The All England Masters International champion made the long trek up the M4 to launch their latest CD, with this highly polished concert in West Byfleet.

The plush seats of the picturesque church provided ample comfort for the audience as they sat back to enjoy 13 of the featured tracks on ‘Tredegar in Concert – Volume 1’ – a colourful mix of styles and genres that has provided the backbone to their concert and contest repertoire over the last 12 months or so.

Vibrant form

Led by Ian Porthouse, the band also played a central role in the National Association of Brass Band Conductors annual conference held in Woking on the weekend, and the delegates themselves were transported to the event to hear the 2010 British Open champion on vibrant form.

Despite a rather lively acoustic, the precise ensemble work, coherent balances and secure lead lines were a feature throughout the evening, with a quartet of high class soloists adding classy contributions to the eclectic mix of upbeat showcase works on offer.

Persuasive campaign

The first half was a persuasive advertising campaign for the CD – with a trio of Composer in Residence, Matt Hall compositions, including his prize winning ‘Nightingale Dances’, and pulsating opener ‘Activate’ supplemented by two cracking solo spots from Dewi Griffiths and Stephen Sykes – both of whom were on top form in ‘People’ and ‘I Loves You Porgy’.

The rousing renditions of ‘The Champions’ and ‘Poet & Peasant’ were offset by the lyrical treatment of ‘The Smile’ and the bluff pride of ‘Men of Harlech’.

More of the same

There was more of the same to enjoy after the interval too.

The choreographed ‘Blackbird Special’ opener leading into brace of accomplished solo interventions from Buzz Newton, with the fizzing ‘Greek Dance’ from the Wilby ‘Euphonium Concerto’ and flugel player Danny Winder’s tender treatment of the Caccini inspired ‘Ave Maria’ that bookended Matt Hall’s atmospheric ‘Legends of Cyfarthfa’.

Sidney Swancott gave an eloquent address in praise of former NABBC President Dr Roy Newsome, before the band under the baton of compere David Ruel brought a tasteful swagger to his march ‘Belmont’.

Contrasts to close

To close, the contrasts between the orgiastic splendour of Saint Saean’s ‘Bacchanale’ and the more reflective ‘Lost Chord’ and ‘Credo’ were neatly emphasised – although you suspected the band were more inspired by the former than the latter!

A whizz bang encore of ‘Folk Festival’ brought the evening to a high paced finale and gave a well entertained audience a timely reminder to dig deep into their pockets to purchase that latest CD.

It will have been money well spent.

Iwan Fox

Iain is regarded as one of the world’s leading designers and manufacturers and has taken a keen interest in developing his innovative range of Wallace Collection mutes by using the band both as a testing ground as well as a high profile endorsee of his ground breaking products.

The latest designs, specially produced in striking band colours were used by Tredegar at their recent concert in West Byfleet, where the different timbres and colours filled the air at the magnificent St. John’s Church.

Delighted

Iain was at the concert to hear his latest designs in action and was delighted by the result.

“It’s so good to hear them played with such skill by Tredegar’s brilliant cornet section. The players are able to give me the type of feedback I require, and give me new ideas to try out too.”

Feedback

Part of that feedback process saw principal cornet Dewi Griffiths meet up with Iain at the recent National Association of Brass Band Conductor’s Convention to discuss further developments and to try out the latest designs. “Iain’s mutes give our cornet section such a wide variety of different colours to utilise. The results are simply fantastic. You can both see and hear why they are creating such an impact in the banding world.”

For information about Bandmaster and Iain Muirhead’s Wallace Collection mutes please visit: www.wallace-mutes.com

The official launch date for ‘Tredegar in Concert’ is 28th April, when the band will take part in a prestigious event in West Byfleet in Surrey, although you can reserve a copy to be sent to you to enjoy on the launch date itself, by simply clicking here.

Packed full of the band’s most up to date concert repertoire, it features the prize winning compositions from Tredegar’s Composer in Residence, Matthew Hall, including ‘Legends of Cyfarthfa’ and ‘Nightingale Dances’ – both of which claimed the ‘Best New Composition Awards’ at the prestigious Brass in Concert Championships in 2010 and 2011.

Brilliant soloists

Four of the band’s brilliant stable of soloists are featured too, with Dewi Griffiths, Buzz Newton, Steve Sykes and Danny Winder all showcasing their considerable talents.

Fantastic tracks

In addition there is something for everyone from cool jazz and American funk to Welsh classics and the appropriately entitled march, ‘The Champions’, plus lots more on 16 fantastic tracks.

So make sure you get your CD right on the very date of its launch!

The former site of the huge Ebbw Vale Steelworks is the unlikely venue for the band to record its latest CD this weekend.

Perfect acoustic

One of the huge rooms at the magnificently refurbished General Offices of the old British Steel Corporation is providing a perfect acoustic for the new ‘easy listening’ release of many of the band’s latest concert favourites – including a number of popular prize winning works from the pen of Composer in Residence, Matt Hall.

Concert release

The CD is the first in a series that is being produced in partnership with Avanti Media, one of the biggest independent television production companies in Wales, and will be released in time for the band’s next concert in April.

For more information, go to: www.tredegartownband.org/events

Won’t be disappointed

Although MD Ian Porthouse doesn’t want to give away too much at present, he has revealed that listeners won’t be disappointed.

“The past couple of years have seen us become one of the best concert bands around. The music on the releases will reflect that, with some old favourites interspersed between many of our very best contest winning material. There is something for everyone.”

“It’s so important we produce top quality recordings,” he continued. “Our concert repertoire is so popular that they will enable us to reach out further to show audiences just how innovative we are as a band.”

Raising profile

He added: “Working with Avanti has really shown what can be achieved. They are at the forefront of media production in Wales, so this is such an exciting opportunity to raise the profile of the band even further.”

And the venue has certainly come as a bonus too.

“Manager Angharad Collins and her staff have been superb. The venue offers everything we need to record and provide concerts in the future. Blaenau Gwent has needed a venue such as this for many years, so we hope other musical organisations will follow our lead.”

A perfect bad luck storm, made up of ill health and a terrible draw stopped Tredegar in their attempt to wrestle back the Welsh Regional Championship title in Swansea last weekend.

The contest was won by reigning champion Cory, with Tongwynlais, just pipping Tredegar into second place.

Good news

The only good news is that despite coming third, the band still qualifies for the National Finals at the Royal Albert Hall in London in October.

Everything seems on course to claim an 11th Area win, after the final rehearsal on Friday evening saw the band in peak form under Ian Porthouse.

Unravel

Unfortunately, things to unravel with less than 24 hours before they took to the Brangwyn Hall stage, as first, news came that solo horn Chris Davies had been admitted to hospital for an emergency operation, and was forced to miss the contest.

Then, adjudicator Derek Broadbent scuppered principal cornet Dewi Griffiths chances leading his M2 Band back to the National Finals in Cheltenham, despite producing a performance that by common consent was a class apart from their rivals in the Third Section.

Omen

It proved to be an uncomfortable omen for what was to follow.

To top it all, the band found itself in the early part of the draw, far from their main rivals – especially reigning champion Cory.

MD Ian Porthouse was sanguine about a contest where nothing seemed to go right for his band, with the only really good news being that Chris is now making a full recovery.

“That’s contesting. The most important thing is that Chris is back fully fit and well. He is such an important player that his loss less than 24 hours before the contest really upset our chances. The horns and baritones, especially flugel player Danny Winder did a brilliant job in covering the parts, but we knew it was going to be a problem we couldn’t quite overcome.”

Cotton wool

He added: “Our congratulations go to Cory and Tongwynalis, but we are back at the Albert Hall and our aim is to make sure we can really do well there.”

And as for a plan to ensure nothing like it happens again? Ian laughed, “We’ll be keeping the players wrapped in cotton wool though and making sure Alywn is given extra training to pick out a late draw number!”

The full results and a report on the contest can be found at:

www.4barsrest.com/news/detail.asp?year=9999&criteria=Results&id=14876

Berit and Steiner Morkved from Trondheim regularly fly to the UK to listen at the major contests and have become fans of the band – especially after Tredegar’s British Open win in Birmingham in 2010.

When Ian Porthouse and Dewi Griffiths recently worked with the Sola Band at the Norwegian Championships in Bergen, the opportunity arose for the couple to arrange to come to Wales, as their daughter Mari Malm also plays trombone with the band.

Satnav

On Thursday they flew into Cardiff, hired a car and drove with the help of satnav all the way to Tredegar, where they came and listened to the band in rehearsal.

The MD was delighted to meet up with the couple who are associated with the Nidaros Brass Band in their home city.

“It’s great to know we have fans all over the banding world,” Ian said. “It was lovely to see Berit and Steiner at the bandroom and we hoped they enjoyed their visit. We certainly enjoyed having them with us.”

Support

Berit meanwhile added: “We love coming to the UK to listen to the band contests and we organise a small holiday around them too. We wanted to come to Wales for some time and so to get to hear Tredegar was a real treat. We will be supporting them in Swansea on the weekend.”

Open picture

The couple were presented with CDs of the band, as well as a small photograph taken by Goldy Solutions Ian Clowes that actually showed them listening to Tredegar’s winning British Open performance at Birmingham.

Band President Iwan Fox added: “I met Berit and Steiner in Begren and was thrilled to hear that they were fans of the band. We hope they enjoyed they brief visit and that they can hear the band win at Swansea on the weekend!”

With the band in need of a top class player for the test piece, ‘The Devil and the Deep Blue Sea’, MD Ian Porthouse used his extensive contacts to pinpoint just the man to tame the immensely difficult soprano part.

Wouter is regarded as one of the finest soprano players in Europe and jumped at the chance to sign for the band after Ian recently worked with his band, Dutch National champions Schoonhoven.

Real boost

“Wouter is a great player and just the man we need on this piece,” Ian said. “Getting him over the play is a real boost for the band, and he has fitted in straight away.”

The ‘High Flying Dutchman’ is certainly enjoying himself too. “It’s an honour to be asked to play for such a great band. I played at the European Championship last year with Schoonhoven and was so impressed with Tredegar at the competition. I’ve known Ian for a number of years so when he asked if I would like to play with the band it was easy for me to say yes.”

Impressed

The 41 year old has played soprano with Schoonhoven for 10 years, and has helped them become one of the finest in Europe – gaining 4th place behind Tredegar at the European Championships in Montreux last year, as well as retaining their Dutch National title when Ian helped in their preparation for the contest.

“It’s great to be working with Wouter again,” Ian added. “I’m sure the Welsh banding public are going to be very impressed by our latest signing.”

First horn player Lowenna Taylor and principal euphonium Buzz Newton joined forces with cornet players Steph Wilkins and Vikki Kennedy in the brass quartet ’4Tune Brass’ to win the award against high class opposition. They had to perform a demanding piece of music that perpetuated the very best traditions of chamber music that the pioneering Philip Jones Brass Ensemble was famous for.

Invitation

The performance saw them win the £500 first prize and gain an invitation from Philip Jones’s widow Ursula to perform in London next year.

Prestigious

Buzz and Lowenna were naturally pleased with their latest prize winning efforts: “It’s a prestigious competition in the college, so to win it was a real achievement for us all,” Lowenna said.

“It’s a very different discipline to what we are used to at band, but playing in a brass quartet really does help you as a player.”

Tredegar offered a warm welcome to composer Simon Dobson on Monday evening, after the Cornishman made the trip from his home in Bristol to rehearse the band on the forthcoming Welsh Regional test piece, ‘The Devil and the Deep Blue Sea’ by Derek Bourgeois.

Simon was specifically asked by MD Ian Porthouse after he heard him direct the Oslofjord Band in a riveting performance of another Bourgeois work at the Norwegian National Championships in Bergen.

Worldwide reputation

The young composer has gained a worldwide reputation in recent years after producing some of the most notable contemporary works for brass band, such as his evocative ‘Penlee’ and his recent major test piece, ‘A Symphony of Colours’, which was played at the European Championships in Montreux. He has also been voted into the Classic fm top 100 classical music compositions.

Ian said: “It’s always good for the band to have the opportunity to be conducted by someone who really knows and appreciates the work of Derek Bourgeois. I heard Simon direct a cracking performance with Oslofjord in Bergen, so he was the ideal choice to come down and put the band through its paces.”

Admired

Simon was delighted to finally conduct a band he has admired from afar in recent years.

“I have a huge amount of respect for Ian and Tredegar. I love the way they play and the atmosphere in rehearsal. It was a great night, with the player’s really switched on and responsive to what I wanted to try and bring out of the music.  Some of the sounds they produce are awesome. I wish them all the best for Swansea – and I’m sure they will be successful.”

On our toes

Principal cornet Dewi Griffiths was one of the players who thoroughly enjoyed the opportunity to impress a new man with the baton. “It was a cracking rehearsal. Simon was very well prepared and knew the piece inside out. He kept us on our toes and we got a great deal out of working with him, which can only be of benefit to us.”

On the back of his recent solo prize winning success at the Welsh Open, the band’s principal euphonium player Buzz Newton has continued his winning form by claiming the prestigious Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama’s Concerto title.

Support

In front of a large audience, including many fellow brass students and members of Tredegar Band who were there to offer support, Buzz delivered a stunning rendition of the Philip Wilby ‘Euphonium Concerto’ from memory, accompanied by Chris Williams on piano.

Buzz is the first brass musician to win the competition, which continues his ability to break new ground for the instrument, after previously winning the brass prize at the Gisbourne International Music Competition in 2008 and being the first New Zealander to win the Euphonium/Baritone title at the British Open Solo Competition in 2010.

Delighted

“I’m delighted to not only win this prestigious award, but by being the first brass musician to achieve it,” he said.

“The support from the Tredegar players was brilliant and really made a difference – I could sense them willing me on!”

The prize for Buzz is to perform with the RWCMD college orchestra in the next academic year.

Find out more

To find out more about Buzz, and book him for a concert go to:

www.euphobuzz.com or www.buzznewton.com