1960's Area Test Pieces

[iancwilx]

Like the guy on a similar thread, I am very hazy about the Top Section Area pieces that I played in the 1960's.
I would be very grateful if some fellow geriatric bander could cast their mind back a mere 40 years and fill in the gaps in this list :-
1960 ?
1961 Le Preludes
1962 Salute to Youth
1963 Rienzi
1964 Symphony of Marches
1965 Beethovens 1st Symphony (Themes)
1966 ?
1967 ?
1968 ?
1969 ?
1970 The Corsair

I seem to recall "Diadem of Gold", "Le Roi D'ys" and perhaps "Le Franc Juges" but not the relevant years.
Any help to jog my foggy memory will be much appreciated.

 

[Buchanan]

Taken from the Scottish Associations Championship Contest Record

1965 - Le Roi D'ys
1966 - Blackfriars
1967 - Festival Music
1968 - Beethoven's 8th Symphony
1969 - Le Carnival Romain

I can remember playing all these pieces, but as the memory cells are disappearing I can't quite remember when the Scottish Championships and the Scottish Area Qualifying contest merged. Maybe that explains the 1965 difference.

Jim Buchanan
Unison Kinneil band

 

[iancwilx]

Hi Jim - Good stuff !! - I don't recall Blackfriars or Beethovens 8th though.
When I think back, wasn't there some fall out with the Area Organisers about that time ?
I seem to remember that The Yorkshire Area broke away and held it's own Championsips for a couple of years.
I definitely remember K.of Y's, Carnival R. and Festival Music,
but I would swear we did Diadem of G. one year 'cos I remember the Sop player (He was unforgettably bad - poor lad !!!)
By the way, you played before us in the Senior Cup, and our people in the Hall said you played a very good band - better than 10th, but that's banding.

 

[Dan]

Hi Jim

My dad was playing in the top section at this time and from his records:

1967 Festival Music
1968 Beethoven's 8th
1969 Diadem of Gold
1970 Corsair
1971 Make a Joyful News
1972 ??
1973 Plantagenets
1974 ??
1975 ??
1976 Spectrum
1977 ??
1978 ??
1979 Variations for Brass Band
1980 Beatrice and Benedict
1981 Concertino
1982 Essay for Band
1983 Images
1984 Waverley

He was playing for Southsea Silver Band at the time and they were promoted into the top section in 1964. He seems to be sure that the 1965 test piece was Beethoven's 1st Symphony (Themes) and not Le Roi D'ys - but of course he may be wrong.

He to remembers Le Franc Juges being a top section piece, but is sure that it was played before Southsea was promoted in 1964. Maybe this piece was 1960???

 

[Buchanan]

Dan,

The pieces from the missing years are :-
1972 - Concert Overture for Brass Band
1974 - Variations on a Ninth
1975 - Journey Into Freedom
1977 - Pageantry
1978 - Belmont Variations

Lots of really good pieces from the sixties and seventies isn't there - but the maybe I'm just a dinosaur who doesn't understand the intricacies of pieces like Prague.

Thanks for your commiserations on the Senior Cup result, it was a tad disappointing to say the least. Still we'll be back next year giving it our best shot.

 

[Ankanala]

1981 Concertino

Concertino by Philip Lane was the 2nd Section piece in 1981. Variations on a Shining River was the top section.

A

 

[iancwilx]

Your Dad is correct, I've definitely ascertained that the 1965 Top Section Area piece was "Themes from Beethovens 1st Symphony" (In Yorkshire at least.)
As mentioned before, I can remember playing "Diadem of Gold" at the Area in Leeds Town Hall and I suspect that was 66'cos I remember the Sop had a tough time (I won't mention his name, but Roy Roe took over shortly afterwards !!)
But then again .............?? - Does anyone else know better ???

 

[iancwilx]

Dan - I've just noticed you've got Diadem down for 1969 - I'm sure it was a couple of years earlier - it's all too wearing on the brain now !!!!!!!

 

[Dan]

Dan - I've just noticed you've got Diadem down for 1969 - I'm sure it was a couple of years earlier - it's all too wearing on the brain now !!!!!!!

Yes, it is all a bit of a nightmare trying to remember. I started contesting in 1986 and I'll be beeped if I can remember the test pieces from the 80's. It is probably all just a bit of a blur for those that contested in the 60's!!!!

In 1998 we started compiling a complete listing of all the contests that the Southsea Band (later Lucketts Travel Southsea Band, now disbanded 2000) had attended over its 50 year history. My dad called some contesting organisation to ask for a comprehensive list of all the pieces played over the years. Unfortunately there is no such thing! In the end we relied on the memories of many past banders. The list is still not complete and although many entries may even be incorrect, we have many of the venues (i.e Wembly for L&SC), adjudicators and position (for the Southsea Band).

Maybe it is time we all got our heads together and worked on a master list!!!!?????

 

[iancwilx]

I think you're right Dan - There must be more old giffers like me knocking about who can delve back into the mists of time !!
I've just found a Yorkshire Area programme from 1962 and it lists the Area pieces and Winners from 1945.
1945 - Black Dyke - Lorenzo
1946 - Brighouse - Downland Suite
1947 - Black Dyke - Akhnaton
1948 - Brighouse - Fantasia in F
1949 - Brighouse - Morning Rhapsody
1950 - St. Hildas - Festival Overture
1951 - Brighouse - Atlantic
1952 - Brighouse - Resurgam
1953 - Black Dyke - Rhapsody in Brass
1954 - Brighouse - Clive of India
1955 - Black Dyke - Severn Suite
1956 - Black Dyke - Orion
1957 - Carlton Main - Themes from the 9th Symphony (? Beethoven)
1958 - Black Dyke - Moor of Venice
1959 - Black Dyke - Wuthering Heights
1960 - Brighouse - Themes from Symphony No.5 (Tchaik)
1961 - Black Dyke - Les Preludes
and I know from the results in the prog that 1962 was Salute to Youth won by Crossleys Carpet Works, 2nd Grimey and 3rd Brighouse.
The other bands were :- Bradford Victoria,Carlton,Hade Edge,Hammonds Sauce Works,Lindley, Markham Main Colliery, Wharncliffe Silkistone Colliery and Yorkshire Imps.
That ends todays History Lesson, so you can all wake up now !!!
(BUT WHAT HAPPENED IN 66/7/8/9 ?????????????)

 

[onedrummeruk]

1966 - Le Roi D'ys - Black Dyke
1967 - Festival Music - Grimethorpe
1968 - Beethovens 8th Symphony - Grimethorpe
1967 - Diadem of Gold - Hammonds Sauce

 

[onedrummeruk]

I have a results section on Grimethorpes site, which also has the test piece and the winning band only from 1917, when Grimethorpe was formed, but it may help.

http://www.grimethorpeband.com/history_results_index.htm

 

[iancwilx]

Hi - Just looked at the Grimey Area record on the website.
I can fill in another blank for you.
In 1970 Grimey were 2nd on the Corsair
Yorkshire Imps won it and Hammonds were 3rd.
The Judge was Walter Hargreaves (Bless him - I was playing for Imps !!!!!)

 

[Dan]

1967 - Diadem of Gold - Hammonds Sauce

Diadem of Gold is listed on the Grimethorpe site as being 1969.

Also, on our Southsea Band records they also played Diadem of Gold at a couple of own choice piece contests during '69. Which may suggest it could have been the area piece for that year.

 

[iancwilx]

The answers lie in the British Bandsman archive (It is extensive) - Their contest reports will mention the test piece used.
Anyone got any influence at the BB office??