13 January 2012
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Brass The Baton - A major new 2012 Cultural Olympiad
Project for Brass Bands
Brass The Baton is an exciting new project for 2012 designed to
increase participation in the Brass Band Music art form on an
unprecedented scale never attempted before from a single event.
It provides a unique opportunity for brass musicians, and
conductors, of all ages, to perform a new music commission as
part of a high profile, high quality, nationwide celebration of
brass band music making for the 2012 Cultural Olympiad. Brass
The Baton is basically a relay race involving 5 conductor’s
batons, each representing one of the 5 Olympic rings and
coloured accordingly. Starting in Europe in May at the
prestigious European Brass Band Championships each of the 5
batons will be passed by participating Brass Bands / Ensembles
across the UK and Internationally, until they reach their final
destination:- the London 2012 Festival in July.
Keith and District Silver Band have been lucky enough to secure
one of the batons for 24 June and we are going us this as an
opportunity to raise funds for our friends at
Famine Relief for Orphans
in Malawi. Keep and eye on this page for more news closer to the
event.
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13 December 2011 |
A Busy Christmas Schedule
Our busy festive season continues with gigs at Buckie (x3),
Keith and Huntly. The latter went ahead despite being right in
the middle of Hurricane B*********. After sheltering a nearby
hotel lobby (see below) the Band performed Christmas music from
the tenuous shelter of the open sided Rotary trailer which was
rocking very time the wind gusted. Anyway - we survived to tell
the tale to our grandchildren. Our last Christmas engagement is
the Rotary Carol Service - this Sunday 18 December at 7.00PM.
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18 November 2011 |
Buckie Baptist Church
Last year we played in the Church Hall but this year it was a
privilege and a pleasure to be on the stage of the newly
refurbished church. The acoustic in this bright and airy
building is superb and Willie enjoyed being able to hear every
part clearly from the front of the Band.
Allison gave a great performance of the difficult and sustained
Rondo from the Mozart Horn Concerto #4 - reminiscent of Flanders
and Swann for the older generation in the Band (see
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rrd9lDHdIJo ). Ed entertained
us with medieval recorder music - including the now compulsory
multiphonics.
A good audience and excellent refreshments rounded off a very
enjoyable evening.
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2 October 2011
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Annual Keith Concert
In a break with tradition the annual Keith concert was retimed
for a 2.30PM start and this was deemed a great success with an
excellent audience turnout from as far afield as Inverurie and
Buckie. This was the first time that the Band had used our new
banners in a formal concert setting and they really made a good
impression on the stage.
The programme included a good mix of favourites and new music,
including Richard's excellent arrangement of Muskrat Ramble
(click Deputy Dawg's friend on the left) which had the band in
full New Orleans style flow. Willie entertained the crowd with
the usual introductions and banter and even had them clapping in
counterpoint to the Band during Loch Lomond.
We were very pleased to see Adam Wilkens in the audience. Adam
was a a cornet player in the old Keith Silver Band which
unfortunately folded in the 1950's. He is still going strong on
the trumpet and we intend to interview him for a future piece on
the old band and its history.
George and Adam Wilkens after the concert.
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10 September 2011
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The Band was honoured to be invited to take part in the
presentation of a new coat of arms to Aberlour by the
representative of the Lord Lyon, Charles Burnett, Dingwall
Pursuivant of Arms, Ross Herald of Arms and Ross Herald
Extraordinary. A large crowd filled the village square for the
occasion. This was also the first outing for our new stand
banners!
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10 August 2011 |
The band will resume regular service on 14 August at the Newmill
Gala. Looking back at the summer so far it just seems to have
been wet, wet, wet but at least the sun came out for our annual
visit to Whitehills for the traditional "Songs of Praise" at the
harbour front.
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9 June 2011
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Tomorrow, 10 June, we will be appearing at Gordon Chapel,
Fochabers, as part of a concert series arranged by the Friends
of Gordon Chapel. We hope to see you there.
Background information about the chapel, its history and the
fantastic stained glass windows there can be found at:
http://www.gordonchapel.org.uk/ |
9 May 2011
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Our annual Christian Aid benefit gig at St. Rufus Church went
well with an appreciative audience enjoying Ed's solo spot on
the treble recorder playing two Bach compositions and Ian Carr's
"alternative organ" spot as well as a varied programme from the
Band. You can enjoy some highlights by clicking on the following
links:
MP3/First Half.mp3
MP3/Second Half.mp3
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1 May 2011
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The Band played below the clock tower in Dufftown Square as part
of the Speyside Whisky Festival. Due to the limited space
available Willy had to shout out the programme introductions to
the audience on the other side of the road. At various stages a
Bluebird bus and 20 odd Ferraris in convoy came between us and
the gathered listeners but everyone seemed to enjoy the music!
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26 April 2011 |
Members of the Band will play in a massed ensemble at Brodie
Castle on Sunday 19th June from 2.00 until 4.00 PM as part of
the Moray Spirit of Brass festival. Other events can be found at
the festival web site.
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15 April 2011 |
In the first of a busy period of engagements the band played a
benefit concert for the charity FROM (Famine Relief for Orphans
in Malawi -
http://fromscotland.org.uk/ ) at St. Mary's Church,
Inverurie. The money raised will feed 14 orphans for one year!
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