|
2004 Scottish Regional Championships - Retrospective
Fourth Section
Sunday 14th March
Test Piece: Partita – Edward
Gregson
Adjudicator: Frank Renton & Raymond
Tennant
A healthy entry of 11 bands this year and Penicuik
Silver drew
the short straw and played first. The opening movement was safe
enough but the style was slightly stodgy and some intonation problems
were evident. We heard a much better band in the 2nd movement
with an excellent cornet solo (from the 3rd man we think) and
a confident euphonium. The last movement opened steadily but there
was some untidiness in the rhythmic quaver entries. It was a good
effort all round and musically quite satisfying. 7 th from the
judges was slightly on the harsh side for us but there were enough
slips to rule them out of contention. Star player – solo
cornet in the 2 nd movement.
Dysart Colliery were making their first appearance
for many years and were noticeably under strength, with only 19
players on stage. The first movement was a bit of a struggle for
them, with a real lack of togetherness in the ensemble and intonation
problems throughout the band. We heard a good cornet solo in the
2nd movement but the accompaniments lacked real security. The start
of the last movement was a bit chaotic and the band did well to
negotiate their way to the end without further calamity. It was
a good effort from some of the younger soloists but overall it
lacked direction. 11th place was absolutely correct. Star player – solo
cornet.
Dunfermline Town under Steve Duncan made a secure
opening and we heard a good bass section. Just a slight touch of
poor intonation in the euphs and baris but it was a good 1st movement
nevertheless. The 2nd movement opened slightly untidily but the
solo cornet was excellent. The horn section and euphonium did well
too and this was a well-shaped movement for them. A good start
to the last one too and it flowed well all the way to the finish,
in spite of a slight touch of untidiness in the repeat. A good
reading from the conductor and a performance from the band that
was always going to be difficult to beat. In the end their 1st
prize was thoroughly deserved. Star player – solo cornet.
Coalburn Silver had a good opening movement,
with an especially nice soprano sound sitting nicely above the
band. Some untidiness and untunefulness at the start of the 2nd
movement could have cost them, but the euphonium solo was excellent.
A tidy last movement featured an especially good euphonium counter
melody, but once again intonation problems crept in. A good show
though that was worthy of the 4th place that they got. Star players – Euphoniums.
Stranraer Brass opened tidily and the sound was
good. Just some slight muddiness in the inner parts, but generally
good. We heard a few splits at the start of the slow movement and
one or two clips in the solo lines. The soprano and euphonium did
well though and the back row cornets were first rate. They seemed
to find their form on the last movement and the music flowed well
to the end. The earlier mistakes were costly though and 8th place
wasn’t
far away for us. Star players – back row cornets.
A good tempo but a lack of balance and intonation problems were
noticeable from the start for Hawick Saxhorn.
They did have a fine euphonium player though. More intonation problems
at the start of the next one, but the cornet solo was very well
played and we liked the way the conductor handled the tempo changes.
Some loose entries in number 3, but it settled down well and the
horns were especially good. Not their very best but 7th place was
right on the mark for us. Star players – horn section.
Dundee Instrumental (St. Margaret’s) made
a good solid start and had a nice overall sound and balance. Slight
scrappiness at the start of movement 2, cornet and euphonium both
did well. Slight intonation problems in the horns just took the
shine off it a bit. We felt they tired a bit in the 3rd movement
and more intonation problems proved costly, which was a pity because
they started so well. 5th from the judges and that was fine with
us. Star player – solo
euphonium.
Creetown Silver had an understated sound and
some of the opening ensemble was inaccurate. Another good euphonium
player though. They sounded like a different band in the second
movement and it went very well for them, with an especially nice
solo cornet well complemented by the euphonium soprano. Alas, they
resorted to their previous mode and early entries were very costly
for them at the opening and recapitulation in movement 3. Much
to commend this but 6th was a good return for them. Star player – solo
cornet.
Our tip for victory, Bon Accord Silver B, made
a brisk opening and it was well balanced with just a couple of
slips from the cornets losing them a few points. Lack of togetherness
at the start of the middle movement might have cost them too, but
it developed into a nice movement with nice cornet and euphonium
solos. The closing movement worked well for them and it flowed
nicely to the end, with the horns sounding particularly good. A
good reading that could have got a promotion spot if they had been
able to eliminate some of the early slips. 3rd place from the adjudicators
was pretty close for us. Star player – solo euphonium.
Queensferry High had a nice and clean opening
and a big sound was in evidence. A slight bit of hesitance at the
start of movement 2, but it recovered well and we heard good solo
work all round. Dynamics may have been a shade on the safe side
but the movement worked well for them. The 3rd movement was very
clean too and they demonstrated a lot of maturity for such a young
band. The judges had them 10th, which was a long way from the
2nd place that we gave them. We’re still puzzling over this
one. Star player – solo euphonium.
Newlands Concert Brass and Mark Bell were the
last to play on Saturday night and what a good performance it was.
The first movement all worked for them and we heard a good bass
section throughout. Some slips and cornet intonation may have cost
them in the 2nd movement but we liked the musical shape and all
the soloists were in control. The third movement flowed well too
and we heard another good horn section. The build up to the end
was terrific and the judges liked them enough to give them 2nd
place and a trip to Harrogate. We had them one place lower but
it was very close. Star player – Conductor for a terrific
reading.
We predicted that this would be competitive and we were right.
No doubt about the winners, Dunfermline Town who we had 5th in
our prediction. Newlands were very good too and will do well at
the finals. Bon Accord B, our tip for the top was 3 rd but we have
no idea what happened to Queensferry, who we liked a lot on the
day. Another 4 out of 6 for us though, which is the same as 2 out
of 3, which we all know isn’t bad.
© 4BarsRest
 back
to top
|
