Cory Bands greatest achievement? – First posted in 2014 This was one of only a handful of trebles at the national Championships and I remember it well as I attended many rehearsals at the old Cory Bandroom (the one that burnt to the ground) while the band were under the musical directorship of Major Arthur […]
10 quick fire questions to test your brass band knowledge (Answers at the foot of the page) Dean Goffin, who composed the test piece Rhapsody in Brass (used in the British Open, Grand Shield and over 50 other contests since 1949) is of which Nationality? 2.What is the meaning of the musical term […]
Rodney Newton Recorded November 2013 In this first episode of the Nezzy on Brass Podcast Nigel Seaman talks to Composer Rodney Newton. Rodney has had a long and varied career as a music consultant to the London Film School, worked as a freelance arranger, music journalist, music critic, lecturer, adjudicator and General Editor of a […]
10 quick fire questions to test your brass band knowledge (Answers at the foot of the page) Who is this famous composer/conductor whose surname gives the name to the musical instrument he developed? Which test piece used in the British Open would you associate with these structures? ‘A Matter of Seconds’ was the original name […]
This time next year will you look back and smile at progress or frown at missed opportunity? Be on time There is nothing worse than a latecomer for rehearsal and it can be highly disruptive if it’s for a concert or heaven forbid a contest. Habitual lateness makes players and conductors boil with rage and […]
10 quick fire questions to test your brass band knowledge (Answers at the foot of the page) Which test piece would you associate this view with? Bands competing in the 2004 British Open Championships had a choice of 3 test pieces to play. Name them. Which lower section test piece, penned by Eric Ball, has […]
Brass band Christmas carolling – not for the faint hearted ‘Twas in the winter of 1969 when I experienced my first Christmas banding job. Wigston Temperance Band were out every Christmas and carolled around the streets of deepest Leicestershire come rain, snow, flood or permafrost. On this occasion it was the latter and I was woefully […]