An entertaining finish at Bolsover
The band has just returned from an enjoyable day out at the Bolsover entertainments contest.
Results:
- Vernon Building Society Poynton Band - Kevin Gibb
- Strata Brass - David Hirst
- South Yorkshire Police Band - Leigh Baker
This is an excellent result for two local South Yorkshire competitors, with South Yorkshire Police Band in the prizes, taking away 3rd place and the most entertaining programme of the day. Our conductor Leigh Baker is credited with crafting the entertaining programme, with new arrangements and the clever use of The Band's resources.
Our Programme
- Eve of the War - arranged Steve Sykes
- Eventide - arranged Leigh Baker
- Blaze Away
- Phantom of the Opera
- Velos - A fantasy on Daisy by Leigh Baker
Eve of the War - The stirring narrator's voice of Richard Burton started this exciting piece.
Eventide – (Abide with Me) cleverly woven by Leigh Baker to show off The Band's soloists - It is currently in manuscript but must soon be at the printers.
Blaze Away - A famous march that we all can hum but dont know its name. To start this piece we featured our Corps of Drums. Four marching side drummers certainly got the audience foot-tapping before the band launched into Blaze Away.
Phantom of the Opera - The Band's principal cornet, Sam Fisher, played out of his skin, swapping half way through onto piccolo trumpet; the thunderous applause said it all. Again the music is manuscript and originates from the Salvation Army.
Velos –Better heard than written about. Cycling caps, helmets, bike bells all feature in this excellent fantasy on bicycle related tunes all rolled into an excellent Dereham Divertimento suite of music of which Velos is the last movement. The piece was commisioned by the Dereham band and written to commemorate the life of a band member who had a passion for cycling.
The adjudicator’s comments will follow.