Over the next three weeks, keep logged on to Simon Dunstan's Contest Diary for rehearsal by rehearsal updates on the 'B' Band's progress and preparation for the 2007 National Third Section Championships in Harrogate!
Monday 10th September - Rome was not built in a day!
The start of the ‘B’ Band’s build up to the National 3rd Section Finals in Harrogate on the 29th September is upon us, and after our successful outing at Bugle in July, the band’s spirits are buoyed going into the final 3 weeks before the contest. I will once again be bringing, to the people, up to date and ‘interesting’ details from the band’s practices, which is where I will start, with tonight’s rehearsal.
With Youth Band practice cancelled tonight, Alan had a full two hours with us, ensuring that the band is in tip top form for the Alan Morrison weekend approaching rapidly (11 days… not that I’m counting!). Alan was dressed up in a suit and tie tonight; creating a tense atmosphere as such an event had never been seen before at a practice. I start with welcoming Vicky, our new 2nd Horn, to our ‘B’ Band family, with Matt Glasson unable to compete because of University.
The band started off with a rendition of ‘Over the Rainbow’ (a Tenor Horn solo featuring Amber Roberts) that will most likely feature in our pre-Harrogate concert in the Penventon Hotel on the 23rd September. The band moved swiftly onto slowly dragging our copies of the test piece, ‘Imperium’ by Bruce Fraser. The test piece is based on the book, ‘Imperium’ by Ross Harris. The book tells the story of Cicero's early career until the point at which he becomes a consul. It follows three main events, each represented as a movement: the trial of Gaius Verres (a corrupt governor); a political crisis involving Pompey the Great and his arch-rival Crassus; and Cicero's election campaign and election as consul.
With this in mind, ye olde cliché of ‘it’s won or lost in the first 20 bars’ was dusted off, as we set about breaking down every single beat and rest of the opening, so that everyone could play it wearing a blind fold. The tuning game also got its first outing of the campaign, as everyone was trying to guess whether the player was flat/sharp, or on the old occasion…. in tune! The practice continued with growing cautious optimism, ending with a good run through, with the piece taking shape and settling in to place.
Quote of the Evening: Amber Roberts
“Alan, are you trying to kill me or sumat!?”
Wednesday 12th September - It's a long way to Rome!
With only 9 days left to the rapidly approaching Alan Morrison weekend, the Youth Band practice finished at 8pm so that the ‘B’ Band could have another hour at the test piece. With the mass exodus of the 50+ members of the Youth Band, Alan distributed the sections of the ‘B’ Band amongst the ranks of the Youth Band layout. Ensuring that, for a change, you didn’t have your neighbours spit dribbling down your leg, and (apparently more importantly) to try to recreate the atmosphere in the contest hall in Harrogate, renowned for its dead acoustics.
The emphasis on tonight’s practice was moved from the first few bars (Re: Monday) to the tricky Presto in the 3rd movement, Julius Cesar. With the general consensus that the tempo was not quite up to the marking, ‘tarantella’, (according to the dictionary: named after Taranto in southern Italy, and is popularly associated with the large local wolf spider or "tarantula" spider (Lycosa tarantula) whose bite was allegedly deadly and could be cured only by frenetic dancing, or a dance of rapid twirling of couples.) the metronome joined the party to add its two pence, confirming that the tempo was in fact correct! Alan tried to justify this by accusing Sam’s (sop) leg of jigging to the music, but this was later confirmed to be a twitch. Alan was on the defensive again moments later when the fact he had a gaping hole in the seat of his trousers was exposed to the band, not that this highly sophisticated audience found it funny in the slightest. The practice continued with these issues ironed out, ending with a final run through and a reminder of the ever present requirement for concentration going into the foreboding weekend ahead.
Quote 1 of the Evening: Mica Couch
“Just blame it on my dad”
Quote 2 of the Evening: Samuel Eddy
“It wasn’t the rhythm, my leg had a twitch”
Saturday 29th September - 'B' Band Awarded 4th in Harrogate!
Today Camborne 'B' Band, under the direction of Alan Pope, competed in the 3rd Section of the National Finals at the International Conference Centre in Harrogate. After an outstanding performance of "Imperium" by Bruce Fraser, the band were awarded 182 points and 4th place by the adjudicators, Alan Hope & Lt Col. Chris Davis OBE. The band's flugel horn player, Rebecca Merritt, was awarded the soloist prize!
Place. Band, Conductor, Draw, Points
1. Middleton Band, Matthew Stringer, 9, 185
2. Barton, Richard Evans, 17, 184
3. Oldham Band (Lees), John Collins, 4, 183
4. Camborne B, Alan Pope, 15, 182
5. Matlock Band, Roger Jepson, 11, 181
6. Dodworth Colliery MW, Eliot Darwin, 13, 180
7. Campbletown Brass, Craig Anderson, 18, 179
8. Thundersley Brass, Keith Schroeter, 16, 177
9. Eccleston Brass, Ian Bateson, 2, 176
10. Ripon City, Malcolm Dibb, 8, 175
11. Clifton and Lightcliffe, John Clay, 174
12. Wellington (Telford), Steve Curtis, 3, 173
13. Wotton and District Silver, Dennis Grant, 12, 172
14. Perthshire Brass, George Annan, 7, 171
15. Epsom & Ewell, Ted Howard, 6, 170
16. Llwydcoed, Alan Davies, 14, 169
17. Wem Jubilee, Roger Thorne, 5, 168
18. Porthaethwy Menai Bridge, Chris Williams, 10, 167
Soloist: Rebecca Merritt, Flugel, Camborne B
The 'B' Band left Camborne on Friday morning at 7am and spent the day travelling to their hotel in Brighouse. That evening they rehearsed at West Ridings, the home of the world famous Brighouse and Rastrick Band! As their section started at 9:30 am, they had an early start this morning to catch the draw although they didn't play until early this afternoon. They are now back on the coach and on their way back to Camborne.
Many congratulations to Rebecca, the band and, of course, Alan for this fantastic result which is well deserved after the huge amount of hard work put in by everyone involved!
Jeremy Taylor
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