The Fountain City Brass Band recently completed its first trip abroad, travelling to the United Kingdom to compete in the All England Masters International Brass Band Championships, as well as the annual Whit Friday Contests. It was a momentous occasion for the band, as they were not only the first American band to be invited to compete at the Masters, but also, being founded only five years ago, the youngest band ever invited to compete in the eighteen year history of the competition.
Preparations for the trip began almost a year ago, when we received the invitation last August to compete at the Masters, held annually in Cambridge, England at the Corn Exchange
Theatre. We were delighted to accept, with the prospect of competing against some of the best bands from the United Kingdom and Europe being at once both exciting and humbling.
Of particular interest was the choice of this year’s test piece, Elgar Howarth’s In Memoriam R.K., written in memory of the famed German conductor Rudolph Kempe. The work is written in a style reflective of the works of Richard Wagner, Richard Strauss and Gustav Mahler, three composers of whom Kempe was a noted conductor. Rather than the typical test piece that contains pyrotechnic displays of technical virtuosity, Howarth’s work instead required a great deal of fluid lyrical playing, soft dynamics, and musical pacing from every member of the band. Each of these elements presented distinct challenges that were often greater than those presented by the technical elements of other works.
Preparation began on In Memoriam R.K. immediately upon our arrival home from the 25th North American Brass Band Championships this year in Louisville, KY. After four rehearsals, we gave a concert on Mother’s Day in our hometown of Kansas City, featuring this work, as well as winning performances from NABBA. Following this concert, we began a solid ten days of rehearsal. The band and its Musical Director Joseph Parisi did their utmost to leave no musical stone unturned, as well as put into action one of a number of phrases suggested as a band motto by principal B-flat Bass Scott Watson, “No one outworks the FCBB.”
Finally, on May 24th, we eagerly embarked on our trip, flying to Manchester, and immediately boarding a coach for the three-hour drive to Cambridge. There was some time that afternoon to take in the sights around town, all the while fighting the urge to sleep, before another rehearsal that evening in the local Salvation Army hall, graciously provided for us by Major John Mott.
The next day saw another rehearsal in the morning, followed by a free afternoon and evening for the band to relax. Some took the opportunity to make the short trip to London to see the sights. Others in the band remained in town, opting to check out the Cambridge International Beer Festival, which was occurring the same weekend. The timing of such a festival coinciding with a major brass band competition seemed more than mere coincidence to many members of the FCBB.
Finally, the next morning saw the arrival of the competition day. The draw for the order was held that morning with the FCBB drawing the seventh spot. We met for one final run-through of the test piece before walking the short distance down to the Corn Exchange to give our performance. After blowing a few quick notes back stage, a practice that apparently had many in the hall quizzically scratching their heads, the FCBB took the stage. Our performance received a great deal of attention and praise from many, particularly so, as the presence of an American band still seems to add an unknown quantity to British contesting. Ultimately, the performance was good enough to take ninth place overall, out of a field of nineteen bands - a pleasing result for us, and yet one which will surely present a new set of goals.
Afterwards, we had the opportunity to listen to the remaining bands give their competition performances. This was the first chance for many in the band to hear live performances from top section UK and European bands, and In Memoriam R.K. certainly provided us with the chance to hear a wide variety of approaches both in terms of sound concept and musical interpretation. The top prize for the day went to the Foden’s Richardson Band, delivering a sublime performance with what must easily be one of the most beautiful ensemble sounds imaginable.
With the competition completed, the next morning we boarded a coach and began a two-day journey north, stopping for the night in the beautiful and historic city of York before continuing onward to Glasgow, Scotland. While in Glasgow, we gave a performance at the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama, featuring tuba soloist James Gourlay in the Tuba Concerto by Martin Ellerby. Mr. Gourlay’s playing was truly exceptional as was his graciousness in welcoming us to Scotland, as well as to the Royal Scottish Academy, where he is the school’s director. The audience was truly appreciative of the music, especially enjoying our choreographed performance of
Chuck Mangione’s Land of Make Believe and also of performance of Philip Wilby’s Paganini Variations, our choice work for this year’s North American championships.
The next day was the only day of our trip devoted entirely to free time, and how wonderful that it was in Scotland! While some in the band opted to stay in town and see what Glasgow had to offer, others opted to take the easily accessible trains to other parts of the country. With a wide array of choices, some opted to travel to the Highlands, with others traveling to nearby Edinburgh, stopping along the way in Stirling to see the colossal Wallace Monument.
Finally, the band left the next morning for the last leg of the trip, traveling south to spend three days in Manchester to compete in the Whit Friday festivities, as well as give a joint concert with the Bolton Youth Band. Before leaving Scotland, we thought it best to have an outdoor rehearsal to give more than a few members of the band the chance to brush up on their marching skills. This was done at 9:00 am in the hotel parking lot, and we were astounded by the crowd of onlookers we drew, as well as their enthusiastic applause. The people of the United Kingdom seem to thoroughly enjoy music, as this would surely have been grounds to summon the police in the United States!
Playing at Whit Friday was a very memorable experience for all of us. In all, we were able to compete in four of the local villages – Lees, Grotton, Uppermill, and Dobcross. We would like to have competed in a couple more villages, but as luck would have it, our coach broke down as we were leaving Lees, and cost us precious time. This was particularly saddening, as we seemed to make get much better as the day went on, placing 24th, 14th, 7th, and 5th, respectively. Who knows what we could have achieved if we had been able to compete in a couple more venues? Nevertheless, the reception of the local villagers was as warm as any we had received throughout our trip. We were greeted with enthusiastic applause as we marched down the main streets of these villages, due in no small part to the placardthat preceded us, which read “Fountain City – USA.”
For the final day of our trip, we traveled just outside Manchester to the lovely town of Bolton. Here we gave a joint concert with St. John’s Church with the Bolton Youth Band. This was an incredibly enjoyable concert, and while we had learned a great deal throughout the previous week hearing other bands perform, we were amazed at the playing of these youngsters. Their attention to style, as well as the technical and musical command of their instruments was astounding. We were particularly amazed by an absolutely brilliant performance of Gaelforce by Peter Graham, with an exceptionally lovely flugelhorn solo.
Afterwards, the Bolton Music Service treated us to dinner at a local pub, and we had a chance to talk with members of the youth band, as well as their parents – a particularly exciting event, as we will in turn be hosting them when they visit the United States in the summer of 2008.
Unfortunately, the next day, our trip came to an end. We loaded the coach early the next morning to drive to the airport for our long flight home. While it was good to be back in the United States, and to get some much needed rest, it became clear over the next few days as e-mails went out from almost every member of the band that we could have happily doubled the length of our trip. Though music is certainly a serious business, it is a testament to how much our band means to every member that after three solid weeks of rehearsal, concerts, travel, and being around each other, it only took two days off for the first e-mail to be sent from a band member saying how much they already missed it. After an earnest round of “Here-here!”, we are eagerly anticipating our sixth season, and everything it will bring.
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English Baritone Star Joins FCBB - 
