Smith Square

Well we played and generally I would say we played pretty well. I have had to pause a little before saying this as personally I did not perform to my own standards which is always disappointing, and can also cloud my judgement about the overall performance of the band.

We did have a few very challenging items in the programme, which the audience seemed to appreciate and enjoy, we started with the Holst First suite in Eb, this is a "classic" of the wind band repertoire and is well known to many classic fm listeners as well. Since it starts with a Bass solo it is also dear to my own heart. Well about 3 notes in our string bass (yes we do have a string in a concert band!) had some sort of technical difficulties which sounded a bit off, but we carried on, and carried off the piece. Philip Sparke's "A weekend in New York" is a very difficult contemporary piece with something for every section of the band. It is the first time we have performed this piece so in all honesty most of us were happy to just play all the notes in roughly the right place and order, but a great piece and once we really get to grips with it and start to bring the music out I think it will be a stormer for CSB!

We finished the programme with a transcription of Bizet's Carmen, this took most of the second half and is a very good interpretation of the original suite, if a little boring on Bass - never mind I think everyone enjoyed it.

All in all a pretty good concert with a pretty good audience - it's always more fun playing to a decent appreciative audience than a half empty hall! so if you were there -thank you!