As we end the year we say a thank you and goodbye to three players who have each made significant contributions to the band over the past few years. Dusan (percussion) Finlay (cornet) and Tom (Euphonium) all leave us to concentrate on, or further their studies however it is great to note that all three will still be available to help during holidays and on special occasions. Unfortunately Finlay seems to have escaped the photographer on most occasions!
Where to see the band this Spring/Summer
The Band continues to be in demand over the summer months - you can expect to see us at various
events including:
Fayres at Clifton Reynes, Ravenstone, Emberton and Olney
The Roverfest at Weston Underwood
VE celebrations in Denton
and a performance on the bandstand at Leighton Buzzard
Dates and times will be confirmed in the next issue
Contest Season Beckons for All!
A busy term for our Beginner and Open Bands
Both bands are involved in 2 major events this term. On the afternoon of Saturday 15th March they will each be performing at the MK Festival of the Arts which will be held at The Venue in Milton Keynes. The Beginners Band will be playing 3 short pieces, ‘Mary Had a Little Lamb, ‘Hot Cross Buns’ and ‘When the Saints’, whilst the Open Band will be playing, ‘Beat It’ by Michael Jackson, ‘A Thousand Years’ from the Twilight Saga and ’Shake It Off’ by Taylor Swift. Do come along and support our young musicians if you can!
On Wednesday 2nd April at 4pm our young musicians are invited to play with MK Brass Hoppers at the annual Music for Youth event which is being held at the Christ the Cornerstone Church at Saxon Gate West. The music has yet to be finalised but it will be on a TV Theme! Again, it would be lovely to see support from you!
Olney Brass
The Annual trip to Stevenage for the Senior Band takes place in March, and again we compete in the Second Section to try and win an invitation to the Brass Band Finals in Cheltenham. Rehearsals and sectionals have begun in earnest as we try and make the best of this year’s test piece - ‘Friendly Takeover by Oliver Waespi. As always there’s lots to unpick as we navigate our way through the work. We hope to have a test run at the Oxford Contest in February.
“Friendly Takeover was composed for the 2016 Swiss Wind Band Convention in Montreux. In this three movement piece the composer experiments with lyrical motives combined with rhythmical pulses in different meters throughout the piece. In the finale, the musical scene is taken over completely by groove-based rhythms. This takeover, however, is of a friendly nature, as the various beats are not being conceived as rivals of the lyrical motives, but are rather supposed to infuse energy and vitality to the latter. Thus, one gets the impression of an ongoing acceleration throughout the piece.”
Digital Archive
Were you at our 50th? Did you enjoy browsing through the archive?
In what could turn out to be a huge undertaking former cornet player Darren Umney has offered
his services in trying to digitise these folders with the hope of it occupying a page on our website. Over the years I seem to have collected or saved anything in which the band was involved with. With the passing of David Greig and Alan Jenkin, more files, letters, brochures, programs and memorabilia has been passed to me. It would be a shame to let it stay in folders and not to be seen or read.
Do you have anything that you think should be included? Whilst we all have something, what would be great to see are more informal photos - Peel House or Tour photos Please email me if you have anything or Whatsapp a picture
Darren is pictured here (second left) with other members of the Stantonbury Brass back row cornet section at the 50th party. He has recently rediscovered his playing ability and plays Flugel Horn with Wolverton Town Band L to R with Darren are Nick Williams, Lindsay Greig Susan Harris and Debbie Hodder