Contest Results

Remarks from Wilkinson Northern Open, St. Helens - 19/11/2006

Championship and First Section - Own Choice - Tallis Variations - P.Sparke

185 points, placed 4th

Compact opening and only an occasional moment of intonation in 14. Loose cornets into 31. Some lack of definition into 46. Good flugel/horns to 69. 73 untidy. 88 relaxed style, good. I feel you could get better dynamic contrast; particularly more sparkle on the ff’s. Nice cornet/euph link and in 146 flugel shows composure and a nice relaxed feel. Excellent figures in cornets/horns. 169 musical flow with excellent balance Bari/Euph/Trom/Bass before 187. Rather anxious moments up to 202. Untidy in 211. Stylish cornet cadenza and the mood created here impresses, with controlled cornet solo section. Sonorous bass line (well balanced) to 246. Dynamics good. Well controlled into 262. Forte just about OK. Excitement is created in this section, excellent euph. A little untuneful 318, but well controlled soprano 336. (358 - 372) neat cornet tutti figures, and the muted links are controlled. Around 425 I feel the band is top heavy in the mix. Nice and musical into the ‘molto lento’. Untidy closing section with anxious moments.

A difficult test but a well directed performance not without its problems. Thank you, some very musical moments.

D. W. Horsfield

Remarks from NWABBA, Fleetwood - 01/10/2006

Championship and First Section - Own Choice - Tallis Variations - P.Sparke

189 points, placed 5th

Good effective opening with fine neat playing. 14 great dynamic contrasts. 31 baris not always coming through clear. Also not always clear 69 onwards. 88 good sounds. 127 fine playing. 134 horns could be neater. 146 fine flugel sound just the odd blip. 157 good style. 167 good back row cornet work noted. 188 difficult work and quite a few blips are evident. 211 good cornet work, also baritone and euph. 225 fine cornet playing mf sost 234 great band sounds. Sop tuning out just before 246. Link to 262 fine musical moments. 262 fanfare not always clean in cornets. 289 good neat work from all, bravo euphonium 303. 312 onwards neat but horns do not get through in semis. Fine playing before 372 cornets a feature. 388 again I do not get the baritones clear. 407 fanfare could drive through more for me. 458 again good band sounds to an ending of good control.

A good band playing well but the slips could cost you today.

Thank you.

Stan Lippeatt