John

On 22nd January, exactly a year after our last visit, the Band returned to Penn Street, near Amersham, to give a New Year concert in Holy Trinity church. This was our third visit to Penn Street, such was the success of the first two it seems to be becoming a regular event. Conductor Neil Chapman had put together a mixed programme of old music and new. Some were pieces we had been working on last year, and some were freshly brought out for this concert. Some were new to the audience, such as Danceries by Kenneth Hesketh and Paris Sketches by Martin Ellerby, while others were well known through being used as signature tunes for programmes on radio 4. Neil shared the conducting with Robert Wicks, who actually opened the concert with Padstow Lifeboat by Malcolm Arnold. You can see the complete programme here.

Neil admitted rather ruefully that it was a hard blow for the band, as indeed it was, but we all pulled together, and the concert went remarkably well. We even saved some energy for an encore and played Roller Coaster by Otto M Schwarz.

In the interval we were served tea and coffee, and delicious home made cakes. In all an evening of entertainment and good cheer to lighten the gloom of a cold, wet January.

UPDATE 13th February 2011. Rod Wynne-Powell came to take photos of the concert, and you can see them here.

Christmas for the Band began on 1st December playing Christmas carols in Wendover High Street to mark the turning on of the Christmas lights. The evening was bitterly cold, with lying snow, but that didn’t deter a large crowd gathering around the band to sing. However the weather was so cold that the organisers decided to finish a little early. There was little respite for the band, though, as being a Wednesday we still had to go on to a normal rehearsal afterwards to to prepare for the next concert two days later.

This took place at the St Mary’s Church, Haddenham, and was the final event in the 90th Anniversary celebrations of the Bucks Federation of Women’s Institutes. As we stepped gingerly across the ice and past the frozen pond to the church, we fervently hoped it would be warm inside. These hopes were soon to be dashed, however, when we discovered that repairs to the roof meant that upper parts of the tower were open to the elements, and an icy wind was blowing through the building. The audience sat huddled in their coats, but there was no such luxury for the band. But the show must go on! The programme opened with White Christmas, and included other Christmas favourites such as Troika by Prokofiev, and Sleigh Ride by Leroy Anderson. To leaven the mix, though, conductor Neil Chapman included items such as Gaelforce (an arrangement of three traditional Irish tunes by Peter Graham), and Robert Wicks conducted Les Halles from Paris Sketches by Martin Ellerby. Interspersed through the programme were readings and songs from some of the WI members, and the Haddenham Handbell Ringers showed off their skills. Despite the cold, the concert went well, and the audience appeared to enjoy it.

The following day it was the turn of Fairford Leys to stage their annual carol service in the village centre. Members of the band set up under the arcade at one side of the square and played carols to accompany the singing. Father Christmas arrived at the end with gifts for the children. Then on Sunday 5th the Band played for the Mayor’s Carol Service in St Mary’s Church, Aylesbury, conducted by deputy conductor Robert Wicks.

The following Sunday, 12th December, was the date for the Band’s own Christmas Concert, held like last year in Aylesbury Methodist Church. I’m delighted to report that this church was warm! The Band was joined again by the ladies’ choir from Rickmansworth Lemon Tuesday. The programme was similar to the Haddenham concert, interspersed by performances by the choir, and carols sung by the audience. It also included a first airing of Lull me Beyond Thee and Catching of Quails, two movements from Danceries by Kenneth Hesketh, which the Band had been working on for several months. Most of the concert was conducted by our Director of Music, Neil Chapman, but Robert Wicks again conducted Les Halles, The Wizard of Oz, and Good Swing Wenceslas.

The Band’s Christmas Dinner took place on 15th December, but that wasn’t the end of the season, as on the morning of Saturday 18th we returned to Wendover to play carols for the Christmas market. The day before had brought more heavy snow, and the Saturday dawned bitterly cold with further snow threatened. Nevertheless, the members turned out to fulfil the engagement. Or try to. The Band had played barely two carols before the valves of the brass instruments started freezing up. The rest of the band did their best to continue, but it soon became clear that the weather was making it impossible to play. At least we tried, and full marks to those in the band who turned out to perform in such awful conditions.

Now it’s time to put the Christmas music away, and start preparing for another year of concerts.

Sunday 10th October was a special day, as the Band organised a Playday at Ellesborough village hall, Butlers Cross, near Wendover. We had arranged for Alison Cox of Findanote to bring nearly 50 pieces of music for us to play to see how we liked them, and whether we wanted to buy any. That makes it sound rather dull, but on the contrary we had a fun day playing through the music, practising our sight reading, and enjoying just making music.

The Band was augmented by a number of our friends, some of whom were ex-members of the band who have moved away but came back just for the day, it was good to see them again. We also welcomed Paul Speed who came for the day to assist Neil Chapman with the conducting. The weather that day was unusually warm and sunny for October, so that during breaks and at lunch time we could socialise outside in the sunshine. To fortify us for the hard work playing so much music there were ample supplies of cakes and pastries, plus a fish and chip lunch.

There were far too many pieces of music to list them all here, but among the pieces we played were America from West Side Story, Puttin’ on the Ritz, Breezin’ Down Broadway by Adam Gorb, Edwardiana by Adam Gout, and Stephenson’s Rocket by Nigel Hess. By the end of the day we were all pretty exhausted, but we’d happily do it again another day.

Now begins the task of choosing which pieces we would like to play in our concerts, and deciding how many we can afford!

On 19th September Aylesbury Town Council organised a celebration of the 150th anniversary of the Army Cadet Force. In the morning there was a parade of the Combined Cadet Forces in Market Square, Aylesbury, which was attended by the Duchess of Gloucester, and in the evening Aylesbury Concert Band provided music for a tattoo in Kingsbury.

The tattoo was preceded by a rather chaotic rehearsal in the afternoon. The Band set up in a marquee at one end of Kingsbury, next to a marquee for the Civic guests, but it seemed almost every attempt to “top and tail” a piece was interrupted by a marching band rehearsing their display – again! However, despite the lack of organisation all was well in the end.

So at 6.30 the Band started playing to entertain the spectators as they arrived. Most of the music came from the Proms in the Park programme, and included Liberty Bell, Fiesta by Philip Sparke, Band of Brothers, and Pineapple Poll. Then at 7pm, compère Des Kay (from Stoke Mandeville Hospital Radio) opened the proceedings, and the Band played Fanfares and Flourishes by James Curnow. After this the Stedfast Association Bugle Band gave a marching display, and soprano Jill Neenan sang Wishing You Were Somehow Here Again by Andrew Lloyd Webber, followed by O Mio Babbino Caro by Puccini, both accompanied by Aylesbury Band. Then in the arena there was another marching display given by RAF Halton Pipes and Drums.

The finale began with Jill Neenan singing the evening hymn, The Day Thou Gavest followed by Sunset played by the Bugle Band. Then a lone piper played Killaloe on a mock battlement. Aylesbury Band played the National Anthem, and the other two bands marched off in turn.

This was the last engagement for Aylesbury Band in a busy summer. Now to start work on completely new programmes ready for the Christmas season, which will soon be upon us.

This year’s “Proms in the Park” took place on 4th September, and was something of a special occasion, as it is 10 years since the first Aylesbury Proms concert. The event is now a popular fixture in the calendar, but in recent years it has been spoiled by poor weather. This year, however, the day was warm and dry, and though the temperature may have dropped as evening fell, it was not unpleasantly cold.

By the start time of the concert, nearly 1000 people had gathered in Vale Park, with their flags and light sticks ready to join in the finale. Conductor Neil Chapman got the concert got off to a rousing start with Sousa’s March Liberty Bell, better known to many as the theme tune for Monty Python’s Flying Circus. Then after the theme from The Great Escape, Neil introduced the first of the night’s soloists, baritone Richard Stark, who sang the well known Toreador’s Song from Carmen by Bizet.

Next 3 Mexicans came forward dressed in their sombreros and ponchos – actually the trombone section, who thrilled the audience with The Blades of Toledo by Trevor Sharpe. The thrills continued with a depiction of a ride on a Roller Coaster by Otto M. Schwarz, complete with screams!

Robert Wicks then took over the baton and conducted three movements from Pineapple Poll, a ballet with music arranged by Charles Mackerras from the Gilbert and Sullivan operas. After this soprano Jill Neenan sang The Laughing Song from Die Fledermaus by Johann Strauss. The Band then ended the first half with Fiesta by Philip Sparke.

The second half opened dramatically with Aaron Copland’s Fanfare for the Common Man, which starts A Copland Tribute, a selection of his music arranged by Clare Grundman. After this, in tribute to the many British servicemen and women serving in Iraq and Afghanistan, the Band played the music from Band of Brothers. In complete contrast, this was followed by the second set of English Dances by Malcolm Arnold, and then Jill Neenan and Richard Stark came together to sing Somewhere Out There from American Tale. Robert Wicks returned to conduct John Williams: The Symphonic Marches, well known music from The Raiders of the Lost Ark, Star Wars, and the Olympics Theme.

Now it was time for the traditional “Proms” Finale, as the excited audience joined the Band and soloists to sing Jerusalem, and the Band played Henry Wood’s Sea Songs, ending with the audience joining Jill Neenan singing Rule Britannia. Last but not least, was Elgar’s Pomp and Circumstance March no. 1 with its Land of Hope and Glory chorus. Unsurprisingly the audience wouldn’t let the Band go without encoring it.

The whole concert was a great success, and councillor Ray Ghent, who organised the occasion, received many emails and letters saying how much people had enjoyed it, and thanking him for a great evening. The Band played well, and can be proud of having entertained so many people so well. Let’s hope the weather next year will be as kind, so we can make it an even better occasion.

If you’ve attended any of our concerts in the past, you will have seen our uniforms, which consist of green blazers with the Aylesbury Duck badge on the top pocket, and green ties. Starting with the Vale Park Proms on 4th September we will be sporting a different look. In the future the men will be wearing black dinner suits with green bow ties, and the ladies black blouses with black trousers or skirt, and a green sash.

Why are we doing this? First, the jackets are not universally popular, especially with the ladies as the style is very masculine. Secondly the jackets were made to measure some 14 years ago for the members of the band at that time. Since then many people have left and new players have arrived, who all have to make do with a jacket that may or may not fit very well. Thirdly many of the jackets are beginning to wear, especially those which have had several owners. Finally there are insufficient spare jackets to fit out new players and deps, and they are very expensive to have made (approx £150 each).

The decision to change the uniform was not made lightly, so we hope that people will embrace the change and look forward to seeing an elegant and more formal look for the band in the future.

Each summer the Band is called upon to provide music for several village fêtes and similar events, whose success depends very much on the vagaries of the English weather. In previous years, Cublington Fête took place on beautiful sunny days, but this year’s on 19th June was spoilt by a chilly north easterly wind which took some members of the Band by surprise. Anyone wearing just a polo shirt and shorts got cold very quickly! But the show must go on. Despite the cooler weather a good crowd had come to enjoy the occasion, and conductor Neil Chapman and the Band provided a mix of music ranging from Mancini Magic and My Fair Lady to Thunderbirds and The Beatles.

The following day the Band went to Doddershall Park, Quainton, to play for a garden party celebrating the 100th anniversary of the Girl Guides. The day was a little warmer and less windy, and the Band set up beside the refreshment tent to provide a similar programme to Cublington.

Then on 10th July the Band returned to Fairford Leys in Aylesbury for the Summer Fair, and this time the weather was very warm and sunny, though quite breezy. There is a bandstand in the square, but it’s quite small and it can be a bit of a squeeze to get even a small band on it. The Band was directed by deputy conductor Robert Wicks, who entertained the crowd with a similar programme to the other fêtes.

That was the last event like this for the Summer, the Band rarely takes jobs in August as at any one time many of the players are on holiday. Now though it’€™s time to start preparing for the next concert, which is the major event of the year, the Vale Park Proms on 4th September.

On Friday 21st May the Band once again performed at the annual “Mayor Making”€™ ceremony. This is the occasion each year when the Mayor of Aylesbury hands over to his or her successor for the following year, before an audience of the town councillors and other invited guests representing the community. As in previous years this took place in the Civic Centre, but this was for the last time as the Centre is due to close next month to make way for the new theatre over the road, which opens in October.

The day of the Mayor Making always seems to be warm, and this year was no exception. On stage the lights magnify the heat, so the whole experience for the band was quite uncomfortable, even though we were playing in shirt sleeves. Nevertheless it is to everyone’s credit that the Band still put in an excellent performance. Fortunately we didn’€™t have to arrive and set up until most of the ceremony and the speeches were over, as the band was required to play to accompany the dinner which rounds off the evening.

The band was conducted on this occasion by Robert Wicks, and the programme included a selection from My Fair Lady, The Beatles, A Victorian Kitchen Garden, two movements from Pineapple Poll, a selection of music by Andrew Lloyd Webber, English Folk Song Suite by Vaughan Williams, Serenade by Derek Bourgeois, and a selection of themes from the James Bond films. Despite only being background music, the guests applauded many of the pieces, which was gratifying. While this may not be the most enjoyable of gigs, it does give the band an opportunity to be heard by many influential people from around Aylesbury who otherwise might not come to our concerts, and this must help to enhance our reputation among the wider community.