Bournemouth Concert Brass announces -

“Sounds of Christmas” 2013

For the third year Bournemouth Concert Brass are pleased announce their return to the Royal Bath hotel in Bournemouth for what is fast becoming the must attend Christmas launch event in Bournemouth.

The Royal Bath hotel is a local landmark building and, unknown to many, incorporates one of the best concert venues in town. 

The Devere Suite

The Devere Suite will offer an intimate and comfortable arena to enjoy two hours of fine traditional brass band music in a festive mode.

We encourage you to arrive early and soak up the atmosphere of the hotel’s Grand Lounge where children from Park School will be singing carols from 6.30pm

Bournemouth Concert Brass are pleased to flag this event as one of its “profits for charity” concert. This year the band is pleased to be working with a little known Dorset charity - Mosaic.

Mosaic is a Dorset charity offering a pathway of support to bereaved children, young people and their families. Mosaic work with young people who are facing the death of a loved one and provide individual, family and group support. Every child has the opportunity to attend residential weekend programme where they can meet others and share their experiences. 

The concert is Tuesday 3^rd December at commences with carols in the Grand Lounge from 6.30-7.15pm by the Park School choir prior to the main concert at 7.30pm

See http://www.mosaicfamilysupport.org.uk/

Pre book your tickets with Martin Collett at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it "> This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or call 07917 340242

or visit https://www.eventbrite.com/event/8317087633

Last Night of the Proms - A double hit

Regent Centre and Mowlem Theatre

Strong winds and sweeping rain announced the arrival of autumn in Christchurch. Yet traditional English weather could not deter the prommers from making their way to the Regent Centre for BCB’s annual Last Night of the Proms concert at the Regent Centre

This year your £1 purchase came with a Union Jack on the back cover to encourage patriotic participation in the later part of the evening. Many had taken the initiative and bought their own flags. In fact it was the best costume turn out for a few years with red and white wigs, Union Jack waistcoats supported by a seemingly healthy enthusiasm for the opportunity to sing!

“Praise” is a slightly old fashioned word these days, but the bands opening March, thus entitled, set the bright and exciting tone for the rest of the evening.

Music from film scores, classical favourites and new compositions gave the audience a real mix of entertainment for the first half.

Ron Goodwin’s 633 Squadron set a patriotic and upbeat tempo for the second half of the program.

Acknowledgement was given to Peter Hartley, the band’s principal trombone, for his two classical arrangements, Slavonic Dances No 1 and Hansel and Gretel, which were premiered during concert.

It was ladies night for the solo spots and Helen Kinder, euphonium and Alfie Hughes, tenor horn on fine form.

Leading the band and trying to tame the prommers, who were this year “noisy” in true proms tradition, was Bill Willis, the band’s resident conductor.

The evening ended in traditional proms fashion. It was a photo finish in Fantasia on British Sea Songs between band and prommers as who could sing/play “Jack the Lad” quickest! The audience provided fine singing in Jerusalem and with flags flying and voices raised bought the evening to a grand finale with “Land of Hope and Glory”

With an audience made up of regular locals, holiday makers from Yorkshire, Dublin and London and many first time attenders, this was without doubt one of the best Proms concerts for a number of years.

A week later the band travelled the Mowlem Theatre in Swanage for a repeat performance.

Interestingly here there was a strong visitor mix with brass band enthusiasts from Blackburn who were house sitting for friends, Kurt from Germany who had heard the band before and was celebrating his 50th year of visiting Swanage  from Cologne for a holiday and visitors from London and Sussex. A strong local contingent was evident.

Both events saw their best attendances for 5 years. These Proms concerts continue to be one the bands most popular concerts in the calendar

Thank you to all those who attended and contributed its success – See you next year.

Praise     Wilfred Heaton

The Gael - Dougie MacLean      

Czardas – Vittorio Monti arr: Bill Willis Euphonium soloist, Helen |Kinder

Vitae Lux   Frode Almaes arr: Torstein Aagaard Nilson

Enter the Galaxies   Paul Lovatt Cooper

Slavonic Dance No1   Dvorak arr: Peter Hartley

Hootenanny Harold Walters

  INTERVAL

633 Squadron     Ron Goodwin     

Hansel and GretelEngelbert Humperdink arr: Peter Hartley

Piper of Dundee.Ken Downie

Horn soloist, Alfie Hughes

Sing Sing Sing     Louis Prima

Fantasia on British Sea Songs

Sir Henry Wood

Jerusalem     Hubert Parry

Pomp & Circumstance No. 1   Elgar

BCB play Bournemouth Pleasure Gardens

BCB made their 22nd yearly appearance in the Pinewalk Bandstand in Bournemouth's Pleasure Gardens, during the week before the August bank holiday. The band reached thousands of tourists as they meandered their way through the gardens either on their way to the beach, or back through to the shopping precinct. Many stopped to listen drawn to a familiar piece of music or encouraged to stay and listen to the entire program.

The band are experienced band stand performers and have an entertaining repetoire set aside for this annual engagement including traditional brass band marches, arrangements from stage and screen as well as the popular current hits.

Audience appreciation was especially given to the renditions of "Bohemian Rhapsody", "Copa Cabana", and "Wake me up Before you Go". Particular enthusiasm was shown by the crowd for "YMCA" and "Hootenany", where the band encouraged audience participation.

Listener comments from the week

"I thoroughly enjoyed the band and have listened to every performance" (Local lady)

"I like traditional music. When the band played the march "Slaidburn", it took me back to my younger days when playing in the Whit Friday marches" (Visitor from Manchester)

"I've been working here for the summer period and have heard most of the bands that have played here. Your band have certainly played the widest variety of music and have had the best crowd response" (Crazy golf attendant)

"Occasionally not as tight as some bands I have heard, but for entertainment value, second to none!" (Visitor from Salisbury)

"It was nice to see the band smiling and enjoying themselves, some bands don't look happy when they play. Favourite piece was Copa Cabana" (Visitor from Lincoln)

"Good balance to every programme, something for everyone, band played well, great tempo's, nice balance to the ensemble, trombones - a phenomenal choir, Star soloists throughout the week. Good looking conductor - will go far. Bournemouth Tourism is giving a perfect adjudication, 200 out of 200 points. see you next year. Love the stand banners" (Guest player)

BCB perform in Swanage Sat. 17 August

BCB 's 10 piece ensemble presented a concert at St Marys church Swanage for the annual Flower Festival.

The group played a wide range of music from Mozart, traditional melodies and contemporary popular music.

**Here is the group seen at a corporate event at the Mirimar Hotel in Bournemouth in 2012

Bournemouth Concert Brass: A second successful visit to the Sonderborg Ringriderfest in Denmark

John Woods’s reports on Bournemouth Concert Brass recent 6 day tour to Sonderborg in Southern Jutland Denmark

The band made such an impact during its 2012 visit to the Ringriderfest that they were invited back to participate in this year’s 125th anniversary celebrations.

Sonderborg ‘s annual event, established since 1888, lasts for four days and is unique to this area of Denmark. Horses and Riders from a wide area converge on the town for a festival that also includes two band tattoos, numerous parades and marches from the castle to the festival ground and pop up plaza concerts.

The main focus is the equestrian contest. Riders have to spear small rings at speed on horseback similar to jousting. Music is a key element to the parades and ceremonies. The whole town shuts down for the weekend to enjoy concerts and music at a variety of locations throughout this pretty island based community.

An enlarged Bournemouth Concert Brass made the 2400 kilometre return trip also including 6 Pipers from the Scots Guards Association.

Major David Barringer, MD and professional conductor of Bournemouth Concert Brass, has been involved with the event for a number of years, and as lead Director of Music for the festival over the last 2 years, planning the very full programme of events and range of ensembles playing a variety of themed music .

The support for all bands during the events was extremely well planned and co ordinate by the local organising committee and at all times the bands were well looked after with typical Danish hospitality.

BCB stayed at a local Danish Army Barracks with ideal facilities for a touring band and superb views of the islands waterfront and a large car park for marching practice!

Other participating bands were:

• The Pipes and Drums of the Scots Guards Association
• The Honourable Artillery company Band & Band of the Royal Yeomanry
• Den Kongelige Livgardes Tambourkorps
• Copenhagen Showband
• Sonderborg Garden
• Sonderborg Pipes and Drums
• Aarhus Postorkester
• Garderhusarregimentets Tambourkorps

Most of the events took place outdoors and included marches and countermarching! This was always going to be a challenge, so sufficient rehearsal time had been factored in for parade ground practice both before we left UK and on arrival. Lionel Burdett was our superb Drum Major and did an excellent job of preparing us and giving briefings for each performance. Dave Barringer's mantra for the tour was to work hard, concentrate and enjoy ourselves! I think all members lived up to that expectation. The nucleus of the band was from BCB but with guests from a number of bands including myself to swell the band to 41 players!

Our diary of performances went like this:-

Thursday - We had left the previous evening and via Calais crossed the English Channel at 2am, most of the band then slept and with 2 excellent drivers Tim and Terry, no break was needed until Germany. It was late afternoon before arrival at the Officers barracks in Sonderborg, our base for the next 5 days.

Friday - Today started with our most significant challenge, a 3 km march the majority of which was up-hill and over cobbled streets and in temperatures exceeding 25 degrees centigrade.

The afternoon was filled with more marching rehearsal and practice for the Tattoo with the other bands. The Highland Cathedral Sonderborg March and The Gael and Amazing Grace were pretty familiar by now. Then a short march and Concert outside a sponsor bank in town centre. This drew large crowds.

Saturday - March to Town Square where all bands provided a concert, individual and joint numbers. Rob Taylor on Trombone delivered a crowd pleasing rendition of "Can’t take my eyes off of you" whilst walking and playing round the fountain. This concert was conducted by Bill Willis as Major Barringer had made an overnight return to UK to conduct the British Army Brass Band Concert at Kneller Hall.

Two birthdays were celebrated during the tour Alfie Hughes (Horn) and Bill Willis E Tuba).

Sunday - Was an early start for the Mayors breakfast. As mentioned earlier the whole event is steeped in tradition and ceremony with ceremonial trumpeters and pipes we marched to mayor’s house and into her large garden. Speeches and presentations took place in glorious sunshine before we marched back again through the streets of a quiet Sonderborg village.

Next, back to Castle near the harbour. This was the backdrop for the parade to congregate in readiness for the march to the festival ground. The uphill route and horse deposit challenges remained! Very much a case of watch your step!

At the festival ground large crowds enjoying the Ringrider festival and fairground-all bands took part in Tattoo with individual performances and massed finale.

Monday - A morning concert in the Town Square was again played to a receptive local crowd. Tour soloists included Matt Chiverton (Soprano) and Rachel Bartlett (Flugel)

This was followed by lunch for town dignitaries and their guests when again musical entertainment was provided by the band. Danish hospitality was displayed on a grand scale with some 2000 seated guests. All the bands marched in and formed up to entertain with a variety of traditional items ranging from Highland Cathedral through to Hey Jude and YMCA! Major Barringer and Major David Millgate (Conductor of combined Honourable Artillery Company Band & Band of the Royal Yeomanry) conducted from a trestle table top in the centre of the vast tent that had been equipped with CCTV and a large multi media screen.

That evening the finale took place as the tattoo fell in to darkness. An emotional “The day thou gavest” was delivered, ending the festival. There followed a spectacular firework display. At this time the whole town then went into party mode - band included.

BCB almost missed the last Tattoo as the batteries on band’s coach went flat! We left our base for the finale on a borrowed coach whilst our drivers, Tim and Terry, sought breakdown assistance!

Tuesday - 8am. In a revived and fully loaded coach, we started the long journey back via Calais, arriving back in Bournemouth in the early hours of Wednesday.

This was a great opportunity for BCB to show what British Brass bands are capable of. The whole tour was co ordinated by Major Dave Barringer, who put together a musical programs and marching displays. Mention must be made of BCB’s secretary, John Kidby and his wife Lois, who both did an excellent job planning and organising. Thanks also to Bill Willis who prepared all the music, a truly mammoth task, and to Nick Jarvis for compiling the tour awards.

Click here to see the band playing in the local town square.

Shortly after the trip the following email was received:

 ""Dear Bournemouth Concert Brass. Thank you for your Amazing music and tattoo at Sønderborg Ringriding. Hope so much to see you again next year. It is so long time to wait.
I have a specialy relation to British military because my father served in the British army in 3 year. I have enjoyed it since I was child. (1963).

Best regards

The Joergensen Family""

BCB perform at St Peter's Church

On 6th July, Bournemouth Concert Brass gave a concert in the iconic St Peter's Church in the heart of Bournemouth.

The band commenced the evening with the lively "Olympic Spirit", The band then performed the Festival March - 'Able' which is always dedicated to the organisations and charities that the band work with those who "enable" others to achieve project objectives. Soloists for the evening were Helen Kinder (Euphonium), who gave a scintilating performance of Brillante. Alf Hughes (Solo Cornet) and Rachel Bartlet (Flugel) in 'Can You Feel the Love Tonight' and 'Where is Love' respectively.

The band's in-house arrangers provided a number of items to the programme. Peter Hartley with his arrangement of Mary Shelley's Frankenstein' St. Peter's being the resting place of Mary Shelley. Brad Rouillier's arrangement of 'Princess Leia' from his Star Wars suite and Bill Willis's selection of Chicago, 'Can You Feel the Love' and 'Skyfall'.

The band played a number of pieces from the library of the Salavation Army, which were well received by the audience. these were Variations on 'Laudate Dominum', 'Fanfare on St. Francis' and the delightful melody of 'Shennandoah'.

Other popular pices played were 'Breezin Down Broadway' and 'And the Band Played On'.

The concert, and mix of music was acknowledged by the audience and BCB are looking to extend their relationship with the church to provide concerts in the furture. St. Peter's are hoping that the church will become a regular venue for concerts.

A london based patron who was staying in Bourenmouth that week emailed  - "just to let you know that we were at the concert at St Peter's Church on 6 July and very much enjoyed it. The programme was excellent. Please keep us posted with future concerts".

Thanks

Brenda Kirby

Hollywood & Broadway Concert 

BCB performed their annual 'themed' concert at the Regent Centre on Sunday 23 June under the direction of the band's resident conductor - Bill Willis.

The band utilised their 'in-house' arrangers to provide some of the music for this concert, with contributions from Peter Hartley (Frankenstein), Bill Willis (Skyfall). both of these receiving their premier performances, and Brad Rouillier (Princess Leia).

Other music ranged from Chicago, Let's Face the Music, Les Miserables, Gonna Fly Now, And The Band Played On, Breezin' Down Broadway and finishing with Hello Dolly.

The Band's soloists for the evening were Alf Hughes, cornet - Can You Feel The Love Tonight, Rachel Bartlett, Flugel -Where Is Love, and Matt Chiverton, soprano - Memory (from the musical Cats).

The guest soloist for the evening was Darren Barlett. Darren has played with the band on many occasions and he provided two Vocal solos, bringing the house down with his two contributions, Love Changes Everything and You'll Never Walk Alone.