*
banner

2019 Christmas Quiz: The answers and winner

The 25 little teasers certainly got you thinking over the festive season...

Answers
  The answers are now revealed

We had a great response for annual Christmas Quiz — and it proved to be a bit of teaser, as a few questions caught people out.

Still, thanks to everyone who took the time to give it a go after trying to squeeze in an extra slice of cold turkey or one more segment of Chocolate Orange...

Winner

Our winner is Karen Hurn from Cornwall, who is a semi-professional singer who has worked with a number of brass bands, especially for 'Last Night of the Proms' events in her native county.

Although she doesn't play she has supported her sister who used to play with St Dennis Youth and senior bands and told 4BR that the cornet "will be put to great use!"

Here we are then...

1. Which famous Christmas Carol links a former principal cornet of Black Dyke, a lightweight Morris Dance folk tune by composer Percy Grainger and the fifth man to walk on the Moon?

Answer: While Shepherds Watched... courtesy of the great Jim Shepherd, Shepherd's Hey and Alan Shepard.

2. In which country would you have found bands called Immanuel, Hosannah, Halleluja, Glora Dei and David competing in their National Championships this year?

Answer: The Netherlands

3. Which colour of light was originally earmarked by Gilbert Vinter to open his test-piece 'Spectrum'?

Answer: White (check out the story behind Spectrum at: https://www.4barsrest.com/articles/2019/1811.asp

4. August (Gus) Helmecke was alleged to be the highest paid player in John Philip Sousa's band, but what instrument did he play?

Answer: Bass Drum

5. 'In Memoriam R.K.' by Elgar Howarth is written in tribute to which great German orchestral conductor?

Answer: Rudolf Kempe

6. Which band won the first ever All England Masters title in 1989?

Answer: Leyland DAF

7. Which band won the last Pontins Championship title in 2010?

Answer: Marsden Silver Prize

8. What mythical animal links composer Philip Sparke, a Welsh regional rugby team and Daenerys Targaryen from 'Game of Thrones'?

Answer: Dragons (Year of the Dragon, Dragons Rugby Team, Mother of Dragons)

9. What was unique about the way in which the 1958 British Open Championship was decided?

Answer: The top 6 had to take part in a second round play-off

10. Which composer wrote an own-choice Championship Section work played this year for 'Brass Band and Ondes Martenot'?

Answer: Ludovic Neurohr

11. Which Edward Gregson test-piece comprises movements entitled, 'Dialogue', 'Soliloquy' and 'Epigram'?

Answer: Essay

12. What does the musical term 'incalzando' mean?

Answer: To 'press' forward as in an urgent manner

13. How many times has Cory won the National Championship of Great Britain title?

Answer: Nine (1974, 1982, 1983, 1984, 2000, 2013, 2015, 2016, 2019)

14. Which famous brass band player's autobiography is called 'From Umchucks to Cadenzas'?

Answer: Gordon Higginbottom

15. Which famous Gilbert Vinter test-piece, which started life as suite for string orchestra, omits a movement called 'Taproom Ballade' in its brass band version?

Answer: Entertainments

16. Which band is the current Champion Band of Sweden?

Answer: Gota Brass Band

17. Which famous composer wrote a ballet, premiered in 1930, that tells of a Soviet football team visiting the West, whose captain is imprisoned by fascist agents only to be released after the players are joined by the local workers to defeat the police?

Answer: Shostakovich (he once said "Football is the ballet of the masses")

18. Who is Paul Raphael in real life?

Answer: Philip Harper

19. Which former European Championship set-work opens with the second movement of Tchaikovsky's String Quartet No 1 in D, Opus 11?

Answer: Extreme Make-Over

20. Which trumpet player had a backing ensemble called 'Tijuana Brass'?

Answer: Herb Alpert

21. What nationality is the trombone player Lito Fontana?

Answer: Argentinean

22. Which two bands were relegated from the British Open in 2019?

Answer: Whitburn and Wingates

23. Who was the last band to win the British Open off the number 1 draw — and in what year?

Answer: Munn & Felton in 1954

24. Which composer wrote the musical scores to the films 'Psycho' and 'Taxi Driver'?

Answer: Bernard Herrmann

25. Which standard brass band instrument is made up of approximately 6 and a half foot (1.9812 meters) of tubing?

Answer: The tenor horn

Become a supporter and help make our future secure.

4barsrest continues to be a proudly independent voice. There are no paywalls to overcome to be able to enjoy what we do to keep our journalism at the heart of the brass banding world. Support us with a one-off donation or subscribe from just £2.50 per month.

Support us    


NYBBGB

NYBBGB concert reprise this Friday

September 18 • You can sit back and enjoy a repeat of the National Youth Brass Band of Great Britain's Summer Concert this Friday evening.


Future

Brass Foundations Future Leaders graduate with distinction

September 18 • The first cohort of future brass band leaders graduate from the pioneering BBE programme.


cooperation and adams

Adams and coop in percussion partnership

September 18 • Adams Percussion and the cooperation band have entered into a new percussion partnership.


Dutch

Dutch judges announced

September 18 • The adjudication panels for the Dutch National Championships have been confirmed.


Petworth Town Band - Petworth Town Band at Petworth Heritage weekend

Saturday 20 September • Centre of Petworth Town GU28 OAH


Cheltenham Silver Band - Holst Birthday Concert

Saturday 20 September • All Saints Church, All Saints Road, Pittville, Cheltenham GL52 2HG


Dobcross Silver Band - Milnrow Band

Sunday 21 September • c/o Dobcross Band Club. Platt Lane. Dobcross Saddleworth OL3 5AD


Regent Hall Concerts - The Band of the Grenadier Guards Big Band

Friday 26 September • Regent Hall (The Salvation Army). 275 Oxford Street. WC1 2DJ W1C2DJ


Brass Bands England - The Brass Band Conference

Saturday 27 September • Redhills Durham Miners Hall, Durham DH1 4BE


Haverhill Silver Band

September 17 • Haverhill Silver Band (Championship Section) seeks a FRONT ROW CORNET (position negotiable). This is a superb opportunity to join East Anglia's premier brass band for the L&SC area contest, the Senior Cup, Whit Friday and beyond.


Cheltenham Silver Band

September 16 • Required:. Musical Director : Cheltenham Silver Academy Band Following the relocation of our current conductor we are looking for a progressive, passionate and dedicated individual to lead our Academy Band, and to support our continued improvement.


Chinnor Silver

September 16 • We need a Bass player (either Bb or Eb) and a percussionist to join our happy team! The band is promoted to the first section in 2026 and were also 2025 Second section National Finalists. We rehearse on Wednesday evenings in our own bandroom in Chinnor


David A. Stowell


Conductor and composer


               

 © 2025 4barsrest.com Ltd