Milnrow Band at the British Open Brass Band Championships 2017

Milnrow Band

Milnrow Band appeared at the Symphony Hall, Birmingham in the British Open Brass Band Championships on Saturday 9 September.

The band confidently took to the stage to play the test piece, 'Fraternity', by the French composer Thierry Deleruyelle.

'Fraternity' was inspired by and written in remembrance of those who were injured or lost their lives in the disaster which occurred at the deep coal mine of Courrieres in Northern France on 10 March 1906.

The work was commissioned by the European Brass Band Association and the Confederation Musicale de France, this being its UK contest debut.

'Fraternity' consists of seven parts: 

• Black Land
• The Towering Colliery
• From Light to Dark
• Extracting Coal
• Fire Damp
• Bring Out The Dead Miners
• Fraternity Prayer

The parts are played in continuity and musically portray vivid images of the area and conditions endured by miners in the early 1900s.

Conducted by Mark Bentham and led by newly appointed Principal Cornet David Gillson, Milnrow band commenced with a nicely formed bass entrance to set the scene of a 'brooding' and cold winter morning start to the mining day.

As the music progressed, vivid musical pictures of the colliery were conveyed with the miners descending into their personal hell.

The five-strong percussion section excelled when helping to portray the frantic underground activity of coal cutters, coal trucks, straining horses and general mayhem. 

Their efforts were enhanced by the well-constructed percussion parts, which involved the use of tom tom, tam tam, snare drums, bass drums, clash cymbals, bells, vibraphone and, unusually, the use of anvil, hammer and an orchestral bow.

All this activity was brought to an end as depicted by a deafening crescendo as the fire damp explosion occurs and the rescue efforts are commenced.

Milnrow band (to a player) were in control and responding well to the wishes of conductor Mark Bentham throughout, especially with the rendition of the 'Fraternity Prayer'. Culminating in a big bold and controlled finish.

However, Milnrow’s performance did not enthuse the adjudicators and the band had to settle for 15th place.

Ken Watts, Milnrow Band, President said: “However, band members were not too downhearted, true things had not gone their way, but it was perceived that amongst such elite banding company, Milnrow was always punching above its weight.”

“So why this result?

"Milnrow Band’s playing and results have improved beyond recognition over the past few years.

“Under Mark Bentham, with his meticulous methods which have not varied, personnel changes have been minimal and solo and ensemble performances have been consistently excellent.

“It is to be assumed that most bands are doing what Milnrow is doing, constantly looking for and attaining improvement and stability, with some achieving their goals quicker than others.

“Yes it is certainly ‘tough at the top’”.