Chalford Band

Chalford Youth Band were placed 3rd in the Junior section of the national brass band championships at Warwick Arts Centre.  For the third year in a row they won the best instumentalist award!

Result:
Junior Section:
Adjudicators: Martin Heartfield and Ben Richeton

Own-choice programme not exceeding 15 minutes playing time which must include at least one original piece of music composed for brass band and two verses of a hymn tune from the Red Hymn Book

1. Wardle Academy Junior Band (Lee Rigg) (Gold Award)
2. Beaumaris Band (Bethan Lowri) (Gold Award)
3. Chalford Youth Band (Steve Tubb) (Silver Award)

Silver Award:
Fred Longworth High School (Helen Robinson)
Lions Junior Brass Band (Tom Hancock)

Bronze Award:
Dobcross Youth Band (Matt Hindle)
Elland Junior Band (Samantha Harrison)
Hawkley Hall High School (Steven Cavanagh)
Soundhouse Youth Brass Plymouth (Gary Thompson)

Merit Award:
Macclesfield Junior Brass Band (Tim Grindey)
Stockport Schools Intermediate Brass Band (Tom Ridgley)
Tewit Youth Intermediate Band (Dave Dunn-Birch)

Best Instrumentalist: Flugel (Chalford Youth)

Starlight:
Confident opening, lots of detail and attention to the score! Well done M.D.
Good Euphs
B – good dynamic contrast. Careful with B.row tuning.
D – More ff please – solo cornet semis not heard.
F – more ‘marc’ please.
Ending could be stronger to show fff contrast.
Great opener.

Aranjuez:
Good to open. Watch tuning in Sop!
Fabulous sound from the soloist!
You play very musically. I am sitting and enjoying this!
Careful with cornet tuning in ‘tutti’ sections.
G – more < to pause please.
Bravo young lady!! You have a great future!

Ring, Ring:
Good tempo and style!
A – careful with unison tuning in corners.
C – lots of energy!
Keep the base line more marcato please.
D/S – lots of energy still and some great sounds.
V. enjoyable thank you.

Hymn:
V.1. Good balance + contrast – phrase ends are tidy.
V.2. – not as secure to open – but recovers to a controlled close

Get Happy:
Good opening – well done B.row, careful not to rush.
D – well done Sop!
All soloists do well! Careful with rhythmical accuracy.

Lots of fun and energy to the end.

Overall a great programme, EXCELLENT Soloist. Well played + thank you.

MARTIN HEARTFIELD

WEBBA have updated their grading tables: http://www.webba.org.uk/grading.html which shows the Senior Band as promoted to Championship Section

Date	Venue	Time
THURSDAY 15TH MARCH	BANDROOM	6:30-7:30 P.M
SUNDAY 18TH MARCH	FOXMOOR SCHOOL	4:00-6:30 P.M
MONDAY 19TH MARCH	BANDROOM	6:30-7:45 P.M
THURSDAY 22ND MARCH	BANDROOM	6:30-7:30 P.M
SUNDAY 25TH MARCH	FOXMOOR SCHOOL	4:00-6:30 P.M
THURSDAY 29TH MARCH	BANDROOM	6:30-7:30 P.M
EASTER WEEKEND-30TH MARCH -2ND APRIL	NO REHEARSALS
THURSDAY 5TH APRIL	BANDROOM	6:30-7:30 P.M
MONDAY 9TH APRIL	BANDROOM	6:30-7:45 P.M
THURSDAY 12TH APRIL	BANDROOM	6:30-7:30 P.M
SUNDAY 15TH APRIL	FOXMOOR SCHOOL	4:00-6:30 P.M
MONDAY 16TH APRIL	BANDROOM	6:30-7:45 P.M
THURSAY 19TH APRIL	BANDROOM	6:30-7:30 P.M
FRIDAY 20TH APRIL	BANDROOM	6:30-7:30 P.M
SUNDAY 22ND APRIL	WARWICK ARTS CENTRE- COMPETITION	ALL DAY

 

More information about the day will follow.

We really need help with tutoring from Senior Band players on the three Sunday rehearsals at Foxmoor School from 4:00pm to 6:30pm (starting this coming Sunday!). Please let us know if you can help. This would be very much appreciated.

A great weekend in Torquay for both bands, with the senior band qualifying for the national finals by coming second, and then the academy band demonstrating a brilliant team ethos, by electing to go on stage with an unregistered player, even though they knew that would mean disqualification.

Those setting off early on Friday got stuck in the some horrendous traffic, so Kelly thought she’d get the band some national exposure and phoned into Simon Mayo on BBC Radio 2.

 

The band assembled in St. Luke’s Church on Saturday afternoon, warming up by playing Eventide, which with the church’s resonance sent shivers up the spine. After a bit of work on the piece, the session ended with (fairly strict) adjudication on the limerick competition.

Drawn 10 out of 16 (Andy Powis wasn’t involved, so we got a reasonable draw!), we were on stage at 5:30pm.  Coming off stage, the band were a bit unsure about the performance, but Steve was pleased: “a good performance, perhaps not played with as much conviction as in rehearsal”. Nevertheless the banding press were fairly receptive, with 4barsrest.com predicting second place, behind favourites Bournemouth.

Results were out around 8:15pm, and the WhatsApp group went unusually quiet for a few minutes after Andy Godwin posted “We came 2nd”, before it sank in and everybody chimed in.

Senior Band – First Section

Test Piece: Brass Metamorphosis (James Curnow)
Adjudicators: Brett Baker and Stan Lippeatt

1. Bournemouth Concert Brass (Howard Evans)*
2. Chalford (Steve Tubb)*
3. Forest of Dean Brass (Bryn James)
4. Michelmersh Silver (Melvin White)
5. SW Comms (Chris Spreadbury)
6. City of Bristol Brass (Paul McLaughlin)
7. A W Parker (Drybrook) (Joshua Ruck)
8. Roche Brass (David Hamilton)
9. Glastonbury Brass (Simon Jones)
10. Sherborne Town (Ian Lowes)
11. Otterbourne Brass (Melvin White)
12. Bodmin Town (John Maines)
13. Sidmouth Town (Adrian Harvey)
14. Andover Town (Steve Large)
15. Wotton-under-Edge & District (Ian Dickinson)
16. St Keverne (Gareth Churcher)

*Qualify for National Final

Good confident start. [15] Good clean work [25]-> Good solo lines, just small blips [40]-> Good tempo and gen clean playing.  Good contrasting dynamics noted [102] Softer to start please, but yes clean. Good ending to a good opening section [136] Good mood change [148] Confident flugel [156] Horn obligato comes out well [163] Fine sop sound just small blips.  Keep up the good work [171] Fine section work from the horn section. Euph ok but more musicality for me please [195] Good horn, timp loose to end!! [206] Steady tempo and working well. Some good clean playing through this section and good to end [335] Well balanced solo lines [345] Good horn playing, just the small blip [359] Good bass lines Sop/Euph [364] Good work noted [371] trom plays well also.  We have had good contrasting dynamics in this performance [390] was a shade untidy! [405] Melodic line lost in the balance. Good build to a controlled ending.
A very good performance (small blips)
STAN LIPPEAT

Good start. Contrasting and confident. Clear entries from cornets at [19] [25] well done trombones [40] Exciting playing [52] Clean entries from euphs [64] was a little sloppy. Good dynamic contrasts [100] Effective playing.  Good cornet balances at [117] Solo entries observe dynamics. Good stuff. [156] is not quite lined up but playing is musical. Soprano just gets there [171] convincing playing, a few tuning issues at [177] [187] important lines come through the texture.  Basses and euphs observe dynamics at [197] [206] Exciting tempo, but precise playing and just the odd scrappy moment such as [278] [314] Effective playing, a little scrappy through [329] [336] This a little shakey to start [343] this could be more legato in the solo line [359] even more legato please [363] cornets play as one [371] nice trombone solo [381] Good balance [390] Shame this is a little scrappy. Approach to [423] goes well. Nice trombones in molto rit
BRETT BAKER

Academy Section – Fourth Section

An early start for the academy band, with the section starting at 9am.  Nevertheless, they got in an early rehearsal and were in the Riviera Centre listening to the early bands, before getting ready to play, drawn 6th.

Unfortunately, one of the players wasn’t registered, so although they knew they would be disqualified by playing, they played anyhow. As one of the players put it: “it’s a long story, but we were all in agreement about it, and we decided to play because we’re a family”

Steve later commented: “Very proud of academy on 2 counts. Firstly the performance, but secondly and more importantly the unanimous support for wanting the whole band to play knowing the consequences. You are all winners in my eyes. Thank you. PS we did beat 4 bands!”

Test Piece: World Tour (Rodney Newton)
Adjudicators: Brett Baker & John Winterflood

1. Gosport Solent Brass (Colin Garner)*
2. Pendeen Silver (Leonard Adams)*
3. Test Valley Brass (John Heritage)
4. Okehampton Excelsior Silver (Robert Julian)
5. Bideford Town Band (Mark Durham)
6. Nailsworth Silver (Steve Ruck)
7. Verwood Town (Emma Button)
8. Redruth Town (Keith Anderson)
9. Shanklin Town (IoW) (Malcolm Lewis)
10. Wincanton Silver (Steve Sykes)
11. Exeter Railway (Graham Eaton)
12. Tiverton Town (John Fitton)
13. Shaftesbury Town Silver (Martin Hill)
14. Torbay Brass (Gareth Davies)
15. Chalford Academy (Steve Tubb)** (placed 11 by adjudicators)

*Qualify for National Final
**Disqualified due to registration infringement. Played at contest with agreement of contest organisers

1. Some mispitching in the opening statement [A] Intonation in the upper cornets/sop [B] Not quite balanced between parts [C] This rushes along and cornets not quite together
2. Some mispitching in the semiquaver lines. [F] Good euphs. Tempo a little too fast for ragtime style. A steadier tempo would the players around the solo lines
3. Well done Flugel, Euph. A little hesitant with the accompanying chord [K] Intonation Cornets. A good attempt at the phrasing through here. [L] through to end good.
4. Opening good. Troms very good [M] Good band sound. [P] Intonation suffers though this passage and balance of the parts within the ensemble. It sounds a little tired to end

JOHN WINTERFLOOD

1. Good start, top Gs are crashing in terms on tuning. Balance issues are occurring on approach to [B] The forte and ff could be bigger [C] feels a little rushed and therefore scrappy [D] we lose the middle of the band balance. Early could be bigger
2. It is a little shakey to start. This also feels a little rushed and we get casualties as a result. Bar 132 well done cornets
3. This starts a little nervy, but recovers. There are some tuning issues at [J] Well done percussion into [K]  Tempo alters a lot but it’s not quite musical. Tuning issues occur to close
4. Good start but forte could be bigger. Trombones not bad through to [M] Good work Euphs at [N] Tuning issues again occur at [260] Confident close but tuning issues are still evident.

Some good playing but everything seemed a little rushed therefore insecure.
BRETT BAKER

OMG – Skegness is a long way! A long weekend of mixed emotions, but one which succeeded in its primary aim of bringing the band together.

Even though Andy Powis didn’t actually pull the tag out of the bag his presence was enough, and as is almost traditional, Chalford were drawn last in a huge field of 23.

Still, that left time for Lianne to find someone who would lend her the soprano part (Cheers Mark!)

All parts present and correct time for a relaxed rehearsal in the somewhat covert “Lakeside”, complete with table tamtam to work on a revised ending.

On to the main event! Steve was pleased with performance itself, once again close to those delivered in the band room. However, the adjudicators weren’t so keen, placing Chalford 18th.

Nevertheless, the mood in the coach on the way home was buoyant, with everyone looking forward to the regionals in March.

Many thanks to Chris Jones for organising the weekend, and to Kieran and Sean Morgan for driving.

Good opening. Builds well in [B]. Well done soloists. [C] lacks impact. Not all parts sustain dynamics (balance). [D] has good pace but intonation not secure on cornets, particularly. [F] a little messy. [G] lacks impact. It should be first ‘ff’ but was temperate. [H] The lines (sp?) do not all marry up. Early entry 102. [I] Lacks empathy, for me. Piu Mosso better, though each fragment of melody if rather separate, and do not really link. [L] sounds rather tentative on some parts. [M] all the notes and rhythms are there but lacking on atmosphere, today. [O] messy just before [P] Good attempt of the effects at [P] but it is all a little subdued. [Q] lacks ‘bounce’ [S] fine [T] the melody is lost in the texture and much more sop required, please. Why rall before [W]? The dynamic at the end sounds tired.
Thank you for your performance, though a lack of shape and impact was detrimental today.
NICHOLAS GARMAN

Good Opening. Nice link to [B] – confident soloist. (33)-(37) some untidy moments and not all detail clear (45) chord is well balanced. [D] some tuning issues in the horns [F] tempo change effective – ensemble is untidy [G] f/ff not balanced [H] effective, cornet entry untidy. Well done euph. [I] could have more musical shape please. Piu Mosso – good trom! The inner parts don’t always move together. [L] careful with accomp tuning. [M] secure but could be more cantabile [O] quite good but becomes loose before [P]. [Q] more accents please. B. row tuning needs attention. [R] good [S] keep the tempo steady [T] balance not secure – melody is lost! [V] tempo slows into [W]. A controlled ending That tires on the ‘fff’.
Overall a performance that didn’t capture the style of the piece entirely. Several issues with balance/intonation overshadowed some good moments. Thank you
MARTIN HEARTFIELD

Test Piece: Rennaisance (Peter Graham)
Adjudicators: Martin Heartfield & Nicholas Garman

1. Eccles Borough (Mareika Gray)
2. Stannington (Derek Renshaw)
3. Skelmanthorpe (Charles Fyffe)
4. Oldham Band (Lees) (John Collins)
5. Blackburn & Darwen (Tariq Ahmed)
6. Sandhurst Silver (Andrew Porter)
7. Knottingley Silver (Kevin Belcher)
8. Bedford Town (Steve Phillips)
9. Strata Brass (Jonathan Bates)
10. Rushden Town (Adele Hudson)
11. Foresters Brass (John Davis)
12. Harborough (Brad Turnbull)
13. Enderby (Simon Gresswell)
14. Hebden Bridge (David Hamilton)
15. Shirebrook Miners Welfare (Colum O’ Shea)
16. Ibstock Brick Brass (Simon Willis)
17. Old Silkstone (Owen Wedgewood)
18. Chalford (Steve Tubb)
19. Colchester Band (David Maddocks)
20. Gresley Colliery (Craig Stevens)
21. Cawston (Leigh Sharpe)
22. Alder Valley (Lee Woodward)
23. Dunston Silver (Aidan Hodgson)

Withdrew: East of Engand Co-operative (Nigel Cooper)

Highest Placed Mining Band: Strata Brass