Butlins Mineworker Contest
Results:
1. Crystal Palace (Michael Gray)
2. BMP Europe Ltd. Goodshaw (Joshua Hughes)
3. Sherwood Forest Brass (Christine Lippeatt)
4. Woodbridge Excelsior (Chris Lewis Garnham)
5. Syston (Chris Banks)
6. Bannovallum Brass (Steve Ingham)
7. Sale Brass (Alan Seymour)
8. Great Yarmouth Brass (Colin Swaep)
9. Whitwell Brass (Ryan Stacey)
10. Thurcroft Welfare (Matthew Wright)
11. Kirkby Colliery Welfare (Neville Buxton)
Best Mining Band: Sherwood Forest Brass
Adjudicator Comments
Brett Baker:
First movement
Good start but tuning issues creep in from back row cornets and horns at bar 20. Bar 40 not 'gelling' [I think it says that], which is a shame. Good attention to dynamic control. Sensitive percussion. Good control, odd issue in intonation.
Second movement
Good start, some ensemble issues on bar 3. Nice solo cornet at 145 but some tuning issues in the horns. Bar 158 tuning is suspect on the minims but some musical playing is demonstrated. Controlled ending.
Third movement
Bar 190 good transition. Bar 210 tempo just rocked slightly. A very tidy and sensible performance showing musicality but not without tuning issues and a few nerves. Many thanks
Major Paul Norley:
First movement
Detailed, coherent and confident. Very stylish with a good sense of pulse. Some sectional entries become a little disjointed. Effective percussion. Some tuning issues in horns and second and third cornets. Euphoniums full of panache. Good use of accents into bar 75. Finely balanced at bar 90. Detail firmly in place. Subtle basses into bar 120. Well controlled close.
Second movement
Very untidy at 136. Lyrical solo cornet and horns are full of tone. Neatly blended soprano. Euphonium creates tuning problems into bar 160. Good balance and shape into bar 165. Good close, just the hint of tuning problems.
Third movement
Moving well, good tempo. Nimble cornets. Good soprano. A touch rocky at bar 215. Well directed into bar 230. Safe and effective close.
A well directed and musically effective performance. Some good solo moments and effective use of percussion throughout. Some untidy entries and tuning issues. Clear musical intent demonstrated with commitment to the composer's intentions. Thank you.
Read more from 4BarsRest
Palace Extract;
Confident sounds to open and this has an immediate sense of musical presence about it. Bold sounds, cohesive ensemble and great detail throughout the band. Crucially tuning is also generally secure, a pleasure to hear. Sounds are so well balanced and the first move the ends so well.Slightly uneven opening to the central movement but lovely lyrical sounds from solo cornet and this unfolds so well. What a lovely close. Gentle and again the balance is somwell observed as are the dynamics.
Lovely opening to third movement and it trips along nicely. This is impressive fourth section music making indeed, directed with a clear musical head from the middle. Well done!!
Read More from the British Bandsman
Palace Extract.
Controlled opening with good rhythmic drive and fine sounds across the sections, the use of controlled accents is impressive also. The band is playing with a lot of style, nothing is overblown and the clarity in the melodic passages adds much to the overall impact. The tuning in this opening movement is also more secure than any band we’ve heard so far today. A fine opening to the second movement from euphonium leads to a beautifully played cornet solo. Minor moment in tuning at the end of the second movement, but this has been extremely well played. The third movement opens very stylishly (only minor tuning grumble in basses), continuing the drive and accuracy that has characterised this performance. This was a very fine performance from a well-prepared and disciplined ensemble. Perhaps slightly more in the louder dynamics would have added to the effect even more?
4BarsRest 4th section Overview - Extract;
Palace glory
The decision by the contest organisers to make the Fourth Section own-choice proved a huge success, as the eleven bands provided engaging entertainment as the early morning showcase at the Centre Stage venue.
Aided by excellent choices made by each of the conductors, it also gave the judges Paul Norley and Brett Baker plenty to think about as the series of well-rehearsed performances unfolded — from works by Edward Gregson and Philip Sparke to Paul Lovatt-Cooper and Jan de Haan.
New work
Even more encouraging was the appearance of a brand new work from the joint pens of Paul McGhee and Andrew Baker entitled 'Lucid Perspectives' — a great addition to the repertoire at this level, and one that will hopefully be published in the not too distant future.
However, it was Kenneth Downie's 'Music for Kantara' that provided the backbone of Crystal Palace's success — that and some lovely solo and ensemble playing and the intelligent direction of their experienced MD Michael Gray.
They set their stall out with a great deal of authority and style and were rewarded by claiming their first Skegness success (and boosting their coffers by £2,000) after coming third last year.
Fantastic
"It's fantastic," Band Secretary Rachel Bleach told 4BR. "We have really enjoyed ourselves coming to Skegness for the contest, and to win at what was only our second attempt is brilliant.
We enjoyed a really successful 2016 after qualifying for the National Finals and coming sixth at Cheltenham, so to start the new season like this gives us a huge boost as we look towards the Oxford Winter Contest and the London & Southern Counties Area Championship at Stevenage."
Rachel added: "We have a very settled band and a great conductor in Michael Gray who has led us for nearly 30 years. He decided that Kenneth Downie's test-piece was ideal for us — and he was right as always! It was great to see him able to celebrate with the trophy on Saturday night."
Evenly matched
In what was a closely matched contest, BMP Europe td Goodshaw came closest to pipping Crystal Palace, as under Joshua Hughes they produced a cracking account of 'Chorale Variations' by Jan de Haan to end runner-up, whilst Sherwood Forest Brass was third under Christine Lippeatt — helped in their solid 'Highest Placed Mining Band' performance of 'Partita' off the number 1 draw by a certain Stan Lippeatt on flugel horn.
Woodbridge Exclesior certainly enjoyed playing that thoroughly interesting new work by Paul McGhee and Andrew Baker as they ended fourth, with two well directed accounts from Syston and Banovallum ended fifth and sixth respectively.
We have really enjoyed ourselves coming to Skegness for the contest, and to win at what was only our second attempt is brilliant.
Crystal Palace Band Secretary, Rachel Bleach.
1. Crystal Palace (Michael Gray)
2. BMP Europe Ltd. Goodshaw (Joshua Hughes)
3. Sherwood Forest Brass (Christine Lippeatt)
4. Woodbridge Excelsior (Chris Lewis Garnham)
5. Syston (Chris Banks)
6. Bannovallum Brass (Steve Ingham)
7. Sale Brass (Alan Seymour)
8. Great Yarmouth Brass (Colin Swaep)
9. Whitwell Brass (Ryan Stacey)
10. Thurcroft Welfare (Matthew Wright)
11. Kirkby Colliery Welfare (Neville Buxton)
Best Mining Band: Sherwood Forest Brass
Adjudicator Comments
Brett Baker:
First movement
Good start but tuning issues creep in from back row cornets and horns at bar 20. Bar 40 not 'gelling' [I think it says that], which is a shame. Good attention to dynamic control. Sensitive percussion. Good control, odd issue in intonation.
Second movement
Good start, some ensemble issues on bar 3. Nice solo cornet at 145 but some tuning issues in the horns. Bar 158 tuning is suspect on the minims but some musical playing is demonstrated. Controlled ending.
Third movement
Bar 190 good transition. Bar 210 tempo just rocked slightly. A very tidy and sensible performance showing musicality but not without tuning issues and a few nerves. Many thanks
Major Paul Norley:
First movement
Detailed, coherent and confident. Very stylish with a good sense of pulse. Some sectional entries become a little disjointed. Effective percussion. Some tuning issues in horns and second and third cornets. Euphoniums full of panache. Good use of accents into bar 75. Finely balanced at bar 90. Detail firmly in place. Subtle basses into bar 120. Well controlled close.
Second movement
Very untidy at 136. Lyrical solo cornet and horns are full of tone. Neatly blended soprano. Euphonium creates tuning problems into bar 160. Good balance and shape into bar 165. Good close, just the hint of tuning problems.
Third movement
Moving well, good tempo. Nimble cornets. Good soprano. A touch rocky at bar 215. Well directed into bar 230. Safe and effective close.
A well directed and musically effective performance. Some good solo moments and effective use of percussion throughout. Some untidy entries and tuning issues. Clear musical intent demonstrated with commitment to the composer's intentions. Thank you.
Read more from 4BarsRest
Palace Extract;
Confident sounds to open and this has an immediate sense of musical presence about it. Bold sounds, cohesive ensemble and great detail throughout the band. Crucially tuning is also generally secure, a pleasure to hear. Sounds are so well balanced and the first move the ends so well.Slightly uneven opening to the central movement but lovely lyrical sounds from solo cornet and this unfolds so well. What a lovely close. Gentle and again the balance is somwell observed as are the dynamics.
Lovely opening to third movement and it trips along nicely. This is impressive fourth section music making indeed, directed with a clear musical head from the middle. Well done!!
Read More from the British Bandsman
Palace Extract.
Controlled opening with good rhythmic drive and fine sounds across the sections, the use of controlled accents is impressive also. The band is playing with a lot of style, nothing is overblown and the clarity in the melodic passages adds much to the overall impact. The tuning in this opening movement is also more secure than any band we’ve heard so far today. A fine opening to the second movement from euphonium leads to a beautifully played cornet solo. Minor moment in tuning at the end of the second movement, but this has been extremely well played. The third movement opens very stylishly (only minor tuning grumble in basses), continuing the drive and accuracy that has characterised this performance. This was a very fine performance from a well-prepared and disciplined ensemble. Perhaps slightly more in the louder dynamics would have added to the effect even more?
4BarsRest 4th section Overview - Extract;
Palace glory
The decision by the contest organisers to make the Fourth Section own-choice proved a huge success, as the eleven bands provided engaging entertainment as the early morning showcase at the Centre Stage venue.
Aided by excellent choices made by each of the conductors, it also gave the judges Paul Norley and Brett Baker plenty to think about as the series of well-rehearsed performances unfolded — from works by Edward Gregson and Philip Sparke to Paul Lovatt-Cooper and Jan de Haan.
New work
Even more encouraging was the appearance of a brand new work from the joint pens of Paul McGhee and Andrew Baker entitled 'Lucid Perspectives' — a great addition to the repertoire at this level, and one that will hopefully be published in the not too distant future.
However, it was Kenneth Downie's 'Music for Kantara' that provided the backbone of Crystal Palace's success — that and some lovely solo and ensemble playing and the intelligent direction of their experienced MD Michael Gray.
They set their stall out with a great deal of authority and style and were rewarded by claiming their first Skegness success (and boosting their coffers by £2,000) after coming third last year.
Fantastic
"It's fantastic," Band Secretary Rachel Bleach told 4BR. "We have really enjoyed ourselves coming to Skegness for the contest, and to win at what was only our second attempt is brilliant.
We enjoyed a really successful 2016 after qualifying for the National Finals and coming sixth at Cheltenham, so to start the new season like this gives us a huge boost as we look towards the Oxford Winter Contest and the London & Southern Counties Area Championship at Stevenage."
Rachel added: "We have a very settled band and a great conductor in Michael Gray who has led us for nearly 30 years. He decided that Kenneth Downie's test-piece was ideal for us — and he was right as always! It was great to see him able to celebrate with the trophy on Saturday night."
Evenly matched
In what was a closely matched contest, BMP Europe td Goodshaw came closest to pipping Crystal Palace, as under Joshua Hughes they produced a cracking account of 'Chorale Variations' by Jan de Haan to end runner-up, whilst Sherwood Forest Brass was third under Christine Lippeatt — helped in their solid 'Highest Placed Mining Band' performance of 'Partita' off the number 1 draw by a certain Stan Lippeatt on flugel horn.
Woodbridge Exclesior certainly enjoyed playing that thoroughly interesting new work by Paul McGhee and Andrew Baker as they ended fourth, with two well directed accounts from Syston and Banovallum ended fifth and sixth respectively.
We have really enjoyed ourselves coming to Skegness for the contest, and to win at what was only our second attempt is brilliant.
Crystal Palace Band Secretary, Rachel Bleach.