Hi all!!! Just amazing here.

On my 2nd night I went to a gala concert in Manchester.
Bands were B&R, Fodens, and Dyke.

Conductors were David King, Garry Cutt, and Nick Childs! Not a bad start to this trip! All the bands were amazing.

I have been to 2 rehearsals as B&R preps for The Open this weekend.  Band sounds great and David King is really demanding. Just watching him conduct and watching the score go by is a learning experience.  I’m taking lots of notes for you all!

Here are a few first impressons:  These guys are serious! Reh was 7:30-10PM NO BREAKS.  Principal cornet travels 200 miles round trip for every show and rehearsal (every night this week).

Cornets: NO B cup mouthpieces….EVER.
Euphs are an extension of the tubas and the six of them hear this in every line they play. A wonderful effect.

The piece on for Saturday’s contest is Titan’s Progress (15.5 min w/cut 17.5 full contest version). It was written by Hermann Pallhuber for the Brass Band Oberosterreich for their performance at the 2007 European Championships which were at Symphony Hall, Birmingham (same spot as this weekend).

I have been asked to do some reporting for 4BarsRest for this weekend, kind of An American Perspective, so look for that next week on their website.

Still no internet at the flat but the library (where we are now) is right across the street.

B&R (Brighouse and Rastrick) have been VERY kind, welcoming, and helpful to me. I start playing with them next week and we’ll be doing a concert in France in 2 weeks.  They are wonderful players so I’m hoping to keep up.