Becontree Brass Band

 Welcome to the website of the Becontree Brass Band!

 

 

 
Eric Ball’s ‘High Peak’ caused plenty of problems with the bands in the First Section, but it was Becontree Brass from the relative lowlands of the outskirts of Dagenham that conquered the summit to claim the £2,000 first prize under conductor Adam Cooke.

Their descriptive performance certainly caught the ear of the judges, who found it ‘solidly played’ and ‘full of quality’, whilst the young MD later told 4BR that the result would provide them with a huge boost of confidence as they start work on their preparation for the forthcoming Area contest in Stevenage.

"It’s a great result for the band – and shows just how much progress we have been making over the last couple of years. We were promoted back to the First Section in 2011, so to win here is a huge boost ahead of the Areas.

The past few months have been great, with an appearance on Radio 2 on the day of the Royal Wedding with Chris Evans – but this win even tops that!"

There was also a personal ‘double’ for principal cornet Mark Kennedy, as he had to remain on stage to help rivals Drighlington, as their cornet player had been taken ill. His personal contribution helped the Yorkshire band claim the runner up spot under Jim Davies.

It also enabled them to gain the pre Yorkshire Area bragging rights, beating off the challenge of the fancied heavyweights Bradford contenders Yorkshire Imperial Urquhart Travel and UNITE the Union, with Kidlington Concert and GT Group Peterlee filling the remaining top six places.

 

 

Full Results:

Saturday 21st January
Venue: Reds, Butlins Skegness
Test Piece: High Peak (Eric Ball)
Adjudicators: Steve Sykes & Richard Marshall

1. Becontree Brass (Adam Cooke), 5
2. Drighlington (Jim Davies), 6
3. Yorkshire Imperial Urquhart Travel (David Nesbitt), 19
4. UNITE Union (Derek Renshaw), 16
5. Kidlington Concert Brass (Duncan Wilson), 11
6. GT Group Peterlee (Joe Cook), 4
7. Cawston (Leigh Sharpe), 15
8. Enderby (Jonathon Mott), 12
9. Carlton Brass (Geoff Hawley), 7
10. Kippax (David Lancaster), 14
11. Foresters Brass 2000 (Peter Collins), 1
12. Old Silkstone (Simon Kerwin), 2
13. Stannington Brass (Miles Davison), 13
14. South Yorkshire Police (Michael Howley), 18
15. Langley (Cliff Parker), 17
16. Haydock (Mark Quinn), 21
17. Blidworth Welfare (Martin Heartfield), 9
18. Leicester Co-op SMW (Graham Jacklin), 8
19. Shirland Welfare Band (Marie Smith), 3
20. Ipswich & Norwich Coop (Roland Morris), 23
21 = Bedworth Brass (David Maplestone), 10
21 = Harborough (Chris Groom), 22
23. Rogerstone (James Jones), 20

Highest Placed Mining Band: GT Group Peterlee

 

Source - 4barsrest.com

 

 

 

Many thanks to all those who attened our Christmas Concert! It was a great evening, thanks too to our special guests, The Woodford Singers. That's it for 2011, have a merry Christmas and a happy New Year, and we'll kick off 2012 in style with Eric Ball's 'High Peak' in the Butlins 2012 Mineworker's Contest in Skegness - see you there!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 On the 24th September, 2011, Becontree Brass travelled up to Cheltenham to take part in the 100th National Brass Band Championships of Great Britain. The piece was Philip Sparke's 'Portrait of a City', that city being London.

 

The band was unforunately drawn number 3, a draw which probably hindered rather than helped; as brass band website 4barsrest put it, 'Becontree may count themselves a little unlucky that an early number 3 draw saw their well managed account just fail to push its way higher up the results table than ninth'

 

However, despite the somewhat disappointing mid-table result, the band had a fantastic weekend, and felt privileged to be taking part and representing London for the second year running.

 

Saturday 24th September
Test Piece: Portrait of a City (Philip Sparke)
Adjudicators: Steve Sykes & Dr Roger Webster

1. Brunel Brass, John Winterflood, (West of England), (9)
2. Leicestershire Co-op, Graham Jacklin, (Midlands), (1)
3. South Yorkshire Police, Leigh Baker, (Yorkshire), (17)
4. Thundersley, Jeremy Wise, (London & Southern Counties), (4)
5. Pendennis Brass Falmouth, Steve Thomas, (West of England), (8)
6. Morecambe, Andrew Warriner, (North West) (16)
7. Llwydcoed, Gary Davies, (Wales), (10)
8. Bilton Silver (Rugby), David Stowell, Midlands, (5)
9. Becontree Brass, Adam Cooke, (London & Southern Counties), (3)
10. Barnsley Chronicle, Rob Straw, (Yorkshire), (12)
11. Catterick Brass, Brenden Wheeler, (North of England), (14)
12. City of Discovery, Bruce Wallace, (Scotland), (11)
13. Haydock, Mark Quinn, (North West), (15)
14. Northfleet Brass, Melvin White, (London & Southern Counties), (13)
15. Lewis Merthyr, Gareth Pritchard, (Wales), (7)
16. Granite City Brass, Alan Haggart, (Scotland), (2)
17. Cockerton Prize Silver, George Nicklin, (North of England), (6)

 

 

 

 

Photos from our small band engagement in the Bethnal Green Museum of Childhood (7th August) are now online, see them all HERE

 

 

 

 Summer Blues for Becontree

Becontree Brass to feature rarely heard transcriptions for band and piano

London 2nd Section National Finalists Becontree Brass are teaming up with young virtuoso pianist Sebastian Grand in an innovative concert bringing to life two rarely heard transcriptions for band of Grieg’s Piano Concerto and Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue.

Sebastian, currently a Masters student at the Royal Academy of Music, is no stranger to the repertoire having given performances of both works with orchestras; however this is his first experience playing with a brass band. Sebastian said: “When we first discussed the idea, I have to admit I had a chuckle to myself and didn’t expect it to work, but I’ve been pleasantly surprised at the versatility and musicality of the band, and I’m really looking forward to bringing this great music to an audience in a different way.”

Originally hoping to feature Dr. Denis Wright’s famous arrangement of the Grieg, the band had some trouble in sourcing the music, only to discover – after much searching – that former Becontree MD and Principal Trombone of the LSO, Dudley Bright, has also transcribed the popular concerto. Becontree MD Adam Cooke, said, “Having searched high and low for the Wright arrangement of the Grieg, it was a stroke of unbelievable luck to discover that, only a few minutes away from where we rehearse, Dudley had a great transcription for band. This, along with Keith Wilkinson’s fantastic arrangement of Rhapsody in Blue, make a pair of musical gems in the brass band repertoire with piano.”

The band will be featuring both works for piano in a ‘concert of two halves’  on the 16th July at 7pm, at the church in the Barnardo’s Village, Ilford – pairing the Grieg up with Eric Ball’s arrangement of Beethoven’s ‘Egmont’ overture amongst other classical transcriptions, and Rhapsody in Blue with an array of swing favourites.

 

 

 www.sebastiangrand.com

 

  

 

 

 

 Becontree Brass Band were privileged to be asked to perform live on Chris Evans' Breakfast Show on BBC Radio 2 on the morning of the Royal Wedding along with The Hoosiers and Chas Hodges of 'Chas and Dave' fame

 

Click here to hear the whole breakfast show on BBC iPlayer!

How D'ya Like Your Eggs in the Morning 

A London Celebration

 

 Chris interviews Adam on air

 

Some of our members with Chas

 

 

 The band also played on the bandstand from 2 until 5 to thousands of people, and encouraged patriotic sing-alongs of Jerusalem, Dambusters and Pomp and Circumstance No.1

 

Our Audience!

 

This was a truly remarkable day, and we were delighted to take part in such a prestigious event. Many congratulations to the happy couple, and thank you for letting us share your day with you!

 

Short Video of Pomp and Circumstance No. 1 Finale