Butlins National Mineworkers Open Brass Band Festival - 22/23 January 2011

Held at the Butlins complex just outside the Lincolnshire coastal town of Skegness, this was the third time that the Band had entered the Butlins National Mineworkers Open Brass Band Festival. This festival features a set test piece contest for 4th to 1st section bands, an entertainment contest for youth bands, and a set test piece plus entertainment competition for championship section bands. As well as the competitive side of the festival, there is much brass based entertainment throughout the weekend, including concerts by the Brighouse & Rastrick, and Redbridge bands, as well as the British Philharmonic Big Band and a Blues Brothers tribute act. Other highlights featured Stan Lippeatt interviewing three trombonists - including Alan Fernie the well known composer and arranger - and a host of trade stands displaying and demonstrating the latest instruments and gadgets.

Arriving at Skegness on the Friday evening, the Band spent most of the evening in rehearsal, putting the final touches to the set test piece, which on this occasion was Darroll Barry's 'Requiems' a series of six movements all dedicated to people that had recently died who had some connection with the composer.

1. Tuba Mirium – for John Taberner

2. De Prefundis – for Derek Davies

3. Sanctus – for Don Lusher

4. Gloria – for Geoff Whitham

5. In Paradisum – for Barbara Cotter

6. Dies Irae – for Fred Dibnah

Following a reasonably early night, the Band once again met for a rehearsal on Saturday morning at 9.00am - so early in fact that the breakfast crew had to go to Tesco for their breakfast as their normal haunt - Caesar's Palace Cafe - hadn't yet opened. During the rehearsal the news came through that we had drawn to play number 6 - well done Heather, great draw. After our Musical Director Alan Morrison's last adjustments we returned to the venue ready to perform. The two adjudicators wrote the following notes about our performance: -

Set Test Piece Contest - Adjudicators Remarks

Test Piece - Requiems

David Read and Paul Cosh

1) Tuba Mirium

Not really brilliant and not rhythmically secure in one or two bars.

Tempo not stable. One or two shaky moments in the lower parts. Rhythmically insecure.

2) De Prefundis

Loose playing to open & we are not settled. The groupings need to be measured, it is a little uncertain. Confident to close.

Not always together in the opening and in general the rhythmic problems lead to some technical problems throughout.

3) Sanctus

Trombone fine - all just a little heavy perhaps but safely played. B The music flows well & safely played.

Good trombone sound if rather loud for mezzo piano. Good intonation in Soprano and Cornet. Perhaps the phrases could have more shape.

4) Gloria

Loose in opening but you recover & very good contrast at B. Neat moments occur up to D. Euphonium well shaped despite one or two slight lapses. A little uncertainty in rhythm as we proceed but G fine & through to close.

Four semiquavers not clear in the first bar. Some untidy playing through to D not always clear. Euphonium can take more time at D. G - H linkage is not always good in semis. All seems rather rushed.

5) In Paradisum

Well shaped to A and all goes well, you are at your best. D Excellent contrast & very musical & I hear good well balanced sounds up to & beyond E. Fine well balanced close.

Tuning in the opening is not always good between the soloists. Well done Soprano & Trombone at B. Some hesitancy in the phrasing between D and Animando. Balance at E Euphonium and Cornets.

6) Dies Irae

Not rhythmically secure to open. B Safe. The speed catches you out a little. D Well done Euphonium, followed by Horn and Cornet. E Well coordinated. Confident - one or two loose moments as at Stringendo (bar 108).

Took time to settle, too many loose moments & not secure rhythmically in fast playing.

Very fast at the beginning but you manage just. Cornet tuning in the mutes at A? Trombones untidy at B. Euphonium plays well. Horn Good. Cornet is very positive and all does note quite come off. At F not all is clear.

Not the most secure performance with some problems of clarity throughout.

Unlike the majority of other bands at the contest we were not able to let our hair down and relax. After something to eat, and a quick check on the football results, it was time to head back to our rehearsal hall to prepare for the second part of the contest - the entertainment programme. Following a few hours hard work it was time to find out the draw for the order of play, and have a few hours away from our instruments. Drawn once again to play number six the time off passed too quickly, and it all too soon the breakfast club was heading back to Caesar's Palace Cafe. After their marvellous big breakfast and still at their 2009 prices, the rehearsal venue called again, and Alan was able to fine tune our performance, before heading back to Butlins and a packed Centre Stage.

And The Band Played On - The Euphonium & Baritone section feature.

John Belton - a picture of concentration.

Y Bore Glas - Cornet Soloist Neil Day.

The trio accompaniment - Neil Johnson, John Mathews, and Alison Grantham.

Neil Day - winner of the Geoff Dove Mineworkers Soloists Challenge Shield.

Y Bore Glas.

Musical Director - Alan Morrison.

The 1712 Overture gets under way.

Building up to the big stand up solo.

Part of the Cornet Section - L to R: John Belton, Kirsty Fox, Julia Mathews, Neil Day, Natalie Morrison, Tony Newiss, and Andrea Grace.

Guest Percussionist and Bird Warbler Supreme - Graham Bates.

Winners - Butlins Most Entertaining Performance Trophy.

Entertainment Contest - Adjudicators Remarks

David Read and Major Paul Norley

And The Band Played On

Positive start. Bubbly & animated & sparkling. All well controlled and a great response from the players and soloists - an excellent start to your programme.

Full of impact and presence. Excellent contrast at A - lots of style & technical proficiency. C Stylish - good ensemble. Impressive melodic lines in soloists. All moves well & nicely balanced. Good dynamic range. Convincing close.

Y Bore Glas - Cornet Solo, Soloist Neil Day

Lovely sound, so well phrased & shaped. Beautifully played by soloists. slightest tuning problems in group towards the close.

Stylish soloist & quality ensemble accompaniments. warm toned & well controlled, Only the slightest of transient mishaps throughout. Soloists full of artistry and panache - thank you.

Cry Me A River

Confident start & the balance is fine, with no hard edge (only when needed). Tight and secure.

So stylish - full of menace. Some untidy ensemble through A. Fine band sound. Effective use of mutes through B. Balance slips through F. Convincing close.

Rolling Thunder

Bright start, 150 crotchets to the minute is the required speed -which you do but presents problems for articulation (particularly slides players to coincide with tongues) - however overall a good standard overall.

Sparkling and full of panache. Not fully articulate in trombones but the tempo is an impressive challenge. The entertainment does not detract from your accuracy - thank you.

1712 Overture

Tongue in cheek but you under write the spirit of the music. Good authoritative sounds. G + 5 bars under pitch! Good grading to P (except final bar!). Humerous but all well done & well directed. Bass drum just a little out with band in largo. The parody is allegro - well done.

A well prepared programme with only a few musical flaws. Well done.

Weighty start, warm and sonorous ensemble. Well shaped and controlled. C moves well and is tightly focussed. Tuning suffers before H. I dove tailed nicely. Basses impress again through N. Q bright & subtle. Untidy percussion on 'Largo'. Percussion heavy from Z. A fine sound & well sustained . Convincing close.

Generally an authoritative programme with contrast and fine playing.

After the contest had drawn to a close the judges had placed us 10th for the test piece, and 4th for the entertainment - overall this gave us a position of 9th. However the Band was in the prizes - Neil Day won the Geoff Dove Mineworkers Soloists Challenge Shield for being the best soloist on the day, and the Band won The Butlins Most Entertaining Performance Trophy.

Photographs by Keith Belton.

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