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All
Together for a Weekend of Celebration
Rehearsals during August had seen many old faces returning to the
bandroom of Tewkesbury Town Band. Past conductors of the Band (John Shepherd,
Ian Smith, Ken Booth and Miles Amherst) returned to put the Band through its
paces on the pieces they had chosen. Past players attended practices to rekindle
old friendships and to learn their parts for the concert.
On
Friday 3rd September the majority of players who were to play on
stage the following evening met at Alderman Knight School to run through the
programme. The practice start was delayed as a result of an accident on the
motorway but by 8pm players from as far a field as Aberdeen (Janet Winterbourne) and
Reading (Julia Penny) had assembled in the school hall. The sound was huge, and
that was just the hum from the massed concentration as the concert music was top
and tailed. The commotion of the practice was followed by further hullabaloo in
the pub afterwards as old friends were reunited.
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The evening of
Saturday 4th September saw over 40 past and present
players of Tewkesbury Town Band take to the stage of the Roses Theatre to
celebrate 30 years of making music together. As the curtains opened, our present
Musical Director, Nigel Morgan, read the press notice from 30 years earlier
announcing the re-formation of the Town Band. The concert then commenced with
the march especially commissioned by the Band from Andrew Duncan to mark its
30th Anniversary., "Tewkesbury".
This piece was followed by the introduction of Ken Booth the Band's second MD,
serving from 1975 to 1980. Ken led the Band in two of his personal favourites:
"Concert Prelude" - a dramatic and sparkling opener from the early pen of Philip Sparke, and Denis Wright's selection of music from the popular Richard Rogers
musical, "South Pacific".
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Following Ken on to
the stage was Ian Smith (MD from 1994 to 1996). Ian's musical selection began
with the imperious "Cortege from Mlada" by Rimsky-Korsakov. The mood was
then lightened with an impromptu interview of the Band's current principal
cornet, Martin Musto, in the style of Parkinson. We still don't know why he
chose the cornet, who the best cornet player he has ever played with is, or if
his Mum has any curtains up in her house now since he stole all the rings
for his ear! Having survived this interview, Martin stepped forward to play
the capricious solo, "Buster Strikes Back" by Alan Morrison. Ian's final
piece was the old favourite "Tango for Band" by Bill Relton. |
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Nigel Morgan returned to the stage to conclude the first half of the concert
with Roger Thorne's arrangement of the music from the film, "Zulu". An
impressive piece that starred the talented ex-percussion player from the
Band, Austin Rose, on timpani. He mimicked the sound of the Zulu drums as
the Band created the atmosphere of the battle of Rourke's Drift, before
leading into a rousing rendition of the traditional Welsh tune, Men of
Harlech.
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The second half commenced with
the Band under the baton of John Shepherd (MD from 1990 to 1992) as he led
the Band through the perennial concert march "Bandology" by Eric Osterling.
The horns were then put through their paces in the melodious "Mr Jums", one
of Chris Hazell's pieces named after his cats and expertly arranged for
brass band by Alan Catherall. John's final selection was the ever popular,
"Mood Indigo" arranged by Edrich Siebert and featuring the trombones in
stand-up action! |
Following John on to the stage was Kevin White (MD from 1993 to 1994). Kevin
had taken time out from a hectic National Finals rehearsal schedule with
Drybrook Band to appear in this concert with us. We wish him and his Band
well on September 11th in Harrogate. Kevin began his section of the concert
with the rumbustuos "Fanfare & Soliloquay" by Trevor L. Sharpe (spot the
programme error if you have one!!). He then calmed things down again with
Alan Fernie's great arrangement of the wonderful Gershwin song, "Someone to
Watch Over Me". To wrap up his selection the audience was treated to a bit
of Forest humour about a pig, and then a reminiscence of a concert in
Tewkesbury Abbey that had seen Peter Williams in a pink tutu (one of only
two Band members that have been ever present for the whole 30 years) during
his final choice, "Instant Concert" by Harold L. Walters.
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The Chairman of the Band, Adrian Jowett, then thanked the organisers of the
Anniversary Celebrations for their hard work, before presenting the former
and current conductors with especially engraved 30th Anniversary glasses as
a memento of the evening. Nigel then took the Band in his final choice, a
favourite piece of his and his fathers, the evocative "Finlandia" written by
Jean Sibelius and describing his homeland. |
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The concert concluded with the Band's founding chairman and bandmaster, Miles
Amherst, taking the baton to lead the Band in an emotional rendition of the hymn
tune "St. Clement" (The Day Though Gavest). A fitting end to a great evening of
memories and celebration.
The encore saw
band members, past and present, and our many supporters adjourn to the theatre
bar for a well-earned drink!
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On Sunday 5th September the weekend of 30th
Anniversary Celebrations continued with a meal at Tewkesbury Abbey
refectory. A fitting location given the fact that Miles Amherst had been
headmaster at the Abbey School when the Band re-formed and had taken many of
the early lessons in the Abbey School buildings. First, the Band stood
outside and played live on Radio Gloucestershire to help send off their
charity walker who this week is walking down the Severn. Once we'd had our
fix of playing for the day then it was all inside for a lovely Roast Dinner.
After dessert our current MD said a few words to conclude the celebrations
and set the Band off for another 30 strong years. This was followed by a
ceremonious cutting of the Band birthday cake by life members Keith Rose and
Peter Williams. |
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We would like to thank everyone
who made this weekend so much fun for all, and hope to see all our old and
(in some cases) new friends again soon. Our good friends Peter Williams, who
underwent knee surgery recently and was sadly unable to make the concert,
and Allan Robinson, who is currently ill in a London Hospital, were greatly
missed. We wish them both a speedy recovery. |
Click here to see more photos from the 30th Anniversary
Celebrations
Don't forget that you can click on the pictures above
to see a larger image!
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August 2004
August 17th: The Warm-up has started
The build up to our 30th Anniversary Concert weekend has started in
earnest. The programme is rapidly taking shape and old faces are appearing in
the band room for practices. This evening saw two old faces take the conductors
baton, Ken Booth and Ian Smith, as the Band rehearsed the pieces they have
requested for the concert. Their presence meant that the current conductor,
Nigel Morgan, was relegated to a seat on the Euphonium line! He was joined by
Terry Brown who had also not picked up the instrument in a long while. I am
pleased to note that the jokes were old and all present had a good time!
Others who have
graced the band room over the past few weeks include Robin Purser (cornet), Jane
Smith (Baritone) and John Lampitt (Eb Bass). We hope to see others in the next
few weeks, and are pleased to have received confirmation from many ex-players of
their participation in some form at our Anniversary Concert. If you have not
contacted us yet then there is still time, but the date of the concert is
rapidly approaching so you will have to be quick!
Anniversary Celebrations: Part 3!
Having already had a fantastic march
commissioned from Andy Duncan, and spent a very fun weekend touring the local
villages playing 14 concerts in one weekend, the Band is now looking forward to
the final instalment of the anniversary celebrations! This will take place over
the weekend of the 3rd to 5th of September 2004, with the main focus being on
the Anniversary Concert in the Roses Theatre on Saturday 4th September at
7:30pm. Tickets are now on sale at just £7 & £5 each so pop in or call the Box
Office now on 01684 295074 and don't miss out on a unique concert experience.
The concert will
involve past players and conductors from the current Band's 30 year history.
Each conductor has chosen a piece that they particularly enjoyed playing with
the Band during their time with us. The line up is as follows:
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From Day One in
1974 it's Mr Miles Amherst |
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From 1975 to
1980 Mr Ken Booth |
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From 1990 to
1992 Mr John Shepherd |
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From 1993 to
1994 Mr Kevin White |
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From 1994 to
1996 Mr Ian Smith |
Unfortunately, Mr
Denis Grant (conductor from 1980 to 1981) and Mr Robert Jenner (conductor from
1983 to 1990) are not able to join us at this concert. Of course, the concert
will also feature our present conductor since 1997, Mr Nigel Morgan, who will
conduct and compere the concert.
It really looks set
to be an exciting concert. It will be even more exciting however, the more
ex-players that can come along and join us. If you are one of these, or you know
anyone that is, then please download the Word document below and complete the
form as soon as possible. Alternatively you can reply by email
(melbo@zoom.co.uk).
Word Document for Ex-Players
The weekend will
start with a rehearsal for the expanded band on the Friday evening and then
conclude with an anniversary lunch on the Sunday. Also on the Sunday morning the
Band will be playing in Tewkesbury to help send off a charity walker from Radio
Gloucestershire!
So if you are an
ex-member of the Band then we want to hear from you. Are you one of the people
pictured in some of our historic photos on the following page:
1974-1976 , 1977-1979 ,
1980-1983 , 1984-1986 ,
1987-1989 , 1990-1992 ,
1993-1995, 1996-1998 ?
August
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Sunday 8th
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Evesham Bandstand
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| Sunday 15th |
Cripplegate, Worcester |
| Sunday 29th |
Bromsgrove Bandstand |
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