Since starting my association with Dublin Concert Band (DCB) some years ago, I have experienced the continual taste of competitive success - DCB has achieved the top accolade more times than any other band in the history of the competitions and last year was the first time during my watch that the band did not claim the ultimate prize. This year, DCB was awarded 1st place in the concert band division but was pipped at the post for the title of national champions - a title awarded by Drogheda Brass Band - congratulations to our brass playing colleagues!

Brendan Breslin, our recently appointed Assistant Musical Director conducted the band in our choice piece - A Symphony of Fables by Julie Giroux (http://juliegiroux.www2.50megs.com/sof.html), a five movement work of which we performed the last three movements. This is a piece that we plan to use again and again, perhaps in regular concerts accompanied by  a Powerpoint presentation which will display on a screen the story of the fables as the music unfolds. This is unadulterated programme music of the highest calibre, extremely well written for the individual instruments and satisfying for the membership both in rehearsal and performance. Our playing was rewarded with the best own choice prize. Congrats to Brendan Breslin on his contribution at his first attempt!

I conducted the test piece, a new 10th anniversary edition of 'Paris Sketches' by Martin Ellerby (http://www.maecenasmusic.co.uk/Single%20product?stknumber=MC0028)- what a great work! I had worked on this piece previously with a different ensemble using the original hand written edition and while the musical content is the same (with some editorial changes), the ease of performance is much advanced with the new material.  That said, the A3 sized score, which caused me some difficulty on my larger that A4 sized music stand (slightly bent score resulting in a prominent noise at every page turn!), posed many questions especially where 2 player parts were reduced to a single staff in the score.  It was often unclear exactly what 'solo' (for example in the flute parts) referred to.  This sounds like a no-brainer but in the context of the score, questions were continually asked by the players during rehearsals!  Some clarification needed here through an errata addition I think. But this is a piece we will use again an again in the future and I'm certain that it will make a regular appearance on the "members music choice" list currently on the notice board in the band-room.

In the second part of this article, I will reflect on our (DCB) selection of a choice piece to go with the test piece as set by the competition organisers, IABCB.

Fergus O'Carroll