Remembrance, Last Night of the Proms and Scotland

There was no let up for the band after the hard work we put into London with only a few weeks to learn a new test piece ‘Music for Battle Creek’ in time for the Scottish Open and to get a concert program ready.

On the 12^th of November the band entertained our local supporters at St Matthews Church round the corner from the band room.  As per usual there was an underlying remembrance theme to this concert with some special contributions from the soloists including remembrance items ‘Loss’ By Don Ellis performed by John Atkinson on Soprano Cornet and ‘Nightfall in Camp’, which includes the Last Post performed by Joanne Johnson.  There was also a first performance of Eva Cassidy’s arrangement of ‘Somewhere over the Rainbow’ superbly performed by Ashley Jeffers on Baritone.  As well as the remembrance items and solos the audience were treated a large variety of music ranging from classical overtures to hymns and film music finished off by a rousing ‘Last Night of the Proms’ finale.  The band received very good feedback and will hopefully be performing again for our local supporters next year.

Following this concert the band participated in the Remembrance Sunday parade in Hindley.  This is always an important date in the bands calendar and our thanks go to Steve Hyde for performing the Last Post and Reveille.  Despite the cold weather, an early start and marching around the streets of Hindley, the band are honoured and privileged to support those who are fighting and those who have fought for our country.

On Wednesday 16^th November our Secretary Dave received an unusual phone call from the BBC, saying that they were doing a piece on the newly refurbished Mesnes Park in Wigan.  Some money had been left to introduce bands once more to the parks bandstand and they were doing a feature for North West Tonight about the park and could the band send some people to provide music.  After some quick organising a mix of the Senior Band and ‘B’ Band, consisting mainly of students and retirees, performed some marches for the camera.  There was also some stardom for the bands trombone player and conductor of the Junior Band John Don-Duncan as he was interviewed for the programme.  This was great publicity for the band and our thanks go to all those who gave up their time at short notice to either organise or play in the makeshift ensemble.

A week before the Scottish Open the Band played at St Ann’s Church in Rainhill for the 19^th year in a row.  This is always an enjoyable concert with a large appreciative audience.  The band once again entertained with a variety of music including the overture ‘The Force of Destiny’, the relatively unknown Rimmer March ‘Arabian’ and included some of the bands singing skills with an arrangement of Michael Jacksons ‘Beat it’.  There were some fine solo contributions from Solo Horn Lynne Campbell performing ‘Rainforest’ from Windows of the World and Ashley Jeffers performing a reprise of ‘Somewhere Over the Rainbow’.  There was also some fine band playing in the popular ‘Sweet Shepherdess’ and some good solo contributions in the testing ‘Fives and Threes’ as is usual in this concert we once again finished with the customary last night of the proms set.  This was a very well received concert with a standing ovation from the entire audience ending an enjoyable concert.

The band was now in full swing preparing for the Scottish Open on a very difficult piece ‘Music for Battle Creek’ and with a full week of rehearsals done the band turned up in good spirits at 10am on Friday morning for the 5 hour coach trip to Perth, Scotland.  After a happily uneventful journey the band arrived at our hotel in the centre of Perth and went to our rehearsal.  After a good workout the band were in confident mood.   After half a shandy it was early to bed ready for the contest.

For once the band didn’t have to be up at the crack of dawn for a contest and after a leisurely breakfast we had a warm up rehearsal in the hotel.  After double checking a few corners of the piece we had a rousing team talk from Mark we had a short walk over to the Hall.

The Band was pre-drawn 3^rd so knew if we wanted to figure in the prizes we needed a very good performance that would stick in the memory of the three judges.  The band performed admirably however there were just a few small errors which crept in meaning the band didn’t perform to its full potential.  Credit however must go to the bands Principal Cornet (Joanne Johnson) and Euphonium (Nicholas Birch) who both performed exceptionally with their fiendish and lengthy solos.  Overall the band thought they had played well, but may have left the door open with regards to the prizes.  This was reflected with two of the three judges giving us 5^th and 8^th however we were shocked to be placed 12^th by the 3^rd judge.  We were disappointed with the results especially as the band has performed so well here over the last few years.  However, the band still enjoyed its trip to Scotland and had a great weekend no matter the result.

Next we start our Christmas Concerts with another busy few weeks on the horizon, including the bands annual Christmas Concert with the ‘B’ and Junior Bands at the Rose Club in Hindley (Formally the Monaco Ballroom) on Sunday the 4^th of December at 2pm.  All welcome to what is always an amazing event!  For more details of the Band’s Christmas Concerts (including the ‘B’ and Youth Bands) please visit the band’s website www.pembertonoldwiganband.co.uk


Thanks to David Chapman for writing this Blog update.

St Helens, Neston, Middlesborough and Kensington

It has been a long time since our last blog update and the band has been extremely busy!

On 20th August, less than a week since we returned to rehearsal after our summer break, the band were in action at St Helens Town Hall performing in a joint concert with Parr (St Helens) Band as part of their 75th Anniversary Celebrations.  The concert was a fanastic way for Pemberton to kick of their 2011-2012 concert season and Mr Richard Evans was an excellent compere throughout the evening!


Just two weeks later and the band were in concert action again, this time playing a concert as part of Neston Music Festival, on Sunday 4th September.  This was the first time we had been to Neston, and are looking forward to going again next year.  The church in Neston was a fantastic church and the audience were extremely receptive.  This was also the night when we got to launch our long awaited "Rimmer Marches" CD and several were sold on the night.


A week later, on Sunday 11th September, we were in contest action in Middlesborough at the Dr Martins Trust Wainstones Cup.  Last year the band were runners up and were hoping to go one better with our choice of "Knights Templar" by George Allan as the march, "Amidst a Celtic Dream" by Ben Tubb as the solo, performed by our solo euphonium Nick Birch and our test piece, the fiendishly difficult "On the Shoulders of Giants" by Peter Graham, which was the British Open Test Piece in 2010.


As a band, we know we could have played better, but were still stunned to have been placed 8th overall, out of 10, being beaten by several first section bands.  Obviously, until you read the remarks you cannot comment and after a long day we had to wait until the next rehearsal (four days later) to see Kevin Wadsworths remarks.  As we read them, we struggled to work out where he had taken his marks off us from, there was very little criticism.  But, that's contesting.  An underpar performance led to an underpar result.


A few light weeks of preparation for our next contest were given some relief by a concert at St Michaels Church in Swinley on Saturday 8th October where the band enjoyed performing to this typically receptive audience.  This concert is one of the highlights of the year - the audience love hearing us and we love playing to them.  Our soloists were on their usual top form and the 'Last Night of the Proms' set went down a storm - as usual!

The band in rehearsal the night before RAH (picture by Colm Gallagher)

Just a week later and the band were en route to their biggest gig of the year - The Royal albert Hall, London.  We left Wigan at 10.30am and drove down to Kensington, arriving around 4pm, after a few stops and some heavy traffic on the M1.  Around 7.30pm and the band were now rehearsing at a church just around the corner.  Final rehearsal done, an early night and an early start for the big day!


6.30am and most of the band are at breakfast, and we are rehearsing again at 8am, same church.  During the rehearsal we get news of the draw - 15, after Rothwell and before last year's winners Brighouse - not bad company!


It wasn't until nearly 4pm did the band eventually take to the Royal Albert Hall stage to play their account of the newly commissioned "Breath of Souls" by Paul Lovatt-Cooper.  The piece is full of rhythmic and technical difficulties as well as cadenzas for Euphonium, Flugel, Soprano, Trombone, E-flat Bass and Tenor Horn, and numerous solos for all soloists, with more extended solos for Cornet, Euphonium and Tenor Horn.

The Band in Action at the RAH (Photo by Ian Clowes)

The band played well, but knew that they could have played so much better.  Good solo playing, but as a band, many of the technical passages were loose and untidy, which is accentuated in an enormous acoustic like the Royal Albert Hall.  Results weren't out until after 7pm and the band were disappointed with being placed 16th out of 20.


In typical Pemberton spirit, we were out as a band and enjoying a curry at a local Indian Restaurant together that evening, which was fantastically organised by Carina Halliwell (thanks Carina!).  The journey home was a quiet one the next day, mainly because of suffering from the night before.

Pemberton Band outside the RAH just after playing (with our mascot, Charlie Atkinson)



We are now looking forward to some more concerts and the Scottish Open at the end of November, where we will be playing the set test piece "Music for Battle Creek" by Philip Sparke, another demanding work with typically fantastic writing by the composer.


If you would like to buy a copy of our CD "Rimmer Marches" come along to a concert, or you can buy one through the band's website, using PayPal.  For more details of the CD and our concerts at the back end of this year, please visit our website:


http://www.pembertonoldwiganband.co.uk/

A busy six weeks for the Senior Band

Well, it's been nearly two months since our last blog update, so I think its time we filled you in!

On Saturday 14th May, the band competed at the Grand Shield in Blackpool, the qualifying contest for the British Open.  After last year's third place, one place away from qualification, we entered the contest full of confience.  Titan's Progress by Hermann Pallhuber had been a challenge from the start, but a challenge we had relished from the moment we started work on it earlier in the year.

After a performance that we felt was solid, drawn 16th out of 20, we didn't have too long to wait until we found out the results.  The adjudicator's David Read and Frank Renton placed us 4th, which left the band slightly deflated, but we all know that we have beaten some close rivals in the rankings and this will have only done us well.

See what 4barsrest had to say here and here.


Chairman Brian Halliwell with Adjudicator David Read

Just a fortnight later, on Sunday 29th May 2011, the band were again on the contest platform, this time further afield, at The Lighthouse Theatre in Kettering for the All England International Masters.  This year's set work was a new commission by Darrol Barry, which the band never really felt suited them and so did not commit to it with our usual Pem Spirit.  This was reflected in the performance and the results, when we were placed 7th, although we did again beat some ranking rivals.

4barsrest views can be seen here and here.


Pem's B-flat Bass Team giving 'Gemini' some solid foundation

Less than a month later and the band were in contest action again, this time at what has been described as the Greatest Free Show on Earth - Whit Friday.  On Friday 17th June, the band played at 9 contest in the Saddleworth Area, north of Manchester.  This year wasn't dry, but it certainly wasn't as wet as two years ago.  As is typical, the band made the most of the evening and enjoyed the whole evening.  We received just two prizes this year as a band, however for the second year in a row, Joanne Johnson won the best Cornet Prize at Diggle contest.  We were placed 9th in Saddleworth, and our full results can be viewed here, selecting our band from the drop-down list.  If you search "Pemberton Brass Band Whit Friday" on YouTube you will also find some videos of us at some of the contests!

Just to make it a more hectic schedule, the band were in contest action again, just a week later.  On Saturday 25th June, the band were competing at the English Nationals held in Preston.  This is a prestigious contest for the ten best bands in England, and we were privileged to be invited after a small number of the original line-up had to withdraw.  The format for this contest was a new two-test piece day, playing the set work Elgar Variations by Martin Ellerby in the morning and then an own choice piece in the afternoon.

We were drawn 3rd in the morning, and played a reasonable account, although we did keep one eye on the afternoon and this was reflected in the performance and then had a long wait to play band number 8 in the afternoon on the 2010 European Set Test Spiriti by Thomas Doss.  Both pieces are of a high standard, Elgar Variations for its musical requirements and Spiriti for its teachnical and rhythmic demands as well as some very difficult solo lines.  We were pleased overall, although some fatigue had started to set in.

Pem in full flight, with a little encouraged from MD Mark Bentham

At the results we were placed 8th out of 9 in the morning and 9th out of 9 in the afternoon, giving us an overall placing of last.  However, as the only non-British Open band at the contest, we were still very pleased with our performances, especially after such a very difficult six weeks or so.  4barsrest were also very complimentary of our efforts, which is nice to finally receive some recognition in the banding media.  Their full coverage can be found here, as well as videos here.

Two players who helped us out at this contest also agreed to join the band, strengthening the team to full capacity.  Dave Mort has been helping the band since the departure of Neil Hodgson after the Area, due to work commitments, and is now a fully fledged member of the Bass section.  Young Joe Barstow joins the band on percussion from Hade Edge and is about to join Chetham's School of Music's Sixth Form, in Manchester and has already shown great ability and promise as a star of the future.

We are due to finish for our Summer break in the next week or so and are looking forward to recharging ahead of another busy contest schedule, including a trip to a hall in London for some National something-or-other!  Stay tuned for more updates.

Exciting times for Pemberton

2011 has been an exciting year so far for the Pemberton organisation, starting with a win for the B Band in the third section at the Butlins Mineworkers contest in January. Just a few weeks later and the Senior Band won Preston Brass at the Guild Championship section in early February. By the end of February the Senior Band had also qualified for the National Finals, which will be held at the Royal Albert Hall in October.

Since then, we have been preparing for our busiest contest time of the year and have also recorded our first CD since Mark Bentham took the helm almost three years ago. At the end of March, we recorded a set of marches by one of the band’s former conductors, Mr William Rimmer. This CD will be released later this year, and what we have heard so far shows great promise.

Next Weekend we will compete at the Grand Shield, the qualifying contest for the British Open, the most premier brass band contest of them all. Last year we missed out on qualification by one place and hope to improve on that result this year on Hermann Pallhuber’s “Titan’s Progress”.

At the end of the month we will be competing at the All England International Masters in Kettering, playing a new piece commissioned for the contest by Darrol Barry.

In June we will compete at Whit Friday and a week later compete against the best bands in England at the English National Contest held in Preston, where we will be one of only ten bands invited, playing the set test “Elgar Variations” by Martin Ellerby and an own choice piece.

 

We are of course looking forward to this busy time, and hope to be as busy after summer, with a potential British Open place and our place at the National Finals to look forward to. However, financially, times are hard. We have become a victim of our own success and we can no longer rely on our sponsorship to fund this number of engagements. This is from our website:

Unfortunately with the economic climate and the cost of coach travel increasing substantially we are having some difficulty in funding the coach trip there and back and the cost of the coach is likely to be around the £2000 mark.

 

This is were we are after help from our families, friends and followers by inviting you to be part of our "Buy a Mile" fundraising effort.  There are 200 miles up for grabs and they are £5 each and soon as a mile is bought your name will appear on the "Buy a Mile" page on our website and the bus on our chart in the bandroom will move another inch closer to London.

For more details, please visit the band website www.pembertonoldwiganband.co.uk

May we take this opportunity to thank you for your generosity and your continued support for the Pemberton Bands.

Next stop... London

Sunday 27th February saw the senior band and the B band compete at the annual Regional Championships in Blackpool.  This contest is a qualifying contest for the National Brass Band Championships of Great Britain.  The Championship section finals are held at the Royal Albert Hall, London, and the remaining sections will be held at Cheltenham racecourse this year.

For the Pemberton Organisation, the day began when the coach left the bandroom at 7.30am to take the B band to their rehearsal in Blackpool.  The band had a comfortable rehearsal whilst waiting for the draw, which turned out to be in their favour - 12 of 13.  Later draws always help bands relax and are more likely to give the adjudicator something to think about come the results.

The band waited... the Senior band arrived in Blackpool for their rehearsal... the B band waited... and then it was their turn.  The band delivered an impressive account of the set test piece "A Little Light Music" by Philip Wilby, which demonstrated good band sound, confident, stylish soloists and good musicianship led by MD Peter Ashley.  It was not long then to wait for the results.  Adjudicator Steve Pritchard-Jones awarded the band a credible, but disappointing 5th prize.  The remarks, although complimentary of the band, suggested that the band were overblowing.  However, all at the organisation know that the B band is just a band with a big sound, and this must have been a mis-judgment compared to the sounds of other bands in the section!

Whilst this was going on the senior band were rehearsing at Wesleyan Methodist Church where they always rehearse on Raikes Parade, just around the corner from the Winter Gardens, the venue of the contest.  This church has two rehearsal spaces, and the one we used for rehearsal this year we last used for the area two years ago, when we qualified for London last time!  Members of the band felt this was a bit of an omen, and perhaps, this year would again be our year.

During our rehearsal we learned of the B band's result, and then of our draw.  We had drawn 7th out of 11 bands.  We thought of this as a good draw, especially when we learned that our main rivals, Leyland, had drawn number 2, not a good draw!  We were to follow Wingates onto the stage, but that wasn't a worry!

After much waiting, the band took to the stage relaxed, confident, happy and excited about playing the set test piece "Paganini Variations" by Philip Wilby.  At almost 4.45pm, the adjudicator gave the signal that he was ready for us to begin.  From the first notes, the band were on good form and we knew this was going to be a performance to be proud of.  As the performance unfolded, the band demonstrated strong soloists, full, rich sound and exceptional technical prowess.  One or two clipped notes from soloists, nothing that detracted from the music, were the only blemishes in a musical account of the test piece.

More waiting for the band as four more bands had to lay down their rendition of the test piece.  In this time, various members of the band were talking to members of other bands present at the contest who were giving us mixed opinions of the performance, some saying it was great, others saying it was fragile.  So by the time results were on just before 7pm, we were uncertain of which way the adjudicator would go.  Carina Halliwell appeared in the bar, where most of the band were, on the phone announcing that we were again going to London!

John Berryman placed the band 3rd, behind pre-qualifiers Faireys and winners Fodens.  For the second time in three years (and only the second time since 1907!) the band had beaten off some tough competition to book their ticket to the best contest hall of them all - the Royal Albert Hall.  The band left Blackpool elated and overjoyed at the result (which can be viewed in full on 4barsrest).

Out of two contests the senior band has entered this year, the band has had the result it wanted from both!  A 100% podium record for the senior band so far, which we hope to maintain at the next contests - the Grand Shield (where we hope to qualify for the British Open) and the Masters in May; Whit Friday and the English Nationals in June.

2011 Pemberton's Year?

On 22nd January the B Band were crowned Third Section champions of the Butlins Mineworkers Championships, held in Skegness.  Peter Ashley's lively and exciting, story-telling rendition of the set test piece "Hungerford Town" by Darrol Barry played off a number two draw saw the band hold off any of the remaining competition, beating some of the band's biggest North West rivals.  4barsrest.com reviewed the contest and gave a favourable account of the band.

So, two weeks later and it was the Senior band's turn to begin their 2011 contest assault, this time closer to home, at the Brass at the Guild Championship in Preston.  The band has had a good record at this contest, winning 5 out of the 10 contests, and rarely being out of the top 3.  Two years ago, the band won the contest and soprano cornet player John Atkinson won best soloist.  Last year the band came second.  It was time for a return to winning form!

As an own choice contest, Mark Bentham chose a piece the band played as the set test at the Grand Shield last year, where the band narrowly missed out on a place at the British Open.  Edward Gregson's "Rococo Variations" has since been a favourite of the bands.  The choice of a return to a previously used piece was a decision made with the looming Area Championships which are to be held at the end of February (earlier than previous years!).

The band were drawn 9 of 12 and had a leisurely afternoon following an 11 0'clock rehearsal (which finished around 12pm) before taking to the stage at around 4pm.  This meant the band were relaxed and looking forward to playing on stage.  The opening theme began confidently and in a relaxed manner before a rhythmically complex Toccata was well handled by the band, with confident playing across the stands.

The delicate, lyrical Siciliana was very well played, with some excellent solo work from all corner chairs.  The Waltz followed showing the band's outstanding virtuosic capabilities, as did the Moto Perpetuo that followed.  The potentially fragile Lament was also played well, again displaying some fantastic solo work from all corners of the band.  Following the Lament was the technically demanding last movement, which passes a virtuosic melody across the band.  The Fugal Scherzo was also well-handle with technical security and control before the big finish where all the themes collide and the work finishes with the band displaying their enormous sound and rich tone.

After a lengthy wait for results (partly due to rivals Hammonds' soprano player collapsing on stage), the band were once again crowned Champions of Brass at the Guild.  The band's soprano cornet player John Atkinson was also awarded the prize for best soloist once again.  The full results of the Championship section can be viewed here. 

Obviously, the band and the organisation are thrilled with the results of the start of 2011, and are eagerly awaiting the Area Champions, where the two bands are hoping to qualify for their respective National Championship Finals.

Along with the great results, the senior band has also welcomed a new set of players into the Pemberton fold.  Nick Birch joined the band just before Christmas on Solo Euphonium, and Adam Keech also joined before Christmas on back row cornet.  After the withdrawal from contesting of Wire Brass, we have quickly snapped three of their players to fill our own vacancies.  Lynne Rigby has joined our front row, Tony Daniels has filled the Second Baritone vacancy and John Breeze has joined the back row.  This has already proven to be a winning combination!