Countdown to the concert

With several engagements coming up rehearsals are now really important. Monday night saw some very intense concert rehearsals of the ‘Big Band Spectacular’ and ‘Cowboys’. These are two of the more demanding pieces in which all sections of the band have very important parts which need to be correct to make the pieces work.  If you are planning to play in the concert please ensure you make the rehearsals. Practice makes perfect.

Moving on to our next engagement which is the J80 Beating Retreat in BRNC on Monday 11 June.  It is obvious that to put on a decent performance we need to practice marching, playing, halting and all of the bits that go into a display.  At this moment in time the only date we have to put the display together is on Monday 4 June.  This will be carried out on the BRNC Parade Ground at 19:30.   The whole evening will be used for the Beating Retreat rehearsal (no concert band) .  I know that it is a Bank Holiday but if this is the only rehearsal for the gig we all need to be there.  We are not good enough to put on a display unrehearsed.  Please be there on Monday if you intend to be on parade on 11 June.

Bonjour Mon Ami

Today saw the marching band perform for the signing of the twinning contract after 35 years between the lovely town of Dartmouth and Courseulles-sur-Mer at the Bandstand in Dartmouth. The 24 piece band was under the control of our new Drum Major on her debut, Hannah Balcombe. Well done Hannah a good first gig.  The band played several marches at the beginning of the ceremony and the 2 National Anthems, (the French National Anthem being site read as the music had not been availoable at the last rehearsal), thankfully everyone new the tune. We concluded the ceremony with a few other marches.

The highlight of the afternoon was definitely the appearance of Keith Boswell accompanied by his wife Sheilah. This was Keith’s first outing since returning from the London Hospital.  Unfortunately he was too late to see us perform but it was so nice to see him again.  We wish him all the very best and look forward to the time when he will be fit enough to return to lead the 2nd Clarinets (they need his guidance and leadership) Great to see you Keith.

Rehearsals on Monday will be for the up and coming concert in June.  A lot of work needs to be done on the programme so let’s all make the effort to be there on time and ready to go.  See you there.

Dart Music Festival Photos

Photos from the Dart Music Festival Concert can be viewed at:

 

http://www.joemurtaghphotography.com/photo_9551385.html#photos_id=9551385

 

 

Mac Arthur Park to Chicago

Tonight’s rehearsal had a very American theme to it. After warming up with a truly British piece in William Walton’s ‘Crown Imperial’ we swiftly ‘crossed the pond’ to rehearse Dave Cole’s arrangement of ‘MacArthur Park’.  Just a light blow really with a rather high trombone solo in it.  No problem you might say but after the 4th time through it the lip was getting just a tad tired and instead of screaming upstairs it was time to come down to earth as I’m mortal.

After the break we played the second half of John Key’s epic arrangement of ‘Chicago’, the first half of this 15 minute piece was performed both at our last concert and also at the Music Festival on the Dartmouth bandstand.

After discussing what is going to happen this Saturday and who is going to be available, what to wear and where to meet etc we ended the evening warming down with John Williams’ ‘Cowboys’, just to help us relax. (If you’ve ever heard it or played it you will very quickly realise that it is a very fast and difficult piece to play).

On another matter: There were still quite a number of empty seats again tonight, not the same empty seats as last week but some of them were.  Ladies and gentlemen we need commitment if we are going to continue at the high standard we have set ourselves. Practice makes perfect and rehearsals make good performances.  Say no more, please try and make the remaining rehearsals this term.  The music is hard and needs everyone’s input.

See you Saturday, on Parade, bright and shiny and raring to go.

You need to know the words to MacArthur Park for this to mean anything!!!!!

On Parade

On Saturday 26th May at 13:45 the marching band will muster in the Bandstand in Dartmouth to support the Anglo French Society.  This will be the first time that our new Drum Major  plus the band’s sash will be on parade with the band.

See the ‘Crown Imperial’

Tonight saw the first rehearsal of one of the pieces for the Summer Concert, William Walton’s ‘Crown Imperial’. In this year of the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee it only seems fitting that we should perform such a traditional and regal piece.  Also it is one heck of a hard blow to end a concert with and it is a challenge for all sections.  A cracking piece of music and one that will be enjoyed by both players and audience alike.

After the interval we then went on to rehearse John Williams’ ‘Cowboys’.  This is another very difficult piece which will need us all to be on our best performance to do it justice.

Phil has chosen a programme to meet all tastes with the traditional interspersed with new pieces which are both soothing and exciting.  Rehearsals will be intense because like always a lack of rehearsal time will mean that the adrenolin will be pumping again on concert night.

Due to a number of illnesses and departures we are finding that we are becoming short of clarinet players at both rehearsals and engagements.  If you know of any very capable clarinet players able to play the above music please put them in touch with Phil.  We are still looking for a bassoon, an oboe, a percussionist and some military side drummers.

We are coming up to a very busy period and with people taking holidays, illnesses and other reasons we do need extra players to fulfill the bookings.

On another matter we saw the unveiling of the Drum Major’s sash tonight.  Although this was purchased over two years ago it has not been able to be worn as it did not fit our outgoing Drum Major, Phil Hayward.  This is not to say that Phil is too big for the sash but that the sash was a replica of the 1956 BRNC Dartmouth RN Blue Jacket Band’s sash which was on the, shall we say, smaller size. Now that we have a very svelt new Drum Major in the guise of Hannah Balcombe it is very much like the glass slipper and ‘It Fits!’ Hannah is very excited about her debut engagement infront of the band in 2 weeks time in Dartmouth (I hope that the local papers are there to record her premier outing) She has been well tutored by Phil and has made marvellous progress in a very short time.

Dart Music Festival

Our annual turn out for the Dart Music Festival went very well today, ably lead by Graham Holman who was standing in for Phil Watson who was roaming around Dartmoor with the youngsters on the Ten Tors Competition. Phil, you left the band in very capable hands.

Only 30 people on stage today, all playing to their best ability and doing the band proud. The 4 clarinets were a little out numbered but their expertise and experience shone through.

Well done everyone, another good gig.  Back to rehearsals on Monday for the next gig which is once again in Dartmouth in two weeks on Saturday afternoon for the Dartmouth Anglo-French Association.

We also have very limited rehearsal time before the next concert in June so all hands to the pump please and let’s make all of the rehearsals between now and the end of the season, which for us is August.

See you tomorrow, don’t be late.