1: Valaisia Brass Band
Conductor: Arsene Duc
Well shaped opening section.
Rather brash sounds at 18, but it is confident and true.
48 - solo horn is fine - but why break the phrase?
Solo cornet does well. 65 - fluent duet. 76 - good clarity here and it continues well. Fine detailed playing is a feature of the whole section.
Firedamp - also impressive in its clarity, detail and dynamic versatility.
390 - excellent colour and balance.
Great pp from trombones and wonderfully evocative atmosphere.
413 is fine, if not perfect, but 425 is fantastically beautiful and affecting and it just keeps getting better and more moving.
A FANTASTIC performance - so full of emotional charge and splendid detail in the fast passages.
Many congratulations to you all!
Stephen Roberts
A fine opening with brilliant euphonium (last note b (flat))
FF - A bit harsh but well together. 42 - Holes in the euph line.
Very hard, brash tone, but exciting. Good horn (broken phrase)
Brilliant cornet. Top note 60 could be longer. 65 - some insecurity. 70 - Not quite in tune. Fine sounding trombones.
78 - Good tempo and rhythmic style. Good clean, precise playing.
162 - Terrific ensemble and character.
Impressive. Dynamic in style.
This is all very impressive. Just a bit too brassy at times.
397 - Fabulous control. Well done troms.
413 - Beautiful
429 - Not quite in tune
Fabulous. I have a tear!
Terrific - Bravo!
Ray Farr
1 - 48: Atmospheric and very tasteful euphonium playing. Very brassy sound for the character (rather overblown)
Good detail and baris and euphs.
48 - 76: Good horn (breaking the phrase?)
Cornet confident and assured playing. Bari and flugel play well - (more space?)
This section is generally well played.
76 - 259: Good clarity, excellent balance, very good. This is very ggod stuff - bravo!!
259 - 390: Terrific playing all round the band.
Ensemble is excellent as are the dynamics. Impressive playing throughout this movement.
390 - End: Marvellous balance and beautiful textures here. Troms make a real pianissimo!!
Wonderful playing here. Simple and emotional.
This performance just got better and better.
Simply wonderful. Stunning.
Thank you so much.
So emotional. Bravo!!
Paul Cosh
2: Whitburn
Conductor: Florent Didier
Detailed start and very fine solo euph.
Fabulous sound at 18 and good detail in fast passages - very impressive. Good solo horn - so stylish, but why the breath?
Splendid solo cornet - so assured.
65 - good atmosphere. Well detailed after 76.
234 - more horn? 292 - well shaped dynamics and phrases.
351 - Scintillating
390 - atmosphere well captured
Well controlled trombones and good dynamic shading. Fine control into 413 and lovely solo cornet. Beautiful quiet playing - fabulous control and quality loud sounds too.
A truly outstanding performance - the breath control was breathtaking!
Stephen Roberts
A fine opening, although the timp is a bit flat. Fine euphonium.
A great ff - perhaps more sost.
Great detail.
51 - breath?? Loud timps
Fine cornet – bravo! Lovely flugel.
92 - Rhythm? 117 - Not quite in tune.
Fabulous playing - Great ensemble
222 - bit messy. A bit untidy.
Balance weak
Timps not in tune.
397 - Could be more sustained and balanced.
413 - Nice ncornet. 420 too loud.
424 - W.N? (Wrong Note sic) 429 - Not in tune
433 - Not in tune
What a fabulous sound!
Terrific playing
Fabulous!
A fine performance
Bravo!
Ray Farr
1 - 48: Excellent Euph (just a little loud) but you play great!! Bravo!!
A lot of detail is being heard throughout and all is very well balanced.
48 - 76: Horn is terrific!! Cornet plays with ease and an assured style. Flugel and baritone are excellent.
76 - 259: All good and correct rhythms at 92/3/4 from the baris and horns - Bravo.
This is terrific playing - great ensemble - great dynamic range.
259 - 390: Brilliant stuff throughout. All the small dynamics are well observed.
390 - End: Great atmosphere - troms sonorous (double tick)
Cornet is magnificent at 413 (smiley face)
Dynamics are wonderful.
What a performance.
Individually, collectively and the overall shape of the piece was terrific.
BRAVO!!
Paul Cosh
3. Cory
Conductor: Philip Harper
Atmospheric opening - good solo euph - but perc is a bit too insistent.
18 - well sustained - careful A - intonation on quiet horns to follow.
Well judges diminuendo.
Stylish solo horn - but why break the phrase?
Fine solo cornet if a bit frenetic in style.
65 - fluent duet. Cresc well paced.
76 - very clear tempo - we hear so much detail. However it lacks a bit of intensity because of ths as well.
275 - tubas a bit lost in mix. Some excellent detail at 306 - fine tubas.
Some splendid passage work here - bravi!
390 - Very dramatic in character
397 - sombre and well shaped from trombones - good control. 413 - not quite together but sensitive and flowing musicality in ensuing passage and an uplifting crescendo in to 437.
Really fine shaping of a fff climax and splendid close.
A refined and dramatically musical performance of outstanding merit.
Stephen Roberts
A fine opening. Brilliant euphonium. Terrific sounds. I like the sostenuto.
48 - not in time
50 - broken phrase
V. G. (very good sic) cornet. Lots of detailed playing. Steady tempo. Fine clear ensemble.
186 - Intonation. Fabulous dynamics.
Great playing.
Terrific ensemble - dynamic style.
390 - Timps not quite in tune.
397 - Fine trombones - Love the style.
413 - Lovely (A=#?)
425 - Intonation a bit suspect.
Terrific
Ray Farr
1 - 48: Very atmospheric and euphonium plays well. Bar befire 22 not together.
Balance in chorale has a good sense of the piece and the overall sound is majestic.
48 - 76: Horn plays confidently and in great style (the break in the phrase doesn’t work)
Cornet is fine if a little rushed.
65 - needs more poise. This whole section needs to relax more.
76 - 259: Just slightly under tempo but all is very clear (very good). It picks up a little speed and benefits from that.
259 - 390: Basses are lost in the percussion dynamics. Bravo trom at 298. This is very good. All detail is heard. Bravo.
390 – End: Excellent atmosphere here.
Trombones play so well - bravo!!
The chorale at 413 is beautiful and all the lines are played with expression. The climax is very nicely done and played with just the right amount of passion.
Bravo!! Terrific.
Paul Cosh
