Black Dyke Band - News Room

News Room	Act Justly and Fear Nothing
Issue 37

Black Dyke Band
European Champions 2005
"Living the Dream"

Other Headlines

150th Anniversary

New Recordings

National Championships

Bandroom Improvements

The Messiah

Roundels on Recordings

Russ Abbott

Commemorative Plate

'News Room' Archives

The Band Celebrate

The band were thrilled and delighted with there performance at the recent European Championship, this was reflected by the tremendous reception from the audience who were on their feet for a full standing ovation before the music had actually finished. In our 150th year to be National and European Champions is a just reward for the tremendous commitment from both players and conductor. The seven point winning margin was not the biggest margin in the history of the event - when Black Dyke won their first title it was by10 points. Everyone agreed the win was fully deserved. It is the eleventh time that the Band have secured the European Championship title. The trophy, which is similar in size and shape to the FA Cup will be a welcome addition to the bandroom at Queensbury and will be displayed at concerts the length and breadth of the country. Dr. Nicholas Childs has won the competition as a player (in 1992), but this was his first victory as a conductor, so he too could identify with the joy of his players. "This has been a great victory for the band" he said. "They have worked so hard on the pieces that in the past three weeks they have only had five days off. I've been in the bandroom nineteen days out of the last twenty one, but it has been all worth it." That commitment to the cause was reflected in the performances the band gave in Johan de Meij's test piece, 'Extreme Make-Over' and the own choice test piece specially composed for Black Dyke', 'Journey to the Centre of the Earth' written by Peter Graham. Nicholas Childs expressed his thanks to Peter. "This has been a very special moment for me. It is a fabulous work and one which we thoroughly enjoyed playing here. From the moment I first looked at the score I knew it was going to be. The band have an insatiable appetite for hard work to gain what seems to be their unofficial clarion call of "Living the Dream."

150th Anniversary
2005 is a very special year for us as it is the Black Dyke Band's 150th Anniversary. We will be celebrating in style and have some exciting events planned so keep checking back with us for all the latest news. Following hot on the heels of our successful first 150th Anniversary year concert at The Opera House, Blackpool, our second concert will be held at Manchester's Bridgewater Hall on Friday 10th June, 7:30pm. The concert will feature international soloist James Morrison and will again be raising funds for Kirsty's Appeal. We will also be performing the World Premiere of Philip Wilby’s "Northern Lights". Tickets are now available from the box office on 0161 907 9000. The Band are to publish a book covering its first 150 years. The author is Dr. Roy Newsome PhD. B.Mus. FRCO. ARCM., former Conductor and Music Director of Black Dyke Band. Roy is well known in Brass Band and Music Circles generally and is highly regarded as an Adjudicator, Conductor and Historian. Publication date will be announced here soon. We have also commissioned a limited edition pen to commemorate the anniversary. See the souvenirs section of our on-line shop for more details >> We have also published our 2005 events diary, which includes dates of special Fund Raising Concerts throughout the year. See the 2005 Events Diary>>

NEW RECORDINGS
World Famous Marches Another "Classic-in-the-Making", the marches on this CD were mostly composed in the late 19th and early 20th centuries - the glory days of the march. Celebrating the best European and American march writers, these rousing "World Famous Marches" are worthy of a place in any brass band enthusiasts collection. More>>

The Golden Swing of Black Dyke Guaranteed to get the toes tapping, this new collection features many classics from the golden age of swing. Specially arranged for the brass band, tracks include Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy, Mack the Knife, I Only Have Eyes For You and a rousing rendition of New York, New York. More>>

The Trumpets of the Angels Volume IV of our Music of Edward Gregson series features his two most recent works for the brass band; The Trumpets of The Angels and An Age of Kings. “As you will hear, they [The Black Dyke Band] produce playing and performances of outstanding quality, as good as anything I have ever heard a brass band produce. Their versatility is staggering - one moment sounding like a large orchestral brass choir, the next demonstrating the glowing traditional qualities of all that is best in brass band playing” - Edward Gregson We couldn't have put it better ourselves. Add this "classic in the making" to your collection today. More>>


BLACK DYKE - NATIONAL BRASS BAND CHAMPIONS
On Saturday the 14th October, BLACK DYKE BAND were awarded 1st prize (197 points) at the National Brass Band Championships, held in the ROYAL ALBERT HALL, LONDON. 20 bands qualified to compete from 8 regional competitions held throughout England, Scotland & Wales. The test piece was entitled “All The Flowers Of The Mountain”, composed by Michael Ball, who was one of the adjudicators along with David Read and Malcolm Brownbill.
“The whole conception is most compelling and persuasive, thank you for some most distinguished and authentative playing” - Michael Ball “A wonderful performance - so well directed - with a quality sound at all dynamic levels” – David Read “A performance of real substance so well directed with everything joining in perfect form” – Malcolm Brownbill Full adjudicators remarks will be published in the next edition of ‘The Black Dyke Bugle’. The Chairman, Sir James F. Hill Bt. OBE DL and the Trustees are very proud of the Bands performance; A perfect start to go into 2005 when Black Dyke Band will be celebrating their 150th anniversary. A photo of the band with the championship trophy can be seen here>


LEGEND MOVES TO QUEENSBURY
Black Dyke Band are pleased to announce the appointment of Peter Roberts as their new Soprano Cornet. Peter will take up his position immediately after the Nationals in October. Nicholas Childs commented, "I am delighted with this appointment. His prowess as a soprano player are unsurpassed and his personality will enhance the character of the band." Geoffrey Whiteley, Administrator, also commented "Peter is naturally a very professional bandsman. He intends to fulfil his commitments with the Yorkshire Building Society Band and wishes to place on record his thanks to the them and in particular the conductor, Professor David King."This popular series of classical collections continues with volume 4. The recording features favourites such as Fingal's Cave, The Hall of the Mountain King, Romance and Pachelbel's Canon. Pondashers around the world will be keen to know that Peter's debut concert with Black Dyke is on Saturday, 23rd October, 2004 at the Derngate Theatre, Northampton, followed on the Sunday afternoon with a performance at the Hawth. The tremendous support that the band enjoys will ensure a warm welcome for Peter. He is looking forward to joining the band, “I have had a quite fantastic seven years with YBS, but I feel that now is the right time for me to meet the one outstanding challenge for me as a player in the four or five years I believe I can still perform at the very highest level. This was perhaps the last great playing position I wanted to fill in my career". Peter was at pains to thank YBS and in particular Professor David King for all that they have done during the period he has spent with the band. "I cannot thank David King and the band enough. What I have learnt from him as a player has been immense, and I believe he has made me into an even better performer. I owe Professor King a great deal indeed." More>>

Summer Prom Recording
Summer Prom, recorded earlier this year at Huddersfield Town Hall with the Halifax Choral Society, is now available. It Features a wide range of pieces and a rousing finale in the spirit of "The Proms". More>>

Spectacular Classics 4
This popular series of classical collections continues with volume 4. The recording features favourites such as Fingal's Cave, The Hall of the Mountain King, Romance and Pachelbel's Canon. More>>

Roger Webster's "Passport"
	We are delighted to announce the release of this recording featuring the virtuoso talents of Roger Webster. More>>

CONCERT TICKETS
From time to time we are able to offer tickets for our concerts direct to our supporters. If you buy your tickets to these events from us, a larger portion of the proceeds goes directly to the running and upkeep of The Black Dyke Band. Please check this area of the web site for ticket availability.


Normal Service Resumed...
After the slight hiccough with the live webcast of our recent concert in aid of the Salvation Army Watershed Project from Salford University, we are delighted to announce that some clips are now available. Many thanks to Ian Dobie, Project Manager @ FreeFlowUK, for his efforts in making these available to us. Further details of the concert and webcast clips can be found here>>

Other Recent Recordings

David Thornton: Three Worlds
This unique event, featuring the massed talents of the Black Dyke and International Staff Bands, is rapidly becoming a collectors item and is a must for all fans of brass band music. Don't forget, by ordering your recording from us you will be directly supporting the band and helping to ensure its future.

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Eric Ball Centenary Concert DVD & Video
This unique event, featuring the massed talents of the Black Dyke and International Staff Bands, is rapidly becoming a collectors item and is a must for all fans of brass band music. Don't forget, by ordering your recording from us you will be directly supporting the band and helping to ensure its future.

More>>

Evelyn Glennie Collaboration
We are pleased to announce that this unique CD is available once again. Nominated for a Grammy in the 41st Annual Awards, Reflected in Brass is a classic worth adding to any collection.

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Support Black Dyke in Your Will

As supporters of Black Dyke Band, why not include a bequest in your Will to assist the Band's future? The most convenient way is to make the bequest to Black Dyke Band as a registered charity. Your gift may be of money, property or memorabilia. The last could these could be added to existing collections, but if they were duplicates they could, with your prior consent, be sold for the highest price through an appropriate agency and the funds thus raised be used to support the charity. More>>

Epic Brass Video

A lasting memento of the fantastic concert by Black Dyke and the International Staff Band in the Royal Albert Hall, October 2001. Also featuring Top Soloists - Roger Webster, David Dawes & David Thornton. This collectors item is now available to buy directly from our recordings section. More>>

Ground Force

MARCH 2005
PLEASE NOTE THAT DUE TO CIRCUMSTANCES BEYOND OUR CONTROL WE ARE UNABLE TO SUPPLY COPIES OF THE ‘GROUND FORCE’ RECORDING. BBC WORLDWIDE RECENTLY INFORMED US THAT A DECISION HAS NOT YET BEEN MADE ON THE RE-RELEASE OF THE CD. WHEN WE ARE ADVISED OF THE DATE, THE INFORMATION WILL BE ANNOUNCED ON THIS WEB-SITE. MANY THANKS FOR YOUR PATIENCE, WE APOLOGISE FOR ANY INCONVENIENCE CAUSED.

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Bandroom Improvements

It is the intention of the Trustees to continue to seek additional assisted funding from various sources, in the meantime the development programme at the Bandroom is to continue. It is acknowledged, that without the much needed additional funding, this will take longer than first envisaged. Thanks to donations from supporters through phase one of our Appeal and funds earned by the Band, coupled with hard work by volunteers, the achievements so far include; Purchase of the Bandroom, the complete library of music has been up-dated, catalogued and entered on to the computer, vital roof repairs have been completed, a new office and meeting room area has been created, the assembly area, merchandise room and library, have all been redecorated. Also, following the Trustees awareness that percussionists frequently experience difficulty in finding suitable teaching and rehearsal facilities, the 'percussion teaching, training and rehearsal area has now been completed and is of particular benefit to young people, both locally and from other regions. Meetings have been held with the appointed Architects, Totty Partnership of Sheffield with the intention of commencing work on the next phase, that of extending the present band rehearsal area, including the purchase of new chairs.

Commemorative Plate - Only a Few Remaining!

A unique limited edition collectors item, 10 ¾. Inches (27cm) in diameter , featuring historical information about the band. Only a few remaining of the 280 that were manufactured Please refer to the Merchandise pages for ordering details. More>>

The Messiah

This popular recording "The Messiah", featuring the Halifax Choral Society, is available from our on-line shop. As usual a track has been selected for addition to our Juke Box. All CD's purchased directly from the Band will now bear a Black Dyke Roundel featuring the Band logo and Latin quotation in gold (see below).
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Roundels on Recordings

The sale of CD's and merchandise all help the Band to survive, as a thank you, all CD's purchased directly from the Band will now bear a Black Dyke Roundel featuring the Band logo and Latin quotation in gold. On receiving their recordings enterprising fans peel them off and use them as instrument case stickers.

The latest addition to our leisurewear range is the Black Dyke Band 'T' Shirt with usual logo in gold thread, these are available from the on-line shop, our merchandise stand at concerts or by mail order.

Our new ties with the woven shadow logo, are now available in a presentation sleeve which also features the new ' Black Dyke' roundel.