BrassBeats 2022 Winter Edition [Derwent Brass Newsletter]

BrassBeats

The ‘Friends of Derwent Brass’ Newsletter

Editors Rob Stew and Jennifer Marsden 2022 Winter Edition

We are back!

Apologies for the lack of a ‘proper’ newsletter. Life does tend to get in the way, so grab a brew or tipple (depending on when you are reading this, though we won’t judge) and let’s dive straight into what has been happening with Derwent Brass. It’s going to be a long but good one…

Death of Queen Elizabeth II

We were all saddened on hearing the news of the passing of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. An inspiration to so many people throughout her long life and reign, she epitomised and defined the word ‘Majesty’. She was the foundation of our nation for so long and has played an enormous part in making us feel proud to be British.

She will undoubtedly be missed for generations to come and whilst we mourn her loss, we also celebrate her amazing life and all that she achieved. Many of you will have attended our ‘Under the Stars’ concert where we paid tribute by performing her favourite version of the National Anthem, arranged by Benjamin Britten.

Blowing One’s Own Trumpet Cornet

Having had to hold our annual band awards night virtually the previous year due to Covid, it was great to be able to get all dressed up and head over to the Mickleover Court Hotel, Derby to celebrate not only the previous year, but also the full thirty years of the band.

Lots of fun was had by all, with plenty of reward and recognition taking place. There was even a fabulous anniversary cake produced by the multi-award winning bakery ‘James and the Giant Cake’!

Concerts

Our inaugural concert with Radcliffe on Trent Male Voice Choir in March was cancelled from the previous Christmas due to Covid and, as always, it was great to take to the stage alongside new (to us) artists and groups also including the Radcliffe-on-Trent Junior School choir.

So how do you celebrate your 30th anniversary? Well, you decide to put on a special trilogy of concerts to represent the 3 decades of Derwent Brass of course!

Movies and Musicals

Where else could we start the trilogy, but at Derby Theatre with whom we continue to have an excellent relationship.

A concert of three parts saw the first segment of film themes from 'The Avengers' to 'Pearl Harbour', including a fantastic solo of 'Send in the Clowns' by principal cornet Dave Neville. The band also invited now Music Director Emeritus Keith Leonard to conduct the band through Ralph Vaughan William’s beautiful 'Prelude to 49th Parallel'

The middle segment was truly something special and unique. An adaptation by Music Director Jack of 'Sweet Charity' into a thirty-minute ‘Bitesize Broadway; featuring the vocals of James Barrington Stephens and Helen Perry (in the role of Charity).

For the final part, James provided us with one of his own compositions ‘I Wanna Live’. Starting with just James and a piano it grew with band into a rousing song which could easily

This is Derwent 30

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A further trip through film including a superb solo by Matt Spriggs on Solo Euphonium with 'Go the Distance' from Hercules, another collaboration with James of 'Anthem' from the musical Chess, with the finale of 'You’ll Never Walk Alone' concluding a fantastic evening.

This concert took us to a new venue of Allestree Woodlands School theatre. Joined by friends of the band, dignitaries, new faces and ex players, the programme took a tour through time with Derwent classics ranging from the formation in 1992 to present, led by our Music Director Jack Capstaff. Included was ‘Jubilate’ specially penned by Jack for the celebrations.

We are grateful to those who delivered messages on stage and those who sent them in, from our President Nev Eden, Music Director Emeritus Keith Leonard, Chief Patron Ash Hewson, Associate Composer Matt Eden, Jim Trott, founder and CEO of our associate charity Brass for Africa.

Of course we couldn’t finish this concert in any other way than with a rousing rendition of our signature march Montreal Citadel.

Under the Stars

Our finale took us to the wonderful surroundings of Derby Cathedral. Benjamin Britten’s setting of the National Anthem set the scene for a truly emotional night of music making to a capacity audience including the Mayor of Derby and the High Sheriff of Derbyshire. Following an eclectic first half of programme, the entirety of Holst's The Planets Suite formed the main event in the second which was received with standing ovation.

We have been overwhelmed with kind messages since the performance, with many admitting to shedding a tear or two. The stature and meaning of the works performed in combination with the recent news, set to the glorious backdrop of Derby Cathedral certainly made it all feel very special for performers and audience alike.

To put on such a programme takes a lot of dedication and organisation, along with additional musicians and also equipment. We welcomed the talents of our Associate Composer Matthew Eden on organ and celeste, and a first for Derwent to work with award winning harpists Elfair Grug Dyer and Emily Hopper.

‘Songs of Praise’

Moving forward to October and the band were in their home territory of Belper at St Peters Church to support celebrations for the 200th anniversary of the laying of the church’s foundation stone.

Presided on by Rev Anne Stratton from St Peters, The Bishop of Derby, the Right Revd Libby Lane alongside the Archdeacon, the service told of how the church came to be and how unfortunately no one can actually identify where the foundation stone is!

The service was attended by His Grace Peregrine Cavendish, the 12th Duke of Devonshire who helped to place a time capsule in a hole in the wall near the vestry. Luckily this time instructions have been made for those in the future to be able to find it. The audience were also

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treated to songs by St John’s Church of England Primary School and Nursery Choir.

For such a special event we had to sprinkle a bit of Derwent magic, including new fanfare and hymn arrangements of Thornbury (Matthew Eden), Westminster Abbey (Jack Capstaff) and The Old Hundredth (Keith Leonard).

A Night To Remember

Most recently we performed our annual festival of remembrance ‘A Night To Remember’ where we made particular focus to the 40th Anniversary of the Falkland Conflict.

The event was well supported, particularly by Mrs Kath Woodward the chair of the Belper branch of the Royal British Legion, together with the Mayor of Belper Cllr Kate Harris and once again the High Sheriff of Derbyshire Mike Copestake. As always proceeds are donated to the Royal British Legion’s Poppy Appeal and their 2022 theme of ‘Your Poppy Shows You Care’ was emphasised throughout.

A space themed first half was followed by a 2nd half ‘remembrance’ festival, including readings from the Derbyshire Army Cadets and RBL standard bearers who entered to Peter Meechan’s dramatic ‘2nd Epitaph Across The Water’ concluded expertly by Dave Neville’s faultless Last Post and Reveille. Classics of Nimrod, Finlandia, Abide With Me and Old Comrades were interspersed with The Triumph of Peace (Eric Ball), The Path to Peace (Philip Harper featuring custom videography from ‘Belper in Wartime’) and a stunning solo performance of ‘A Little Prayer’ by Solo Euphonium Matt Spriggs.

The Competitive Landscape

In the latter part of 2021 we took part in two entertainment festivals at Bolsover and Wychavon. We performed 'Musica De Los Muertos’ skillfully crafted by Jack. Translated as ‘Music of the Dead’ it comprised of six movements.

It began with those familiar chords for the beginning of O Fortuna from Carmina Burana by Orff leading into Night on Bald Mountain by Mussorgsky. After a brief Intermezzo came Song to the Moon by Dvorak, on this occasion a solo for our flugel horn Cat Johnston.

In contrast there followed The Sorcerer’s Apprentice by Dukas. Who can listen to that without thinking of a certain mouse getting up to mischief! Time to move to a less frenetic pace with a wonderful solo by Principal Cornet Dave Neville of Hawkins I Put a Spell on You.

The performance ended with Danse Macabre by Saint Saens complete on the occasion of Bolsover with Jack playing violin at the beginning. Is there no end to that man’s talents? Sadly, we didn’t win either contest but, on both occasions, came away with the award for Most Entertaining Band. Now, I like to think that I am fairly intelligent but can not for my life work out how we can get that award and not come first? Answers on a postcard...

2022 saw us head to the National Brass Band Championships Regional conest known as ‘The Area’. This year saw a change of venue as the Civic Hall (Bedworth) was been being used for Covid testing/vaccinations so there was a move over to The Corby Cube (Corby).

The piece was the fabled ‘Contest Music’ by Wilfred Heaton. Born in Sheffield in 1918, Heaton was a cornet player and went on to work with brass bands and orchestras, including the Black Dyke Mills Band in 1972. He composed Contest Music in 1973, but it was not initially used for contests as it was perceived to be too challenging and, in some circles, too modern for its time. Nowadays it is seen as a ‘classic’ and is often utilised. On this occasion we came a very credible 5th with lots of positive feedback on the performance, many deeming it worth of one, if not more, positions higher. The band were once again delighted to work with Dr Robert Childs on the contest preparations.

In May we went up to sunny Blackpool (it actually was on this occasion) for the British Open Spring Festival where we played in the Senior Cup. The piece was Freedom by Hubert Bath another classic in the band world. We were hoping the performance would be enough to achieve promotion into the Grand Shield. Sadly, it was not our time, but we very comfortably achieved enough to stay in the Senior Cup for another year. Click here to listen to our performance!

Fast forward through a bumper concert season to the beginning of October which saw us head back to Bolsover. Always wanting to be different, we decided to take our Bitesize Broadway ‘Sweet Charity’ set , complete with the vocal talents of James Barrington Stephens and Helen Perry.

Despite giving a great performance and receiving so much positive feedback from the audience, fellow bandsman and even contest organisers, it failed to resonate with the adjudicator Alan Morrison who, whilst deeming it a great performance, said it simply wasn’t suitable for a ‘brass band contest’ (cue another Mickey Mouse joke!) a Unfortunately the result meant we came away with no prizes...

…but not for long!

Listen on Youtube! Bolsover Festival of Brass 2021 Musica de los Muertos

“For continually pushing the boundaries of what a brass band can do.”

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National Award for Innovation

At Derwent Brass we recognize that being artistically innovative and forward thinking can pay dividends when it comes to concert performances but often at contests it seldom finds absolute favour with adjudicators. Putting a ‘marmite’ performance first can feel a risk for a judge who feels surrounded by the more traditional, but without pushing forward brass bands will, without doubt, find less and less attraction as the generations of audience continue to move on. Of course we must programme widely to be inclusive of both our deep heritage as well as the more contemporary material and ways of performance. Naturally this brings us back to the age old dilemma of how can you compete art?

Derwent Brass has always strived for musical and artistic excellence in unique and sometimes unconventional ways and so receiving the Brass Bands England Innovation Award for 2022 is a high watermark in the band’s history, of which we are very proud. It is taking the opportunity to reward what should be celebrated which is at other times missed.

To us, the award signifies wider recognition of many years of effort and artistic direction under the batons of Keith Leonard until 2018, and for the past 4 years with Jack Capstaff at the helm. This approach has separated Derwent Brass from the stereotypical brass band and positioned them as a leading voice in pushing the artistic boundaries of the medium. To quote the band’s Mission Statement on Music and Repertoire: “To be open to new challenges, willing to push the boundaries of performance and be at the forefront of new commissions from a collection of composers”.

Over previous years the band has commissioned new and exciting works from leading contemporary composers, including our contemporary music associate, Paul McGhee whose ‘Episodes, Occurrences and Interludes’ was commissioned for the band’s 20th anniversary and critically acclaimed, as well as composer in association Matt Eden, with whom Music Director Jack Capstaff has worked on feature length multi media projects, as well as Matt’s own phenomenal stand alone music.

As well as new and innovative repertoire, Derwent Brass positions itself to collaborate outside of the Brass Band medium with regular collaboration and fusion with different genres of ensemble, guest artists, augmentation of the traditional ensemble, and multi media concerts and projects.

We do all this not only to push ourselves and challenge ourselves artistically, but to engage new and diverse audiences, and to work to ensure the relevance of brass bands and western classical music going forwards in an ever increasingly competitive creative landscape, with more entertainment streams than ever vying for audience attention.

It is with this in mind, that we are delighted to announce the inaugural Derwent Brass Composition Competition, coming in 2023, which will award composers willing to push the boundaries of what is considered possible for brass band.

Recordings will be produced for all finalists, and a substantive cash prize will be available for the winner.

Further details will be announced on the band’s website and social media in the new year!

Talent Changes and New Faces

It’s never easy to see players leave the band, but there have been some changes over the recent months to announce. We have bid farewell to David and Mandy Holling, Assistant Principal Cornet Ben Jowett and Euphonium James Emberley, predominantly due to ever demanding family and work pressures.

In the same period we have welcomed back a trio of former players with Martyn Carlisle onto EEb Tuba (from the Newstead Band), Steve Hargreaves onto Percussion (following a sabbatical from banding), and Conor Harron onto Tenor Horn (following a move back to the UK).

In addition we are thrilled to announce the appointment of a trio of new players! First up is Alan Losh to the Assistant Principal Cornet position. Alan is a former long standing member of the International Staff Band of the Salvation Army, Principal Cornet of Derby Central Salvation Army Band and Salvo Brass, conductor, composer, and educator whose musical career spans over forty years.

Also recently joining the band are the youthful additions of Dan Garland as an addition to the trombone section, coming from the Solo Trombone chair at Rockingham Band and Ed Culpin who steps into the Euphonium vacancy having previously been Solo Baritone at both Youth Brass 2000 and the Leicester Co op band. Dan recently won the Best Soloist prize at the 2021 Bolsover Festival of Brass and is tutored by the renowned trombone soloist and principal trombone of Black Dyke Band Brett Baker.

Ed’s previous accolades stretch far and wide, including winning the best Euphonium/Baritone prize at the National Children’s Brass Band of Great Britain, the British Open Slow Melody Championships (U17s), Best Soloist prize at the Youth Brass In Concert Championships, and Best Soloist at the Butlins Youth Championships and was previously tutored by baritone soloist and former principal baritone of the Black Dyke Band Katrina Marzella.

Alan Losh joins the band on Assistant Principal Cornet

Postcard from Camp America

A lot of you may know that, for a years now, we lose the services (and considerable banter) of our percussionist Elliot Davis for about 3 months. We thought it was time to share his secret! Over to you Elliot...

What about broadening your horizons?

I’ve always wanted to visit the USA from my love of American sports and in particular American football. When I heard about the “Camp America” scheme I was working in a coffee shop, just finishing my A levels and not knowing what I wanted to do with life.

Camp America was established in 1969 and is a cultural exchange programme that gives you the chance to spend your summer living and working on a summer camp in the USA. They support you from start to finish to make sure you time!

There are 100s of camps throughout the states, be it religious, sports, music, education. Camps are really important for the development of the younger generation in the USA and they create a safe space for a kid to put down their phone, make new friends and forget all the worries at school or home, etc.

I applied online with ‘Camp Leaders’, put on my resume and waited to see what happened next; I even put down Chris our Band Manager as one of my references . A few weeks later I loaded up my account and much to my surprise I was flooded with job offers! Maine, New and the one I decided which

Camp Ernst is in the Greater Cincinnati area and has different kids from all different backgrounds (be it race, economics, etc.) every week for 9 weeks running from 14. It is full of activities from riding horses to a 100ft water slide into the lake, to the ropes course, creeks, beautiful hikes and so on. It really is a magical place.

It became an annual event for me. In my first two summers at Camp I taught music to all the age groups, to prepare them for the talent show which was held at the end of the week. We had a lot of fun in my first two years, I even had kids from previous summers telling me how much they enjoyed the music program in 2017 2018.

I’m Eliott Davis, percussionist at Derwent Brass. I’ve been drumming from the age of 10, tutored by long time Derwent Drummer, Dave Armshaw.

Brass Banding has always been a part of my family. My first brass band rehearsal was as a 1 week old at the former Riddings Brass Band. Riddings was strong in the North Derbyshire Community and at that time was very much a family affair with my Mum, Dad, Sister, 3 Aunties, 3 Uncles and with Mama and Grandad on the committee. It’s safe to say I was destined to be in the banding world, from learning to walk in a band room, music has been massive in my development from a child to a youth, to a young man and still now at only 24!

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That feeling of inspiring the youth took me to accept higher positions at Camp until my 5th summer this summer, 2022, I was proud to be a Unit Leader for an entire age group of kids… the dreaded 15 year olds!

No matter how tiring and stressful this past summer was camp America will always be pivotal in my development and has been an amazing part of my life.

Falklands 40

When BBC Radio Derby contacted the band to see if we could help out at a special event to remember those lost in the Falklands Conflict it was a very quick ‘yes’. It is 40 years since the end of the war and at a small gathering at Boulton St Mary’s Church in Alvaston, Derby to remember one particular soldier, Jennifer Marsden from our cornet section sounded The Last Post. It was very touching to be able to speak with friends of the local man who died in the conflict. Jennifer also appeared on BBC Radio Derby in April to advertise our concert trilogy.

Bradelei Support

The band are extremely grateful for the recent support of the Bradelei Lodge of the Derbyshire Freemasons. To help further bolster the band’s innovative approach to banding, with the support of technology both in the band room and on stage, the lodge’s donation was also match funded by the Provincial Grand Charity.

Brass for Africa

Our support for Brass for Africa is ongoing and Rob Stew continues to work tirelessly as an ambassador, particularly with Coventry Music Services and Sheffield Music Hub for the donation of instruments.

We were delighted therefore to receive a truly heart warming message from Jim Trott CEO and Founder of Brass for Africa and one of their musical groups for our anniversary concert.

Pictured above is the dining hall, and hanging from the rafters are the honour camper awards from 1928 through to now. Elliot now has his name on one of those cups and will remain in the ‘hall of fame’. Needless to say we are very proud of everything he has achieved and always look forward to his return to Derbyshire!

Where Does He Find The Time!

Not content with just being our Music Director, Jack has also been appointed as Musical Director of the Hatfield and Askern Colliery Band. This alongside his continued involvement with the Harlequin Brass Ensemble.

Jack has also become a full member of the Association of Brass Band Adjudicators (AoBBA) and came 2nd the highest placed UK entrant at the Brass Band Conductors Association (BBCA) contest.

were extremely pleased that Jim was awarded with an MBE in the

achievements by Brass for Africa in 2022 is sensational. Head over to

Choral Society in the stunning Southwell Minster, Southwell. Tickets can be obtained directly from the Cathedral shop or by calling 01636 812933.

9th December - Christmas at the Cathedral. One to never miss!

The massed brass bands of Derwent Brass and Derby Central Salvation Army in the beautiful surroundings of Derby Cathedral, Iron Gate, Derby. Tickets available from the DerbyLIVE Box Office. Starts at 19:30.

Visit: livetickets.org/whats-on/christmas-at-the-cathedral3 Call: 01332 255800

Email: boxoffice@derby.gov.uk Visit: Sales & Info Centre, Guildhall Theatre, Derby, DE1 3AE

17th December - A Christmas Cracker!

The perfect family Christmas concert, featuring festive music, carols and a world premiere adaptation and animation of the classic fairytale 'The Snow Queen' on the big screen!

Plus music from festive movies including The Polar Express, Home Alone, Miracle on 34th Street and Frozen 2! 19:30 start.

Visit: www.derwentbrass.com Visit: www.priorbooking.com

Call: 01773 384 121

Email: sales@derwentbrass.co.uk

Visit: Moss Office Services, 65 King Street, Belper

Ensemble - Carols by Candlelight - 14th December (19:00)

We have a small group making the traditional trip to the Holly Bush Inn (Makeney, Belper) for an evening of carols and Christmas cheer at this amazing pub, recently awarded as one of Europe’s best! Always a good evening and there is food too!

What Would You Like To Know?

We’d like the newsletter to be more interactive in 2023 rather than us just giving you the lowdown of what we have done.

Is there anything in particular you would like to know about the band or players? Is there one player who you would like to know about. Would you like to know more about brass bands in general? Maybe you’d like to ask Jack a question or delve into the band’s future artistic aspirations?

Let us know! Email newsletter@derwentbrass.co.uk or drop us a message on social media - we are on all the usual platforms! Alternatively find Jennifer or Rob at an upcoming concert.

BrassBeats 2023

In the next issue of Brass Beats we will be rounding up our Christmas festivities, sharing news about the Friends concert, the bands heritage, a new feature called ‘Meet the Band’ and much more!

We end by wishing you all a merry Christmas and Happy New Year however you are spending the time. We do continue to appreciate your support and look forward to seeing you soon.

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