GBBA Contest 25th November 2001
The band were optimistically hopeful when we took the stage to provide the second performance of the day with our rendition of the march Punchinello and our chosen test piece Indian Summer by Eric Ball. The nerves held and a competent if not spine-tingling performance was provided. The absence of that extra sparkle to our performance of the day led to it being a day of two's all round a we finished second to Chalford Training Band in both the march, test piece, and of course best Trombone section award. As usual, our principal cornet player, Martin Musto, managed to spoil our run of second places by scooping the 'best instrumentalist' award with his outstanding playing (the adjudicators words, not ours!).
Our congratulations go to the Chalford bands on what proved to be a successful day, with their senior band also doing well in the Section B contest.
A big thumbs up goes to Phoenix Brass for showing that it is possible to provide entertainment whilst taking part in a brass band test piece and march contest. Their renditions of the march Mississauga Spirit and the test piece Three Inventions had the audience tapping their feet and wanting to hear more. The best advert for brass banding I heard all day. The piece slightly overstretched the band on the day but their performance secured them a creditable third placing.
Sadly the Section A contest comprising bands from the
National Championship and First section (plus first section - elect [City of
Bristol]) left the average listener wishing they had stayed in the bar rather
than inspiring potential new recruits to the banding cause. The top bands in
Gloucestershire made one of two misjudgements and some both:
(a) The first was to choose pieces that were overly technically or musically
demanding for the amount of time available to them. An error of judgement common
to the own choice contest format but one that top level bands should not be
falling in to.
(b) The second was to follow what seems to be a growing trend amongst brass
bands, to compete to be the loudest! The majority of the bands in this section
showed a total absence of musicianship in their failure to adjust the volume of
their playing to the acoustic of the hall.
As a result of these misjudgements, none of the bands left the listener feeling they had heard a magical performance or wanting to hear more from them. Cinderford band deservedly won the test piece contest with a tightly 'played as one' performance of Malcolm Arnold's Fantasy for Brass with City of Bristol close behind.
Hadrian Walters
Results:
Adjudicator - Malcolm Brownbill
Section C [Fourth Section]
| March | Test Piece | ||||
| 1st | Chalford Training (D. Witts) | 178 points | 1st | Chalford Training (D. Witts) | 176 points |
| 2nd | Tewkesbury Town (N. Morgan) | 175 points | 2nd | Tewkesbury Town (N. Morgan) | 173 points |
| 3rd | Phoenix Brass (D. Watson) | 171 points |
Best Trombone Section - Chalford Training
Best Instrumentalist - Solo Cornet with Tewkesbury Town
Section B [Third and Second Section Bands]
The only results we know so far are for the test piece:
1st Chalford (S. Tubb) Second section band
2nd Bream Silver (N. Howard) Third section band
Section A [First and Championship Section Bands]
| March | Test Piece | ||||
| 1st | City of Bristol (B. James) (1) | 191 points | 1st | Cinderford (L. Baglin) (1) | 190 points |
| 2nd | Flowers (P.Harper) (c) | 190 points | 2nd | City of Bristol (B. James) (1) | 189 points |
| 3rd | Flowers (P.Harper) (c) | 188 points |
Special Awards:
Best Horn Section - City of Bristol
Best Bass Section - Cinderford
Best Cornet Player - Cinderford
Best Flugel Player - Lydmet Lydney
Best Instrumentalist of the Day - Flowers 1st Trombone
Band with the most players under 14 years of age - Lydbrook Training [Fourth
Section]
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