2007 Australian National Band Championships - Report: D Grade Own Choice and Stage March

A report on the Sunday performances of the D Grade bands.

Darebin City Brass
O/C-Tryptich-Philip Sparke
A nice bright start just suffered some intonation problems throughout, confident playing by all soloists.
Some nice lyrical work by cornet soloist through the slow movement, good band sounds displayed well supported by the bass end. 3rd Movement started well euphos/baritones. Good work with dynamic range but overall just spoilt by some loose entries throughout.

March- Cross of Honour-Rimmer
Good tempo with very good attention to dynamics well played and a good start to the section.

City of Holroyd
O/C-Sinfonietta-Gordon Langford
 
A good lilting feel to the start and good work by the cornet soloist.
2nd movement began with cornets not always together, good work by the flugel, nice chord to end the movement.
3rd movement-semiquaver work linked well through the band, a nice feel maintained throughout to the end, just the odd loose bar here and there but well done overall.

March-Cross of Honour-Rimmer
Not together at the start and some loose entries follow throughout, good attempts in dynamic range but we are sure they could have played this better.

City of Frankston
O/c-Music for Festival-Philip Sparke
Settled on a good tempo and good work by the trombones some minor intonation lapses in the accompaniant parts, dynamics worked well, Eupho did well throughout the slow movement but cornets were a little ragged at times.
Some tuning problems in the horns in the last movement, basses worked well to close the piece.

March-Florentiner March-Julius Fucik arr.Roger Pheloung
More attention to dynamic range was needed especially in the quiet end.

City of Bendigo
O/C-Legend in Brass-James Curnow
Well played at the start displaying full band sounds,and tight playing to end the movement.
2nd Movement had some minor tuning issues, soloists worked well through the movement.
muted cornets were not in tune. Nice full sounds in the fortes but let down by intonation problems.

March-Shield of Liberty-J.J.Richards
Generally well played but again more attention to dynamics would have enhanced this performance.

Mildura District Brass
O/C - Pacific Dreams - Jacob De Haan
Excellent entry from percussion,A little trouble with the rhythm from cornets into the syncopated section although horns and trombones recovered the mood well. Accompaniment a little too heavy in the quiet sections although a good ensemble sound emerged as the movement progressed. A couple of slips from the solists.
Good work from the bass section need a little better support from the cornets.Tuning was not quite secure in the louder sections and with percussion just a little too exuberent at the close but a good effort overall with mostly good intonation.

March - Castell Caerdydd-T J Powell
Controlled entry with a good dynamic drop into the 1st stanza.Nice dynamics. Good cohesion from the bottom end in the bass solo, with just a little intonation problem at the end. Some tuning problems with a couple of wrong notes on the DC from the top end. Overall however a confident performance.

Bairnsdale Citizens
O/C - Polished Brass - Edrich Siebert
Entry just a little hesitant and shot notes just a little ragged. Band sounded a little more confident as they got further into the section. Good work from Solo Cornet and Eupho. Accompanying parts just a little too heavy at times.

March - Amparita Roca - Jaime Wexador / Arr. Aubrey Winter.
A confident start. Good dynamics and good support from trombones.Soprano struggled with what is a very difficult obligato part, whilst the ensemble sound was good and clear. Bass Solo needed more cohesion in final section, whilst exuberant, needed more control.

Echuca Federal
O/C - A Celtic Suite - Philip Sparke
A solid and confident start, good band sound. Horns developed a little problem with intonation early on.  Good work from Solo Cornet. Some tuning problems in the trombone section but good work from the basses. Some intonation difficulties at the beginning of second movement. Troms worked better together in this section.
Nice tuneful finish to this section.
Good start to 3rd movement but cornets being a little overshadowed as it progressed. Horns working better now and a well executed cadenza from the cornet soloist. Basses provinding a good foundation and good colour from
Trombones. Nice completion to the piece and a surprisingly "full band" sound from a group with so many younger players.

March - The Standard of St George - Kenneth J Alford.
A good commencement with the tempation to overblow carefully resisted. Struggled a little to keep up tempo.
Nice sound in soft sections. Could have done with little more "bite" but a good rendition, nevertheless.

Sale City
O/C-Knoxville 1800-James Curnow
Some intonation problems to begin,but develops into some tidy playing and good chord to finish the slow movement.
The band progressed well to the end with lots of nice playing from the soloists,  well done to the Sop and flugel and a well controled finish.

March-Invictus by William Himes

Good solid start but the cornets struck some technical diffuculties. Nice rhythmic work by baris/euphos followed with more of the same by the horns. The bass section provided plenty of drive and the band finished the march with conviction.

Oakleigh City
March- Army of the Nile Kenneth Alford
Percussion not together with the band,some intonation problems between the Sop and solo Cornets, percussion perhaps a little heavy in the quiet moments. The soprano did a fine job in the obligato to finish the march.

O/C Swing Low Fantasy-Tom Greatorex
Cornet and Eupho started the piece with nice solos of the Swing Low tune moving into a pleasant jazz section, just some intonation problems crept into the slower sections marring some oterwise good playing.Finishing with an up beat jazz version which the band seemed to enjoy playing. Well played.

Cresswick Municpal Brass
O/C Scenes from a Comedy-Michael Hopkinson
The start of the piece seemed a little hesitant at the start with loose entries throughout.
2nd movement moved along nicely in the euphos but again the underlying parts were not together.
 In the 3rd movement the band lacked rhythmic pulse and the muted entries seemed unsure.
In the last movement the band could have had more dynamic contrast to add to the circus type feel that it achieved.

March-Victoria Alex Lithgow
Good start and dynamics were effective. Bass solo with troms was well done, some problems occured in the cornet line with lack of pulse and rushing.

Moonee Valley Brass
O/C-A Saddleworth Festival Overture-Goff Richards
Nice bright start. Nice tight playing in bass section.
Good dynamic range through the Waltzing Matilda section.
Nice cornet solo but the accompaniant could of been a little more sympathetic. Good Basses.
Nice sounds in National Anthem, pity about the cornet entry after.
Cornet triplets not clear.Overall the band played with lots of enthusisiam, a little untuneful in parts, a good solid finish.

March-Invercargill Alex Lithgow
A good tempo was set, perhaps a little more punch needed. Intonation problems with a few wrong notes but the band played solidly through this march.

Croydon Citizens'
O/C Suite-The Seasons-Philip Wilby
Intonation in the cornets and horns affected the start and continued throughout the 1st movement.
The 2nd movement started with a good attempt by the solo horn player. Unfortunately the intonation problems continued through this movement.
The 3rd movement started in a brisk fashion but was marred by overblowing in the cornet line. There was some good technical work with the band playing well together but sadly there were too many wrong notes.

March-Blaze Away A Holzmann
Good Bass work with only two players in the band. Good tempo struck and maintained. Cornets not always together. Enthusiastically played.

Latrobe City Brass
March-Star Lake -Eric Ball
Good tempo set and dynamics well observed. A nice feel to the March but perhaps some over blowing in the cornets.

O/C-Othello Drake Rimmer
Good confident start to the piece. Untunefullness in the slow movements didn't help the eupho soloist.
Nice quaver work by cornets. Lyrical playing by the solo cornet. Some nice band sounds coming through.
Cornet solo needs more support from the horn section. Intonation in the quieter passages effected the overall band sounds. Enthusiastic percussion added to the excitement of the louder sounds.

Mornington Youth and Citizens'
O/C Appalachian Mountain Folk Song Suite James Curnow
Good style to open the piece. Good drive by Basses. Good finish to 1st movement.
2nd movement showed some nice lyrical work by the eupho and cornets.
3rd movement nice bright playing, good tempos, would have liked more dynamic contrasts.

March-Castell Coch
Solid opening but some loose entries. Cornets not always together. Troms to the fore in the bass solo. Some balance problems towards the end.

Conclusion

Today saw a wide range of own choices played, mostly well selected to suit the bands. We found as was the case yesterday the bands displayed good sounds in the louder dynamics but struggled with intonation in the quiet and muted passages.

Our choices today for Own Choice:
1. Darebin City Brass
2. City of Frankston
3. Oakleigh City 
  
Stage March:
1. Darebin City Brass
2. City of Bendigo Brass
3. Oakleigh City