What an amazing weekend! Last Sunday the Band took part in the National Final of the British Brass Band Championships, held for the first time at the Barbican Theatre in York.
After many weeks of focussed rehearsal, careful preparation and excited anticipation, we made our way from London and travelled through the beautiful North Yorkshire countryside for an early evening rehearsal in the band room of Easingwold Town Band. Many thanks to them for letting us visit – we definitely now have band room envy!
Spirits were high as we got together to enjoy a delicious band curry at Jaipur Spice in Huby. Our committee members did a wonderful job of organising a weekend that was as much about having fun and celebrating the band’s achievement as it was about sustaining the competitive spirit.
After a final rehearsal on Sunday morning, we were ready to go!
The Band was competing in the Fourth Section against fifteen other bands drawn from across the UK. We were the 15th band to play, and this allowed us time to catch up with friends from other bands as well as listen to some of the other performances.
All the bands were required to play Peter Graham’s Heroes of the North. This energetic piece was written last year and pays a playful homage to key figures of the Norwegian brass band movement, featuring five different stylistic variations on a theme.
The first, Mr Brevik’s Galop captures the upbeat energy of arranger and conductor Tom Brevik, and is followed by Frode’s Dance which celebrates gifted soprano cornet player Frode Rydland in a lively and delicate soprano solo impressively executed by Roger Moisan.
Mr Bjørge’s Walk reflects a change of mood to something darker and more urbane and is dedicated to Viggo Bjørge, the ubercool MD of the iconic Eikanger-Bjørsvik band. This passage gave us an opportunity to show off our jazz technique and big band sound and featured a classy cameo for solo trombonist Dave Lidell that delighted the adjudicators and the audience.
The contrasting Hymn for Knut-Harald (named for Knut-Harald Rydland in recognition of his role as MD of Skodvin Skulemusikk band) received praise from adjudicators for its calm and balance.
The final variation, Maestro Snell’s Russian Adventure pays tribute to arranger Howard Snell and moves with a fast and rhythmic drive to the epic conclusion of the piece.
Adjudicators Stephanie Binns, Steve Pritchard-Jones and Nicholas Garman complimented the band on a performance full of energy and contrast and singled out the playing of soloists Alan Hall (principal cornet) and Paul Miller (solo euphonium) for special praise.
Performing on the stage for the Final was an exhilarating experience which would not have been possible without the enthusiasm, patience and exacting ear for musical detail of our MD Jim Lynch. We are privileged to have benefitted from his guidance and leadership in our contesting journey. We were very proud to be placed 8th and offer our congratulations to all those who took part, but especially to Wardle Band who became Fourth Section Champions.
The wonderful thing about contesting is the opportunity it gives to look very closely at a composition and, in this case, appreciate Peter Graham’s considerable craftsmanship. We worked hard but it was a labour of love that allowed the band to grow in its sound and technical skill, to recognise our strengths and those things we find harder and that is the most valuable prize of all. We left for York as finalists and returned as heroes of the north!
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