The first welcome signs of a partial return to brass band rehearsal in Germany have taken place as Brass Band BlechKLANG has taken a socially distanced step in the right direction.

Opportunity

The band from Jena has battled hard to maintain the progress its organisation has made over the past few years in helping establish a vibrant brass band movement in the country, and so the opportunity to perform in socially distanced mode has come as a huge boost after almost three months of inactivity die to the Corona Pandemic.

The band observed strict health and hygiene rules under MD Alexander Richter as they met up in the courtyard of a local school.

Hibernation

And as Band Manager Martin Feibicke told 4BR, it has been like the band has awoken from hibernation.

"Although there were many video conferences for general exchange and various distance banding projects for the core element of the band, we all yearned to make music together again.

Now the enforced break is finally coming to an end and we are delighted, although this is just a first step. We should have played the music to 'Sleeping Beauty'!"

Now the enforced break is finally coming to an end and we are delighted, although this is just a first step. We should have played the music to 'Sleeping Beauty'!Brass Band BlechKLANG

Room

Alexander and the players gathered in the courtyard of the Saale Valley School in Jena which has kindly made its premises available and which offers the room to undertake socially distanced playing possible.

He told 4BR: "It enables us to comply with the strict hygiene regulations of the Jena Health Department. The wide stone steps also allow an unobstructed view of the conductor, who is standing quite far away. It means we can rehearse and it opens the possibilities for others such as our youth band too."

Appropriately Alexander revealed that one of the pieces they played was 'Brass Band BlechKLANG: The Force Awakens' as they now look to prepare for possible park concerts in Zeitz and Erfurt (Germany).