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Sounds of Brass – 11th April

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West of England Round Up

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Other News

15th March 2004

The band are now into the final stage of preparation for the Regional Championship this coming weekend. The band will be rehearsing hard each night this week in an attempt to push for promotion to the championship section. Yesterdays rehearsal (Sunday) offered some light relief from the busy rehearsal schedule as the band posed for photos. The band struck a number of interesting poses and the results will be available to view on this site shortly.

2nd March 2004

Chichester City Band played host to the conductor of one of the country’s top brass bands last weekend. David Hirst, resident musical director of the current Yorkshire Area Champions, the Brighouse and Rastrick Band, took time out of his busy schedule to help the City Band in its final preparations for this year’s regional finals of the National Brass Band Championships to be held at Stevenage on 20th March. David Hirst is no stranger to the band, having provided invaluable support in its contest preparations on several occasions in the recent past. Indeed, the band’s creditable performances in the National Second Section Finals held at the Royal Albert Hall in October 2000 and the National First Section Finals at Torquay in 2002 have been helped by David’s intensive workshops. The weekend’s hard work started with an intensive two-hour rehearsal late Saturday afternoon on this year’s test piece, Coventry Variations by Bramwell Tovey. This piece is based upon the Coventry Carol, which is probably one of the earliest known English carols, dating from medieval times. The theme played by solo cornet, flugel horn and bass trombone leads to a set of nine variations on this theme that certainly test all sections of the Band. Afterwards, David joined most of the Band for a well-earned evening meal at the Nags Head. Sunday’s workshop began at 10:00 and whilst most of the day was spent concentrating on the test piece, David also took the opportunity to try out some new arrangements published by his own company and one or two other test pieces. David was particularly complimentary on the quality of the Band’s sound and felt that the Band’s confidence and musical ability will give it every chance of a good result in three week’s time.

20th February 2004

Rehearsals are now well underway for the upcomming area contest in Stevenage on the 20th March. The test piece – Coventry Variations by Bramwell Tovey is proving to be a challenge which the band are relishing. This coming weekend the band will be given a boost to its hopes for good result by the visit once gain of David Hirst.

22nd December 2003

Last weekend saw the culmination of a busy christmas season for the band with two concerts on Saturday and Sunday. On Saturday night the band gave a concert to a full house at St Paul’s Church chichester. The main band were joined by the training band who featured thier euphoniums in the duet Perhaps Love. As is usual for our concerts we performed many new pieces including Joy! and excerpts from our current test piece Coventry Variations. On Sunday the band were at the Alexandra Theatre in Bognor Regis to give a concert in aid of St Wilfred’s Hospice. Again this was well received with the people of Bognor even laughing at some of John Williams’ jokes! The higlight of the weekend for the band (and christmas in general) had to be the performance of There’s Nothing Like a Dame by the band’s bass section. Dressed in full drag they drew some interesting looks from the audience! The basses were joined for this frivolity by our very own sailor – Roy Taylor.

18th December 2003

Last night CCB were again guests of the Portsmouth Chorus for thier annual christmas concert held at the Portsmouth Guildhall. Also joining the chorus and band were children from the St Paul’s RC Primary School Choir. The programme had a very seasonal feel with christmas items presented by all the performers, there were even opportunities for the whole audience to join in the singing of some christmas carols. Full details of the programme will be posted on this site shortly. One moment of surprise awaited the conductor of the Portsmouth Chorus – Roderick Star. Unknown to him the band and choir had arranged a surprise rendition of ‘Congratulations’ to celebrate his 25th wedding anniversary – the best wishes of the band go to him and his wife Stella for this acheivement.

15th December 2003

This was a weekend of mixed fortunes for the band who were due to be playing carols in the precinct on both Saturday and Sunday lunchtimes. Saturday fell victim to the good old British weather and was rained off. Sunday was a much milder day and the full band were abe to entertain passers by for a couple of hours. As always on these occaisions the band woud like to thank the people of Chichester for their support and generosity.

29th November 2003

Today CCB played for the turning on of Chichester’s Christmas lights. Present were people representing local groups and the local radio station Spirit FM. The band performed for half an hour playing both festive and more traditional items. We were then joined by the St George’s Church Choir for a few carols. The band were delighted to be invoted into the Council Chamber for a hot drink and a mince pie befoe the culmination of the events – a fanfare and the big switch on.

16th November 2003

Last night CCB were once again the guests of the Friends of Selsey Medical Centre for what has become an annual concert at the Bunn Leisure Centre. It was a pleasure for the band to perform to a full house. The concert saw a number of firsts: Sea Breezes a cornet trio played by Jo Causer, Martin Webb and Derek Price was played for the first time and this was the first time that our back row cornets have performed as a solo trio. Also receiving thier first outings were performances of Gaelforce, For the Love of a Princess and Forest Battle. The evening also had a surprise element for the band. One generous member of the audience had purchased a copy of the Thunder & Lightning Polka – which the band duly sight read! For a complete listing of last nights programme items click here.

9th November 2003

Today CCB took part in the annual remeberance Sunday service at the Chichester War memorial. Despite the very wet conditions the provided music for the hymns and also for processions and laying of the wreaths. Following this veritable drowning most members of the band treated themselves to roast dinner at a nearby hostelry.

7th November 2003

CCB have made an appearance on 4bars rest! Following our recent workshop with David Hirst the band has gained a mention on the very popular brass band website 4bars rest. To view the article click here.

2nd November 2003

Chichester City Band were pleased to welcome back David Hirst to once again take an all day rehearsal with the band. David was able to find time away from his busy conducting schedule to take the band through 3 test pieces: Paginini Variations, Dances and Arias and our piece for the forthcomming area contest – Coventry Variations. Although a hard days work for the band, the players thorougly enjoyed the chance to work with one of the top conductors in the brass band world and are very much looking forward to David’s return in the spring.

23rd October 2003

CCB are looking to recruit a Front Row Cornet, Euphonium and Baritone Players of a high standard. If you feel you have the ability and commitment to join this progressive 1st section band please contact our MD John Williams

21st August 2003

Last night CCB gave the second of two performances at the Selsey Festival. Both concerts were played to full houses at the Manhood College in Selsey. Programmes for each concert were themed, the first contained music from films and shows and the second music in a big band style. FUll prgramme listings for each concert will appear shortly in our Programme archive.

11th August 2003

Whilst stall holders and visitors sweltered in the recent heatwave yesterday, CCB had the best available seats at the annual Chichester Festival Theatre Garden Party, held this year for the first time at the Theatre itself. The band had a prime position under a large tree which provided shade for all players and which also helped to attract a large audience in search of relief from the midday heat. We didn’t need a weather forcaster to tell us just how hot it was, the facts were plain – Musical Director John Williams said “This is the first time I’ve ever conducted without a jacket!”. The band entertained the audience with a rendition of ‘The Gondoliers’, a show which is currently running at the theatre. Also making its debut was a new arrangement of the Ugly Duckling. For those that enjoyed our playing of the theme from Out of Africa there is a chance to hear this again at our forthcoming concerts in Selsey.

LATEST NEWS

13th January 2005

The band is now well under way with preparations for the forthcoming regional qualifiers at Stevenage. This year the band are hoping for a good result and with David Hirst at the helm all bodes well for acheving this.