Tight opening - with good dynamic interests. Much detailbeing recognised. Sweet sop in the trio - Troms do well, nicely together- good close - super playing .
RONDHINO PATHETIQUE
Nice sounds , Euphs could be warmer - cornets very stylish and so well in tune. Classy cornet solo- just watch the intonation , Lots of detail andmusical playing continues .
MAGIC SLIDES
Contrasting - Troms play well - there is balance and dynamic contrast- just secure the intonation especially in the gliss. The band is supporting very well - never too loud, good balance.Percussion not in the groove on the repeat, troms and conductor want to go quicker , the tempo does settle.
LYMINGTON QUAY
Nice lilt to this contrasting piece - Euphs getting slightly sharp. Lots of detail being found. Top work by Sop to close .
LORD OF THE DANCE Good piece to finish the programme . Lots of detail and great figures from 41. The band ius in the groove and very well balanced- just watch the intonation as you come out of the groove. rousing impressive finale.
A fine performance with a programme well thought out and more importantly played . Perhaps to put the icing on the cake i might have liked a quality brass band original slow piece - a salvation army song setting perhaps. This did not distract however and the band and MD should be very pleased . Well done
BUGLE CONTEST JUNE 2010
Adjudicator .. PETER ROBERTS
Test piece ,,,, A Holiday Suite .... Eric Ball
Conductor ..GILLY TAYLOR
1) Good to open, with dynamic contrasts. Good ensemble. (F) Slightly tentative, but again solid ensemble and is quite well in tune. A fine ending. 2) Again good to open. Solo Cornet does very well, as does the accompaniment. This is quite good and everything is in its place. A good movement and a fair attempt to close. 3) Again good to open, with everything in its place. Very stylistic approach. Good dynamic contrasts. You are making light work of this movement. Sometimes just the odd mis-pitch (which i forgive). A fine ending.
Overall -- Three good solid movements.
1st TIVERTON TOWN ............. 2010 4th section Champions 2nd LAUNCESTON TOWN 3rd PORTHLEVEN TOWN 4th OKEHAMPTON EXCELSIOR 5th ST NEWLYN EAST 6th LOSTWITHIEL TOWN 7th LISKEARD SILVER 8th REDRUTH TOWN 9th INDIAN QUEENS 10th NEWQUAY TOWN
Best player Tina Pillivant (Tiverton - Solo Cornet)
WHIT FRIDAY MARCHES MAY 2010
Various adjudicators remarks
Conductor .. GILLY TAYLOR
GREENFIELD ............... RAY FARR ..... PUNCHINNELLO
A good confident start, good dynamics and a good rythmic style.Intonation and balance suffer but this is clearly well rehearsed. Good strong Trombones. Afine , confident and secure performance
Awarded 3rd place in the fourth section
DELPH ........ KEITH HOLLINSHEAD .........PUNCHINNELLO
Nice 6/8 style, well chosen tempo. Good attention to dynamics, nice 2/4 section with good balance leading back into a fine 6/8 Bass theme . Trio nice 6/8 rhythym - nice sop noted leading to a lively ending. DC again rhythmically sound and all proceeds well to a fine conclusion.
Quite a rapid tempo, causes the music to sound rushed. Balance not accurate at 2/4. Quavers at 6/8 not exactly together. Duo's in the trio not quite together and descending scales not tidy, DC tempo is too quick for the detail and bounce of the rhythym to emerge clearly.
FRIEZLAND ..... TIM NEWBIGGING ... PUNCHINNELLO
Good confident start with style, loud troms. Needs a touch more middle of the band for overall balance. Bass solo is solid but more Euph and Baritones needed for balance. Music flows well rhythmically- well done MD. Chromatic scale not quite together but recovers. A neat performance-quite a tight ensemble.
UPPERMILL ... DAVID MARSHALL ....... PUNCHINNELLO
A good positive intro, dynamics good although intonation suffers. Troms intonation suffers through the first repeated section . Bass subject rhythm is good but tuning suffers. Trio rhythm is good but unison scalic passage ragged. A good intro into the DC . Generally well played with a performance that suffered from intonation problems .
LYDGATE ........ D.SOUTHCOTT ...... PUNCHINNELLO
More use of dynamic contrast should be made. Slight intonation in the lower end of the band and not all the semi-quavers are together. Good sop playing throughout.
DIGGLE ...... DUNCAN BECKLEY ....... PUNCHINNELLO
Good opening and good balance. First section good style, a little untidy but the music flows well. Be aware of the odd wrong note in the middle band. 2/4 well done , the style is nicely picked up here. 2nd main repeat is well done -good lower band. Trio is well managed and i like the lilt you produce. Last phrase-some fine playing here and even with a few tuning problems this is a solid performance and a well played piece.
SWBBA CHAMPIONSHIPS NOVEMBER 2009
ADJUDICATOR --- BARRY THOMPSON FOUR LITTLE MAIDS (John Carr)
Conductor .. GILLY TAYLOR
SUSAN - Fair to open,tuning suffers slightly. Accompaniment not quite together, semis not together on repeat
CHRISTINE - Good to open , more rubato needed, insecure before C, Confident cornet, good chord to close.
BERYL - Fine opening and A moves on nicely,good euphs etc but accompaniment unsure, a little untidy
SANDRA - Hesitant to open, A moves on very well with good dynamics. B is good .C also very good - your best movement
EXMOUTH FESTIVAL OF BRASS SEPTEMBER 2009
Conductor .. GILLY TAYLOR
ACES HIGH A well rounded band sound, perhaps more legato approach would offer greater contrast. Nice sop work at D.S. Nice sop to finish, Good start.
REFLECTIONS IN NATURE Some intonation problems to start but settles, Dynamics need to be controlled, better as we progress and good finish.
NOBODDY DOES IT BETTER Accompaniment a little insecure to start. Soloist is secure. Trom struggles on higher register. A good effort.
OLD RUGGED CROSS Basses and Euph have a good grasp of the style and provide a secure foundation. Troms not always balanced and could take the lead more. I think the band enjoy this one.
GRAND OL DUKE Good opening, Nice sop, Good Eb Bass Well played throughout a good number for your band
ROCK AROUND THE CLOCK Secure opening and continues well - the band clearly like this one too!
Overall a good sounding band with much to commend. A more substantial piece would have been better to finish and the soloist accompaniment let you down a little. An enjoyable programme to start the day! Well done.
The adjudicator also commented on the high standard of playing by all the bands even to the fact that all five ungraded bands were having their own little contest
WHIT FRIDAY MARCHES JUNE 2009
Various comments by adjudicators
Conductor .. GILLY TAYLOR
SCOUTHEAD AND AUSTERLANDS ....... C BRIAN BUCKLEY ..........COSSACK
Opening bars not quite as one. Secure melody throughout . More attention to detail on rythms needed.
LYDGATE ..... D. SOUTHCOTT ........ COSSACK
Good start, although intonation creeps in. Good DC to finish.
GREENFIELD ..... RAY FARR ........COSSACK
A good confident start. I like the basses.Some attractive sounds and lots of fine detail - well done!
GROTTON...... ROY ROE .........COSSACK
Good sounds to open , few missed notes but good work cornet / euph. Good bass line noted. More balance in bass solo. Trio, nice euph line with some good ensemble effects. DC a lot better, nice cornets and detail is good all moves along well. Bass solo is well presented into a good finish
LEES AND SPRINGHEAD ..... ALAN FERNIE ........COSSACK
Together to open but keep it steady. Keep rhythms secure. Trio well handled .Thank you.
FRIEZELAND ,,,,,, TIM NEWBIGGING ........COSSACK
Good clean solid start with nice tempo. Accompaniment needs control over sound when loud. Dynamics are effective throughout well done MD. Some nice playing with balance in parts. Good effort this one. Good sound to finish
UPPERMILL ........ DAVID MARSHALL .......... COSSACK
A good choice of tempo, but rushed quavers. Good first subject, dynamically and with good balance. Top A's not quite secure. More attention to rythmic content would have helped this otherwise sound performance.
1. Commanding start and well balanced. Letter (A) could be more of a contrast dynamically, although the style is very good. (C) has good definition but balance is not quite right at (E)- always make sure the tune is the most audible.Overall your basics are are very sound, well balanced, well considered tuning- well done! 2. A really good attempt at music making, solo cornet plays with 'exspress' and i hear so many nice details. The off beat minims need a bit more interest, again this sounds very well rehearsed and it all came off on the stage - i'm impressed! 3. Lovely secure start, horn tuning needs a little bit of attention. Excellent climax at 255 and not at all overdone. The contrast at (Q) is superb- what a great effort to play quietly and such a confident ending - I'm even more impressed!. 4. A few bass indescretions to start, but when it gets going there's a real fire in the belly.Percussion are particularly impressive, very well controlled. Overall, a wonderfully well prepared performance with some real atmosphere in the performance. Great dynamic contrasts, very good ensemble- so much to commend. Well done.
1. Not quite clear to start but some real energy in the playing, a few unbalanced sounds later on, especially when loud.Basses seem uncertain. 2. Good sounds to begin especially from trom, but it goes to sea a little.Cornets need to keep the air flowing. Need more contrasts.Tambourine needs to be more confident , it's right just needs showing. Soprano seems to be the star player- doing everything right 3. Good bright start and mainly accurate throughout.slight loss of control. you get through it.Percussion need to listen to band,brass confident to close.
INVASION Great start with very effective dynamics - well done cornets on the high stuff. Troms sounding great too.Very secure sop at (b) the Trio- this is good quality stuff all round. Attention to detail is very good. Great opener to wet the appetite! TEA FOR TWO Not quite so assured to begin - a few holes open up and inner band could be better. As the swing style develops i could do with more characterisation . DEMELZA A few indiscretions from the accompaniment but Hannah plays with real projection and true intonation through the whole range. Full of confidence and lots of moments of musicality - an excellent soloist, i really enjoyed it thanks. ANTONINS NEW WORLD Good start but a few forgotten accidentals through the various key changes Solid stuff as we go through - the basses are very good - well balanced sounds and good ensemble work - tuning is much better too. OLD RUGGED CROSS Rugged start - Trom it says 'wild and passionate' - i much prefer your laid back style- much classier !! In fact your whole approach to this piece is great i think - well done. ELVIS ROCKS Oh yeah ! Clearly one of your party pieces, a great one to finish with.To be truthful i really enjoyed your programme, very well presented . Keep up the good work.
FOURTH PLACE OVERALL -- HIGHEST PLACED UNGRADED BAND
ANGLICAN DANCES ~ Movement 1 A compact rhythm to open, nice attention to dynamics. B - horns could be more cantabile in style. C – nicely played tutti. A confident opener. INVASION A lively tempo – balance is nice. The music has a secure march style – bass solo stylish. TRIO – lovely dynamic, bravo!! 6/8 rhythm has control, dynamics in this piece are admirable – some nice work from euph and trom sections. A suitable choice for your band. Great dynamics. GROUND PAVAN You capture the mood of this music. B – semi’s could be more legato – cornets. D – Euph could “sing more in lead. E – all goes well. A nice choice for this part of your programme. WHERE E’ER YOU WALK (Trombone solo – Graham Pillivant) Nice to hear this old favourite again. Accomp balance for soloist just right. The playing from soloist has a nice musical flow. D – some admirable accompaniment in this section. Nostalgic item much appreciated. Well done soloist & band. PENNY LANE Tuning basses – a rather uneasy link to bar 6. You recover nicely – percussion fine. Sop solo – brilliant – great sound and range. This is a fantastic sop part (David Mason – original). Bravo Sop sololist. THE GRAND OLD DUKE A confident swing opener. All goes well. – section all cover the difficult musical corners. Andante has a lovely change of mood – percussion kit) just the desired rhythm. The trombone section has some great moments. The playing has the desired “swing” style. A fine choice to end. A nicely balanced musical content. I appreciate some lovely dynamics through out. Bravo soprano cornet for that lovely David Mason contribution in Penny Lane. Entertaining – thank you all!!
1) Good start with impact. Very good horns at B. The overall picture is good. 2) Good gentle feel to start, solo cornet could be more dolce. Some nice touches here and a very good ending. 3) Tonguing needs to be more distinct here for a more ‘martial’ feel. 4) Very nice start and well controlled-good effort to play quiet. Excellent sop before C but tuning suffers. However I really applaud your efforts to play quietly-much appreciated and very much enhances the music. Sop shines before the end. 5) Very lively, just needs more articulation from the cornets. Horns good at C I am really enjoying this, a great sense of fun!
You presented the most musical picture and your fourth movement was great.
1. Good confident start and a nice contrastat B. The odd moment of intonation (like bar 34, basses). Closes well. 2. Balance and accompaniment heavy to start, this improves. This has a nice lilt to it. 3. Need stronger articulation to create that martial feel. Good attention to dynamic detail. More care required in tuning. 4. A good effort to begin, not quite as one but almost. Excellent cornet, euph and sop at B. Tuning between rep and flugal could be improved. Good solo playing before F, tuning problems again to end. 5. Great spirit to this – all do well. Basses and euph great at E, this goes with a real swing and ends very strongly.
Overall a very good performance where everyone played their part! Thanks.
FANFARE AND COSSACK Effective start (after Fanfare) but sometimes start and ends of notes aren’t quite uniform around the band. Some good dynamic contrast (trio for example) and very fine sop playing. ALBION TREASURES Well done flugal to start – basses stay serene though! This needed a bit more focus and direction for me – where’s the climax for example? Just needs a bit more shape. PENNY LANE Nice jolly style and trombone is stylish followed by very good sop. Good choice – a real foot-tapper! WHERE E'ER YOU WALK Lovely trombone sound and very sympathetic styling. However, band are not so sympathetic in accompaniment and need to find a quieter dynamic level! Graham remains a study of calmness – as he should be, well done! PIRATES OF THE CARRIBEAN Some exciting sounds here but it does sometimes get out of hand at extreme dynamics and tempo. GRAND OLD DUKE Wow – a great opening, your best playing! In fact this whole number seems to completely come to life and you sound supremely confident! This is really good now and has that drive and direction that I asked for earlier – well done everyone on a very successful finale.
Overall, some highs in a well-assembled programme.Thanks very much
THIRD PLACE OVERALL -- HIGHEST PLACED UNGRADED BAND
FANFARE Effective idea to open the performance COSSACK Good tempo and the music has the necessary brightness. Dynamics well observed creating contrasts. Trombones show style. Perhaps a little more discipline in the tutti parts.Warm sounds impress. Good control and flow throughout. MEDIEVAL MOMENTS A little more pulse is needed in the intro ,but well controlled individual moments. A great legato feel for the music, and sop shows composure through this section.Certainly your band uses the variousstyle changes well. A well presented number BLADES OF TOLEDO Well balanced section and again a good style is maintained throughout. A little more conviction would help in the tutti's to enhance the fine soloists.An impressive number. THE LOST CHORD A well contrasted item. Cornet soloist shows a mature styleand the music flows quite well, with disciplined dynamics. A little loose at times but well restrained before the final chords GRAND OLD DUKE A lively closing item, it lost its drive in the middle passages, A performance very well directed,with contrasts in style and dynamics. Thank you and Good luck .
FANFARE Incisive opening with good balanced sound COSSACK Good positive playing to open and good neat playing from the cornets. Good solid bass solo, a good opening march. MAGIC SLIDES Played with panache. Very well together for the most part and generally quite good. In the main it is very nicely balanced and the band supports well. Bravo for playing without music. IRISH BLESSING Well done soloists, its not easy, perhaps it needed a little more warmth of tone, musically well done . It was all very well shaped. GLADIATOR A good maestoso opening, quite atmospheric. Excellent build to (28) and well controlled dim to (38).Cornet needs to sing a little more in the solo. A convincing finale. SALSA TRES PRADA Effective opening, well done trio at (48) intonation problems in quieter passages. Undoubtedly an entertaining piece. Well done!
IMPERIAL ECHOES Excellent choice and well played. A SPECIAL PLACE Nice playing solo cornet. Direction is lost at (D) needs more lead from euphs. Intonation suffers in lower dynamics. BLADES OF TOLEDO Good presentation from trombones (bells up sync). There is some good, full blooded playing. YELLOW SUBMARINE Effective number and I hear some good detail, it’s a detailed score but don’t lose the tune, not by playing louder but with articulation and make sure of note lengths being the same. GLADIATOR Enthusiastic sounds, well done. Tuning suffers in quieter passages. Overall the band has a good sound, I enjoyed your performance and well presented by your MD, a good rapport. Thanks
GOLDCREST Could be bolder to open, the bell figures don’t quite come off and perhaps make more of the dynamics. Bell figures better, a good choice to open but didn’t quite sparkle. PENNY LANE Intro fine and all moves along nicely. Fine toms at (32) well done sop. Nicely swinging at (72) fair to close. I’LL WALK WITH GOD Suspect intonation in opening bars, fine euph sounds at (a) Muted parts not quite balanced, semis don’t come off at (e) not balanced in closing bars. FROLIC FOR TROMBONES If possible face your audience all is nicely balanced but there are gaps, tutti could sparkle a little more. Final note suspect but well played. AND ALL THAT JAZZ Confident to open, good style, perhaps more punch needed, some better balancing required – however a good effort. AN AMERICAN TRILOGY Perhaps a little slower would create a better atmosphere, fine euphoniums troms well balanced. Moves on nicely. Detail lost in cornet parts ,nevertheless there was much to admire in this performance
HIGHEST PLACED UNGRADED BAND BEST TROMBONE SECTION
EVER READY Interesting opening, not sure it works with percussion at the front especially the bass drum. You play the march with confidence. HIGHLAND CATHEDRAL Opening a little untuneful on long notes. Overall a nice piece, the side drummers should have taken the spotlight. FOX FROM THE NORTH A good opening, a little under tempo but played well. Well-done trombones. Good sounds from euphoniums and baritones could do with a little more clarity. You use some good dynamic contrasts in this piece. GEORGIA ON MY MIND Good opening. Soloist a little under the notes. Band needs to be quieter when accompanying the soloist. Generally a little fast and untidy in the top register but well done and keep up the good work. IRISH BLESSING Good visual presentation and a good start by the quartet, ppp to loud and untidy. Generally throughout be careful with phrasing. Soloist could be a little warmer, last bars untidy but a good close. TROMBOLA Uncertain start, well done trombones good balance, I like your movements troms but look like you enjoy it please. Accomp a little weak, good troms again well done. A good choice overall well done. CRANBERRY CORNERS USA Opening a little tentative, you must be aware of speed, well done solo cornet. tuning and tempo suffer. Good to see audience participation incorporated. Good visual ending.Overall a good steady performance, well done.
A very good choice of varied programme. This band has an excellent sense of rhythm, my feet were tapping throughout. Cornets need to be more confident whereas the trombone section swept everything before them. What a performance in Magic Slides. The flugel soloist in Mannha de Carnival needed to be more confident. She has a nice sound and needs to be braver “I’m in command of this situation, I’m good, listen to me.” The ensemble playing was good with the lower brass providing a nice cushion of sound. Good presentation by the conductor. I particularly liked the vibes playing in Mr Sandman.
HIGHEST PLACED UNGRADED BAND BEST TROMBONE SECTION
STAR LAKE A good confident start, style could be more bouncy the crotchets are a little long. Good balance and dynamics, playing a lot crisper on the D.C. BY THE TIME I GET TO PHOENIX Good style for this music from the band, try not to force the notes. A lot better style at (B) although a few tuning problems. RAG AND BONES Good start then good tempo, good balance for six trombones (Bravo). Good item at this point in the programme. Just the odd untidy moment ANTONINS NEW WORLD Good start made to (39) Good feel at this point, bravo percussion, Good trombones at (55) I like this arrangement and the band are at home with it, ending could have been more convincing. KALINKA Good euph and baritone start then mini tuning problems. Tempo build up is good, dynamics are good, and standing at the end was a little untidy.
