National Youth Brass Band Championships Of Great Britain 29/04/2007

Community Section

Order Of Play - 11

Award - Gold

Fanfare

Scenes Du Lac - This is a bit fast for 72 - but confident opening.
Polka! to fast for 100 - and not everything is well together - but the musicians play with joy and fun. The Polka sounds like a march - why?
3 - nice solo cornet - good soloists again - and some nice musical phrases from the conductor.

The March is, for me, also on the fast side (120?) - but I am impressed about the joy and drive how the musicians play. Very good dynamic contrasts and lots of colours the conductor shows us.

Irish Blessing - Very nice flugel and soloists - wonderful piano playing and sound - all very nicely and musically phrased by a very talented conductor.

Buster Strikes Back - Good performances - also not quite perfect.

Birdland - good stuff and the musicians love it.

A very talented conductor with some more big potential.

Thank you - congratulations!

P.S. This is a very good band with a lot of potential. I liked the well balanced and varied program.

Smile all (also conductor!) at the end!

Markus Bach 29/04/07

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National Youth Brass Band Championships Of Great Britain 29/04/2007

Community Section

Order Of Play - 11

Award - Gold

Fanfare - Short & Sweet!

Scenes Du Lac - A good opening section. Plenty of detail, but horns & euphs rather light.

Polka good playing, but a bit hurried, losing the character of the polka. Insecure link to Andante. Nice solo work here, along with good ensemble in band. Rather loud from L (for mf). Nice close but final chord seemed not to have a 3rd.

Marcia - bright tempo - which actually sounds to be rushing - & trombones certainly had a few problems. Nevertheless, some fine tutti work, leading to the "big finish" at the Grandioso.

Irish Blessing - beautiful work from the quartet & then, following an insecure entry, the full band created some wonderful effects - despite a couple of intonation problems.

Buster Strikes Back - a fine effort by soloist, & well supported by whole band.

Birdland - an excellent finale to a very good programme by a very good youth band.

Roy Newsome 29/04/07