26th June 2010 - English Nationals
Adjudicators: Kevin Wadsworth, David Horsfield, Derek Broadbent
Test Piece: Eden, John Pickard
Venue: Guild Hall, Preston
Our conductor David Roberts was invited over to Norway in January this year, to conduct the Sandefjord Band at the Norwegian Nationals with the test piece 'Eden’ by John Pickard. He was therefore delighted to find out that Eden was to be the set test piece for the English Nationals contest, especially after he won the contest in Norway.
Eden is a very difficult piece featuring many odd time signatures and rhythms. Our percussion parts featured almost every instrument we owned, and we had to borrow an anvil and ratchet. The music was based on John Milton’s 'Paradise Lost’ and came to a close with an uplifting ending taking inspiration from the Eden Project in Cornwall. There’s a good write-up of the piece available at http://www.4barsrest.com/articles/2010/1151b.asp.
The contest was nearly cancelled after many of the competitors withdrew, citing changing priorities. The contest organisers contacted the remaining nine bands to confirm that they were committed to attending the contest saying that if anyone else had withdrawn, the contest would have been unviable and been called off. All nine bands remained committed and so the contest went ahead (although we did cancel some sectionals due to the uncertainty).
To bolster the front row, we had two friends come across from Europe. Christopher Røedvang is a member of the Sandefjord Band that won under David Roberts in January, and he came across to play on the front row. He was joined by Jef Vermeiren from Belgium who used to play for Willebroek.
The draw was to be split, with three bands in the first section drawn at 9:30am and six bands in the second section drawn at 11am. The split draw was the legacy of the contest originally consisting of 16 bands, hence the uneven groups.
Come contest day the band met up at 8am for the bus ride over the Pennines to Preston. We rehearsed in Lostock Hall Memorial Brass Band’s bandroom once more, and then travelled into centre of Preston for the draw. After waiting around outside the hall we discovered we were drawn fifth, and so went our separate ways for half an hour before meeting back at the coach and taking everything inside. The changing rooms were the temperature of a sauna, and many of the band wandered outside into the corridor where they baked a little less.
We then signed on, spent a good ten minutes in the warm up room, and then took to the stage to play. We had been playing the piece really well, and were very pleased with our run-through the night before the contest, but we were a little unhappy with our performance on stage. There were too many splits on notes that had been played without problem before, and although we were pleased that our band sound came across, we felt that we could have played better.
The band then adjourned to the pub to wait for the adjudicator’s decision. Before the results a short concert given by Black Dyke. After the usual speeches, the soloists prize was announced, going to the solo trombone player from the Fairey Band. The compere then announced the top three results from the stage. We came out third and the supporters cheered – most of the band were still in the pub!
The full results of the contest were:
1. Fairey (Geneva) (Russell Gray), 7
2. Black Dyke (Dr Nicholas Childs), 2
3. Rothwell Temperance (David Roberts), 5
4. Reg Vardy (Ray Farr), 9
5. Leyland (Philip Harper), 6
6. Fodens (Dr James Gourlay), 3
7. Hammonds Saltaire (Morgan Griffiths), 1
8. Skelmanthorpe (John Roberts), 4
9. Pemberton Old Wigan DW (Mark Bentham), 8
David Horsfield’s remarks were:
Quite well controlled but not without blemish in the opening section. The tranquil feel is not always achieved. Euphonium soloist displays a virtuoso treatment with good contrasts noted. The dialogue between soloists has an impressive treatment, but quite a few blemishes detract somewhat. G quite tight. Trombone soloist displays a flair and musical approach. Muted cornets rather full-blooded. 81 quite rhythmic generally in this manic section and trombone feature has excitement and flair. In S good dynamics but a more even style throughout the semiquaver figures would help. Exciting style impresses in this music of despair. Quite precise cornets in Y. Great detail to BB and once more we are shown an ensemble well controlled. Rather anxious 298 but effective pp. Rather anxious moments in the 'lament’ section. Sop/bar figure nicely matched, with bass line quite impressive. 323 bravo trombones. The melody line 'sings’ admirably to 335. Tuba soloist is well controlled and restrained. Quite a spacious feel for the music impresses in the final cantabile section, with a well styled 'pesante’. 371 sub p fine. Great balance and control at the close. Much to admire; thank you.
Kevin Wadsworth wrote:
Secure opening dynamics – all entries heard well 17 sop just holds on. C Euph 28 not all is heard clearly. Cnt ok – vibes good. Cnt 40 not all notes heard clearly. E/F/G handled well, cnt ok. 50 trom speaks well – in good decisive style. J basses good. Good mechanical style. Goes well to M, O doesn’t convince in Trombone. 169 horns ok. Some nice detail in this section. Percussion very good in this section. Y enjoyable. Z also. AA Bravo Timp. AA/BB/CC handled well, lots of good work. EE great colour -> FF. FF just not secure Horn. GG nice basses. HH Euphs play well. II Eb bass well played. Fine ensemble sounds to savour. Euphs excellnt 363, troms fine sounds @367. Great closing sounds. Wonderful middle section, an opening with clips and slips and glorious sounds to close. Thank you.
Derek Broadbent’s notes were:
A few hiccups in the opening. This takes a little while to settle down. Sop a shade insecure bar 16-17. B Euph treats the solo with care – all the notes speak – Cornet ensues – and enhances. D lacks security – vibes a shade too heavy – E-F fair. G Bold Sop – a tasty ensemble follows 50 trom is good form – well supported by all. H good conviction here + fine to I where good dynamics are heard J has drive. 91 a bit pecked. R good drama in the lower lines and I do hear the progressing detail – no lack of commitment in this playing to O. trom solo has style – just a moment or two when a lack of clarity was noticed. Q well detailed ensembles all nicely linked to S which works well. T-U again good detail – and the music drives on with verve. Y powerful stuff this! AA such drama. BB a real P would enhance – A scratchy moment or two spoils EE – A fine sound – 298 not quite as one. FF A shade uncomfortable but soon settles and confident soloists are heard. GG-HH to good effect. HH has atmosphere – don’t let the accompaniments grow!! II fine tuba lines. JJ-KK controlled playing then you build in fine style to 360. I’d like a little more presence from the Euphs at 364. Close has good conviction and you close a performance of merit with many fine things to say. Not entirely spotless – with little slips prevailing. Thank you very much indeed for your performance.
We left the contest to come home, but took a convoluted route as we had to drop Christopher and his partner Lena off at the hotel at Liverpool Airport. There was a height limit on access to the hotel and the signs suggested we should enter the long stay carpark, as there was no height restriction. This we did, only to have airport security turn up. They pointed out that the coach was too long to exit the carpark, and so they stopped the traffic and allowed us to reverse out of the car park and leave through a different barrier.
The result was what we were hoping to get before the contest, but better than we expected after we’d played. We are well aware that we left our best performance in the bandroom the previous night, and can only reflect upon what might have been if we’d played to our potential.
We send our thanks to:
- Christopher Røedvang for helping out on the front row.
- British Open Solo Champion Jef Vermeiren for his help, also on the front row.
- David Moore for helping out on flugel.
- Les McCormack for agreeing to help out on second horn before we gained our new permanent player.
- Andy Riley for borrowing the anvil.
We now look forward to the British Open in September and the Albert Hall in October. We have to do well at the Open, or we’ll be demoted back down to the Grand Shield again as we had a bad result last year.
Tim Sawyer
Percussion
28th June 2010
Grafitti on a bridge on the way to the airport: “Pies. This is your time.” Odd.
Photos
 1 |
 2 |
 3 |
 4 |
 5 |
 6 |
 7 |
 8 |
 9 |
 10 |
 11 |
