2006 Australian National Championships - Retrospective B Grade

Brisbane, Queensland was the setting for the Australian National Band Championships this year. 4BRDU takes a look at the B Grade performances over the Easter weekend.

Test: Purcell Variants (Peter Meechan)

There were eight bands to compete in B Grade at this year's Australian National Band Championships. The bands performed in the Main Auditorium, City Hall, Brisbane.

At the completion of the section, adjudicator Simone Rebello spoke to the bands. She mentioned that it was a bit of a shame that bands had not put more effort into the Stage March, as every piece is a valuable contribution to the total score. She also said that often adjudicators don't make comments about percussion because they mostly are just "doing their job". Simone was an extremely eloquent speaker and the audience valued her comments.

Cairns Brass the happy winners

Cairns Brass

Cairns Brass, conducted by Maureen Cameron, were the winners of B Grade for 2006. They had the highest points for the Test, Own Choice and Stage March, with a total of 488 points. This score also gave Cairns Brass the Aggregate Trophy for the entire contest.

Cairns opened with their Hymn, Ellacombe (Himes). This was a warm sound, with terrific balance and rich tone throughout the band. The tubas had a big sound. Conductor, Maureen Cameron, directed this performance with passion, and it resulted in getting all of the music from the arrangement.

In the Test, Cairns Brass was well controlled. The band demonstrated excellent attention to articulation and dynamics, and there was effective use of inward and outward facing bells. The middle movement was characterised by expressive playing and a lovely warm sound. Muted accompaniment was effective and sensitive. The movement had a measured build up and included some lyrical playing from flugel and euphonium. The opening to the final movement was tight, followed by delightful sostenuto playing. The key change was well handled and a dramatic mood change was achieved. This was an exciting performance that included an entertaining throw of the baton at the end (It was interesting to note that the conductor, Maureen Cameron, wore a shimmering dress and had bare feet – a delectable contradiction!).

The band's Own Choice selection was Prisms (Graham), and this commenced with a stunning opening; the dynamics really were dynamic! Percussion added beautiful colour. The band lifted the music from the score very effectively and the performance was exciting throughout. There were wonderful solos from tenor horn, Eb bass and BBb bass. The euphonium was electric and followed by a delightful cornet solo. The band had rich band sound in the slow movement, and the excitement and intensity were evident in the final movement. Accents were well observed. This was an outstanding performance in every respect.

For the band's Stage March, they chose The Australasian (Rimmer). The march had a scintillating opening and dynamics were excellent. The cornet solo was delicate and there was a big rich sound in the ff passages. Full, round crotchets and the bass end was outstanding.

This band could have matched it with several in A Grade this weekend. There were tremendous sounds and very exciting playing. The big end was terrific and there were lovely subtle moments from cornets and the middle of the band. Maureen Cameron was an inspirational and entertaining director.

Warringah Concert Brass

Warringah Concert Brass, conducted by John Saunders, were placed Second in B Grade for 2006. They had the highest points for the Hymn (the highest for the weekend) and achieved an aggregate score of 478.

Warringah's Hymn was Just as I am (Heaton) and this began with a secure opening from the cornet. The trombones were beautiful, and solo cornets sounded as one with matched tone and style. Dynamic contrasts were outstanding and tenor horns leading into the final verse were superb. The sostenuto style in the last verse was glorious and the band played with excellent control to the end. Percussion was sensitive, and this was visually apparent from the facial expressions of the snare drummer!

The introduction of the Test was excellent from trombones and shot quavers from cornets were decisive and tight. Terrific cornet cadenza and solo cornet, tenor horn and soprano worked well together. There was exciting work from the cornets on semiquavers and the band rounded out the first movement with very tightly played crotchets. There was lovely sustained playing in the elegy, with particularly good work from the vibraphone and broken chord quaver accompaniment. There were impeccable moments from euphonium, soprano and trombone, and the build up towards the end was smooth and controlled. In the finale, the band was tight and precise, and particularly effective before U. There was tremendous quaver work at CC and the band built to an exciting conclusion. Bravo to the little guy on bass trombone!

Essence of Time (Graham) was the band's Own Choice selection. This was a bold selection for B Grade, but proved to be an ideal one for the band. The piece opened with a gorgeous sound and excellent attention to dynamics and articulation. Tubas were very nice in the early stages, and there was some electric ensemble playing. Tenor horn was lyrical. Percussion is never over-the-top – just right and tastefully done. The band has a big balanced sound when playing full passages. This was a measured and well controlled performance enabling the musicians to give their best. The finale gave shivers (and it wasn't just the air conditioning). This band has a mature, rich sound. Bravo tubas!

The band's Stage March choice was Castell Coch (Powell), and again the dynamic contrast was superb. The band achieved a full sound without harshness or over-blowing. The bell tones were highly effective and the trio was very enjoyable.

Warringah is definitely at the upper end of B Grade, demonstrating a richness of tone and technical facility to match many A Grade bands.

Bundaberg Municipal Band No 1

Bundaberg Municipal Band No 1, conducted by Robert Rotar, were placed Third in B Grade for 2006. They achieved an aggregate score of 473. The band also came Third in the Parade of Bands.

For their Hymn, Bundaberg chose Lloyd (Howard) and this had a secure opening section with nice balance. The sound could possibly have been a little warmer, but built well to the end. The ff at the end was not sustained.

Bundaberg's Test was confident and secure in the opening, with nice work from the solo cornet. A little more dynamic contrast through the first movement would have added some electricity. Beautiful soprano in the beginning of the elegy – did the soprano go off stage at K? Lovely sustained playing in this movement was evident throughout the band. Band build well at M, but the conductor kept the cornets down. There was great work on vibraphone and also flugel, euphonium and soprano. The sextuplets were very effective. The finale began confidently, but wasn't really ff. The playing was compact and secure through to V, and the jazz licks up to W were very tasty. Crescendo into CC didn't really happen, but the key change was handled quite well. This was tight, controlled playing, and more dynamics could have enhanced the performance.

The band's Own Choice selection was Apocalypse (Gordon) and this piece was clearly enjoyed by the players who stepped up a notch with their performance on Saturday. The mood established at the outset was foreboding and menacing, with great work from flugel and euphonium. Trombones and cornets were impressive. There was excellent balance throughout and the band was working together closely and effectively. Percussion section was giving just the right dynamics throughout. There was some great work from tenor horn and euphonium in the slow movement, and the band handled this section well – an excellent mood created. The band produces wonderful colours and uses dynamics and articulation well to set the scene. There was some terrific work from the soprano – bravo! The ending was effective; however the band seemed to be tiring. The piece was nevertheless brought to a brilliant finish. The soprano was the standout performer, and a particular mention of the great work from the young trombone players.

For their Stage March, Bundaberg chose Castell Coch (Powell). This started in superb style and the unison work was terrific. The balance was good throughout the march, and the cornet solos were very stylish. The band was definitely tiring, as some wooliness was creeping in. This was an excellent performance, with trombones and cornets again standing out – at one stage, the cornets and trombone were so well balanced, that it was like listening to a stereo recording!

Bundaberg had a great band sound, with intonation and tuning very secure. There was excellent ensemble playing, and dynamics and articulation were well observed. The corner chairs were strong and inner parts well balanced.

Townsville Brass

Townsville Brass, conducted by Kim Lofthouse, were placed Fourth in B Grade for 2006. They achieved an aggregate score of 469.

For their Hymn, Townsville played I Know Thou Art Mine (Ballantine). The cornet opening was gorgeous and tenor horn sound was rich and beautiful. The fanfare section was bright and effective and balance was very good throughout. A lovely last chord and clean crisp finish capped off an expressive rendition of this hymn.

Townsville then turned to the Test, and the opening was secure with stylish cornet and tenor horn. There was some excellent playing by trombones and the timpani were very good. The progression into I was very effective with great quaver work from cornets. The elegy had a gorgeous opening and beautiful euphonium at J. The offstage soprano and euphonium were not together. From M the band built the mood nicely and was fantastic leading into N. From N, the flugel, euphonium, soprano and trombone were lovely. The sextuplets were executed cleanly and effectively. The finale was very fast, but well handled by the band. There were a few moments that were frantic. Sostenuto playing from the middle of the band was rich and sonorous. Great jazz licks from cornets and euphonium, and the key change was handled very well. Conductor controlled this performance very well.

In the Own Choice selection, Townsville was bold in choosing Pageantry (Howells), but proved eminently capable of doing it. The opening was exciting, with a big sound across the band. Trombones and tubas were terrific, and the euphonium playing was tasty. The first movement was shaped beautifully by the conductor. At the start of the second movement, the baritone was a little shaky but recovered well. There were lovely solo lines from tenor horn, cornet, euphonium and trombone. There was great work from the back row and soprano. Wow – a risky move to place a young cornet soloist out the front of the band on the Nationals stage without dots in front of him! Unfortunately it didn't quite come off, but it was definitely gutsy – good on you for having a go! The last movement was full of energy and very exciting playing around the band. Fantastic work soprano to high B! The band handled this big movement well with stunning sounds from the trombones and big end. All in all, this was an excellent choice for the band.

Townsville chose Simoraine (Barraclough) for their Stage March. This march is characterised by oodles of accents and sometimes these weren't there. The bass solo was terrific, and bell tones extremely effective – well done! The back row provided a delightful accompaniment to the euphoniums and baritones, who were exceptionally good. There was a few frantic moments, and bravo to the soprano in the final section.

This band took some risks and many paid off with stunning results. There was big rich band sound, and generally the balance was very good. The trombones and big end were very impressive, and the soprano was probably the highlight.

Windsor Brass

Windsor Brass, conducted by Richard Madden, were placed Fifth in B Grade for 2006. They achieved an aggregate score of 467. The band also came Second in the Parade of Bands

For their Hymn, Windsor Brass selected I Know Thou Art Mine (Ballantine). The start was a little insecure, and the trombones seemed to be missing. The playing recovered well and tenor horns were very good. The band showed good balance and excellent depth into the tubas. The crescendo into the last verse was spine-tingling. There were some intonation problems in the trombones, but the piece had a very nice finish.

The Test was much more secure at the opening, although there were some intonation problems in the muted instruments. The cornet solo was stylish and bold. There was good dynamic contrast and attention to articulation and accents. The semiquaver work was very well done. The band was not quite together at I. The elegy section had expressive solos from soprano and euphonium, and the muted accompaniment was sensitive and well balanced. The offstage soprano, trombone and euphonium worked very well together. M built in intensity and N was good work from flugel, soprano, euphonium and trombone. The sextuplets were slick and effective. A tight start to the finale set the scene, and the percussion and trombones were particularly good. Crescendo into CC was not really there, but the key change set a majestic mood. The piece had a big finish, but oops trombone – let's hope there was no damage to the slide. The performance was tight when required, but also very expressive.

The band chose the classic Rhapsody in Brass (Goffin) as their Own Choice selection. Cornets set the scene in the opening and the euphonium playing was clear and well executed. There was some strident horn and cornet playing, but the run up to the D was impressive solo cornet. There was some great work from the trombones. The second movement rushed. Lovely tenor horn and brilliant soprano! Nice effort at the euphonium solo, and the movement built to an effective climax. The tubas were very nice to finish. Generally the movement was hurried, but tuning and intonation were secure. The band settled well into the third movement, with some very fine technical playing. Dynamics were good and articulation used to advantage. Bravo soprano to the high B flat! There was some excellent work from trombones and tenor horns. Some untunefulness crept in at times, possibly through over-blowing. The piece built to an exciting finish – great band sound at the end!

The band's Stage March was Castell Coch (Powell). The technical work was very clear and the bass solo terrific. There was an excellent contrast in the trio, with good solo cornet and tenor horns. Percussion was always well balanced and sensitive to the brass.

Windsor Brass was a bright sounding band, and strong in all sections. They were prone to a little over-blowing at times, which introduced tuning and intonation problems.

Toowoomba Municipal No 1

Toowoomba Municipal No 1, conducted by Malcolm Gaydon, were placed Sixth in B Grade for 2006. They achieved an aggregate score of 463.

The band chose as its Hymn – Crimond (Richards) – and this commenced with a delightful opening quartet. There was good balance around the band, although a bit nervous generally. Dynamic contrast was good, but the softer dynamics were a little on the safe side.

The band's Test started with excellent work from the trombones. The triplets didn't sound like triplets. There was a very effective accompaniment at B and the semiquaver passages were executed well. The movement came to an effective finish. There was very nice soprano playing in the elegy. The offstage soprano and euphonium worked very well together. This was accompanied by sensitive muted playing, although at times the accompaniment was a little heavy, and the lead line was overpowered. The band played well into N and after that was excellent playing from euphonium, flugel and soprano. Sextuplets worked well. The finale had an exciting opening, although it didn't really sound like ff. Some frantic moments, and the tempo seemed to get slower around X, Y and Z. There was no crescendo into CC, but the key change was handled very well and the piece brought to a good finish. Unfortunately, the announcer's microphone was left on during this performance, so the audience received an oversupply of snare drum.

For their Stage March, Toowoomba selected Justice with Courage (Richards). The percussion was very tight, but the volume was a little over-the-top at times. The band had a nice big sound. The dynamic contrast was excellent, but maybe could be a little softer in the quiet sections. The semiquaver work was very clear, and there was good work from trombones and the big end. Tuning and intonation were very good.

Toowoomba is a band with several young players. There were some excellent band sounds, and the playing was tight and well balanced. The tone was rich and mature, and some very exciting entertainment was provided this weekend.

Sunnybank Brass No 1

Sunnybank Brass No 1, conducted by Christopher Moffat, were placed Seventh in B Grade for 2006. They achieved an aggregate score of 455. The band won the B Grade section of the Parade of Bands with Maree Wilson at the mace.

The band's Hymn selection was Lloyd (Fernie). This had a secure opening and was well balanced. There were some minor intonation problems, but the dynamic contrast was excellent. The piece came to a lovely finish, although the ff was not sustained. The lift off at the end was excellent.

In the Test, the quavers were not together at the opening. The cornet solo was confident, although the dynamics before and after I were a little narrow. The elegy section gave rise to lovely soprano cornet tone. The euphonium was sensitive and muted accompaniment was very effective. The movement built well, but the ff before N could have been bigger. There was lovely work from flugel, euphonium and soprano. The sextuplets weren't clear. The finale had an excellent dramatic section to V and again at AA. CC was very effective and the key change was well handled. The performance was brought to a terrific finish. The band displayed a nice warm sound.

For their Own Choice selection, Sunnybank chose Music for a Festival (Sparke). This started a little untidy, but settled quickly. There were lovely sounds in the middle of the band. At times the tempo felt a bit quick, and there were some frantic moments – trombones were rushing. Muted cornets were not in tune. The second movement had a shaky start, but when the cornet entered things settled down well. Soft passages could have been softer. The cornet played with beautiful tone, and had a lovely sound for such a young player. Exposed entries were tentative. There was exciting playing at the commencement of the third movement, and the rhythmic ostinato sat well under the melodic lines. There was a disturbing amount of mute noise throughout. Some excellent ensemble playing was evident and trombones did some very good work. The recap was handled well and the piece brought to an exciting finish.

Sunnybank's Stage March was Ravenswood (Rimmer). Cornets were a little overpowered by the trombones in louder sections. Soprano did some great work! The trio had a lovely contrast, and the band was confident on the DC.

The band worked very well together; there were several young players and some very pleasing sounds were produced.

Gosford City Band

Gosford City Band, conducted by Anthony Timmins, were placed Eighth in B Grade for 2006. They achieved an aggregate score of 455

Gosford played Bromley (Rutherford) as their Hymn selection. This performance had very good balance, soloists handled this well and the band had full sound throughout.

In the Test, the opening was secure, lovely cornet and the quavers from B were very good. Timpani were great, although sometimes a little loud as the semiquaver work was lost. The muted finish to the first movement was effective. Euphonium and soprano playing in the elegy were very well done and the muted accompaniment was sensitive. The subito mp at M was excellent. The piece built well and was great leading into N. Very nice work from flugel, soprano and euphoniums. The vibraphone and quaver accompaniment were effective, but the sextuplets didn't quite happen. The opening to the third movement was not really ff, but xylophone was great. The band was very effective into U, with nice contrasts from U through to Y. AA was well handled, with good sustained sound at CC leading to a terrific finish.

For the band's Own Choice selection the band opted for Plantagenets (Gregson). The band settled quickly after a shaky start. In relation to the rest of the band, the cornets were a little light in volume. There was very nice trombone and tenor horn playing. The band clearly enjoys this piece (as do I), as there was loads of foot-tapping. The call and response section between tenor horn and muted cornet was well handled. Soaring euphonium solo was excellent – well done Phillip! There was also a lovely tenor horn solo and the back row cornets and trombones were excellent. The duet between solo cornet and euphonium was very good and supported by sensitive accompaniment. The recap was more confident. The fugue section is very well executed, with tubas particularly good. There were some terrific Gregson sounds achieved in this piece.  A lovely flugel solo led through to an exciting finish. Bravo band!

The band chose one of my absolute favourite marches in Roll Away Bet (Ord Hume). This started with excellent style. Bad luck solo cornet but this recovered well. Excellent work from soprano, and the bass solo was terrific. The march continued with good attention to dynamics and articulation. Bravo trombones!

The band demonstrated a rich tone, very good dynamic contrast and the percussion was exciting. There was some wooliness at times. Cornets were overpowered sometimes. Tuning and intonation were mostly accurate, and there was some lovely solo playing.

The B Grade section was a treat to listen to, and the standard in the upper bands was very high indeed. Thank you to all bands.

Chris Bowman