Bands compete in championships to prove who is the best in brass
BRASS MUSIC is a tradition that dates back to the collieries and textile mills of Yorkshire’s industrial past.
And over the weekend, the county’s musical heritage was celebrated as dozens of bands took part in a prestigious contest.
Around 60 ensembles competed in the Yorkshire Brass Band Championships at Huddersfield Town Hall, a contest that brings the opportunity of gaining top grades from strict adjudicators and the chance to perform at the Royal Albert Hall.
Robert Turnbull, chairman of the Yorkshire Brass Band Championships, said: “There are quite a variety of pieces, from composers like Gustav Holst to more modern pieces.
“The judges are listening for dynamics, intonation and bands making the music come alive, as well as playing the right notes in the right order.”
Mr Turnbull said some bands had disbanded after the decline of industries like mining and textiles but participation in bands has been holding up more recently.
He said: “Around Yorkshire it’s still very vibrant. Our biggest rivals are probably the NorthWest and Wales. Yorkshire is the hardest contest to get through.”
This year’s Yorkshire competition was Peggy Tomlinson’s last as regional secretary and contest controller after 22 years organising the event, previously held at St George’s Hall, Bradford. She was to bow out after a finale of “the very highest quality”.
Each band was asked to play Seascapes by Ray SteadmanAllen and it was Brighouse & Rastrick Brass Band that emerged as champions, earning a place at the national stages of the competition at Cheltenham Race Course and the Royal Albert Hall.