Backworth Colliery Band News

Happy New Year from all at Backworth Colliery Band.

Thanks to those who braved the winter weather and made it through to Burradon for last night’s rehearsal.

The rehearsal saw the new seating plan unveiled; one that strengthens the sections and will carry us through to the Regionals in March.

Welcome back to Natalie McLean after her successful maternity leave; as well as taking on flugelhorn, Natalie returns to her duties as Band Secretary. Also, we welcome back Chris Travis who will swap his valves for a slide, joining the trombone section.

We’ve pretty much a full line-up to take us forward, although we do have vacancies to fill on BBb bass and Eb bass. Any experienced bass players interested in joining us, please get in touch.

So. Farewell then 2009.

An interesting and very busy year for Backworth Colliery Band, and thanks to all players and friends, our guest conductors, and our travelling support for helping us through 2009 and preparing us for the challenges to come in 2010.

2009 gave us many memories … the Regionals and Easingwold contests, saying a fond farewell to our Musical Director in June, carrying out a very successful summer concert programme, enjoying the experience of our guest conductors, engaging a new Musical Director, congratulating two players who became new mothers in the Autumn, surviving the Secretary’s maternity leave, saying our goodbyes to two senior players transferring to County Durham bands, cataloguing our 1000-piece library, competing at the Borders and Durham League contests, managing a relocation at short notice in November to a new home in Burradon, wishing two younger players well who left to pursue their dreams at Championship level, and – finally – completing a very well-received Christmas programme.

A year that gave us a new home, a sense of community and belonging, improvement in our contesting and deportment, better performances since our earlier disappointments at Darlington and Easingwold. And the prospects for 2010: younger players improving and showing potential and loyalty to serve their band, financial stability in a difficult climate, a pipeline that is already looking strong to secure another year’s banding, and a fantastic test piece to enjoy at the 2010 Regionals.

So. Farewell then 2009. And best wishes to all concerned for the New Year. See you at the next rehearsal, 7.30pm on Tuesday 5th January 2010.

Members please note that there will be no rehearsal on Sunday 20th December.

The first rehearsal after Christmas will be Tuesday 5th January 2010, at Camperdown Social Club, 7.30pm.

Many thanks to all members and guests for their hard work throughout 2009; seasonal greetings to all associated with the Band - have a restful Christmas, and best wishes for the New Year.

Backworth Colliery Band have said their goodbyes to their erstwhile practice venue at Into Change, Backworth, and packed their bags for their new home in Camperdown Social Club, on Front Street, Burradon, NE23 7NL.

The first rehearsal at the Club was held on Tuesday 24th November, and the physical move of equipment and library will be completed on Saturday 28th.

The Band gratefully acknowledges the support received from Into Change over recent years, particularly Maureen and Albert, and wish the organisation well for the building’s future use.

Rehearsals now continue in Burradon, on Tuesdays evenings at 7.30pm and Sunday mornings, with Sundays reverting to the traditional start time of 10.30am.

Any brass players in the Burradon area are welcome to get in touch, as we continue to build for the concert and contest programme in the New Year.

Backworth Colliery Band won acclaim from adjudicator Chris Wormald for its confident interpretation of Philip Sparke’s “Music for a Festival", at the DCBBA League Contest, walking off with the award in Mr Wormald’s words as “best percussion section in Sections C and D". Well done Band, and congratulations to percussionists Andrew and Andy.

Other remarks from the adjudicator included:

• Good dynamics, nice trombones
• Well played soprano
• Percussion generally very good
• all detail has been rehearsed well
• This is such beautiful music
• .. at the Appassionato … Well played Euphonium
• Good bass trombone
• Overall, many nice moments

Although not amongst the cups this time, the band - with a third of the players under 18 - gave an encouraging performance, having stepped up a grade after winning last year’s Section D. A challenging piece, not easily mastered - confirmed by other bands’ uneasiness at times - provided confirmation of the band’s progress as part of their longer-term plan towards the 2010 Regionals next March.

Backworth Colliery Band would like to thank Scott Meikle and Easington Colliery Band for the use of their bandroom before the contest, and the much appreciated hospitality shown.

Please note the final week of rehearsals for the DCBBA Contest.

• Sunday, 15th, 10.45
• Tuesday, 17th, 19.30
• Friday, 20th 19.30
• Sunday, 22nd, 09.00

The penultimate rehearsal will be held on the Friday, 20th at Into Change.

The final rehearsal – at 9.00am on the morning of the contest – will be in Easington Colliery Brass Band’s bandroom, with our thanks to Easington for the use of their facilities on the Sunday morning.

Would players please note the following schedule during November for DCBBA Contest rehearsals.

• Tuesday, 3rd, 19.30
• Friday, 6th, 19.30 (with Duncan)
• Sunday, 8th, No Rehearsal - Remembrance Day Parade
• Tuesday, 10th, 19.30
• Friday, 13th, 19.30
• Sunday, 15th, 10.45
• Tuesday, 17th, 19.30
• Sunday, 22nd, 09.00

The penultimate rehearsal will be on either the Friday 20th or Saturday 21st, the date to be decided based on band availability.

The final rehearsal – at 9.00am on the morning of the contest – will be in Peterlee, nearby to the Contest venue. Details later.

Backworth Colliery Band took part in the Borders Entertainment Contest, 31st October, in Peebles. The band gave a confident performance, and although not highly placed in the results from a field that included numerous higher-section bands, the Band is showing improvement. A very enjoyable day’s banding, with a well-balanced programme including strong contributions from the Band’s younger players, and everyone entering into the spirit of “entertainment”.

The programme began with “Doyen”, by Goff Richards, written to celebrate the motor coach ‘Doyen’, describing a coach journey making its way through London. Then an arrangement by Leonard Ballantine of the American folk song “Shenandoah”, in his setting entitled “Mid all the Traffic”. The solo piece was “Buster Strikes Back”, in the arrangement by Alan Morrison, lyrically played by Callum Harrison. The band closed impressively with Goff Richards’ arrangement of three American songs in his “An American Trilogy”, popularized by Elvis Presley, with Matthew Fletcher donning an Elvis costume to bring out the true pathos of his euphonium solo.

The Leckie Memorial Church presented a quite reverberant acoustic that clearly hindered other bands, several suffering from over-blowing, muddy articulation, and lack of togetherness with their percussion. Backworth played within the dynamics of the music, allowing their phrasing to bring the music to life and clearly enjoyed their time in front of an audience. With steps forward taken in playing confidence and deportment, the Band now turns to its next challenge at the Durham League Contest in late November.

Players are reminded of the times for the remaining rehearsals for the Borders Entertainment Contest in Peebles on 31st October.

• Friday 23rd 19.30 (with Duncan, “Music for a Festival")
• Sunday 25th 10.45 (Tony, Borders)
• Tuesday 27th 19.30 (Tony, Borders)
• Friday 30th 19.30 (Tony, Borders)

Draw to be announced this weekend and then we’ll confirm departure time for the coach to Peebles, provisionally booked for leaving at 6.30am prompt.

The rehearsal schedule for November leading up to DCBBA Peterlee (22nd November) will be released soon. No rehearsal on the 1st (or 8th - Remembrance Day parade).

Players please note that the rehearsal on Sunday 18th October, originally set for the evening, will be held on Sunday morning at the usual time - 10.45am.

We may run over a little, so please try to be available until around 1.15pm.