1st Place: Brighouse & Rastrick
Conductor: Prof David King
Draw: 10
Great start!
D – lovely solos
E – splendid character and neat playing
H – good clarity and musical atmosphere is so well captured
Fine climax up to L and nicely balanced here.
Cadenza 2 – super.
Cadenza 3 – wow!
Good sounds at Q
S - is simply breathtaking – quick but clean
Y – stunning contrasts here and Z is a great tempo and with solemn accuracy that really reflects the dance.
Beautiful solos from DD on – really fantastic. Quality sounds throughout the band.
Well judged written into GG, which is so rich but detailed too. Brilliant ending!
An absolutely incredible performance! I have tears in my eyes – thank you also so, so much. It was just what about perfect in every way. It was so well directed and superbly played.
Stephen Roberts
Super opening – full of drama and poise.
B - full of drama, immediately contrasting with ‘calmato’ - super control throughout.
Young Juliet – light and fleet – super detail – this is terrific, so characterful!
Love the tutti sound before L. Mercutio build up is masterful. Outstanding cadenzas – esp euphs – superb!
The outpouring of ‘grief’ from Q is palpable and articulated seamlessly with R. This drives relentlessly to Y where the control is stunning.
Z – love the tempo, this has nobility (bass trom-wow). Stop – wow!
DD – just gorgeous, and solo cornet from Adagio is so tender – beautiful. Super attention to phrasing detail through FF. This is musically so rounded… So many high points for me. The finale is so well judged – wonderful!
What a special performance – memorable in so many ways. Fantastic reading and a commanding, effortless performance.
Thank you
Anne Crookston
A commanding opening and good dynamics
A - Well done soloists – a musical approach
B - Good style and dynamic nuances noted
E - Full of character and so much clarity
H - Well controlled and all is well shaped
L - So well played and it all makes musical sense
O - Very effective and solo lines are clear
P - Very musical – thank you euph.
Q - You capture the style – well done MD and band
R - Yes!
Y - Good reprise
Z - Well presented and authentic – fine soprano
DD - Excellent cornet and the music is sublime
A fine performance by an excellent band and led by an MD of musical stature. Great soloists
Thank you
David Hirst
2nd Place: Brass Band Treize Etoiles
Conductor: Frédéric Théodoloz
Draw: 11
Very good start. Excellent base Trombone
D - quality soloists all round – well played
E - very characterful and neat – lovely!
H - good – so much detail and musicality
L - well balanced and expressive
Cadenza 2 – excellent
Cadenza 3 - good euphs – no bass drum used?
Q - solemn and characterful!
S – brilliant
Y – very well controlled
Z – good tempo and authoritative playing
DD – lovely solo playing
FF - splendid rich sounds here
Well paced into GG and beautiful band sound. Excellent close.
Wow! What a performance – absolutely stunning. Such musicality and technical mastery. The shaping was masterful and the soloists divine. You have made it hard to make a final decision.
My thanks to you all, love! (little heart drawing)
Stephen Roberts
Super opening – very well controlled and real fire from B. Calmato is beautifully judged.
Young Juliet really comes to life – super detail throughout. You capture the impetuous character from H. Build to L is neat and powerful. Terrific control through to N.
Cadenzas are masterfully delivered. Euphs are beautifully matched. Tutti through Q has great nobility and articulates seamlessly with R. Terrific work through this passage – full of venom and driving relentlessly to Y. Great control here – masterful.
Z - love the weight and gravitas – super cornet work especially. Lower band are outstanding from BB. Gorgeous work from DD… lyrical and tender solo lines – beautiful.
You give the music such space! GG - such musical phrasing – this is gorgeous.
Superb finale.
What a wonderful reading – you really brought the characters to life. Superb work from all the soloists.
Thank you
Anne Crookston
A confident opening and good dynamics bar 7.
A - Cadenza is well managed.
B – Good ensemble
E - Delicate playing and detail is clear. There is much to commend here and the playing is consistent.
O - Good ensemble. Cadenza and good euph at P
Q -Solid sounds and full of character
S - Excellent technique
Y - Good sounds on the reprise and dynamics are well measured.
Adagio – good cornet - and sensitive playing by band. GG - Good balance and the thematic material is heard. Confident to close.
A fine performance with good band sounds and well directed. Soloists were musical with good band technique.
Thank you
David Hirst
3rd Place: Cory
Conductor: Philip Harper
Draw: 16
Excellent opening – well played!
B – Good sounds
D – fine soloists (bar 69 to 70 not quite together).
E – is clear if a little frenetic
H - has good character.
Good build into L and this works very well. Good muted cornets.
Cadenza 2 – excellent.
P - not tidy
Cadenza 3 - good.
Q – good sounds.
S – is fine – lots of clarity in forte.
Y – good stuff.
Z – has solemnity and weight – the rhythm is well maintained.
DD - rich basses – lovely solo cornet. All soloists have such quality sounds. Sometimes the ebb flow of tempo sounds a little contrived though. Good sounds at GG – fine quality to close.
A very fine performance – thank you so much. It was well shaped and beautifully executed. The solo cornet player was particularly outstanding.
Stephen Roberts
Super opening – thrilling!
B - has bite and venom – so precise, contrasting so well with ‘Calmato’. Beautiful control.
E - has lightness and joy! H - is captured so well – impetuous and driving. L - is so well shaped and super detail on show through M – terrific precision.
Cadenzas – shape and style are just right. Euphs are poised and majestic. Q - has weight and gravity – bravo troms.
R - has venom and drive – excellent precision, we hear every note!
I like the construction through Y. You capture peseante so well through Z.
This is so stylish – and sop detail almost works. DD - is thoughtfully poised. 2 cornets – beautifully balanced, really lovely musicality here! I really enjoy the ‘wash’ of sound from 433… You capture the effect through GG so well – excellent!
Super melodic shaping from HH and the finale has real majesty.
A super performance with great precision and a masterful reading. Some beautiful solo work today.
Thank you
Anne Crookston
A well executed opening section.
B – Good with lots of clarity and good contrast at D
E – Scampers along and has panache. The furioso has character and a good transition to O
Ensemble cadenza is good. P - well played euphoniums.
R - Good tempo and technique with good reprise at Y
Z - Good ensemble and you capture the style and all detail is heard.
DD - Nicely played but just the odd moment where internation is an issue.
FF – This flows very well and good sounds at GG and carries to a confident close.
A consistent performance with good solo lines and technique. MD creates a musical approach and the band responds.
Thank you
David Hirst
