New sponsor For Carlton Main

Carlton Main get to build a new musical home with Gladedale Home Builders.

The band are pleased to announce a new sponsorship deal with UK Home builders “Gladedale”.

Their previous sponsor “Ben Bailey” Homes were bought by Gladedale earlier this year and fortunately “Gladedale” have agreed to continue where “Ben Bailey” left off.
The band would like to place on record thier sincere thanks to “Ben Bailey” over the last five years for their support in which time the Band has once again become a major force in world banding.”

It has been agreed that the band will undertake a series of charity concerts on behalf of the new sponsor and all proceeds will be donated to a charity of the sponsors choice.

More details to follow…

Good Luck Kevin!

The Newhall Band has announced the permanent appointment of Kevin Holdgate as Musical Director.

Kevin is an accomplished player and has played with many bands and orchestras, including stints as solo trombone at Carlton Main Frickley Colliery.

The band would like to wish Kevin and his new band all the best for the future.

Yorkshire Area

Last year we a touch unlucky to miss out on the trip to London, but with Russell Gray at the helm and some well placed signings we have made it back to London for the first time since 1999.  

4BarsRest predicted that there would be a battle to claim the qualification places for London.

Even they predicted that we would be “well worth a few bob as an eachway bet.”

 

Anyway, here are the full results:

 

1. Black Dyke, Dr. N. Childs, 12, 195
2. Grimethorpe Colliery, A. Withington, 9, 193
3. Carlton Main Frickley Colliery, R. Gray, 6, 191
4. Rothwell Temperance, D. Roberts, 4, 189
5. Brighouse and Rastrick, A. Morrison, 1, 187
6. Marsden Silver (Ossett Brewery), G. Williams, 2, 185
7. Pennine Brass, R. Farr, 5, 183
8. YBS, M. Griffiths, 11, 182
9. Hepworth (Cookson Homes), M. Bentham, 7, 181
10. Yorkshire Imperial Urquhart Travel, J. Davies, 10, 180
11. Powerfuel Hatfield, G. O’Connor, 3, 178
12. Stocksbridge, D. Nesbitt, 8, 177

Pre-qualification: Grimethorpe Colliery and Black Dyke
Other qualifiers: Carlton Main and Rothwell Temperance
Best soloist: Richard Marshall, Black Dyke
Best instrumentalist: David Thornton, Black Dyke

More New Signings!

The band has finally completed the trombone section by signing Ben Knowles. Originally from the Yorkshire Dales Ben has already played alongside the bands principal trombone Rebecca for many years, and has since had spells at the Barnard Castle Band and YBS Band. Ben is also studying music at Huddersfield University where he holds the principal trombone seat with the university wind ensemble and brass band.

While over on the cornet section, two late additions have also been announced due to a few soon to be ‘additions’ to the organisation.
As reported recently, Philip Cobb will be deputising on Solo Cornet for Jon Sanderson who’s wife is expecting their first child in the very very near future, while David Bird  is stepping in to the Soprano seat to replace regular soprano Claire Jenkins who is expecting twins!
 

The band is looking forward to playing their new look band at the forthcoming area competition in Bradford!

New Faces at Carlton Main

The Carlton Main Frickley Colliery band is pleased to announce three new signings prior to the ‘area’ contest.

First of all the band would like to welcome Leah Williams on Solo Horn. Leah is yet another teacher to join the band, and is currently Head of Music at Blue Coat School in Oldham. She has experience at the highest level gaining recognition as a soloist, winning the National Urdd Eisteddfod, regional Young Musician of the year award and becoming Welsh Open solo champion as well as Principal Horn with the Tredegar, the Fodens band and more recently the Sellers International Band. 

The band has also strengthened the trombone section with another former Sellers player - Rebecca Lundberg replacing Kevin Holdgate.  Rebecca is an award winning musician having gained a First Class Honours degree, the Harry Mortimer Prize and the Studio Music Prize for Brass Band Arranging from Huddersfield University. 

And our final signing (for now), Toni Howden fills the vacant second Euphomium seat.  Toni studied at Huddersfield Universitywhere she played solo euphonium with Home Silver and Old Silkstone bands befor joining the Sellers International band on 2nd euphonium. She became another member of the band to achieve the prestigious Harry Mortimer Award for Brass Player of the Year. 

Toni’s first engagement with Carlton Main was at the Stroud Subscription Rooms, closely followed by the Scottish Open competition.

The band is looking forward to playing their new look band at the forthcoming area competition in Bradford!

Concert Review - Stroud Subscription Rooms

After an absence of 33 years Carlton Main Frickley Colliery Band returned to Stroud on Saturday 17^th November to present a concert for the Stroud Brass Band Festival, led by their guest conductor Derek Broadbent.

A near capacity audience enjoyed their signature march FCB followed by the ever popular Berloiz overture The Corsair.

The first of four soloists was Kirsty Abbotts, who gave a beautifully crafted rendition of Percy Code’s Zelda – not heard in Stroud for some time but the ecstatic applause revealed how much this was appreciated. An encore was demanded which gave Kirsty the opportunity to showcase an item from her CD, namely Alan Fernie’s arrangement of Meditation from Thais by Massenet.

A couple of new items from Robert Collinson, the bands associate arranger followed, both with Geordie influence, one featuring Janet Lewis on flugel horn. The first half concluded with two contrasting items Pirates of the Caribbean and Where Eagles Sing.

The Agincourt Song by Elgar Howarth opened the second half followed by an up beat version of one of the Swing era classics Sing, Sing, Sing arranged by Ray Woodfield. Derek Broadbent then brought the audience down to earth by explaining the story surrounding their next piece Elegy by Leigh Baker. This was composed as a tribute to the late Eddie Noble, of Brighouse and Rastrick fame. The quiet simplicity of this music was not lost on the Stroud audience.

Two more solo items followed, the euphonium offering was Be My Love played by David Belshaw

followed by Bass Soloist Ben Dixon who introduced us to a new piece for Stroud.

This was Lesley Condon’s composition entitled Celestial Morn. This proved to be good showcase for this talented young musician. The Irish Blessing was enjoyed prior to the robust finale to the concert. It is some time since we enjoyed Tchaikovsky’s 1812 overture and its familiar themes provided an excellent conclusion to the bands well balanced programme.

Derek Broadbent’s knowledge and good humour added an extra dimension to the evening, helped by the fact that he has enjoyed a long term association with the Stroud Festival.

His chosen encore was the late Bill Brunt’s favourite march – Radetsky, which reflected his empathy with this audience. Bill was our popular compere for many years.

It is hoped that it will not be to long before this fine band is invited back to Stroud.

Trevor G. Picken

President – SBBF.

Our very own arranger!

The band is pleased to announce that Robert Collinson has agreed to become the bands Associate Arranger.

Robert was born in 1963 in County Durham. He was a cornetist and played with a number of bands in the North East of England before turning to conducting in his late teens. He began composing at an early age and produced his first commercially successful score for brass quintet at age 14. Three years later, he composed a work which was performed by the Northern Sinfonia Wind Ensemble in their 1982 series of concerts.

He gained a place at the University of Hull to study music (1983-6) and worked extensively with the Reader in Composition, Anthony Hedges. Rob’s special areas of interest were composition and orchestration. Whilst at University he had the opportunity to write for a range of musical forces including The Allegri String Quartet, and the University Chamber Choir. He composed the music for his own graduation.

He was also involved in the production of recordings at University including the finalists’ performances and and performances by visiting artistes. He has a particular interest in Radio After leaving University, he taught privately and as a peripatetic instructor, worked as a music copyist and produced compositions and arrangements for a variety of ensembles.

As a performer, he played for a number of brass ensembles, big bands and as trumpet player for musical shows. In 1990 he gained a PGCE and moved to Yorkshire to take up a post in a high school in Leeds as a music teacher.

In 1997 he returned to his Brass Band roots by becoming conductor of the Clifton and Lightcliffe Band based near Brighouse, Yorkshire for eight years.

His musical work is not confined to the world of Brass Bands. He has composed synthesised music for a series of therapeutic tapes and produced educational materials for beginner instrumentalists. His current projects include the completion of his Cornet Concerto and a large-scale work for Choir and Brass Band.His work has received performances by some of the biggest names in Brass Banding including

Grimethorpe, Brighouse and Rastrick, the Ransome Band the Leyland Band and now Carlton Main for whom he is associate arranger.

After 14 years as a music teacher he now runs a company with his partner Kristina that services the music publishing industry. This company, Broadnib Music, now publishes much of Rob’s musical output.

The band have already introduced audiences to Rob’s works, so look out for new pieces being included in our concerts soon!

Carlton Main Sets The Air Alight!

The Band were flying high with the help of some classic World War 2 aircraft on Friday 17th August.

The ‘Last Night at the Proms’ events may seem all the rage at the moment, but how many can boast a flypast by TWO legendary aircraft?

The band enjoyed something a bit different when they entertained the crowds at ‘Gala on the Green’ at RAF Linton-on-Ouse near York, as the evening included a pair of Second World War Spitfires flying low over the main stage producing a truly unique experience.

Organiser Flight Lieutenant Paul Dodds was in raptures at the end of the concert, however it’s not only his comments that we have recieved, in fact the entire band was ‘invited’ to join leading lights of the RAF in the officers bar!

Proceeds from the event will go to the RAF Association and RAF Benevolent fund both of which assist former airmen and their families.

As you can see from comments on our guestbook the audience certaily enjoyed themselves…

“From: Ian Smith

We (My wife and Father in Law) came to the evening concert on the green at R.A.F.Linton -on-Ouse on Friday 17th August and would like to congratulate the band on a most wonderful performance. From the Spitfires flying over to the last notes of 1812 (or as Mr Ramsay once heard it “one eight one two overture “! )we enjoyed every minute and hope the event will be repeated next year, Thanks to everyone concerned (especially back row cornets as they always seem to be overlooked…I know I am one)
Ian Smith
York”

“Margaret Parminter

Just a line to say ‘Thank You’ for last Friday’s concert at Linton on Ouse. Everyone I have spoken to who attended was absolutely blown away by your performance. The lady on the cornet was amazing! I hope you weren’t joking when you said you would see us next year.
P.S. We would sing along if we knew the words…..”

Do you know any good links?

Shortly we will be adding a useful links page, so if you would like to see a link to your band appear on our site, then please send us an address and a photo / logo.

If you are not in a band, but have found a useful link, then we might be able to add that also, again just send us a link.

Line up for the Scottish Open

16 bands have confirmed their entries for the 2007 Scottish Open on Saturday 24th November which is being held for the first time in the new Perth Concert Hall.

6 bands from England and 10 from Scotland will perform a new commission from Pete Meechan entitled ‘Macbeth’.
In a ‘brave’ and innovative move, the composer will be one of the adjudicators along with Steven Mead. Steven Mead has worked with Pete in the past and both are looking forward to sharing the adjudication of the Scottish Open.

Competing bands:
Bon Accord
BT Band
Camborne Band
Carlton Main Frickley Colliery
Dalmellington
Dunaskin Doon
Fishburn
Kingdom Brass
Kirkintilloch
Newmilns & Galston
Newtongrange
RMT Easington
Scottish Co-op
Unison Kinneil
Whitburn
Yorkshire Imperial Urquhart Travel

The Scottish Brass Band Association are also delighted that Besson has agreed sponsorship for this event and they look forward to welcoming them to Perth.

Here are some notes on the Test Piece: Macbeth

Commissioned by the Scottish Brass Band Association for the 2007 Scottish Open Championship, Macbeth takes its’ inspiration from the Shakespeare play of the same name. Character portraits (of the three witches as well as Macbeth himself), abstractions (The lament), and scenes (Macbeth’s final battle with Macduff) make up the nine sections of the piece.

i: Witches
The prophecies of the three witches are an integral part of the play, and in this opening section, these mysterious characters are represented by three different sections of music that introduces the listener to the musical material of the piece.

ii: Dagger
Macbeth’s “Is this a dagger I see before thee” speech, where an imaginary dagger leads him to contemplate the pending murder, builds in intensity before the bell tolls at its’ conclusion - a sign from Lady Macbeth that Duncan is now alone.

iii: General Macbeth
A character portrait of Macbeth - a fearless General who has led his armies to defeat foes from all over Europe. His ambition and flair that make him such a great General are also the characteristics that lead to his eventual downfall.

iv: Contemplations of Lady Macbeth
Alone and mad, Lady Macbeth ponders all that has gone, before taking her own life.

v: Lament
Although the play tells of Macbeth not feeling the pain of his wife’s death, this lament ponders not only her death, but the tale as a whole.

vi: Tomorrow and tomorrow and tomorrow
It is in this final soliloquy that we see the ultimate tragedy of Macbeth - the realisation that his life is ultimately worthless.

vii: A spell still cast
This acts as a prologue to section eight, restating the original “witches” music, before heading into Macbeth’s final battle.

viii: Final Battle
Macbeth’s final battle, where he locks swords with Macduff.

ix: Not of woman born
Macbeth’s realisation that the witches have misled him comes all too late, as Macduff beheads Macbeth, fulfilling the last prophecy.