Around the Regions Midlands BTS Midlands Trombone Day with Dr. Brett Baker, Chris Binns, & The Black Dyke Trombone Ensemble
Saturday 27 November. The day dawned on a white and windy world, as Storm Arwen made the Peak District, and Buxton in particular, aware of its presence. Snow lay round about, deep and slushy and uneven. The whole event was in some doubt, as people were snowed in, snowed out, with power cuts in places, and roads in and out of Buxton closed for several hours. Unable to fight the weather the organizer, BTS Midlands representative Jenny Gartside, had to delay the start until midday. Unfortunately, there were a few participants who didn’t make it due to the weather, and some very early bird arrivals who were taken in and given tea by local trombonist Barbara until the day could get under way. Christ Church, Burbage, eventually saw Dr. Brett Baker begin the day by organizing players into a trombone choir and, after some warm-up exercises, we played some four-part pieces, then launched into ten, twelve, fourteen and sixteen-part pieces. Black Dyke Trombone Ensemble, performing for the first time as a sextet, included Brett Baker, Paul Woodward, Dan Eddison, Garry Reed, Adrian Hirst and Adam Reed, then entertained the attendees with a spirited version of Wilfred Heston’s Praise, a modern spiritual called Wave, a spot-on version of Deep River, and an intricately extended version of Scarborough Fair called Back To The Fair. Chris Binns, Solo Trombone with Grimethorpe Band, provided a recital filled with pieces for unaccompanied trombone. Fanfare by John Kenny, Sarabande from J. S. Bach’s Cello Suite no. 4, No. 9 from Tommy Pederson’s Advanced Etudes and Improvisation 12
PHOTO CREDIT: JENNY GARTSIDE
by Enrique Crespo were executed confidently by a master of his art. The trombone choir then reassembled to practice Procession of the Nobles, (brilliant choice for massed trombones!) conducted by one of the Black Dyke trombonists, Paul Woodward. After another tea and cake break, provided by Jenny and Barbara, who are both members of nearby Burbage Band (Buxton), we watched and heard some young players from the Yorkshire and East Midlands Youth Bands being put through their recital paces by Chris Binns. One had an upcoming RNCM audition and had the benefit of feedback from Chris Binns in front of a live audience, another amazing benefit to come from this kind of event, and we wish him the very best with his audition!
