1st place:
Foden’s (Russell Gray)
Draw: 19
T=0:
Nice opening atmosphere – horn a piacere, very nice
Big Bang:
Excellent clarity – attention to detail ideal.
Music understanding first rate.
122 pp excellent character and style. Precision playing
All in good control.
The Lonely Planet:
Duets flowing nicely. Soprano intonation a little troubling.
Lovely pacing on articulation into the cornet solo.
Nicely played – plus euphonium also quality. 299 a fine tutti.
Nice ending into the section – beautiful colours
Asteroids:
Dancing – mercurial!
[6s] impressive. Fabulous playing!
Every detail has been thought about – thank you.
Music of the Spheres:
More bass trombone? Unfortunate slip
Harmonia:
Ideal sound quality – restrained and pensive.
Beautifully thought through ideas – balance good for trombones!
The Unknown:
A fabulous conclusion.
Thank you so much one and all, but I must thank fine musical maturity of the conductor in particular.
Martyn Brabbins
T=0 & Big Bang:
Great start!! 30 and 31 not quite together. 49/50 little aggressive
120: impressive and controlled. 122 + right in style
The Lonely Planet:
The music is fine and flow so good. 203 wow! 208+ so tender. 212 nice stuff
Asteroids:
257+ fantastic! Respect of the dynamics!! Bravo
300+ peaceful. 352+ brilliant. 371 wow! Not quite together
Music of the Spheres & Harmonia:
Good start not too aggressive 422+ so musical
440-441 = thank you for dynamics!!
443+ great style
The Unknown:
461+ good balance
What an ending. Wow! All is fitted
Thank you for this fantastic performance!
Thank you for the respect of the music written.
What a band sound with good balance, all is controlled
Great soloists and a big bravo to the MD!
Merci beaucoup
Arsene Duc
A musical opening by solo horn.
13: Effective and good sounds. Technically secure. This all flows along.
122: Good dynamic and detail is clear.
170: Good solo lines and the music flows
187: Solo cornet plays with feeling and Euph
204/5 – horn/soprano excellent.
221: Good sounds and good style and good percussion effects
Great approach to 372
411: A good balance on the chords – a minor blemish
Harmonia – very controlled and has a sense of majesty
457: A good tempo and a good sense of movement the end
Well done
A very good performance with much to commend. Good soloists and nice nuances from MD Good percussion effects.
David Hirst
2nd place:
Brass Band Willebroek (Franz Violet)
Draw: 11
T=0:
nice atmosphere. Lovely horn.
Big Bang:
Excellent transition. Vivid tempo.
Attention to detail – top class.
Lovely horn line. Detail is clear – bravo. Good restraint on forte dynamics.
pp 122 good – less bass perhaps? Good contrasts.
The Lonely Planet:
Nice duet playing – good interactions.
Some slight uncertainties around 182.
Solo cornet – well supported in clear textures.
Nice with euphonium – good pacing of fine drama – poetic playing.
Bravo soprano. Lovely cadence into Asteroids.
Asteroids:
Good dynamic restraint – winged messenger!
Real virtuosity – bravo. Care with balance details exceptional.
Lovely cantabile euphoniums.
Excellent into 372 and thereafter.
Music of the Spheres:
Well paced – unfortunate slip, bad luck
Harmonia:
Keep the restraint – lovely band sound. Marcato could be better “held”.
Excellent peroration.
The Unknown: exciting – and under control. Bravo
That was a really fine performance on all levels.
A pleasure to witness. Thank you.
Martyn Brabbins
T=0 & Big Bang:
Great start (original) 15 - 16 Wow! 42 - 43 rushing a little
60 balance horns? A pity = 121
122 + great details but big sound!
The Lonely Planet:
170: intonation 176: basses? Great solos 187+ so musical. 208+ All in place and fitted
Asteroids:
Start with detail. 257+ clarity, bravo
314: great, good balance. 348+ impressive
370: pity. 372: excellent
Music of the Spheres & Harmonia:
411: pity. 422 + calm and well controlled
431 - 432 more melody. 439+ balance OK
443+ great style. 454: well controlled
The Unknown:
461: Yes! Fantastic ending with power and determination.
Thank you very much for this brilliant presentation.
An excellent band sound with good balance. Stylistic accuracy and well-shaped phrases. The performance is academically fluent, well controlled and transparent.
Bravo to all the soloists! And to the MD! Excellent.
Merci beaucoup!
Arsene Duc
Nicely shaped to open by solo horn
13: You capture the style. 42: a little untidy. Some good technical detail. 122: Good dynamics.
170: Good solo ensembles. 187: Solo cornet plays with confidence. 204: solo horn/sop etc all contribute to the picture.
221: nicely balanced chord to open and all the technical detail is heard – good percussion.
Good approach to 372 and a good confidence sound. Good transition to 411 and good effects here. Harmonia is well managed by MD and there is a sense of majesty.
457: An exciting conclusion
A performance of character well managed by MD. Good solo lines and effective percussion
David Hirst
3rd place:
Brighouse & Rastrick (Porf. David King)
Draw: 3
T=0:
Atmosphere – OK – horn – very fine – bravo
Big Bang:
Good pulse. Fine band balance.
Good horn trio balance. Filigree detail nice. A few minor blemishes
Attention to detail impressive.
The Lonely Planet:
Nice bells – good start to the duet.
Find solo playing! Bravo
Pacing could be more graded and refined.
Asteroids:
Excellent – details coming to life!
Take care with pacing of the diminuendos
Fabulous band sound – all contrasting
Music of the Spheres:
Good style – care with intonation in sustained chords.
Harmonia – general sound quality excellent. And well paced growth in sound too.
More euph 435. Could be more grandioso at marcato.
The Unknown:
Good driving tempo – seems the right way to round off a fine performance convincing bravura virtuosity and refined solo playing. Well done ladies and gentlemen.
Martyn Brabbins
T=0 & Big Bang:
Great start: bravo. 13 excellent.
39: intonation. 47+ little rushing. 52+ excellent
64 - 72 difficult to hear. 111: great effort.
122 nice ambience and detail. 163+ well controlled
The Lonely Planet:
The music flows well. 186: intonation
187+ great soloists. 208: great balance
208+ well controlled. 218 + compact sound
Asteroids:
Great detail pp. 257: bravo well clear.
281+ well done. 317 – 320 excellent.
369 - 370 not quite together. 384 - 385 intonation
Music of the Spheres and Harmonia:
422 + melody so well built
430 + pity. 433: great style
The Unknown:
461+ good balance. 483: more space?
What a finish!
Thank you very much for this superb interpretation. Great soloists! Bravo MD!!! A fantastic sound and all is under control. Strong band with clever choices for balance and energy. Fantastic effects and brilliant technique
Merci beaucoup!
Arsene Duc
Percussion is effective and solo horn is so musical.
13: Very effective and technically secure.
152: Good detail – this has so much vitality.
170: Solo lines are so well together
187: Solo cornet plays with feeling and excels at 208. Soprano adds value.
221: Good detail and dynamic effects. This has great character. Good approach to 372.
422: is well controlled and has the right amount of sonority.
457: Technically assured to close.
A very well managed and enjoyable performance which had great character with your input from MD. Good solo lines and a confident approach.
Thank you
David Hirst
