4barsrest live coverage sponsored by Normans

Live: Nationals - 1st Section

Live coverage of the National Championships of Great Britain - 1st Section - from the International Conference Centre, Harrogate, Yorkshire.

Test Piece: Victorian Snapshots - On Ratcliff Highway, Ray Steadman-Allen
Adjudicators: C. Brian Buckley & Wing Cmdr. Rob Wiffen OBE
Saturday 29th September
Commences after awards for Third Section

Live:

Pennine Brass, Ian Porthouse, 17
Region: Yorkshire

Powerful and persuasive – no holds barred opening. Very tight playing. We hear the Westminster chimes. Lower band excel. The music shines through and the drunken sailor is full of London Pride. It continues in same vein. Effective playing throughout – rejoicing through to a powerful close.

Overall: This performance is right up there. Quality performance and so well directed.

Star player: A collective effort this for the band and the MD.

Woodfalls Concert Brass, Steve Dunster, 16
Region: West of England

Confident opening has power and purpose. This is an effective musical picture with detail and atmosphere. Merry sailors are a feature. The music flows and we hear subtle changes that many bands haven’t exposed today. Tempi make for effective music making. Continues in confident vein and there a real sense of celebration and jubilation. Close spoilt by over blowing cornets.

Overall: A quality performance that may make a good mark here today.

Star player: sop – solid throughout.

Poulton le Fylde, Gary Clegg, 15
Region: North West

Opening isn’t too bad – quite restrained. Nice atmospheric playing and tempos allow music to come through. Nice drunken sailors. Band plenty with warmth and this has a comfortable feel to it. Well chosen tempi results in confident execution. More of the same as we approach the final third which is well handled with its joyous climax.

Overall: Good solid performance – lots of plus points.

Star player: Sop – played a blinder.

Hyde, Jonathan Camps, 14
Region: West of England

Opening is steady and the atmosphere is delivered with colour. Nice and effective this. It’s so relaxed in its delivery – high jinx from sailors. All pleasant and content as we move along and there’s plenty of quality ensemble on show – confident stuff this. Our only gripe is a lack of depth to the sound. It’s not dark enough at times. Final third sees band in good form gain. Lots of passion and quality to the close.

Overall: A neat and solid show that had plenty of persuasion. Just needed a bit more edge.

Star player: Euph – well led.



Treherbert, Craig Roberts, 13
Region: Wales

Not a bad opening this and the MD gives plenty of space. The atmosphere is good and the Drunken sailor is captured well. It becomes a touch harsh in places but there’s plenty good stuff also. The mood becomes jubilant but again a little harsh for us. Perhaps a little more evangelical in approach was required.

Overall: A good start but sounded a little more difficult as it unfolded.

Star player: Euph - A stalwart performance

Newmilns & Galston, Craig Anderson, 12
Region: Scotland

The opening is full on. It’s a little bit OTT if anything. Atmospheric mood is good now that the dynamics has come down a bit. The drunken sailor does what only a Scot would do! Nice ensemble sounds and a real good feel good factor about this. Just the odd clip around the stands. Band stands tall and majestic leading to a powerful close.

Overall: Lots of good stuff but those early sections and clips will prove costly we think.

Star player: Euph – solid and dependable.

Felling, Graeme Tindall, 11
Region: North of England

Opening isn’t too bad but not totally together. It feels a bit nervous but when it settles it has real atmosphere. Sailors are happy souls. It has its moments this but not all ensemble work is precise. Tempo is a touch on the quick side and some of the detail is lost. Final third sees the band at home and ease with the music. Excellent celebration leads to fine close.

Overall: Just took too long to get going for us – a pity.

Star player: Cornet – stuck with it throughout.

Derwent Brass, Keith Leonard, 10
Region: Midlands

Positive opening shows lots of purpose and atmosphere. Nice feel to the music and MD knows the bands limitations. Tempos are well chosen and music has life. Sailors are in high spirits. Moves along well with confidence engaged by well chosen tempi. Joy in abundance with a really upbeat feel. Music comes to a powerful climax and close.

Overall: A good show with a special mention for quality MD work.

Star player: Cornet – led with quality

Milton Keynes Brass, Paul Fensom, 9
Region: London & Southern Counties

Not a great opening and takes time to settle. This has taken a long time to make an impact –it’s been nervous and strangely underwhelming – even with the drunken sailors. It does improve but it is all a little disjointed and the emsemble doesn’t knit as it should. Final third is stronger though, much more together and the picture emerges – finally. Too little too late for us though.

Overall: One that never got going until way too late for us.

Star player: Cornet – determined throughout.

Gresley Colliery, David Hirst, 8
Region: Midlands

Good opening is well controlled and has balance. MD brings out atmosphere from score although its not always together. The cautious approach does work though. It’s not always convincing as we move along. The MD is working hard to keep things in check. Nothing quite seems to knit together. The final third is the best playing and we hear the musical voices and the sense of jubilation to close.

Overall: Had its moments but the promise never really materialised.

Star player: Cornet – a beacon of good quality.


Stocksbridge, D. Nesbitt, 7
Region: Yorkshire

Purposeful opening has great shape. Atmospheric with lovely touches. We hear the chimes and the sailors have a really boisterous time. Such a solid musical picture is presented. It’s full of life and energy and the tempos are spot on. A powerful performance merges. The music vein continues and it is persuasive on the ear. Great resolution and celebration to end.

Overall: A high quality show that contained fine playing and benefited from musical direction.

Star player: soprano – a really top class performance.

Timperley Band, David Evans, 6
Region: North West

Fully committed is not over done. London is alive with the sounds of Westminster chimes. Drunken sailors are having a ball. A nice musical picture is being created here - MD drives with energy and band respond. So much to enjoy – playing is full of character and vibrancy. There is a musical touch to everything we hear. Fine joyful celebration – solid playing despite the odd clip. A very musical closing statement.

Overall: A fine performance this. Band and MD as one.

Star player: solo cornet – shone throughout

Dunaskin Doon, John Boax, 5
Region: Scotland

Opening not 100 per cent and sound is a touch harsh. Just takes time to relax and then the atmosphere is convincing. Drunken sailors are in high spitits. There is a neat sense of enthusiasm in portraits of joy and despair. Tempos are possible below par. Music carries passion and self belief and the cause for celebration is well maintained. Pity about slips towards end.

Overall: Had its oments this but possible needed more pace in telling the story.

Star player: Flugel – Sung with delicacy.

Northop Silver, Thomas Wyss, 4
Region: Wales

Opening os purposefull and very full on. The moods are depicted well and music flows with well chosen tempos. Ensemble playing is of high quality despite the odd clip. There is enthusiasm about all of this playing. Great ensemble at times but the error count is starting to rise. It resolves with a lovely close though.

Overall: A fully committed performance with an enjoyable reading from the MD.

Star player: Euph – Very well led thoughout

Lockwood Brass, John Roberts, 3
Region: North of England

Opening is fully committed and bubbles with energy. London’s east end is nicely portrayed from the mournful to jolly. Tempos are certainly brisk but it doesn’t detract from the overall musical picture. Odd wrong entries are evident though. Playing is good – never losing that touch of fun or seriousness. The close has a neat sense of celebreation about it that is brought off with conviction.

Overall: A very solid musical portrait well thought out by the MD

Star Player: solo cornet – solid and dependable.

City of Cambridge, Peter Bassano, 2
Region: London & Southern Counties

Confident opening that certainly doesn’t lack self confidence. The mood changes are nicely portrayed and drunken sailor is full of boozy fun. Ensemble brings music to life and the band respond to MDs energy. Emotive colours of London are well portrayed and there is a feel and just just cause for celebration at the close.

Overall: Confident show that had it’s moements at times but overall didn’t just come off for us.

Star player: Solo cornet – very well led from the front


Jackfield Elcock Reisen, John Maines, 1
Region: Midlands

Opening takes time to settle – and it’s not always 100 per cent – nervers? The mood though is portrayed with feeling. It doesn’t quite capture the atmosphere for us at times. Drunken sailor though is effective. It builds to a triumphant close but not always together.

Overall: Not a bad opener – not always capturing the full musical picture.

Star player: Solo cornet – so much confidence