WA State Band Championships

Retrospective

The 2006 Western Australian State Band Festival was held at Churchlands Senior High School on Saturday June 3.

Last year's contest was supported by over 10 bands so it was somewhat disappointing that the number of brass bands this year was only three. Further than that, each of the three 'competing' were on their own as they appeared in different grades.

Last year's Contest Director, Paul de Cinque was still involved this year, but only on conducting duty with Midland Brick Brass. Paul is a fantastic driving force and his lack of involvement, for whatever reasons, undoubtedly led to the lack of numbers.

The adjudicator was Barrie Gott from Queensland.

A Grade

Midland Brick Brass, Director Mr Paul de Cinque

The band's Hymn, Hymn for Diana (Joseph Turrin) had a clean opening, was well balanced and played very musically. Some lovely cornet playing was to be heard, but the horns were not quite together. There was some lovely lyrical playing throughout from a band well in control. The cornet trio was not quite together. A warm sound was heard from the euphonium and baritones. Diatonic descending runs were well defined and there was a lovely transition into ‘a tempo'. The trombones were well balanced throughout. The soprano entry was a little forced and a fraction early before the break. The first sign of intonation problems was heard during the last chords, but it was a well balanced and beautiful warm sound.

The band had a very tidy start to the Test, Harrison's Dream (Peter Graham). The accents were delivered well into ‘A'. The Eb bass was forced at ‘C' and the solo cornet was too loud. A good transition was heard into ‘D'. It was a little too loud into ‘G'. Some great euphonium playing was heard at ‘J'. The basses were not together at ‘M' and the solo cornet insecure at ‘N' - this section was not as secure and tidy. Well done to the solo horn. The basses were lumpy after ‘P' and there were intonation problems after ‘Q'. ‘R' was  very loud for pp. The percussion into ‘U' was tremendous.

This band displayed wonderful control and a full sound. A few problems throughout did not detract from a fabulous performance, ably directed by the young and upcoming Paul de Cinque. A full house received a quality performance.
 
Midland Brick's March, Keighley Moor (Joe Cook) was well received by a large audience, swelled by the arrival of 48 young musicians from St Andrews Junior College, Singapore, who competed in the Concert Band section on Sunday.

The playing was generally very tidy, although the syncopations could have been more rhythmical. The cornet duets were not always together. There were some great accents,  but the syncopations were rather rushed in general.

The band's Own Choice was Philip Wilby's Paganini Variations. The opening lacked complete impact. The euphonium theme was not quite all there. The front row cornets were very tidy. There was some intonation problems and the bass trombone not quite there. At times the basses dragged. Tremendous soprano work throughout. The cornet semiquaver dovetails were well played. The euphonium and baritone semiquaver links were not always secure.

The fanfare was done excellent. The bass theme felt rushed and rather lumpy. The horns were not always rhythmical. This section was not quite as convincing. Some intonation problems were evident leading into the flugel solo – but well done flugel! This was all much more comfortable. Well done soprano.

The final section opened very solidly, leading to a rousing finish full of drama and intensity.

Result: Hymn 45, Test 192, March 48, Own Choice 194, Total 479

B Grade

Canning City Brass Band, Director Mr Michael Cartwright

The band opened with their Hymn, Amazing Grace (Arr. Himes). This had a clean start but was very loud. The snare was too prominent. There was a full sound building as the band came in. The back row cornets put in a great effort with the melody - lovely. The intonation in euphonium/baritone/basses was not secure. Well done to the soprano in the second verse. The sound became a little harsh in cornets as the dynamic increased. The glock was very loud. The final chord was lovely - but why so loud?

The pitching was insecure and there were intonation problems evident in the opening of the band's Test, Le Roi D'Ys (Lalo arr. Wright). Well done to the solo cornet. The flugel seemed a little forced. The tremolos in the horns were too loud during cornet melody. The intensity built well through the fanfare. Bigger contrasts were needed throughout this section. There were some bumps in the euphoniums and baritones. The intonation was poor during the lead into the euphonium solo. Well done to the Eb bass countermelody. The tempo was a little untidy coming out of euphonium solo, but settled eventually with a lovely full band sound. There was good dynamic contrast, but the entries were often untidy. Well done to the trombones! The band continued building with great intensity, but it was well controlled at all times towards the ending.

Canning City chose the Centaur (Derek Broadbent) for their March. This performance had a rhythmic opening with tidy playing. The soft dynamics need to be quieter to contrast with healthy fortes. The syncopations worked very well. The Trio was too loud and some of the earlier swagger was lost a little here. The semiquavers in the cornets was untidy before last strain.

Four Spanish Dances (Rodney Newton) was the band's Own Choice. The first dance was a little insecure in the opening, but settled into the 7/8 well. The 4/4 eventually settled and flowed well.  The Spanish style was captured well. The horns were a little fluffy moving into the second 7/8. A good ending to this first dance.

The second dance opened with sound balance and intonation. This dance went well but for the occasional rushed moment. It was not always as relaxed as it could be. The cornets were a little untidy at the end.

The rhythm in the third dance was not as solid as it could be and the band was not quite generating the correct feel. Intonation was a problem with the trombone trio. Some much softer playing was demonstrated here - why not more often? Tuning was again a problem in the ending.

The opening mood was conveyed well in the fourth dance. There were tuning problems in horns. As this final movement progressed, the music needed more direction and drama. Well done tubular bells. Towards the end the band started to build in intensity, leading to a good finish, although the last entry was not quite together.

Results: Hymn 40, Test 180, March 42, Own Choice 185, Total 447

D Grade

City of Belmont Brass Band, Director Mr Peter Weir

The band had an untidy start to their Hymn, Dear Lord and Father of Mankind (Parry), but settled quickly. Some lyrical and melodic playing was heard from the solo cornet. The band played with good phrasing and balance. There was a tendency to rush towards the end of the second verse, and some general intonation problems as the dynamic increased. The music lacked feeling as it approached the ending.

The Test was the old favourite, Eric Ball's Indian Summer. The First Movement had a solid start, although intonation problems were evident in the euphonium and baritone sections. The snare drum had major problems. The softer section proved to be somewhat troublesome. The trombone links at the end of phrases were rather unstable.

In the Second Movement phrases were cut short and ended very abruptly. The tempos were unstable and the band had a tendency to rush again. The final chord was well balanced.

The Third Movement began with good style and feel. A great attempt at dynamics was heard throughout. Again, the tempo tended to rush at times. The Theme was strong throughout and the band balanced well. Unfortunately the ending lacked drama.

The Fourth Movement was played with much style. A strident approach delivered a full sound throughout.
The opening to the band's March, Bravura (Laseroms) was not quite secure, but settled. The tempo was steady, although the percussion had some difficulties staying with the band. Unfortunately this piece was lacking dynamic contrast. There were some shaky moments throughout, but a good finish.

Belmont's Own Choice proved to be a little too difficult. St Michael's Mount (Eric Ball) had a solid opening but then some instability throughout from the whole band. The performance struggled to make much impact and it was with some relief when they arrived at the cornet solo. Maybe not the best Own Choice - this band can play better, as heard earlier.

Results: Hymn 32, Test 168, March 29, Own Choice 155, Total 384

After the Hymn and Test, Concert Brass Rockingham provided some entertainment. This was their first visit to the contest. A band of many youngsters, they were led by Allan Hyde. The program could have been more varied as it comprised mainly marches and hymns. They had their problems, as any lower section band would, but played with gusto and vigour. Midland Brick also provided a short concert program before the results were announced.

The Norm Snow trophy for the best soloist was awarded to John Kent (euphonium) from Midland Brick Brass.

Thanks to Peter Younghusband for this report on the Western Australian State Band Championships.