SCABA Autumn Contest 2013

We over came many challenges and difficulties on Sunday. The horrendous early start, both bands with difficult and challenging pieces. Not being a dedicated contest bands but a concert band who occasionally dips its toe into the arena meant we were out of our comfort zone plus our senior band hasn’t attempted a own choice competition for at least 5 years. I felt both bands played to their absolute best under the circumstances. Senior band was overall good with solid soloists and some lovely shaping of the music. Youth band nailed it, a great performance strong throughout.

 

The results were the icing on the cake! What a great day we had J

Thank you all for your hard work, well done Team VB

Adjudicator’s judgement below. What an excellent, professional musician we had judging us on Sunday. We will revisit his comments when we return to rehearsals, there is so much to learn from these detailed and knowledgeable remarks.

http://www.scaba.co.uk/contest-results/   SCABA for full results :-)

Youth Band

YOUTH BAND - A  Northumbrian Suite

I

Good opening – make sure the dotted quaver/semiquavers are maintained throughout the ensemble. Like the style at C lightness is found – good ensemble quavers are together. This is good mood setting. The legions are on the march.

II

Needs to be together bari’s. Horn does well I – needs to be more legato – not always moving together. Find the pulse of the quavers compared to the crotchets. It settles and you finish well.

III

Good sense of style – the click helps. This is a difficult movement – but you handle it well – the mood is maintained throughout. You’re clearly enjoying yourselves.

IV

Be careful side drum – not always in the right place. Bravo solo cornet at V, Tambourine don’t get too excited at X ! Z is secure – horns do well. You keep everything controlled at CC Good listening to close – detail always heard.

A good performance of this demanding piece – soloists did well and the ensemble was always supportive. You have worked extremely hard to produce this level of performance. Thank you.

My view - Great comments on a very strong performance. :-)  

 

Senior Band

SENIOR BAND - A Malvern Suite

1. Worchester Cathedral

Good opening – detail is heard - cornet intonation is not always secure D tempo seems to settle quite considerably - bass drum very prominent at E horns/bari intonation at G The final pause bar needs to wait longer - all a bit of a rush?

2 The Wye
Trombone seems a little unsettled by the rush. Horn does well - as does cornet at J. think about the balance for the accomp. M needs more leggierio cornets ( you are working too hard) Q needs to be more stately/pompous - cornet does well again

3. Gloucester Market
The style needs to be lighter - it becomes heavy and distorted. S well done horns. All moves along nicely V is not secure - a little untidy - many blips and the intonation is also an issue. Compared to the other 2 movements this sounds under rehearsed?

(He then writes P.T.O and adds a foot note)

A tough test - especially the last movement. Much to commend in movements 1 and 2 but I'm sorry to say movement 3 was not good. There were too many basic errors and the mistakes began to cost you - as I have said it sounded like more work could have been spent on this final movement. Intonation also an issue. Thank you band and MD.

My view - Well done senior band, lots of positive comments here. This is a very competent judge as he has written what we said before we went ! He is right, our least rehearsed movement was the third. He obviously doesn't know we did it in four weeks, nor that we haven't contested for 5 years and why should he care anyway. He has been very perceptive and honest, this is great as it will help us to improve. Its frustrating that there was much to praise in 1 and 2, we seem to have lost it a little in the 3rd. It was a good team effort with strong solo lines, well done :-) x x