Bournemouth Concert Brass announces -
“Sounds of Christmas” 2013
For the third year Bournemouth Concert Brass are pleased announce their return to the Royal Bath hotel in Bournemouth for what is fast becoming the must attend Christmas launch event in Bournemouth.
The Royal Bath hotel is a local landmark building and, unknown to many, incorporates one of the best concert venues in town.
The Devere Suite
The Devere Suite will offer an intimate and comfortable arena to enjoy two hours of fine traditional brass band music in a festive mode.
We encourage you to arrive early and soak up the atmosphere of the hotel’s Grand Lounge where children from Park School will be singing carols from 6.30pm
Bournemouth Concert Brass are pleased to flag this event as one of its “profits for charity” concert. This year the band is pleased to be working with a little known Dorset charity - Mosaic.
Mosaic is a Dorset charity offering a pathway of support to bereaved children, young people and their families. Mosaic work with young people who are facing the death of a loved one and provide individual, family and group support. Every child has the opportunity to attend residential weekend programme where they can meet others and share their experiences.
The concert is Tuesday 3rd December at commences with carols in the Grand Lounge from 6.30-7.15pm by the Park School choir prior to the main concert at 7.30pm
See http://www.mosaicfamilysupport.org.uk/
Pre book your tickets with Martin Collett at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it "> This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or call 07917 340242
or visit https://www.eventbrite.com/event/8317087633
Regent Centre and Mowlem Theatre
Strong winds and sweeping rain announced the arrival of autumn in Christchurch. Yet traditional English weather could not deter the prommers from making their way to the Regent Centre for BCB’s annual Last Night of the Proms concert at the Regent Centre
This year your £1 purchase came with a Union Jack on the back cover to encourage patriotic participation in the later part of the evening. Many had taken the initiative and bought their own flags. In fact it was the best costume turn out for a few years with red and white wigs, Union Jack waistcoats supported by a seemingly healthy enthusiasm for the opportunity to sing!
“Praise” is a slightly old fashioned word these days, but the bands opening March, thus entitled, set the bright and exciting tone for the rest of the evening.
Music from film scores, classical favourites and new compositions gave the audience a real mix of entertainment for the first half.
Ron Goodwin’s 633 Squadron set a patriotic and upbeat tempo for the second half of the program.
Acknowledgement was given to Peter Hartley, the band’s principal trombone, for his two classical arrangements, Slavonic Dances No 1 and Hansel and Gretel, which were premiered during concert.
It was ladies night for the solo spots and Helen Kinder, euphonium and Alfie Hughes, tenor horn on fine form.
Leading the band and trying to tame the prommers, who were this year “noisy” in true proms tradition, was Bill Willis, the band’s resident conductor.
The evening ended in traditional proms fashion. It was a photo finish in Fantasia on British Sea Songs between band and prommers as who could sing/play “Jack the Lad” quickest! The audience provided fine singing in Jerusalem and with flags flying and voices raised bought the evening to a grand finale with “Land of Hope and Glory”
With an audience made up of regular locals, holiday makers from Yorkshire, Dublin and London and many first time attenders, this was without doubt one of the best Proms concerts for a number of years.
A week later the band travelled the Mowlem Theatre in Swanage for a repeat performance.
Interestingly here there was a strong visitor mix with brass band enthusiasts from Blackburn who were house sitting for friends, Kurt from Germany who had heard the band before and was celebrating his 50th year of visiting Swanage from Cologne for a holiday and visitors from London and Sussex. A strong local contingent was evident.
Both events saw their best attendances for 5 years. These Proms concerts continue to be one the bands most popular concerts in the calendar
Thank you to all those who attended and contributed its success – See you next year.
Praise Wilfred Heaton
The Gael - Dougie MacLean
Czardas – Vittorio Monti arr: Bill Willis Euphonium soloist, Helen |Kinder
Vitae Lux Frode Almaes arr: Torstein Aagaard Nilson
Enter the Galaxies Paul Lovatt Cooper
Slavonic Dance No1 Dvorak arr: Peter Hartley
Hootenanny Harold Walters
INTERVAL
633 Squadron Ron Goodwin
Hansel and GretelEngelbert Humperdink arr: Peter Hartley
Piper of Dundee.Ken Downie
Horn soloist, Alfie Hughes
Sing Sing Sing Louis Prima
Fantasia on British Sea Songs
Sir Henry Wood
Jerusalem Hubert Parry
Pomp & Circumstance No. 1 Elgar
BCB made their 22nd yearly appearance in the Pinewalk Bandstand in Bournemouth's Pleasure Gardens, during the week before the August bank holiday. The band reached thousands of tourists as they meandered their way through the gardens either on their way to the beach, or back through to the shopping precinct. Many stopped to listen drawn to a familiar piece of music or encouraged to stay and listen to the entire program.
The band are experienced band stand performers and have an entertaining repetoire set aside for this annual engagement including traditional brass band marches, arrangements from stage and screen as well as the popular current hits.
Audience appreciation was especially given to the renditions of "Bohemian Rhapsody", "Copa Cabana", and "Wake me up Before you Go". Particular enthusiasm was shown by the crowd for "YMCA" and "Hootenany", where the band encouraged audience participation.
Listener comments from the week
"I thoroughly enjoyed the band and have listened to every performance" (Local lady)
"I like traditional music. When the band played the march "Slaidburn", it took me back to my younger days when playing in the Whit Friday marches" (Visitor from Manchester)
"I've been working here for the summer period and have heard most of the bands that have played here. Your band have certainly played the widest variety of music and have had the best crowd response" (Crazy golf attendant)
"Occasionally not as tight as some bands I have heard, but for entertainment value, second to none!" (Visitor from Salisbury)
"It was nice to see the band smiling and enjoying themselves, some bands don't look happy when they play. Favourite piece was Copa Cabana" (Visitor from Lincoln)
"Good balance to every programme, something for everyone, band played well, great tempo's, nice balance to the ensemble, trombones - a phenomenal choir, Star soloists throughout the week. Good looking conductor - will go far. Bournemouth Tourism is giving a perfect adjudication, 200 out of 200 points. see you next year. Love the stand banners" (Guest player)
"My wife and I would like to express our appreciation of the many concerts you gave in the Bournemouth bandstand recently. You performed a varied and excellent repertoire and the quality brought us much enjoyment. Please pass on my thanks and appreciation to the band. One or both of us attended as many performances as possible.