Brass Band Podcast

Dave Kinross is joined by the Managing Director of the Centre Stage Group, Martin Gernon to discuss the potential risks of transmission and how some trials conducted in conjunction with Brass Bands England has led to his product Moisture Guard.      

Martyn is back with his journey through the contesting archives. Russell Gray joins him this week to discuss a legendary Nationals win for Leyland on a piece that perfectly encapsulated the band’s story at the time and with a little bit of Roald Dahl thrown in for good measure!

In this episode, Dave and Martyn are joined by Viggo Bjorge of the Eikanger Bjorsvik Band and a familiar voice, Kenny Crookston the CEO of Brass Bands England. In an incredibly revealing insight, Viggo discusses everything from social distancing in band, to how we can expect formations to look in the "new normal".

Two weeks before the British Open in 2004, Garry Cutt was at home ignoring the debut of the X Factor and was anticipating a day’s listening and socialising instead of conducting. Here is the story of how he took on a job nine days before the biggest contest of the year and added a third Mortimer Trophy to his collection.

1985 was a golden year for Black Dyke Mills, winning a clean sweep of contests including the Yorkshire Areas, Europeans, the Open and the Nationals. It is the final victory, on John McCabe’s masterpiece Cloudcatcher Fells, that Sandy Smith joins Martyn to discuss on this week’s Time Capsule.   (Note: apologies for Martyn’s sound in the opening 2 minutes, it does get fixed!)

Martyn is joined by Sheona Wade to give retrospect on YBS's European Championship win of 2004. A huge 6 point winning margin between the set test of St Magnus and their own choice of Music of the Sphere's, cemented the contest firmly as one of the great band's finest moments.

In the third of the Time Capsule series, Martyn reflects on the 1992 European Championships with Mike Fowles, who gives an insight into Brittania Building Society's iconic Own Choice Performance of Year of the Dragon. 

Dave and Martyn discuss the cancellation of The Open and Brass in Concert which has cast more uncertainty on the shape of banding in the future. They also examine the effect that social distancing and public confidence will have on the economic structure of events, and how they will ultimately affect bands.

In the second episode of the series, Martyn discusses the completion of the Cory Band's Albert Hall hat-trick with legendary soprano player, Gwyn Thomas. The band, under Major Arthur Kenney had to fight off a strong performance by Sun Life from a number four draw in order to prevail on the test of the day, Dances and Arias.

With brass fireworks, sublime, soloing and brilliant arrangements Frank brings the curtain down on this series for brasspass.tv with some of his all-time favourite recordings. Thanks for being there.

With the Lockdown due to continue for the foreseeable future Dave and Martyn discuss the reality of the continuing disruption to the contesting season. They also look at the points raised in 4BR's round table debate on sectional restructure.

Martyn brings you the first "Time Capsule" where he aims to transport us back to the memorable events of our banding past. Steve Stewart of The Cory Band, recollects his part in another dominant ensemble of its time, Desford Colliery Band. A National win from a No3 draw was their fourth Albert Hall victory in a row, and one of the banding feats still talked about to this day.

In this, the penultimate episode of these podcasts, Frank revisits just about his favourite album ever, celebrates a piece he considers to be a brass band classic and wonders just what Michael Nymann would have written had anyone been brave enough to commission a set test piece from him as he offered, something like his film music Chasing Sheep perhaps?

The return of the Brass Band Podcast sees Martyn Ramsay join Dave Kinross to discuss the unprecedented times we find ourselves in. The rapid onset of the Covid 19 Pandemic in the UK, brought about disruption to the Area Contest series. Dave and Martyn examine the outcome of this and discuss the contesting outlook for the rest of the year.

In these ‘lock down’ days Frank has 45 minutes of pure enjoyment including one of the shortest and most popular marches, some amazing solo playing and film and dance music to soothe the soul.  Sit back and, unless you’re driving, close your eyes and get taken into the heart of some wonderful band music.

Frank recalls introducing the legendary Hans Ganch to the brass band audience for the first time and celebrates following the careers of talented young players who become leading lights in the music.

An episode full of original music for brass band some of it bringing together the best contemporary talents such as Lucy Pankhurst’s Concerto written for Owen Farr alongside music by the brass band’s most popular living composer Philip Sparke written for and played by Brett Baker. Frank reflects upon a piece from 1922 by film composer Hubert Bath, his Freedom Symphony No.1 written for the National Championships and follows that with the all to rarely heard Fantasy for Brass Band by another composer known, amongst other music, for his film scores Malcolm Arnold , also written for the National Championships. Great music all.

With the recent passing of Hollywood legend Kirk Douglas at the amazing age of 103 we’ve come to the end of that bit of movie history. Frank thought we’d have our own trip down memory lane now with some of the great songs from the golden age of the Hollywood Musical played in some very special arrangements.  We hear the truly great playing of Rod Franks, a double tracked tuba and the current Young Brass Award Winner Siobhan Bates. And so it’s time to get on your trolley, take tea for two and start facing the music and dancing to name but 3 of these brilliant featured arrangements.

Frank has 2 tracks from our new double cd made up of music recorded at our first band of the year competition last year and including great performances by Cory, Black Dyke, Fodens, Brighouse to name but three, O and of course, music from the winning programme by Cory.  Frank also considers how the brass band has travelled the world and gives us a timely reminder of how it used to be here in the original banding home with the massed bands of Men O’Brass.

Frank indulges in some cornet nostalgia from 1958 with star player James Scott with Munn & Felton’s (Footwear) Band, he remembers a great recording session with the Fairey Band and Philip Lawrence and ends with classic Edward Gregson in this special year for one of our most illustrious composers.