I went to visit family in Cornwall during the summer holidays and to everyones’s surprise found myself blowing with Camborne Town Band. Conducted by Steve Sykes, formerly of Grimethorpe Colliery band and a friend for over 20 years, I decided to drop by a rehearsal for a listen.
Leaving my trombone at home (on purpose!), I set off for rehearsal and on entering the bandroom, was greeted by the sight of 4 trombones – the 3 regular trombones of Camborne Band and Remus Sawyer, Bass Trombone with the Woodfalls Band from Wiltshire, who had also dropped by (but with instrument). If I thought I had got away with having no instrument, I could think again! Steve Sykes knows his stuff and recalled I used to play euphonium and had played euph with Sun Life Band.
Instructing someone to find me an instrument, I was presented with the only thing they could find – a baritone – so 2nd baritone it was. I’ve only ever played baritone once before as a dep with Sun Life on a recording with Michael Brand which took place at CTS Studios in Wembley. I have no idea of the year.
Leaving my trombone at home (on purpose!), I set off for rehearsal and on entering the bandroom, was greeted by the sight of 4 trombones – the 3 regular trombones of Camborne Band and Remus Sawyer, Bass Trombone with the Woodfalls Band from Wiltshire, who had also dropped by (but with instrument). If I thought I had got away with having no instrument, I could think again! Steve Sykes knows his stuff and recalled I used to play euphonium and had played euph with Sun Life Band.
Instructing someone to find me an instrument, I was presented with the only thing they could find – a baritone – so 2nd baritone it was. I’ve only ever played baritone once before as a dep with Sun Life on a recording with Michael Brand which took place at CTS Studios in Wembley. I have no idea of the year.
'Yeoman of the Guard' wasn’t too bad at least before playing a new work based on 'A Nightingale Sang in Berkely Square'. I hadn’t come across this work before and it had rather too many notes for my fingers, yet little did I realise this was only the warm up for what was about to come – 'Partita' by Philip Sparke! I’ve played Partita before with YBS and Salford University Brass Band, but on trombone. Shortly after the opening, I wished I was on trombone too - I never realised the guys who used to sit in front of me had so many notes to play! I never did make much impression on the opening of the first movement, but the 2nd and 3rd movements weren’t so bad, especially as the last movement has several passsages with the trombones – familiar ground at last.
So a surprise to play, but good fun with a great group of people and especially pleasing to be greeted at the end of rehearsal by a former member of the old band, who remembered me performing from the early 90′s in the Coston Hall (Bristol).
If ever you’re visiting Cornwall be sure to check out the Camborne Band.
by Alan Carr, August 2012