Previous News and Highlights
(See also Split Notes Newsletters)
1999
CHRISTMAS GREETINGS EN ROUTE FOR THE YEAR 2000 - As we occupy ourselves with our Christmas concerts and carol playing in and around Harrogate, we would like to wish all our friends and supporters a Happy Christmas and good fortune in the coming year. Special greetings to all the new friends we have made through this website - we have particularly enjoyed your messages and comments.
HARTLEPOOL CHAMPIONS AGAIN! - For the second year running the Band has been awarded first place in the Second Section at the Hartlepool Borough Contest (the Borough Council in Hartlepool have now taken on the sponsorship of this contest following the withdrawal of the original sponsors, Camerons Brewery). The Band gave an excellent performance of its own choice test piece - Trittico for Brass Band by James Curnow - an exacting and challenging selection, but one which the band, audience and adjudicator, Colin Hardy, enjoyed. The Hartlepool contest, now in its seventh year, is a firm favourite with the Harrogate Band - not surprising given our record of wins: 5 first places, one second and one third!
UNIFORMS FUND COMPLETED - Thanks to the sterling efforts of many band members and supporters, particularly Jason Harper and David Lancaster, we have raised the money required to obtain new uniforms for the band. The "new look" Harrogate Band will be launched at the Fire Brigades Charity Christmas Concert in the Royal Hall, Harrogate on December 19th. Click here for details of the fundraising.
Daniel Lancaster can be seen here modelling the new look with his father, David.
PROMOTION TO CHAMPIONSHIP SECTION! - Following the Band's success over the last two years in the Yorkshire and Humberside Brass Band Association's Annual Contest, the Association has promoted the Harrogate Band to the Championship Section for the year 2000. The Band will still play in the Second Section for contests adhering to the national grading scheme, but looks forward to the challenge of competing at the higher level in the Association contests.
OPEN REHEARSAL ON 10th NOVEMBER - The Harrogate Band is holding an open rehearsal at 7.45 p.m. and invites any players who would like to join us in working through various pieces. Visitors and players are always welcome at the band, but this event is intended to provide an social and informal opportunity to welcome other players and friends in the district, to find out more about the band - particularly those younger players who may not have much experience of playing in a full brass band. Anyone interested should contact David Lancaster or Gavin Holman (to ensure we have sufficient music!). Details of how to reach the Bandroom are found here.
OSCARS TIME AGAIN - This website has received two nominations for the Internet "Brass Oscars" 1999, for the "Best Non-Commercially Produced Band Website of the Year" and the "Most Entertaining Band Website". We won two OSCARS last year (1998), so please visit the BRASS OSCARS website to see and visit the nominated sites in the seven different categories. Then cast your votes (for the Harrogate Band of course!) The closing date for votes is 31st December 1999.
GALA CONCERT WITH ALAN MORRISON - A large and appreciative audience packed Ripon Cathedral for the Band's Gala Concert to help complete the fund raising for the new uniforms.
Alan Morrison, the world renowned cornet soloist and Principal Cornet with the JJB Leyland Band, was our guest soloist, performing six pieces to the acclaim of the listeners. The programme also included music from the hit show "Lord of the Dance", James Curnow's Trittico, and Tchaikovsky's 1812 Overture.
WIDNES CANCELLED! - LET'S HAVE A DALES TOUR INSTEAD - To the Band's great disappointment, the Widnes Open Brass Championship had to be cancelled following a large number of last minute withdrawals. Our first contesting foray across the Pennines was not to be - and we would surely have won with our sparkling rendition of James Curnow's Trittico! Not to be daunted, or waste a perfectly good coach booking, and with swift organisation by David Gall, we ventured forth instead on a tour of the Yorkshire Dales. Three open air concerts were given to very appreciative audiences in Leyburn, Reeth and Hawes. The day was completed by a non-competing visit to the Hardraw Scar Brass Band Contest (which the Band had decided to pass on this year in favour of pastures new in Widnes!) A very enjoyable day's touring and concerts which I'm sure we will repeat in the future.
BOROUGHBRIDGE PROMS - As an alternative to the Royal Albert Hall event the Harrogate Band provided the people of Boroughbridge with their own "Last Night of the Proms" style concert. A rousing success in all aspects, the concert was greatly enjoyed by an enthusiastic audience. The first half followed fairly traditional concert lines and included solos from Robert Illsley playing Alan Morrison's Buster Strikes Back, David Gall with Monti's Czardas, and David Lancaster with the Post Horn Galop. The second half was a celebration of the century with a piece of music from each decade - 1990s, Cry of the Celts, 1980s, Goff Richards' Pastorale, 1970s, Star Wars, 1960s, Ticket to Ride, 1950s, Bernstein's Somewhere, 1940s, The Way You Look Tonight, 1930s, The Continental, 1920s, Puttin' On The Ritz, 1910s, Jerusalem, 1900s, Pomp & Circumstance (Land of Hope and Glory). The concert ended with an encore of "An Irish Blessing" a beautifully evocative air.
END-TO-END SUCCESS! - Jason Harper has completed his gruelling cycle ride from Land's End to John O'Groats to raise money for our Uniforms 2000 Fund. Supported by Dave Cole, he covered the 900 mile route in eight days and was actually cycling for 58 hours - an average of over 15 miles per hour. Jason had trained hard for this event and made excellent time, beating his own estimate of 10 days for the journey. All our congratulations and thanks to Jason on his achievement and to Dave for providing the motor support together with the Band trailer containing spares and supplies. Well done both! Click the photo on the right for some further pictures of their achievment!
Jason has a cornet for sale. It is a Yamaha Maestro Cornet, lacquered. Only used for eight months before being put away. In very good condition. 500 pounds - or nearest offer. Telephone Jason on +44 (0) 1423 887186 or +44 (0) 7977-215155. Note: the illustration is not that of the cornet for sale!
UNIFORMS "2000" - The Harrogate Band needs new uniforms! The current burgundy-coloured blazers have served the Band well for many years but are now reaching the end of their useful lives. To buy smart new uniforms for all thirty-five players (with a few spares) will cost the Band in the region of £6000. Fundraising has started in earnest, with three events already completed and more planned, including a sponsored bicycle ride from Lands End to John O'Groats by our Flugel Horn player, Jason Harper. Please see our Uniforms 2000 page for further details. Any help, or offers will be gratefully received.
MILLENNIUM DOME - Visitors to the Millennium Dome will see life-size photographs of The Harrogate Band in the Self Portrait Zone representing the important role that brass bands play in Britain's culture. The band was chosen after organisers of the Dome's exhibits wrote to companies throughout the UK requesting suggestions for features they regarded as traditionally British.
Chris Horton, baritone player with the band, works for Sam Smith's Brewery and was one of those contacted. He proposed a brass band and, naturally enough, he mentioned The Harrogate Band as a possible contender. A photo-shoot was arranged in the Sun Pavilion in Harrogate's Valley Gardens to provide the images that will be used in "a multi-dimensional way" in the Dome.
The Band feels honoured to represent the brass band movement and the thousands of other brass band players throughout the country in the UK's main celebration of the new millennium.
SWEEPING SCARBOROUGH SUCCESS - The Band won first prize in all three contests within the First Section at the Yorkshire and Humberside Brass Band Association's Annual Contest in Scarborough on 18th April. It took first place, by a margin of five points in the hymn tune, playing Eric Ball's arrangement of Jesu Meine Freude, the march trophy was gained by a sparkling rendition of Eric Ball's march Star Lake, and the selection prize, with a convincing lead of three points, was won with another superb rendition of Philip Sparke's Land of the Long White Cloud. The day was thoroughly rounded off by the presentation to Musical Director David Lancaster of the "Conductors' Cup" for the conductor of the band gaining the highest aggregate score of the whole day!
LECTURE RECITAL - On 10 April the Band gave a lecture recital to the International Association of Music Libraries, Archives and Documentation Centres who were holding their Annual Study Weekend at the University College of Ripon & York St John. David Lancaster presented "The World of the Brass Band", a history of the brass band movement illustrated with readings from band members and performances by the band. The lecture was a great success and was thoroughly enjoyed by the audience and band alike. In roughly chronological order, and to illustrate the various styles, technical aspects and range of brass bands, the pieces played were: Brilliant - J Ord Hume, Die Zauberflote - Mozart arr. Rimmer, Labour and Love - Percy Fletcher, Elegy (Downland Suite) - John Ireland, Star Lake - Eric Ball, Elegy (Entertainments) - Gilbert Vinter, I Wish I Knew - Billy Taylor arr Chris Horton, Ticket to Ride - Lennon and McCartney arr. Alan Fernie, Vitae Lux - F Anaes arr. Aagaard Nilsen, Land of the Long White Cloud - Philip Sparke.
NORTHERN REGION CHAMPIONSHIPS - These were held at Darlington on Sunday 21 March, with 53 bands competing for a chance to attend the National Finals in Nottingham in September and the Championship Section Final in London in October. The test piece in the Second Section was Symphonic Suite by Leighton Lucas - a very interesting and enjoyable piece to play. The Harrogate Band was pleased and confident in its performance as it left the contest stage and was convinced that it would be placed among the prizewinners, but disappointingly was only awarded 6th place out of the 11 competing bands.
CONCERT AT ST. PETER'S - Audiences in Harrogate have been able to enjoy a feast of band music in recent weeks, including a visit to the Royal Halls by the Black Dyke Band, the local school bands in the annual Competitive Music Festival (won this year by Tewit Youth Band) and The Harrogate Band who entertained a large and enthusiastic audience at St. Peter's Church, helping to raise money for the church's organ restoration fund.
The highlights of the band's programme included three excellent soloists: principal cornet Robert Illsley dazzled the audience with his exuberant and stylish rendition of Harry James' Trumpet Concerto, David Gall gave a demonstration of virtuoso technique in Monti's Czardas and Jason Harper showed off the lyrical voice of the flugel horn in a haunting arrangement of a Scottish folksong entitled Mull of the Cool Bens. Cornet and horn sections were also featured in Trumpet Blues and Cantabile and Vivaldi's Winter respectively.
The most weighty musical items were provided by Leighton Lucas' fine Symphonic Suite which was given a robust and well-shaped performance in anticipation of the forthcoming regional competition and a sprightly overture to Zauberflote in William Rimmer's arrangement. The Harrogate Band also included a rare performance of the lovely Elegy from Gilbert Vinter's suite Entertainments in their programme. The band were clearly in good form and the acoustics at St Peter's allowed the audience to savour their rich tone.
Since the evening was all about raising money to support the church organ, MD David Lancaster selected Ray Farr's arrangement of Bach's Toccata in D minor to conclude the programme.
JOHN HALLUMS' 80TH BIRTHDAY PARTY - The recently restored Sun Pavilion in Harrogate provided a suitably spectacular setting in which to celebrate John Hallums' 80th birthday, and The Harrogate Band provided a short programme to begin the evening's entertainment. John is almost a founder member of the band and has served as chairman and committee member for many years and continues to dedicate much time and effort to support the band and it seemed fitting that so many former players and supporters were in the audience.
The evening also included a presentation to John from the band, and a few well-chosen pieces played by John's four grandchildren, one of whom - Ashley - is a member of Harrogate's training band, The Brass Class. The only note of sadness was that John's wife Joan was unable to be present, having recently undergone a major hip operation.
The band - in relaxed mood and clearly enjoying the occasion - played several light pieces to get the party under way before demonstrating their skills (!) on the dance floor. Many thanks to John for inviting the band to his special event and for all the support over the last 29 years.
INTERNET OSCARS - We are proud to be the recipients of the first BRASS OSCAR 1998 for the "Best Non-Commercially Produced Band Website of the Year". Congratulations to the other Oscar winners (Black Dyke Band, SCABA, Brass Band World). For further details of the awards, and plans for the 1999 awards, see the Internet Brass Oscars site hosted by Andy Wooler.
Our thanks must go, in true Oscar winners' style, to everyone who voted for our site. There are over 400 brass band websites in existence at present, and there is a wonderful range of styles with a huge amount of information about the bands, good ideas, advice, history, fun, music, pictures and, of course, the bandsmen themselves. Although brass bands on the Internet are still in their relative infancy, there are a large number of dedicated individuals who have crafted the websites and promoted the cause and awareness of the brass band movement way beyond their normal audiences. These we also salute and we urge you to visit their sites for a flavour of the rich variety of brass banding across the world. The Internet Bandsman's Everything Within, or the Brass Band Webring can provide your starting point in a journey around the brass band web.
