East Coast of Australia Band Championships - Newcastle City Hall

4BRDU reviews The East Coast of Australia Band Championships and Festival of The Bands.

The "East Coast of Australia Band Championships" and "Festival of The Bands" have been held in Newcastle City Hall Sunday 11 June 2006.
 
On a day that was cold, wet and windy, 11 bands competed in what is the largest Regional Contest outside The Nationals. The morning session 8.45am into early afternoon 1.30pm constituted "The Championships" with the "Festival of The Bands" (Entertainment style Contest) 2pm through to 6.30pm and results given 7pm.
 
Organised by the Hunter Regional Band Association each band is require to perform an Own Choice SACRED Item and Own Choice TEST Piece for the "Championships" judged separately to the "Festival" which requires a 15 minute (playing time) Entertainment Style programme.
 
The Championships were Adjudicated by Mr John Kellaway B. Mus Ed, DSCM(Sydney), FTCL(London), A.Mus.A  Head of Brass/ Percussion and Trumpet Lecturer at The University of Newcastle being joined by Mr Alan Thrift M. Mus, Music Educator and Conductor of The Sydney Male Choir for the Festival of the Bands.
 
The "Festival" was an Incredible time with not one but three bands featuring music from the Pixar movie of that title and displayed the bands in a less formal setting where they were more relaxed and able to play a much more varied style of composition. 
 
A pleasing addition to the announcement of winners and presentation of trophies and Certificates was the announcement of the "Hunter Regional Young Musician of The Year" who was chosen for their work within bands and associated activities to promote and assist. Each nominee is nominated by their Band and sit a panel interview as well. This was presented to Mitchell Clack of Toronto Brass Band who received a Trophy, Medal and Cheque Award. 
 
SECTION TWO BRASS "C & D" Grade Bands
 
Waratah Brass- Newcastle No 2 (Conrad Curry)

For a band made up of mostly younger players the use of Sacred item "Reflections In Nature" (Robert redhead) was a challenge for the band and one that was admirably met. Some fine work by Solo Horn Larissa Myers the recently crowned New South Wales Junior Horn Champion shone through in the melody "Fewster". This was an interesting choice for the band one that Conductor Conrad Curry worked well to bring a pleasing effort to a fine work.
 
The Band choose to use the work of legendary Eric Ball with "Indian Summer" as their Own Choice Test. This work having 4 movements was another challenge for the band and one in which the members gave its best. It was unfortunately marred by slips and intonation concerns in some of the movements but it was obvious the group gave a good attempt at the composition which is not an easy work by any means.
 
Festival  items:
Hawaii 5-O, Ticket To Ride, One Day In Your Life (Tenor Horn Solo Larissa Myers), The Girl From Ipenema (Trombone Feature), Give Me Some Loving 
 
CNL  Brass (Cardiff Northlakes) Ron Boaden

For its Sacred item the band choose "The Old 100th" (Arr Alan Fernie) and began with a strong full band sound. They appeared to be at ease with the work and a fine rendition was given marred by some slight intonation concerns and a clip in the Trombone Section. The overall sound of the band was good with some nice work from the Soprano Cornet and Basses.
 
Goff Richards "Hollywood" was a good Own Choice Test for the band which sounded to like the piece very much. A good firm start was given by the band which were confident adjusting to the different tempo's and styles of the composition. Some excellent Flugel Horn work flowed in several passages where it was the feature and the percussion section were in fine form having several important solo portions during the number and covered such well. Some missed entries and intonation concerns detracted from what was a good rendition of the work. Overall the band raised to the occasion with an impressive controlled full Band fortissimo sound in the concluding bars. A pleasing performance of an interesting and exciting work.
 
Festival  items:
Light- Walk, Can't Take My Eyes of You (Trombone Solo: Anthony Fowler), Georgia On My Mind (Cornet Solo: Clarence Leung), My Way 
 
Newcastle Police Citizen Youth Club Brass (Teena Wallace)

Sacred item "Nicaea" (William Himes) featuring the words of Holy Holy Holy was featured by a band made up of mainly Junior players with a small spattering of Seniors who also chose to play as their Own Choice test "Ross Roy" (Jacob de Haan) an Overture written for the St. Peter's Wind Symphony, Brisbane in the late 1990's. Both these numbers were eagerly played by the band and in the main well received with some nice Euphonium and Cornet work in the Own choice. Both were unfortunately marred by slips, intonation problems and an unbalanced sound at times but both the conductor and band worked well together and did give feeling to the works which is a credit to the group.
 
Festival  items:
Neutron Dance, Unchained Melody, Drummers Delight, Soul Bossa Nova, Birdland
 
Brisbane Water Brass (Jonathan Gatt)

This is a group formed in the last few years made up almost entirely of senior players of many years experience based on the Central Coast of New South Wales. Splendid in all black suites with sky blue embroided jacket pocket the band played "Lloyd" (Howard Arr. Alan Fernie) for their Sacred and "Dimensions" (Peter Graham) for its Own Choice Test. The Sacred item had some fine bass end playing and a good sensitive ending to the work with the Own choice showing the experience of players such as Ken Townsend Soprano Cornet, Mark Reay Flugel Horn, Merv Gale Tenor Horn and Ron Boaden on Bass Trombone. The bands contributions were well received and some good playing was contributed largely overriding some clipped/ missed notes and intonation concerns. The group made a fine addition to the contest and it was very pleasing to see and hear the contributions.     
 
Festival  items:
Man from Snowy River, Amparita Roca, Hello Dolly (Trombone Ensemble/ Vocal), American Trilogy
 
SECTION ONE BRASS  "A & B" Grade Bands
 
Waratah Brass- Newcastle No 1 (Ronald Prussing)

The Band chose to use for their Sacred item the Meditation of Sir Dean Goffin "The Light of The World" and did so most effectively. The opening sound of the horn was sensitive and smooth flowing through to some good ensemble work by the horns once again with the melody 'Behold Me Standing at The Door' leading with that rich deep sound building up to the Agitato Asking/ Pleading/ Knocking with its intensity and tremendous full fortissimo sound but totally controlled. The final section is a repeat by Goffin of the original melody Aurelia and was treated as the opening strains, with great sensitivity and a superb rendition came to a close. This truly was a pleasure to hear and will remain a highlight of this contest.
 
"St Magnus" (Kenneth Downie) written for the 2004 European Brass Band Championships was the bands Test and is a watershed composition for the English Composer. Four Variations and a Finale of what can only be described as an extremely complex piece of composing. During the first variation the semiquaver work of both the Soprano and Principal Euphonium  were excellent. The band sounded to be well adjusted to the complexity of the music with some great contributions throughout by the Percussion and Cornets with special mention of 2nd and 3rds being down in the register and rising to the occasion. The Finale with it heavy weighted tonal work and flurry of notes from the entire ensemble at times appeared to be heavy on the ear but this did not seem to detract from what was a fine performance. The band have had somewhat of a disjointed rehearsal period of late including some key players having been overseas until just recently at the "All England Masters Contest" but their effort with this work was still a quality reading of one of Downie's amazing compositions.
 
Festival  items:
That's a Plenty, Bells of Poever (Cornet Solo Principal Conrad Curry), Rondo 4th Horn Concerto (Comic Vocal), Alabama Bound

Warringah Concert Brass (John Saunders)

Featured Wilfred Heaton's "Just as I Am" as their Sacred contribution. Although written many years ago this Meditation is a tremendous work taxing the best of bands. Principal Euphonium Robert O'Brien and 1st Baritone Kevin Dallas rendered some nice work during the playing that unfortunately was marred by some slips by Soprano and the final bars wavering from Cornets. The band did a stellar job at their attempt to put the emotion into a work that requires each part to contribute its best to receive the pleasures this work hold for both player and listener and overall this was a credible performance.
 
Peter Graham's work for the 1990 European B B Championships "The Essence of Time" was a good Own Choice Test as the band adapted well to the piece. Several passages throughout brought some fine horn section work to the fore and once again the 1st baritone presented some beautiful work. The Latin/samba rhythm section of the work sounded to be well handled and a full bright glorious sound overall was presented by the band. A noticeable clip note from within the Baritone/ 2nd Euphonium region was one of the few points of what was a fine rendition.
 
Festival  items:
Gaudeta, For the Love of a Princess, TV Themes, Mumbo Caliente
 
City of Wollongong Brass (Andy Yule)

With its massive bass end of 7 Trombones and 5 Basses used "Mid All The Traffic" (Leonard Ballentine) Sacred item with its lovely interwoven melody base of Shenandoah, an American Folk Song. The band gave an admirable attempt of this work that held slips and missed notes from around the band and what unfortunately seemed some unbalance or intonation problems in the concluding section. The audience though appreciated the rendition and the overall feel was that the band does enjoy playing the composition.
 
"Cross Patonce" Own Choice Test by Cornish Composer Goff Richards showed lovely tone and some good work from the Solo Horn. Goff Richards lovely middle section of the work "The Sweet Shepardess" was well balanced and executed in a hymn like manner adding to the work greatly. Some slips by the Euphonium in the obbligato work was unfortunate as the band rallied to a robust finale that was maybe a bit heavy at times but ended in the band giving there all to the work. Not without a worry for the Conductor Any Yule but none the less some good playing throughout.
 
Festival  items:
The Flintstones, Slaughter on 10th Avenue, Love on The rocks
 
SECTION ONE CONCERT "B" Grade

University of Newcastle Concert Band (Michael Bell)

This was the only band that entered this section and did so simply so that the band could play in the contest to receive an official adjudication as to how they are performing. This ensemble is made up of Secondary School Students and for a Sacred item played "On A Hymnsong of Lowel Mason" (David Holsinger) which was well performed and balanced, with a mature sound well beyond the players years. Good balance and a work that was well played. "Defying Gravity"(Steven Reineke)  a work that displays different styles of aviation was a good own choice Test for this band. The group were impressive from the start which continued in the main throughout the entire performance, a fine rendition of modern composing with some good playing from the band.
 
Festival  items:
Music from The Incredibles, Benny Goodman: The King of Swing, Copacabana 
 
SECTION TWO CONCERT  "C" Grade
 
City of Lake Macquarie Concert Band (Steven Walter)

In their 30th Anniversary year the band rendered Sacred item "Forget me not O Dearest Lord" (Bach Arr. Reid) which was a tune unknown to most present, and own choice test "Out of Darkness" by Dr Quincy Hilliard Professor of Music and Resident Composer at The University of Louisiana USA.  Published in 2004 Out of Darkness is a work of difference many would not have ever come across. The beginning section of the scoring for whatever reason Hilliard chose allows players to actually pick whatever notes they like to play themselves. Very very different to the norm in test writing but makes for an interesting first few bars. This work was a challenge for the band and one that just didn't quite come off. The Sacred Hymn suffered mostly from being an unknown commodity but the band soldiered on and concluded with a good full Concert Band sound.
 
Festival  items:
The Saints Hallelujah, Music from The Incredibles, Blue Lake Reflections, Highlights from Shrek 2
 
Muswellbrook Shire Concert Band (Russell Passfield)

Splendid in Uniform and playing this is a fine ensemble. They chose for a Sacred item the familiar but different arrangement of Frank Tisheli "Amazing Grace" and gave a good sensitive performance. The sound was warm and well balanced and very pleasing to the listeners. Another item with an aviation theme Muswellbrook played as their test "The Hornet's Nest" (Ralph Hultgren) and was a fine choice of music. It was not without the inevitable intonation and slipped notes as comes with live performances under pressure of an experienced adjudicator but this held some fine work for both the bright sounding and bass end instruments of the band. A performance that both the Director and players could well be very pleased with. Credible performance indeed.
 
Festival  items:
The Letter, Hey Big Spender, Minnie The Moocher (With Vocal)
 
Port Macquarie Hastings Concert Band (Glen Moore)

Wearing an American style Marching Band uniform top this is another fine Band based in the Mid North Coast of New South Wales. Turning to the classics for their Sacred item using "Jupiter Hymn" (Gustav Holst Arr. Johann de Meij) more known to many as "I Vow To Thee My Country". This was well played with a good balance of sound and made for a nice performance. "Oregon" the second composition of the day by composer Jacob de Haan tells the story of a journey in the American State of that name. This was an excellent performance with its Dick Tracy/ Mungster feel to it and the audience truly enjoyed the piece very much. The presto/ lilt of the work was impressive, fortissimos had a good dept of sound to it, a slintando portion leading into the finale was handled with ease and the band showed they enjoyed playing the work. A composition working the band to its max but with good leadership of conductor Glen Moore who obviously knew what he was about, this was an excellent performance.
 
Festival  items:
Music from the Incredibles, St. Thomas, Lord of the dance, Chicago

A long day of competition and performances on a day that was less then favourable weather wise but was a superb day of music making with great friendship shown from all the different bands/ players. This Competition is a credit to "The Hunter Regional Band Association" led by President Mr Alan Shaw who is to be commended for a day that not only started on time but flowed smooth enough that it ended on time as well. Well done to all concerned both players and officials.