Variations on Laudate Dominum

Untidy and untuneful start is made by trombones. Good full band sound. B well done basses/Euph C works quite well most of the time this variation was neat and tidy. D Accomp could be a lot smoother in style and articulation. Soloists do well with difficult solo lines. Bravo Bass 6 before C. Hate to say it band is only spoilt by only average tuning, problems are very evident. I good style J Sostenuto effect not always evident. Softer dynamics could be softer. K Good style again. Untidy 3 & 2 before M! M Euph soloist is well sharp and big tuning problems are evident. (N Basses very sharp) O & P better style Q Neat and tidy but too loud. R good S again tidy well done. Tune before V was untidy to start and smoother style was required and we did get some overblown unbalanced playing Y onwards
A performance with things to offer but the untuneful playing was a big problem and the ending was a shade OTT in dynamic 
Stan Lippeatt 

Divertimento

I

Euph feels excited and pushes the tempo. A  Careful with balance. C is very loose you are just too quick, crotchet = 112, you would have much more space and time to play this super music.

II

Sensible tempo here allows for clarity just be careful to balance the chord into A. B Sop does well here and percussion helps with overall control. We have the odd disturbance in exact pitch, but the overall control has worked.

III

Smooth start but B untuneful and we play in compound time not duple. C Good sop but balance horn chord E Again dotted quaver semi quaver rhythm not nearly tight enough. Effective accents before G feels nervous

IV

A touch quick and rhythms suffer. C Pick out those accents they will help the rhythmic detail. I very loose and tuning insecure before K. Most detail clear through to close. Please think about those rhythmic tempo problems it will help in this fine piece. Thank you Malcolm Brownbil

Partita

I

Untuneful octaves - ensemble lacks clarity. Balance of Basses at 1 could be improved. Playing lacks 'Maestoso feel'. Thin sound in the Euph melody. Better after 3 with cornets, but the octaves are untuneful. Troms not balanced after 4. Untuneful octaves at 5. Balance of inner parts poor to end.

II

This is an effective start with a commendable effort to play longer quavers. Cornet uncomfortable at the start 7 then improves. Better at 8 - good movement but lacks rhythmic cohesion. Fair build to 10. Melody at cornet trio not together at the start. Better second time. Secure Euph. Cornet F's sharp in pitch in the melody. Some pleasing moments - V. good sop!! Untuneful/unbalanced notes at 13 Also middle of band good tone contrast to end. Final chord almost in tune.

III

Sensible tempo but untidy before 15. Shy cornet entries. Cornets rush melody & troms are untuneful. More Bass sound at 17 is needed to 'push' rhythm. Fairly good phrasing of the melody. Untidy Bass/Perc sequences. At 19 the fugue entries not in the same style. Whoops ! Troms after 20. Lost continuity after 21. Balance of chords not effective to end. Too many technical problems unresolved today.  Brian Buckley

GBBA ENTERTAINMENT CONTEST - FEBRUARY 15th 2004 - 175 points

The Cossack

Good tempo and well together to open. Dynamics are well controlled. Take care with dotted [semi quaver rhythm]. Some good Euphonium sounds. Not always together at [sign]

On With The Motley

Ensemble not quite in tune. Soloist plays well but band could play a little softer. Well done Soprano.

Basin Street Blues

Good sounds but the music needs to swing more. Take care with intonation in Troms, but some good solo work by all three.

(Everything I Do) I Do It For You

Good Euphonium sounds. Generally this could be much smoother and legato.

There's No Business Like Show Business

Good style to open. Good Flugel and Euph. [B] This could be much brighter in style.  David Hirst

The Cossack

Good solid start and dynamics observed. Just take care cornets in ff. Nice detail p passage. Bass solo not as well balanced, too much cornet - sometimes felt in next to last section. Take care sop don't overblow. Firm close.

Devon Fantasy

I This flows nicely but intonation could be better. Link to 1 not clean. Bar 9+ not balanced. Music does flow nicely. 3 nice effects < > etc. Untidy into 5 Nice solo cornet as Euph. Secure close

II Nice jaunty feel and flows. 9 Euph untidy. 10 + 5 well done basses. 11+ Mostly all in place. 12 Cornets a touch loud in balance but still flows.

III Untidy start and listen to tuning. 13+ Well done cornet as Euph 14+. 15 some tuning in cornets listen !! 16 + 2 Not a clean pickup. 17 Nice effect here and temp flowing. Solo cornet 18 got careless

IV This has a nice jaunty flow to it. A pity last chord not in tune. Had its faults but was musical. Thanks Colin Hardy

Lydian Pictures

Fanfare and Dances

Good start just the odd tuning problems. Euph plays well but intonation is a big problem. Band plays well with good crisp style and dynamics are well observed. Good lead to D D - E Quite effective just a few more tuning problems. E Untidy to start then again clear clean playing through F - G - H. H Good strong end to movement.

Romance

Smoother start could have been made. Cornet has a few blips. Flug / euph / sop all do well in good balance just the odd tuning problems. Flug / Horn good work noted. Tempo is good style could just be a shade smoother (tuning is a problem)

Folk Dance

Good build to M. 194 very untidy. I do find the tempo and style a shade ponderous. P well done. Flug solo (231 cym o.t.t.) Plays well as does cornet. R Reel neat crisp playing well done. Good sop work before S. U Bold playing to a big ending. A performance with things to offer but I did have problems with your tuning. Stan Lippeatt

Boy From Menaem

A fine opening with neat and tidy playing from all: Troms need to have better balance generally - more 2nd and Bass. Some nice solo sections particularly from solo cornet and Euph. SD is tight throughout.

David of the White Rock

Uneasy to open. You soon settle into some expressive playing with fine solo contributions from Horn and, again, Euph. Nice build to '40' which could be more expansive and majestic. A lovely close nicely shaped by the conductor.  Watch those phrase endings for intonation

Blue John

Again, a rather uneasy start. swing section kicks in really well and Solo Trombone plays securely and with a fine tone. The style needs to be a bit more relaxed. try to play longer notes with a legato tongue. drum kit drives the music well. Not totally convincing in the band parts at times 'D' stc but generally all work well.

Sinfonietta

Cornets need to be more delicate to open and I need more S. Horn in bar 4 & 8. Euph has wonderful sound at '17' Well done S. Cornet at '41' and flug at '49' '71' has just the right sound and feel. Nice to hear some real quality music!

Lets Face the Music and Dance

Band and drum kit have a different tempo to start! This is all rather lack-luster. i would like more Hollywood! Most of the technical demands are met however, and your soloists play well indeed and are an asset to your band (Euph particularly - obviously well taught!) A most enjoyable programme and so well directed. Thank you. Brian Hurdley