel Maguire for travelling up from London to play percussion with the band once more
* Dai Hale and Anthony Thompson for their usual support in the cornet section

Tim Sawyer
Percussion
19th October 2006