2007 New Zealand Brass Band Championships - Retrospective: B Grade

John McCabes Salamander proved to be a tricky little beast for the B Grade bands to get to grips with, but the own choice selections proved that the overall standard here was encouraging to say the least.

The B Grade Nationals provided plenty of evidence that there are a number of bands both here in New Zealand and Australia that are being well coached and directed by MDs who have a realistic appreciation of the abilities and talents of the players under their command.

B Grade Champions! Pelorus Wellington celebrate their victory

To be fair the choice of ‘Salamander' by John McCabe was asking a great deal of them as a set work, and a number of performances couldn't meet its technical or musical challenges. But then again, how many First Section bands in the UK would do so either? Not many for certain.

Not the greatest of set work choices then to really help the bands at this level, but what was encouraging was that the MDs didn't take this as a green light to suggest that they could then play an own choice selection of the same degree of difficulty. Too often we have heard bands over extend themselves with totally inappropriate choices at this level – more to do with the misplaced vanity of the conductors than anything else.  Here we had sensible and eclectic selections of works, all of which were towards the limit of their abilities but not overly beyond them.

That said, some of the interpretations were a bit quirky to say the least, but overall it was a delight to hear bands trying to perform pieces that were within their musical grasp.

The winning MD: David Bremner has something else to put on the mantlepiece at home

Nigel Boddice was impressed more by the playing of the set work than he was with the own choice selections, whilst he delivered his appraisal with a neat sense of wit allied to razor sharp analysis of just where the bands went right and wrong. He pointed out that many needed to play hymn tunes in a much more melodic and open vowel fashion (think of a Bristol accent he said cleverly), whilst in the set work there was a need to come to terms with the mathematical issues the piece presented.

Too many bands he felt played with an overtly aggressive approach to the semi quaver work in particular, whilst failing to appreciate the need to keep a rhythmic pulse beating even in the slower sections. That said, a number he felt had made a decent fist of a difficult work – something that did impress and encourage him greatly.

The reality check for the Scotsman came with the own choice selections though, which he felt at times were ill chosen. He made the clear point of explaining just what to look for in choosing appropriate works – the five basics of phrasing, dynamics, tonal quality, balance and clarity. If you can do all these with your choice then it's a good one – if not, then you could be in trouble. A number of bands were in trouble according to Nigel, although once more he was generous in his assessments. 

There was no doubting the winners, Pelorus Trust Wellington Brass, conducted with admirable skill and finesse by the gifted musician David Bremner.

Champions elect: Wellington take the title in style

Over the two days they were a class apart, helped in no small part by a well balanced mixture of players that combined high class mature professionals with young and talented students. David Bremner also showed himself to be a conductor of musical intellect and unobtrusive technique as well as someone who could quickly fix potentially damaging ensemble insecurities with clear and precise direction.

Their ‘Salamander' was delivered with poise and with just the right degree of dark mystery that the score clearly defines. Add to that a fine performance of ‘I Know Thou Art Mine' as their sacred item and detailed if not always secure ‘Tallis Variations' then there was little doubt that their win by three clear points (winning both set work and own choice sections) was well deserved.  If they carry on like this over the next few years then they will be a real force to contend with in the A Grade too.

With Wellington clear winners there was a much closer scrap for the other placings, with a number of performances that made the most of their resources and which benefited from intelligent direction from the middle – not all though.

Runners up were Port of Napier conducted by David Oswin, which won the sacred item section with a nicely shaped rendition of ‘Peace' by Kenneth Downie off the number 1 draw, then followed it up by coming 3rd on ‘Salamander' and 2nd with their own choice selection of ‘Essay' by Edward Gregson.

The set work was delivered with a rather aggressive approach to start but soon settled down even if it did lack that touch of the mystic about it, whilst ‘Essay' was a well managed account, confidently executed by the players and intelligently led by the MD. It had lots of neat touches to admire about it too and overall they can be very proud of their efforts.

The same goes for Titan Hutt City Brass who eventually came home in 3rd place overall.

Conducted by Mark Carter they were joint 2nd on their sacred item, ‘Amazing Grace' to add to being runners up on the set work but a slightly disappointing 6th on their own choice selection of ‘Plantagenets' by Edward Gregson.

Clash of the Titans: 3rd place for the lads of Titan Hutt

The sacred item had a touch of the bagpipes to start but soon settled nicely whilst ‘Salamander' didn't quite seem settled for long periods and was a touch scrappy and harsh in places. Not so for the man in the box though, although he didn't enjoy the Gregson as much as we did, which we felt was a good choice and pretty well delivered even if it did get scrappy in the final quarter of the piece.

Behind the top three was a tie for 4th place between Addington Brass and Boroondara Brass from Australia.

Both had much to admire about their playing, although they both showed that they have a bit of work to do if they are to make a strong challenge for top honours next year in Christchurch.

Addington conducted by Iaan Wilson came joint 3rd (if that is the right way to describe it after Nigel had sensibly grouped all the bands within four points of each other) on their sacred item, ‘Peace'; 5th on the set work and 3rd on their own choice selection. Boroondara Brass meanwhile came joint 2nd on their sacred item ‘Panis Angelicus'; 4th on the set work and 5th with their own choice selection. Both showed quality and frailty in just about equal measures.


Delivered with a light touch: Addington's percussionist does her bit

Addington's ‘Peace' wasn't quite as restful as it could have been in delivery, whilst ‘Salamander' was a bit harsh and aggressive in places – all tooth and claws. ‘Tallis Variations' on the other hand was delivered with real aplomb with top quality solo lines and secure ensemble. It had a lovely shape inspired by the MD and even if it just got a touch scrappy in places it ended with control and balance.  

Four young players of Boroondara do their bit

Boroondara directed by Danny van Bergen didn't quite have that required restful, reflective feel with their sacred item either, whilst the set work was certainly quick off the mark, colourful and exuberant in character. The own choice selection of ‘The King of Elfland's Daughter' was a bit hit and miss at times with good contributions from the main solo lines, but it maintained its interest right to its warm hearted end.

Green fingers: Boroondara's soprano player does his best amid the foliage

The overall standard of the rest of the field did fall away a little after these performances although there was encouragement in just about all of them, if not always the required consistency to make more of a mark on the results table.  

Trust Porirua City Brass eventually came 6th conducted by Kerry Garrett. They were placed joint 3rd on the sacred item ‘Peace'; 7th on the set work and 4th on their own choice of ‘Elegy 1 – Jealousy' by Jacob de Haan. The sacred item was delivered warmly if a little disturbed in the ensemble balance, whilst ‘Salamander' was colourful if more than a little error strewn in too many places for it to have come higher than it eventually did.

Who says playing high notes doesn't make your hair go grey? It has for Porirua's sop player!

The own choice selection however was really interesting, a mix of typical Euro inspired nonsense that nonetheless was gripping and enjoyable from the first note to the last. It was a brave choice too by the MD who kept a tight rein on things and it was well played by the ensemble, even if it did sound a bit smoke and mirrors at times.

Seventh place was taken by Castle Trust Hamilton Brass directed by Gary Bilton who came 4th on their sacred item, ‘David of the White Rock'; 6th on the set work and 7th on their own choice selection, ‘Between the Two Rivers' by Philip Sparke. They played well and perhaps didn't quite get their just reward.

The sacred item (if you can really call it that – not even the Welsh tend to think of it quite in that vein despite its morose subject matter) was too weird and wonderful really to make any kind of mark, whilst ‘Salamander' was a touch nippy but with just the right degree of coldness in the ensemble sound. We liked it more than perhaps Nigel did, and we were in disagreement with him on the Ein Fest Berg inspired bit of Sparke which suited the bands approach and had flow and vibrancy right to its end. A touch unlucky as we said.

That just left the two bands at the bottom of the table, Tauranga City Silver Band conducted by Grant Langdon and Band of the Royal Regiment New Zealand Artillery directed by Dennis Schofield.

Both had plenty of plus points throughout, but crucially lacked for consistency and at times they lost some basic discipline too.

Tauranga came joint 4th on their sacred item, ‘I know I've found' which contained some of their best playing on the weekend, whilst they ended up 9th on the set work and 8th on their own choice selection of ‘Trittico'. The Royal Regiment meanwhile came joint 4th on the sacred item ‘Nicea', which nearly came off very well indeed; 8th on the set work and 9th on their own choice of ‘Music for a Festival'. There was nothing much to choose between the two bands on each discipline.

Tauranga's ‘Salamander' went a bit hell for leather and missed much of the musical substance of the work, whilst ‘Trittico' was a good effort on a tough old choice that just fell away badly at the end as tiredness crept in.

The same could also be said of the Royal Regiment which had moments of magic and mystery in the set work, but perhaps for the wrong reasons, whilst they redeemed themselves with a workmanlike performance of the Sparke that featured some fine solo playing but just had too many loose moments in its middle section.

Overall though this was an encouraging and enjoyable contest, made more so by the format of the competition that allowed the bands to try and showcase their strengths as well as try and camouflage their weaknesses. Not all managed that as well as Pelorus of course, but then again not all the bands had the obvious strengths in player personnel and conductor as they did. Worthy winners and a band and conductor to watch out for we think in the years to come.

Iwan Fox and Anthony Banwell