John Woods reports on Bournemouth Concert Brass recent 6 day tour to Sonderborg in Southern Jutland Denmark. 6th – 9th July 2012
The town of Sonderborg hosts the annual Ring Rider festival (Ringriderfesten) over 4 days and now enters its 125th year. Horses and Riders from a wide area converge on the town for a festival that also includes 2 tattoos, parades from the castle to the festival ground and marches.
This is an equestrian contest where riders have to spear small rings at speed on horseback which looks a bit like jousting. Alongside this contest is a huge fun fair and two huge party tents. The whole town shuts down for the weekend to enjoy concerts and music at a variety of locations throughout this pretty island based community.
Planning of the very full programme of events and range of ensembles playing a variety of themed music is a complex affair. Major David Barringer, MD of Bournemouth Concert Brass, has been involved with this event for a number of years, heading up UK military bands for 5 years and as lead Director of Music for the festival over the last 2 years. The support for all bands during the events was extremely well planned and co ordinate by the local organising committee and at all times the bands were well looked after with typical Danish hospitality.
BCB stayed at a local Danish Army Barracks with ideal facilities for a touring band and with superb views of the islands waterfront and a large car park for marching practice.
Other participating bands were Sonderborg Pipe & Drums, Danish National Youth Brass Band, Agder Drill corps from Norway, Danfoss Orchestra and the Sonderborg Youth band.
Most of the events took place outdoors and included marches and countermarching. This was always going to be a challenge, so sufficient rehearsal time had been factored in for parade ground practice with Marcus Gibbons, Drum diary looked like this:
Thursday - We left Dorset late in the evening and via Calais crossed the English Channel at 2am on a quiet P& O ferry. With two excellent drivers Tim and Terry no break was needed until Holland. This is where things could have gone horribly wrong, as on leaving Motorway services we were up to cruising speed and just settling down to watch DVD of “Brassed Off” before realising Colin Williams (Bass Trombone) had been left behind!
Friday - Started with our most significant challenge –a 2.5 km march, the majority of which was up-hill and over cobbled streets. Add in the facts that it’s pouring with rain and that we were following several hundred horses and the rest is your imagination. BCB looked the part in waterproofs but the intensity of the rain resulted in significant music drying exercises later and demands upon tour librarians Bill Willis and David Hatton.
Later more marching rehearsal and practice for the Tattoo with the other bands. Highland Cathedral, Sonderborg March and Amazing Grace. The Olympic theme was also captured with Olympic Spirit being played in the Tattoo ground
That evening our elite quintet consisting of Bill Willis - E flat bass, Dan Shave –Cornet, Dave Hatton - Cornet, John Kidby - Horn and Paul Slator – trombone, entertained outside a local restaurant drawing large crowds as well as the rest of BCB who enjoyed free beer!.
Saturday - A short march to the Town Square where all bands provided a concert with individual and joint numbers. Marcus Gibbons on Trombone delivered a crowd pleasing rendition of "Can’t take my eyes off you" whilst walking round a fountain which had a naked statue as centrepiece
Sunday - An early start for the Mayors breakfast. As mentioned earlier the whole event is steeped in tradition and ceremony. With ceremonial trumpeters and pipes we marched to mayor’s house and into her large garden. Speeches and presentations took place in glorious sunshine before we marched back again through the streets of a quiet Sonderborg suburb.
Next it was back to the Castle near the harbour, which was the backdrop for the parade to congregate in readiness for the march to the festival ground. The uphill route and horse challenges remained, however this time there was no rain. At the festival ground large crowds enjoyed the Ringrider festival and fairground. All the bands took part in the Tattoo with individual performances and a massed band finale.
Monday – A mid morning a concert in the Town Square to a receptive local crowd, was followed by the band providing entertainment at a Lunch for local town dignitaries and their guests. This was Danish hospitality on a grand scale. With two thousand seated diners BCB formed up to perform Post Horn Gallop and Can’t take your eyes off you performed by five trombonists. Major Barringer conducted from a trestle table top in the centre of this vast tent that had been equipped with a huge multimedia screen. Later that evening the finale took place as the tattoo fell in to darkness. An emotional, The day thou gavest, was delivered by BCB to end the festival. This was followed by a spectacular firework display. The whole town then went into party mode, band included.
Tuesday – By 8am the coach was loaded and the long journey back to Calais began, arriving back in Bournemouth in the early hours of Wednesday.
This was a great showcase for Bournemouth Concert Brass to represent Bournemouth and British Brass Bands. The Danish organisers expected a very high standard of performance and were not disappointed. Major Dave Barringer had planned and orchestrated a musical and visual feast that was recognised by the organisers, locals, visitors and other participants as a resounding success.
