The December edition of the Brass Band World magazine is now out, and it's packed with fantastic features, articles, reviews and interviews from around the globe…
GRAND SLAM FOR EIKANGER:
Norway's Vikings completed a 2017 grand slam of four major titles at Brass in Concert, which invited the audience to award the first Audience Entertainment Trophy at its 41st edition.
VOICE FROM THE PAST: REACHING FOR THE STARS:
A candid and previously unpublished interview with the late
Maurice Murphy at the Barbican Centre, in February 2002, with Lisa Fitzgerald-Lombard gained a fabulous insight into the life and times of the legendary trumpet player, who passed away in 2010.
PRO PRACTICE — PEAK FOR PERFORMANCE:
Could sport science, epitomised by top athletes Mo Farah and Usain Bolt, be applied to brass contest performance?
As we head towards a new contesting year, BBW's Pro Practice host, Professor Roger Webster, applies world-class sport training techniques to achieving peak performance at brass band contests.
THE BBW INTERVIEW:
Vital legacy of labour and love: RNCM Brass Band Festival Artistic Director, Paul Hindmarsh, has created an important repertoire legacy and is responsible for the only major serious performance platform for the brass band genre, as well as influences music selection
at the European Championships, for which he is Chair of the Music Commission.
Christopher Thomas meets the former BBC Radio 3 Producer — who just wants to 'keep the music going'.
LET'S DEBATE: HOLISTIC APPROACH TO ARTISTIC FREEDOM AT BRASS IN CONCERT
Conductor, player and composer/arranger, Sandy Smith, debates the adjudication method and marking system for one of the UK's entertainment contests — Brass in Concert, compares it with Norway's SIDDIS version and argues for a more holistic approach at the former.
2018 BRINGS SEISMIC SHIFT:
As ever in the worldwide brass band community, the last 12 months have brought highs and lows — highs for Eikanger and Valaisia bands, which have taken two of the UK's most prized titles back to Norway and Switzerland, but some harsh lessons for UK banding with this developing seismic shift from the traditional powerbase of the genre.
BBW's Editor, David Childs, surveys an intriguing 12 months.
EUROPE'S HEAVYWEIGHTS HEAD FOR UTRECHT:
Thomas Dunne brings coverage of the first three National contests taking place across Europe, plus Norway's SIDDIS entertainment contest, where the older order was pretty much evident in Denmark and Norway, but toppled in Holland and Austria.
THE HEROES OF THE 369TH HARLEM HELLFIGHTERS:
American composer, Sandy Coffin, helped to organise and played in a concert at New York's Metropolitan Museum of Art in July, which reinvented the Harlem Hellfighters Band of
1917 — 1919.
Here, Sandy charts the fascinating band of musicians celebrated for their innovative performing style and heroism during World War I — a legacy that she brought to life in three new pieces performed by Tullis Russell Band at St. Andrews University's Fringe of Gold Festival.
BOOK YOUR HOLIDAY IN 2018:
Christmas is the time to consider your holiday destination in 2018, so BBW has compiled a guide to the top summer schools that combine sun (hopefully), fun and first class tuition, plus festivals that showcase fantastic brass performances.
BBW brings details of the 15th Future All Stars Festival in New York, the European Brass Band Championships and Festival, the North American Brass Band Summer School, Brass Week Samedan, Lieksa Brass Week and the 28th International Brass Band Summer School.
BBW CENTRE BAND: WANTAGE'S CENTRE OF EXCELLENCE
The backwaters of Oxfordshire would not necessarily be where one might expect to find an oasis of brass music making, but with six bands and a new MD in Paul Holland, Wantage Silver Band has the firepower to succeed.
WHITBURN HURTLES TO FOURTH SCOTTISH OPEN:
Mark Good brings coverage of the 2017 Scottish Open, at which Whitburn finished the year in dominant fashion, as well as brings coverage of the Band Supplies Scottish Challenge and Youth Championships.
BBW CASTAWAY:
The principal cornet of 2017 Grand Slam Band, Eikanger — David Morton — selects his desert island listening, book and luxury item.
CD REVIEWS:
Principal trombone of the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic, Simon Cowen, reviews the news Foden's Christmas recording featuring vocalist, Matthew Ford and David Childs enjoys a Q&A the singer.
Christopher Thomas listens to The Nationals 2017 highlights disc and leading trombone soloist, conductor and educator, Brett Baker, settles back to enjoy the latest and highly recommended seasonal release from Manger Musikklag Band entitled December.
MUSIC REVIEWS:
Thomas Dunne reviews the latest batch of concert music published by Music Company, mf-muskverlag frank, and Wright and Round.
Norway's Vikings completed a 2017 grand slam of four major titles at Brass in Concert, which invited the audience to award the first Audience Entertainment Trophy at its 41st editionBBW
CONCERT REVIEWS:
The World of Brass in Concert featuring Cory Band and Men Aloud at the Sage Gateshead; the USA's razzmatazz outfit — Fountain City — entertains in Perth, Scotland and the Fringe of Gold Festival at St. Andrews University featuring Tullis Russell Mills and Kingdom bands with The Wallace Collection.
FESTIVE GIFT GUIDE:
With just over two weeks of frenzied shopping time before Christmas day, BBW has compiled a handy gift guide and the best thing about it... you don't have to venture out into the cold to purchase the items — they're all available at the click of a mouse. Happy shopping!
RANKINGS:
Cory finishes on top for the sixth consecutive year Gordon Simpson reveals which bands finished 2017, but which band is the highest riser at the end of 2017? Gordon Simpson reveals all in the original brass band Rankings.
DIARY DATES:
Events around the World in December and January.
… AND ANOTHER THING:
John Barber and resident cartoonist, Nezzy, reveal their Christmas wishlist.
NEWS:
All the latest news including: Brass Bands England launches volunteer recruitment drive; Smith-Watkins fanfares opening of New Zealand Parliament; New York Staff Band to tour Japan; Brass in Concert branches out with Grimethorpe and ABBA's Regional Test-piece Workshop details.
SUBSCRIBE:
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