The National Adjudicators: Ray Farr; Rob Wiffin OBE; Alan Morrison
There were 20 performances for the judges to compare and contrast at the Royal Albert Hall on the weekend. These were their written opinions made staright after the renditions of Philip Sparke's 'A Road Less Travelled By' for the podium prize-winners.
We have transcribed each as carefully as we could noting the grammer and short-hand elements
All images copyright: Craig Chapman/4BR
1st place:
Cory
Conductor: Philip Harper
Draw: 18
Good opening – well drawn, and well into 15 – which is all well balanced and controlled
32 (tick) nice mp con calore
40 – good dynamics (tick). 52 V good. 66 – poised – lovely this. 79 (tick) 83 timp not quite or 85. 89/91 lovely contrast. Tempo is really good and so much clarity. 118 Power and quality 126 - well held back. Good.
2. Vibes and rep fine. Flugel into 148 good. Rep a little wayward. One bump along the way – but lovely flugel. 159 vibrant – very nicely done. 161 Euph – yes good. Building so well.
167 convincing. 171 I like this temple – flowing – so well done. Beautiful sound here. 182 just the slightest edge – but great control and building to 190 huge sound. 194 troms fine – lovely B flat bass. 201 you sustain this mp – thank you. Chord to end – flug languid. Very well done. Vibes?
3. Scherzo is so well placed and detailed
253 – fine playing. 287 troms fine. 320 restrained – stylish. 360 lovely tone. 368 great detail. 394 moving on – yes. 406 ff but great quality. 416 xylo – piano! 435 - and drive to the end
Okay - a few tiny things – but what a great performance! Great direction – brilliant soloists and revealed many things not heard before. Very well done.
Prof Rob Wiffin OBE
A really good opening. 15 lovely playing.
Great detail and accurate musical playing. 32 lovely blend.
85 not quite in tune. Fabulous playing.
2. Just right in the music concept.
Excellent flugel. Fabulous.
V.G. Euph. Huge climax.
Lovely cornet and nice phrasing.
Beautifully done. 182 Bravo. Clash cyms?
Lovely troms. Nice bass.
Vibes out! (But who cares?
3. Excellent playing. Great troms.
320 fabulous. Xylo – p!
Thanks
Ray Farr
A positive start and it all links so well. Tasteful soprano and lovely cantabile lines. 32 horn balance is not good. Lovely use of accents though in lower end and sonorous bass sounds.
Impact dynamics works so well and the rhythmic thread weaves its line through the music in Moto Perpetuo! Basses are menacing when required and the dynamic range was huge. Neat and tidy to close.
143 the atmosphere is created and the scene is set. Flugel comes from nowhere but doesn’t seem entirely settled. Glorious tonal sounds in full ensemble. Lovely stop touches. Good euph with just the right movement forward. Sumptuous wind down from 167. Good cornet. Sop late to the show at 182 but what a PPP from the band! Super bill from 186. Expressive lines to 199. Stylish phrasing and poised chattering in baritone. Musically very satisfying. Super close!
212 lively style and well driven. Great cornet work and stylish band ensemble with great touches of jazz. Sectional work is top notch and lifts the music off the page. 320 sublime home and flugel cantabile lines. Percussion works hard to add colour.
394 is so well restrained just waiting for the ff which doesn’t disappoint. 410 is so controlled and the ending is on fire.
A performance of the highest musical integrity from all around the band not least the MD. Bravo!!!
Alan Morrison
2nd place:
Aldbourne
Conductor: Glyn Williams
Draw: 9
Well, poised and articulated opening.
15 - lines flowing well. 32 – good accomps first mfs. 40 (tick) 45 nice shape – sounding well and confident. 52 (tick). 60 (tick). 66 good. 79 neat on accents. 85 unlucky sop. 93 – a little lumpy. 106 Nice cornet team. 110 – maybe a little over accented. 118 exhilarating sound.
132 (tick) good movement – well done.
2. All entries secure and in tune. A stylish legato from the flug – 192 nice detail bass trom. Frugal range of expression could be greater. Assured playing to 167. 171 moves on – don’t overwhelm the soloist. Cornet is good. 182 Well done. 186 good build. 190 big sound – 194 watch balance euphs/troms. 199 -201 could have more for mp. Well controlled – euph 2! strong! Trom a bit too much.
3. Moving! But this is a good band and masters all the details. 287 Troms good. Excellent through to 320 – which shimmers nicely with fine details. 376 – finally detailed at pace. 394 controlled – then ff has big power. 410 very fine – controlled ff all detail in place.
A highly coloured and vividly executed performance full of detail of articulations and line. Well done - a really good performance
Prof Rob Wiffin OBE
A fine opening. Very good technique with detail and musicality.
Not totally secure in places. Good dynamic contrast with a well controlled ending.
2. Well done. Fine flugel with good style. Not always together. Fine cornet (but not quite in tune) 182 could it be softer? Fine troms.
3. Impressive playing in every way. Lovely horn and flugel.
FAST. Too fast for this acoustic.
Generally – well played
Thanks
Ray Farr
A controlled start that all linked well with musical dynamic shape. Good sop! Warm lines in legato and contrasts make the impact. Fragments link up so well and bass sounds are sonorous with a menace!
The odd slip in sop/upper cornets but it flows with such musicality and is shaped so well. Percussionist add colour! Untidy final run – mutes?
Effective vibes and the scene set well. Good flugel if just a little reserved in projection. Super build and controlled upper levels. Euph plays well and the transition is effective.
Lovely cornet solo always in control. 182 is so well controlled despite the mutes? The sonority of these lines is so impressive and they link so well. Colourful vibes and moods all blended so well. A super close.
212 clean cornet work and just enough drive to make it work but keep some in reserve. Dynamic effects work so well. The mood changes are instant and the legato lines are luscious and delicious. Super playing from all around the band.
394 has control just waiting for the ff impact that doesn’t disappoint. Detail is here and bells are neatly coloured by glock. Playing of the highest calibre.
A performance that explored the whole range of tunnel colour dynamic contrast and musicality led by a master musician. Thank you.
Alan Morrison
3rd place:
Foden’s
Conductor: Russell Gray
Draw: 19
One good start – settled pace. At 15 it feels maybe a little steady – but the plane is poised.
Fine through 40 (tick). 52 – okay – some extra shapes added but fine. Some raw detail through 70s and 80s. 85 – watch intonation. 106 nicely blended and balanced. Good effects at this movement – well done.
2. Good vibes. 146 both troms Es – intonation. 148 some internation issues between flugel and rep. 152 wayward intonation on flugel. 159 more cornets for mf please though muted. 160 – intonation not quite. Stylish playing. 169 more legato please basses. 171 – don’t obscure cornet euphs. Cornet does well but don’t make it harder for him/her. 182 nicely done – careful sop and 2nd euph – strange articulation chord at 184. 194 very good troms and E flat bass. 199 - a very good effort at this movement. Flugel top G wayward at 208. 211 just an ensemble lapse.
3. Slightly tumbles into life but okay once settled. 269 - nicely done. 287 troms just a little untidy. Losing some poise through 300. But repeats at 320 – just a little untidy. 368 okay – into 394. 410 (tick) – a few untidy details.
Overall a very commendable effort with very few errors and only minor blemishes.
Thank you and well played.
Prof Rob Wiffin OBE
A fine opening – very impressive.
32 lovely blend. p a bit loud.
52 not in tune. 59 not pp Bit loud. 89 not quite together. Excellent soprano. Bases are a bit too loud. 130 intonation
2. Not quite in tune. Lovely flugel (just a bit un tuneful on some notes). Excellent euph. Basses too heavy. Excellent build of climax. Lovely cornet. Perhaps the accomp is a bit loud.
184 (quaver notation marked) Interesting. Agogic accents. Excellent trombones. Flgel a bit sharp on top G. V.G. Balance and intonation and control
A fine performance
Thanks
Ray Farr
A well managed opening at linked and grew impressively.
Good sop and well balanced sectional work. Lines link so well and it has rhythmic drive. Sonorous bass work evident. Accented figures were usually precise and added colour. Fragments were seamless and the ending was effective.
Vibes create the atmosphere joined by muted lines and trom. Stylish flugel hurried in bar 152 and uncomfortable in lower register. Well shaped lines follow and euph plays well if a little sharp.
Tiny tuning concerns in links and accompaniments. Expressive transition and well shaped cornet solo. 182 is subdued but why not tenuto? Very odd style (184). 199 generally well balanced but could take more baritone. Flugel sharp and final chords not together.
212. A lively start with good cornet work and rhythmic direction. Strong sectional work particularly troms. 320 Cantabile lines were expressive and sublime. Some untidy technique though in upper cornets. 394 is restrained waiting for the ff which is massive. 410 is neat with effective bells and bravura close.
A performance of great stature, but not without small elements that just broke the accuracy. A fine team of soloists though and MD. Bravo!
Alan Morrison
