The lists of competing bands that will take part in the forthcoming Scottish Open and the Band Supplies Scottish Challenge Championships have been announced.
Scottish Open
The Scottish Open Championship will take place at Perth Concert Hall on Saturday 23rd November, where 14 bands will mark the 150th anniversary of the death of Hector Berlioz with their performances of Howard Snell's new arrangement of his 'Waverley' overture, plus a fanfare and march written by Howard himself.
He first arranged Waverley for brass band in the early 1980s and it was who suggested that it may be a suitable choice to mark the anniversary due to their enduring appeal to brass band audiences.
Asked what he thought it is about Berlioz's music that still resonates with audiences today, he said: "Berlioz music is always very striking in its audience appeal by virtue of its variety, and the direct quality of the emotions that it stirs in the listeners.
To my knowledge Berlioz never wrote music in abstract forms: his music always had a story or an image with it.
He didn't try to illustrate directly, in the precise way that film music works today, but more to match his own general responses to the story or scene. Waverley, his first purely orchestral work, comes closest to illustration by directly matching the Walter Scott novel."
The 'Grande Overture: Waverley' was first performed at the Paris Conservatoire in the May 1828. It bears the quotation: "Dreams of love and Lady's charms/Give place to honour and to arms", and is dedicated to the composer's maternal uncle Colonel Felix Marmion.
It is loosely inspired by Walter Scott's fictional novel of the same name, written in 1814 (the quotation comes from Scott), concerning the admirable honour shown both in battle and love by it eponymous hero Edward Waverley, during the time of 1745 Jacobite uprising.
Snell addition
Speaking about his own additional contribution to the contest he added: "The fanfare and march are the first two movements of 'Excelsior!' a four movement composition of mine dating to 20 years or so ago.
Personally I regard it as one of the more worthwhile pieces I have made, both in its challenges for the competitors and some enjoyment for the audience."
The defending champion is Whitburn, who will be looking to make it six wins in a row, and their fifth in succession under the baton of Prof Nicholas Childs.
Scottish Challenge Championship
Meanwhile, the Band Supplies Scottish Challenge Championships takes place at the same venue on Saturday 30th November, with 24 bands performing an own choice work by a Scottish composer to coincide with St Andrew's Day (November 30th).
In addition the Scottish Youth Festival will also take place at the same venue 23rd/24th November. 33 youth brass bands will compete on Sunday 24th across 6 sections: Young Bands, Preparatory, Novice, Development, Senior and Premier.
On the Saturday morning (23rd) 5 percussion ensembles will compete.
Before the results of the Scottish Open there will be a performance by White River Brass led by Brett Baker.
The Scottish Open Championship will take place at Perth Concert Hall on Sunday 24th November, where 14 bands will mark the 150th anniversary of the death of Hector Berlioz4BR
Festival
Saturday 23rd November:
9.30am: Percussion Ensembles
Adjudicator: Mark Landon
Sunday 24th November:
9.30am: Preparatory and Young Bands Section
Adjudicator: John Wallace, Sandy Coffin, Mark Landon
12.15pm: Novice Section
Adjudicators: John Doyle and Sandy Coffin.
16.45pm Development, Senior and Premier Sections:
Adjudictaors: John Doyle and John Wallace
Workshop Timings:
10.15am — 11.00am: John Doyle Workshop
1.00pm — 1.45pm: John Wallace Workshop
5.00pm — 5.45pm: Sandy Coffin Workshop
Scottish Open:
Adjudicators: John Doyle and Alan Fernie
Bo'ness & Carriden (Nigel Boddice MBE)
Dalmellington (Richard Evans)
Dunaskin Doon (Paul Drury)
Easington Colliery (Sandy Smith)
East London Brass (Jayne Murrill)
Elland Silver (Daniel Brooks)
Fishburn (John Pearson)
Johnstone Band (N/K)
Kirkintilloch Kelvin Brass (Charles Keenan)
Oldham Band (Lees) (John Collins)
Milnrow (Chris Binns)
Newtongrange Silver (Anne Crookston)
Rainford (Sarah Groarke-Booth)
the cooperation band (Michael Fowles)
Whitburn (Prof Nicholas Childs)
Band Supplies Scottish Challenge:
Adjudicators: Brett Baker and Stan Lippeatt
1st Old Boys Silver (Stephen Cairns)
3BA Experience Band (Benjamin Markl)
Annan Town (Andrew Warriner)
Brass Sounds Inverclyde (Wendy McCorkell)
Broxburn & Livingston (Charles Farren)
Buckhaven & Methil Miners (Stephen Craig)
Campbeltown Brass (Stephanie Mitchell)
Clackmannan District Brass (Ross Brotherston)
Coalburn Silver (Gareth Bowman)
Dundee Instrumental (Robert McDonald)
Dysart Colliery (Kenneth Letham)
Granite City Brass (Bruce Wallace)
Irvine & Dreghorn (Lewis Bettles)
Jayess Newbiggin (Duncan Beckley)
Kilmarnock Concert Brass (Scott Walker)
Kingdom Brass (Paul Drury)
Newmains & District (Michael Marzella)
Newmilns & Galston (Alan Cameron)
Penicuik Silver (Robert W Fraser)
Perthshire Brass (Craig Dennis)
St. Ronan's Silver (Simon Railton)
Kirkintilloch (Gareth Bowman)
Unison Kinneil (Chris Shanks)
