Wesley College, Balinteer, Dublin

Saturday 26^th April

Section 1 Brass

Test Piece: Variations for Brass Band by R. Vaughan Williams.

Despite being the only entry in the competition, which was a great pity, the Band put in a top class performance to maintain the high standard of previous years. This was a very demanding test piece with 11 fast moving and sudden change variations on a theme. The total playing time was 12 minutes.

The Adjudicator Michael Brand had these positive comments to make about the Band’s performance: -

“Stylistically this was very well played with good tuning evident and a good blend. The performance flowed well. Overall this is a good band and you have coped well with a difficult piece. The difficulty of this piece is not in the individual sections but to try to put is all together as a whole. You certainly make a coherent performance with a musical logic to it i.e. tempi are well related and the whole leads to a well-conceived end. I liked your tone, tuning and blend. There were lots to enjoy in a well played performance.”

The Band were awarded 1^st prize. The Band has now achieved an unprecedented 4-in-a-row of National titles. By winning the Band now qualifies for the finals of the 2004 European Brass Band Championships that are being held in Glasgow next year.

Variations for Brass Band is one of the two pieces that the Band will be playing in the European Brass Band Championships in Bergen, Norway on the 3rd May and we hope to build on our performance in the Nationals. The second piece the Band is playing is Three Saints by Goff Richards.