Buxton Festival of Brass 2023

Buxton Festival of Brass 2023

The Marple Band had a brilliant day out at the Buxton Festival of Brass competition yesterday.

The sun was shining and the music was excellent. Overall, we were placed 7th with our performance of Glorifico Aeternum by Dean Jones. Huge congratulations to everyone who played, especially Hazel Grove for winning first place!

As always, thank you to those who have supported the band along the way- Helen for ensuring everyone was registered and had a wrist band, Chris for ensuring we all had the right music, Andy and Howard for their organising and dep sourcing, our brilliant deps Alison Parker, Nigel Finney, Sarah Hewitt and Isla Hutchins, Alison Bletcher for turning up on her birthday and of course our wonderful MD Steve for shaping the music and putting up with us all .

Shannon Hanson( horn player) also added a few words.
“I had a really enjoyable afternoon taking part in the Buxton Band Contest for the first time. The rehearsal at the Fairfield Band Room went really well for the band. The Buxton Pavilion Gardens was lovely historic venue to play at and I feel that as a band we did a fantastic job and it was the best that we could have done. My mum was in the audience and she loved listening to us play.”

Northumberland Arms 2023

Northumberland Arms 2023

Spring sunshine, a few lovely pints (or insert your own favourite tipple), and a great brass band: what a fantastic combination for an enjoyable couple of hours at the Northumberland on a Sunday afternoon.

As parents of two players, one now almost retired, we have watched countless performances all over the Northwest. So many different venues, and occasions (and obviously the weather) but the enthusiasm of the performers and smiles of the audience have always been a constant. You simply cannot beat the warm congenitally of a concert at a favourite local pub.

As usual we were treated to an interesting and varied collection of pieces, a mixture of film, television and other stuff I’ve never heard of, were played brilliantly (to my ears anyway!) only interrupted by the jovial banter of the conductor Steve, who adds a bit of information about each piece.

There were some lovely solo bits dotted throughout the performance, where the individual playing talent was clearly evident. It was so lovely to see the mixture of ages in the band. Apparently, one gentleman was playing alongside his grandson: how lovely. I wish I’d got the opportunity to perform in a band with my grandad, would’ve been a bit tricky though as neither of us could play an instrument!

So a lovely afternoon was had by all, especially those who bought £5 worth of raffle tickets to win a £5 bottle of wine ;).

Lookout for these guys playing, especially if it’s at a pub. Turn up, buy a drink or two, put a fiver in the collection buckets (or buy raffle tickets) sit back and enjoy the show. You won’t be disappointed.

Article written by Lee McAlpine

Spring Concert 2023

Spring Concert 2023

What a wonderful concert, showcasing a number of new pieces of music to add to our repertoire.

Starting with the Standard of St George to commemorate St George’s Day and included Here’s to the Heroes, Them Basses, Flowerdale, Nabucodonosor, Lady Stewarts Air and many many more. With solos from Andy Liles, Kim Flanagan, Helen Sutton, Paul Sanders and Jan Haunton. The interval was well-timed to include the government’s alert on all mobile devices which set off a musical tune of its own!

The concert was dedicated to old friends who sadly were no longer with us.

Meet the Band: David Caine

Meet the Band: David Caine

David Caine L.T.C.L (TD) Cert Ed Music M.I.M.I.T

I first took up playing the tenor horn in 1956 aged 12. I initially wanted to join Thornsett band with my brother who was 2 years older than me but he didn’t want his younger brother tagging along with him so I joined New Mills Band.

Hayfield Band – 1957 (David Caine 2nd from left)
Three years later in July 1959, I enlisted as a band boy into the Cheshire regiment aged 15 taking up French horn as at that time all army bands were brass and woodwind (military). After 2 and a half years of training at Lichfield, I was chosen to attend a one-year course at Kneller Hall, the Royal Military School of Music, to undertake tuition in harmony, aural, and military band instrumentation along with French horn lessons from one of the leading professors from one of the professional London orchestras.

On completion of the course at Kneller Hall I was then posted to the Cheshire regiment band in Germany which is really where my musical career took off after 3 and a half years of training. Whilst serving with my county regiment I toured extensively throughout Europe and at one point a 7-month tour of the Persian Gulf serving in Bahrain. Whilst serving there I conducted a voluntary RAF band which was the start of developing my conducting skills.

No matter where I was posted whether at home or abroad I always made the effort to get involved in local bands either as a player or a conductor when called upon to do so. Whilst serving with the Cheshire regiment I was often asked to play other brass instruments within the band as and when required as at this time, bands were becoming smaller due to national servicemen coming to the end of their two-year conscription. I wasn’t happy about this at the time but it proved invaluable when I later took up teaching in London.

After a number of years with the Cheshires I felt it was time to move on and so transferred to the Grenadier Guards in London which was a permanent posting. The Grenadiers’ director of music at this time was Major Peter Parkes who went on to make a name for himself in the brass band world which was surprising given his main instrument was the clarinet. An outstanding musician who I learnt so much from.

David Caine at Kneller Hall
Windsor Castle, changing or the guard – 1971
The work with the Grenadiers was busy and yet varied with orchestras, changing the guards, state visits plus tours to Australia, America and Hong Kong. Coupled with this there were lots of broadcasts and recording engagements along with bandstand engagements at Eastbourne and Bournemouth.

Whilst serving with the Grenadiers I undertook 5 afternoons of teaching for the inner London education authority music department, teaching in schools in the inner city which gave me the opportunity to use my skills picked up whilst serving in the Cheshires playing different instruments with different ensembles.

I really enjoyed my teaching time which prompted me to think of a career change at some point rather than continue my service and return to Kneller Hall and train as a bandmaster.

Whilst on leave, I met up with the then conductor of Marple band Morris McClean who asked me if I was interested in a teaching post with the Manchester music department teaching brass but specialising in French horn. I applied for the job and was accepted. I stayed with them for over 30 years. Finishing as a senior brass tutor and coordinator for orchestras and bands. During this time, there was also the opportunity for me to teach at the RNCM with post-grad students interested in taking up peripatetic work.

A sideline which I picked up in London was that of an instrument brass repairer. Being taught by a Hungarian who came to England during the uprising working for Boosey and Hawks then eventually setting up himself in Kilburn. I became great friends with him and I regularly went to his shop where he taught me many skills. A skill which I carried on whilst working for Manchester.

During this period I took up conducting Marple band with Morris McClean before moving on to the Adamsons Military Band. Gary Cutt took over from me at Marple taking the band on to greater things.

My association with the Marple band goes back to the mid and late 50s when it was being rebuilt by Charlie Ingham. I’m still a playing member today being brought out of retirement by my grandson who took up playing the trombone along with euphonium. In one respect I’ve returned to my roots although blowing doesn’t come so easily now at 79 so hopefully, I shall leave my grandson to carry on the links with Marple band.
David Caine L.T.C.L (TD) Cert Ed Music M.I.M.I.T