2007 South Australian Band Championships

Retrospective

6 October 2007
Tanunda
Adjudicators:
Selwyn Holmes A & B Grade
Dr Kevin Cameron C, D & Junior Grade

A GRADE

All conductors and bands should be congratulated for the work that they put into their programs and having made the decision to enter this contest. All bands seemed to be well prepared.

The Test, 4 Dances from Checkmate, presented a few challenges for the Bands, both technically and musically. Each of the four bands had some good moments, and the bands individually had strengths in different places. However, all 4 bands struggled with the 3rd Movement.

The Results

In the comments at the end of the section the Adjudicator Selwyn Holmes said, “all bands that played in “A” Grade should all have the technical ability’s to play this piece” and he was looking for “the band who made the most music out of the 3rd Movement.”

The results had Tanunda winners in all three pieces by a significant margin to second placed band, K&N Spring Gully Brass.  Hawthorn band were, in total, 3 points behind K&N in third place with Brisbane Brass a further 4 points back in fourth place.

Although the results was surprising for many, including us, we must be careful not to take anything away from Tanunda Town Band who has definitely improved under the direction of David Polain.  At the end of the day, it is the adjudicators opinion that matters, not anyone elses.

This how 4BRDU saw it…

Prediction after hearing the bands:
1. K & N Spring Gully Brass
2. Brisbane Brass
3. Hawthorn Band
4. Tanunda Town Band

For us K & N Spring Gully Brass was the pick of the bands.

K & N Spring Gully Brass (Bruce Raymond) produced an excellent reading of the score from the MD Brue Raymond, combined with some fine direction. The band had a lovely sonorous sound, with good shaping from the melodic parts. The band’s attention to detail and quality of sound throughout and the dynamic range certainly impressed. They were well lead by Kevin Joughin (Principal Cornet), Janet Carey (Principal Euphonium). The stand out player for us was David Khafagi (Soprano Cornet).

K&N played an arrangement by Mark Smith of Almighty God Thy Word is Cast as its hymn and Praise by Wilfred Heaton as the March.

Brisbane Brass (Greg Aitken) would have to be very disappointed with the result. They were technically sound in the test piece and the blend and balance was fine. The only criticism was the sound at times was a little harsh and there was the odd intonation problem, especially in the louder dynamics.  Bill Barker on principal Euphonium showed his class throughout and was the best Euphonium player on the day.

Brisbane Brass played Meditation the New Covenant by James Curnow as its hymn and The Challenge by W Calvert as the March.

Hawthorn Band (Peter Sykes) would be happy with their performance as it was a step up from the previous contest. They had a few balance issues, the upper cornets at times struggled to come through with the weight of the tuba sounds. The band also had its problems with attention to detail and the upper dynamics were forced. The real highlight was the outstanding work from the Tuba section.

Hawthorn Band played At the Cross There's Room arranged by Graham Lloyd and the Cossack by W Rimmer.

Tanunda Town Band struggled technically with the demands of the test piece, which unfortunately detracted from the overall performance. The Band had a few intonation problems and they seemed to run out of steam in the last movement. There was some very good playing from leaders of the various section soloists, particularly the Principal Cornet and Euphonium.

Special mention needs to made of Tanunda‘s playing of the Hymn - O Nato Lux - Morten Lourisden arranged by David Polain. The band started with a lovely delicate introduction, which was well balanced. They continued this sensitive approach, displaying a nice fluency throughout the hymn. This was well directed by MD David Polain.  Tanunda chose Mercury by Jan Van Der Roost as its march.

Jason Mears

B GRADE

The Test piece for the “B” Grade section was Eric Ball’s classic, Resurgam.  The two B Grade bands, Box Hill and Salisbury, struggled to meet the musical challenges but so would many “A” Grade bands.

As in the A Grade event, the conductors and bands should be commended for the hard work they put in preparing for the contest. Both bands would have enjoyed working on the Test piece and they should be better bands for doing so.

It was a very close contest with Box Hill just ahead of Salisbury after the results were announced.

This how 4BRDU saw it after hearing the bands:
1. Box Hill Band
2. Salisbury City Band

The Box Hill Band conducted by David Farrell had an unfortunate start but recovered well.  There was a lovely rich bass sound with good balance.  The band seemed to enjoyed playing this wonderful piece.  Doug Lewis did well on Euphonium but was spoiled by some untidy accompaniment during the cadenza.  It was a very stylish interpretation from MD David Farrell but at times the band didn't follow his lead.  Overall it was a good performance just spoiled by a lack of dynamic contrast and looseness. Box Hill is a young band that is still rebuilding and it’s only a matter of time before they reach their potential.

Box Hill chose Night Fall in Camp "Lead Kindly Light" by DA Pope as its hymn tune and Mercury by Jan Van Der Roost as the march.

Salisbury City Band conducted by Adrienne Meikle showed some real promise in parts but seemed to find it hard to come to terms with this difficult test. Some intonation problems occasionally crept in the bigger sounds and a few insecurities in the slower and softer moments. There was some lovely solo work from all soloists and the pick of them was the Solo Euphonium. The test piece stretched this band but they should be proud on some good playing throughout. 

Salisbury chose The Old 100th arranged by Alan Fernie as its hymn and Glemdene by John R Carr as the march.

Jason Mears

C GRADE

Philip Sparke’s Tryptich (a brass band favourite of many a bandie) most definitely tested each and every band in C Grade today. Like many of Sparke’s works, attention to detail is required to make good use of effects and stylistic features within the 3 movements. The technical aspects of the piece provide a great challenge for all sections within the band, but those who mastered the 2nd movement, Fantasy on One Note, would surely prove the champion today.

Mitcham City Brass, though only 1-point victors, stood out in this reporters mind as clear winners. A band that was obviously well trained by its MD, Peter Smith, who had really done his homework, were mostly tight and accurate, but what stood out above all was their attention to detail.

Mitcham’s hymn, Who is He arr Richard Phillips, highlighted their wonderful control and outstanding dynamic contrast. The quality of sound at both high and low volumes was exceptional.

The test piece was blemished by a few tuning issues in horns and trombones early on in Mitcham, but the style was spot on. Attention had been taken to highlight every line and dot, an important thing to remember when playing anything by Philip Sparke.
Mitcham’s second movement stood out above all, with stellar performances from the solo Euphonium and Cornet. Enfield soprano sung well in this movement, but the rest of the band could have provided more for him to sit on. This movement is simple, extremely demanding and really exposes a band, which was perhaps the downfall of some.

The final movement showed how much the bands were tested so far, as they all at some stage began to sound tired and out of breath. Enfield conducted by Geoff Magin, who came in a close second, too had some fine moments this movement, but soprano again sounded alone and in need of support from the rest of the back row. Marion City Band led by MD Veronica Boulton, also had some great principals but perhaps weren’t consistent down the line, which may have led to some balance issues in the last movement.

Enfield chose CWM Rhonda by John Gallard as its hymn whilst Marion City Band chose a Himes arrangement of Festival Prelude Ellacombe.

Fatigue seemed to feature in all bands, which perhaps led into the march as well. That said, Enfield’s march impressed the most with The Cossack and some good ‘punchy’ trombone work, but Kevin Cameron obviously had other ideas.

Mitcham were deserving winners, producing fine band sounds and lovely balance. Again, dynamic contrast is by far and away the most impressive asset and combined with great balance left hairs standing on the back of my neck in that 2nd movement! Bravo! Here’s to looking forward to C grade Nationals in Brisbane ’07.

Chris Lee

Editors note:

A representative from the contest committee has advised 4BRDU that Marananga Brass conducted by Thomas Ludi decided to ask that they not considered in the contest on the day. The notice that this was to happen came very last minute, and it is thought that they were unable to field a complete team on the day, and so felt unable to compete, but did not want to waste the preparation already put in.

D GRADE

Similar to C grade, the D grade test Petit Suite de Ballet by Ball, the exposed movements would show the class of the band and have a heavy impact on the results.

K&N Youth (Bruce Raymond):
Hymn - Lloyd arr Simon Kerwin
March - Castell Caerffili by TJ Powell

Campbelltown City Band (Alwin Kidney):
Hymn - Holy Holy Holy arr John Bacchus Dykes
March - The Great Little Army by Kenneth Alford

The hymns by both bands featured some excellent balance, but intonation distracted in both cases. K&N Youth should have expected this from 7 trombones!! The Campbelltown bass trombone owned the bass section in their hymn and K&N sported a cracker of a soprano player!

The test piece required confidence from the band. K&N were perhaps more polished today, with consistent quality of sound and a comfortable flow in the 1st movement.

With the second movement we also come to our 4BRDU Best On Ground award!! K&N’s solo Euphonium didn’t much look like he could fill the thing let alone fill the room like he did! Playing with such maturity, the Solo Euphonium soared and inspired. What wonderful things we have to look forward to from this young star.

The third movement had life with both performances played with style and class. A tendancy to almost overblow from Campbelltown sop and solo cornet perhaps came from trying to carry the rest of the section through some tricky parts, but builds to a good finish to the movement.

The final movement was once again dominated by a smashing K&N euphonium, not to take anything away from the lovely cornet work with stylish horn accompaniment.

Campbelltown continued their good work into the march with effective dynamic contrast and dare I say it, a bass trombone with style! Intonation problems at the softer dynamic from cornets, but a good style all round.

Marching to victory, K&N gave this reporter nothing to complain about, except I just felt 7 trombones could have given a bit more. Big sounds (but you’d expect that from 30 brass players on stage) and a great way to cap off a fine performance.
D grade? Look out C grade!

Chris Lee

Editors note:

A representative from the contest committee has advised 4BRDU that from the outset, Warriparinga Brass (Veronica Boulton), an entrant in the Junior Brass section along with K&N Youth, asked if they could be part of the championships, but in a non-competitive way for a few reasons. The main one was that they consider themselves to be more of a training band than strictly a junior band and so have a number of players over 19, thus excluding them from the junior section. They also felt that they are not of a standard to compete in D grade, given that the majority of players are young kids. So rather than not have them at the contest at all and miss out on the experience of participating, it was agreed that they would play a non-competitive program at the start of the day.