Chris Hicks
Member
No, but in the main they tend to pick shorter pieces, around the 14 minute mark. That said, Devil and the deep blue sea was quite lengthy.
2015 Area piece rumours??????
- Thread starter Adamskied
- Start date
- Status
No, but in the main they tend to pick shorter pieces, around the 14 minute mark. That said, Devil and the deep blue sea was quite lengthy.
bassmittens
Member
English Heritage a couple of years ago ran to about 17 mins
Gorgie boy
Member
I Would like that one Stuart! A favourite piece of mine.
MoominDave
Well-Known Member
And a decent challenge for the 1st section after several years of rather uninspiring fare.
Gorgie boy
Member
Dave, I think that after the criticism that has been received regarding the unsuitability of 1st section trst pieces over the past three years, that next year's choice was always going to be a sterner test.
Yip, I agree Paul.......super piece, and a test for sure. Continuing your contesting success with your band on this piece would take you to the top flight:clap:.
Hope it is this, but as mentioned, a very informal rumour.
That's a fantastic piece, would be a tough baptism of fire for the promoted 1st section bands however. I'd also like to agree with our MD's suggestion of Seascapes, another great, but sadly underused, work.
johnmartin
Active Member
Was used at the Senior Trophy in 2012 (we got 4th under Allan Ramsay). Too soon for it to feature at a Regional in the 1st section? What would that say about the standard of set test for the Spring Festival.
I am a mere cornet player, and in no real position to comment on composers abilities, whether Martin Ellerby, PLC or anyone for that matter.........what I would say is that in the past I have thoroughly enjoyed both playing and listening to Tristan Enounters and Chivalry, and for the record, PLC music has been a breath of fresh air, which I also enjoy playing and listening to .
Being honest, I would be lying if I said that every piece I have heard and played from all composers I enjoyed, but regardless, I have to admire the talent that all composers/arrangers have in creating music. A talent I certainly do not have.
All about opinions I suppose, but sticking to the topic, I hope it is Chivalry.
Chris Hicks
Member
The trophy is made up of mainly 1st section bands and lower end championship section bands, so i'd have said it'd probably be a fair test for the 1st. Although some of the lower 1st section bands would struggle, but it should help the judges in making their decisions.
MoominDave
Well-Known Member
Have to correct you on that Chris regarding the composition of the Senior Trophy - "mainly lower end championship" quite possibly, but definitely not "mainly 1st section" - this year, of the 20 bands that played, 16 were graded in the championship section, 4 in the 1st, and that's the usual state of affairs. In fact, you'll be seeing the winners at the RAH... Bear in mind that bands outside the championship section are excluded from getting a first invite, so any band at the Spring Festival currently graded outside the championship section is there because they have held down a place there since they were graded in the championship section. Note that there were also 4 1st section bands in the Senior Cup this year, and in the past at least one 1st section band has not only appeared in the Grand Shield, but even qualified for the Open from it - Ashton in 2005.
Anyway, that's by the by. I also think it's a reasonable policy to pick music for the Trophy that would challenge the 1st section without stretching it impossibly at the bottom end. Although the bands that are playing it are a field in strength more akin to the 1st section final than any regional (I would contend that the 1st section final and Senior Trophy are pretty close in distribution of standards, in fact), after the hard graft of getting the beast that is 'St. Magnus' up to speed, 'The Judges of the Secret Court' was a timely reminder in the skills necessary to play a piece much closer to 100% accuracy.
Anyway, that's by the by. I also think it's a reasonable policy to pick music for the Trophy that would challenge the 1st section without stretching it impossibly at the bottom end. Although the bands that are playing it are a field in strength more akin to the 1st section final than any regional (I would contend that the 1st section final and Senior Trophy are pretty close in distribution of standards, in fact), after the hard graft of getting the beast that is 'St. Magnus' up to speed, 'The Judges of the Secret Court' was a timely reminder in the skills necessary to play a piece much closer to 100% accuracy.
"Bear in mind that bands outside the championship section are excluded from getting a first invite"
Not strictly true. Tylorstown were a first section band when we were first invited to compete in 2012. I pretty sure Newbridge and City of Cardiff were still first section when they were first invited too but I'm happy to be corrected on that one.
Not strictly true. Tylorstown were a first section band when we were first invited to compete in 2012. I pretty sure Newbridge and City of Cardiff were still first section when they were first invited too but I'm happy to be corrected on that one.
johnmartin
Active Member
We first applied when we were 1st section and I was told it would be easier to get in if we were in the Championship section. Anyway, this is off topic. I think Chivalry would be a great test for the 1st section but maybe too soon after its last outing at a major contest.
MoominDave
Well-Known Member
Okay, I stand corrected - the rule isn't 100% strict. Did Tylorstown perhaps get a late invite in 2012? By "first invite", I meant the first round of invites. If there are gaps, opportunities open up later. The other factor that occurs to me is that I believe the 4BR ranking system is heavily consulted in the invitation process (I think that's right? Apologies if it's an error, if you're reading, Frank!), and that it is common for Welsh 1st section bands to carry more rankings points than 1st section bands in other areas - largely because of the sheer difficulty of staying in the small and high quality Welsh championship section.
Checking back on BBR, City of Cardiff were first invited in 2012, when they were in the championship section (after promotion at the start of the year). Newbridge were first invited in 2008, when a newly promoted 1st section band on a massive roll, with three successive Welsh titles (2nd, 2nd, 1st sections) and the then current national 2nd section title. I note also that they'd taken 2nd place in the top section at Burry Port in October 2007.
MoominDave
Well-Known Member
Another squeaky bum opening for sop! But I'm inclined to listen to Lee Downie, nominating 'Spiriti' - I've not yet seen him be wrong on a test-piece prediction. 'Torchbearer' would, despite its RAH usage in 2009, be a big step down in technical challenge around the stand from 'St. Magnus', which would go against the current vogue. A nightmare for solo euph players in the cadenza section - but given a suitable euph player, many first section bands could give a convincing performance of it.
Not that I'm saying it wouldn't be a suitable championship area piece - rather that it would go against the criteria that seem to have been employed for recent selections, which have been aimed at testing ensemble skills more severely.
- Status