Downton Band

Wessex Brass Band Association Contest, Weymouth 4 Dec 2004

First view and run of “The Plantagenets” by Edward Gregson (way back in July!) had left us speechless. Our first impression – and sequent pub-committee discussion – confirmed our worst fears over the choice of test piece selected by the Wessex Brass Band Association.  It was hard. Very hard.  Some wondered if the effort would actually be worth it, this time.  Having clung on to first section status for so long, with varying results, would this Championship Section “symphonic study” be one step beyond?

Maybe.

Rehearsals began in earnest straight into September and with some key players invisible and some of the “notes” as obviously absent the framework of the piece was slow to be constructed.  Despite increased home practice (even Andy confessed to getting his sop out a few times outside of practice night!) and some attending extra and self-organised practice sessions, we reach critical level short of a convincing performance.  Only in the last week or so was enough confidence established to ensure attendance at Weymouth would be more than a chance to listen to our juniors’ progression. 

But with foreboding we committed ourselves to the fray. For an inside the band account, I have asked solo horn player Danny to describe the performance from a less objective perspective, and his account follows later. 

The juniors played first and gave two good performances of their hymn tune, Blaenwern, and A Mini Fantasia on a “London” Theme, by Robert Collinson.

Credit must go to the effort made by each youngster and senior helpers.  Roland chose a demanding item to develop their playing skills and with a nearly brand new back row team their commitment was total.  Some fine solo work from the flugel and rep players, Matt and Jack, respectively and some confident playing from David, on solo horn, highlighted how the youngsters have improved since last year.

Although not getting placed in the prizes may have been disappointing, being beaten by older, larger and certainly more experienced bands should still inspire them to try even harder during the coming year; to work on their growing musical skills.

Much of the same should be said of the seniors, too.  It was not a milestone day for Downton Band in any respect – and I must confess that we were severely lacking in the final analysis at this contest.  Plenty of mitigation and no worse in my opinion than a half dozen bands in the section, but not good enough to take much glory away from Weymouth.

Too many slips, bottles, losses of concentration and poor musicianship.  I disagree with Danny over one point.  There is merit in being stretched beyond your capability.  But it always feels worse when you know that your audience are fellow band players, many having heard or played the test piece before and all aware of your short-comings!  Important and helpful lessons can be learnt through your worst moments and finally (which I concur wholeheartedly with Danny) we must spend most of next year – and continually beyond! – in producing ensemble playing that is consistently “in tune”.  All recent adjudications I have seen seem to sight this as the Holy Grail for bands, and I guess we must join in the search - or like Sir Robin, give up and bugger off…

Most distressing for me was the disingenuousness behaviour of what we considered a knowledgeable audience during our test piece performance.  By all reports we were not solely on the receiving end of  a couple of “grumpy old men” sitting close and central to the Pavilion stage, but when you’re struggling for confidence the last thing you need is to hear the sucking in of air through the gritted teeth of “self appointed adjucator’s assistants” while your trying to concentrate on lessening the pain your are inflicting on them!  Statdler and Waldorf eat your heart out, these were men of the lowest and meanest of spirits.  Even Charlotte was tempted to clip them round the ears to teach ‘em some manners!

After the playing and after some players had stopped trying to end it all behind the stage curtains, we settled down to a post match bevy and catch up on the local gossip.  Far too many regular bands had not turned in – whether the test piece was too much effort or the Regionals are so much earlier none said - but some familiar faces were absent from the bar. 

One familiar face at the bar was of course Roland, our cherished MD.  Not only was Roland’s face on show – it was reverently duplicated by a number of his fans, as Greg’s pictures suggest.  Even Rachael died her moustache blonde in mocking tribute.  Perhaps Pete took it a bit far when nasal hairs got stuck in his zipper. And some were even his…

Before the results we quit the coast and a minibus load of us hammered back to the White Horse for a quiet pint and then on to the Sherekhan Curry House for meal.

Thanks to Danny for driving, and for nearly killing us at the Osmington road works.  When is a red light not a red light. Answer: When it’s safer to go around the car already stopped at them – rather than explaining the front end damage to Paul Street at SWT, the supplier of the days LDV! Still we found out that Emma IS a screamer, on this trip.

NB: Those still owing £6.80 for the days transport will be contacted in due course.

So a c**p musical day out followed by a curry and a face load of alcohol.  All in all not bad, and more experience for seniors and juniors to draw on.  If we do this badly in Torquay it will be harder to swallow, but we must get at it ASAP and start work on our tuning earlier in the preparation process. 

Thanks again for the support of our families – especially those who travelled down with us. 

Merry Christmas to all of you from all the band.  See you at the next event and feel free to send all your spare cash to us, c/o the band hall…

Nobby