Pennod 2 Band Cymru

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-EISTEDDFOD FANFARE

-You won't hear a better fanfare

-in any Eisteddfod.

-Performing that fanfare were some

-excellent bands. Burry Port Band.

-Hooray!

-The BTM Band...

-Hooray.

-..from Bedwas, Trethomas and Machen.

-Providing the cool

-on the night's je ne sais quoi...

-..is the competition's

-only jazz band, Capital City Jazz.

-Hooray!

-Every band has its eyes firmly

-set on this. Good luck to them all!

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-Band Cymru,

-the only competition in the world...

-..where jazz, wind and brass bands

-share the same stage.

-Reaching Aberystwyth

-has taken considerable effort.

-Auditions

-were held throughout Wales.

-Unnamed discs were sent to acclaimed

-yet anonymous judges to be marked.

-An impartial system in which

-past successes account for nothing.

-For me, it's spirit.

-For me, it's spirit.

-

-That magic moment of musicality.

-The ability to make

-goose bumps appear on one's arm.

-The one that wins will be the one

-that stirs my emotions.

-Four sessions

-during a month of competition.

-The Cardiff Melingriffith Brass Band

-won the first heat.

-In the world of bands,

-nothing is that simple.

-The dreams of every band

-are still alive...

-..with the best band from each

-session progressing to the final...

-..in the Parc and Dare Theatre

-next month...

-..taking a step closer to the title,

-Band Cymru 2016.

-If you enjoy the battle

-of the bands...

-..the next hour

-will be pure pleasure.

-The three international judges

-are also ready...

-..led by composer

-and outstanding jazz trumpeter...

-..all the way from New York,

-Jon Faddis.

-Welshman,

-Lt Colonel Dr Graham Jones...

-..has enjoyed a glittering career

-in military music...

-..and now travels the world

-as a conductor.

-Colin Sheen is one of Britain's

-most accomplished trombonists.

-He's shone on the classical stage as

-well as numerous movie soundtracks.

-Also present and eager to hear

-a feast of music...

-..are our two unofficial judges...

-..Branwen Gwyn and Geraint Cynan.

-Opening tonight's competition

-is the BTM band.

-Three insignificant letters...

-..but a significant force

-in the world of bands.

-The band was named after

-three villages near Caerphilly...

-..Bedwas, Trethomas and Machen.

-Formed in 1972,

-it is a relatively young band...

-..but BTM have grown to become

-one of Britain's most prominent.

-We have an array

-of different characters...

-..including a policeman,

-teachers and office workers.

-We practise

-on Thursday and Sunday nights.

-My job is to teach and motivate,

-and to now and again remember...

-..that I'm a player and they will

-have lots going on in their lives.

-It's about gauging that motivation

-through the rehearsal.

-I've grown up with it and

-it's always been part of my life.

-It's really helped me as a player.

-I wouldn't be the player I am

-without the band.

-10,000 is a lot of money to win.

-We'd invest it in the band.

-We have youth bands here - there's

-not enough instruments for everyone.

-They cost a lot of money

-up to 3,000 for one instrument.

-It's a privilege being in the

-last 12 of a fantastic competition.

-It's great being amongst

-the big bands and preparing hard.

-We have a varied programme.

-We have a varied programme.

-

-We're competing against jazz bands.

-That will show how good we are...

-..against bands that entertain

-the public in a different way.

-Good luck to BTM.

-They're a part of the super 12.

-Let me introduce the conductor,

-Jeff Hutcherson, and the BTM Band.

-The harlequin was a popular

-character in Italian comedies.

-He was energetic, fit and nimble

-and performed complex moves.

-These characteristics are portrayed

-in this piece by Bruce Broughton.

-Alex Parker,

-the band's principal cornet...

-..is the soloist for The Prayer

-of St Gregory by Alan Hovhaness.

-St Gregory was imprisoned

-for 12 years...

-..in a deep well on Mount Ararat.

-It's a powerful prayer with a plea

-for help and forgiveness.

-Hora Staccato is a short, pacy piece

-in a Romanian dance style...

-..which was originally composed

-for the violin.

-In this arrangement

-by Gough Richards...

-..the ten cornet players will

-exhibit their technical abilities.

-John Williams wrote the music

-for all the Star Wars films...

-..including the fourth instalment,

-The Phantom Menace.

-It's an exciting end

-to our programme.

-Such a dramatic ending, that film

-music. What did you make of it?

-One of the best play throughs

-we've done of that.

-The acoustics are great.

-You were taking the emotion

-out of the players.

-Is it difficult to do on this stage?

-Is it difficult to do on this stage?

-

-I'm shattered!

-If I'm shattered,

-they must be ten times worse.

-Did BTM impress

-our unofficial judges?

-Branwen, a former member.

-Did you listen to them with pride?

-Yes. It's great to see them here.

-They're a solid band.

-You can rely on them.

-Their programme tonight

-was a game of two halves.

-They warmed up in the first half.

-In the second half, the final

-two pieces, they went for it.

-They came alive

-performing Hora Staccato.

-The Phantom Menace - John Williams'

-music is exhilarating.

-It lends itself superbly

-to a brass band.

-They were great, fair play.

-How high have BTM

-set the musical bar tonight?

-Hora Staccato was especially good,

-showcasing the necessary techniques.

-They also showed

-a lot of conviction.

-That drove them on.

-John Williams imitates Wagner

-in his fondness of cornet music.

-That's the most perfect example

-of how to use brass instruments.

-Jeff is in the police force.

-Did he marshal the band well?

-There's no fuss - he just uses

-his pencil and does the job

-I'm sure he's very proud

-of the band.

-Does Jeff

-have a non-nonsense approach?

-He's a lot of fun, to be fair.

-He voices his opinion,

-we play on and that's it.

-A lot of praise. The second half

-was better than the first.

-Did they take a while to warm up?

-Did they take a while to warm up?

-

-The second half was better.

-It's about challenging

-young players...

-..with difficult solos.

-Great, really pleased.

-If you don't get enough sax

-on a Saturday night...

-..stay right where you are.

-Capital City Jazz

-will excite you after the break.

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-Back in 2007, Ceri Rees

-formed Capital City Jazz...

-..with the aim of performing monthly

-in Dempseys, Cardiff.

-The band have gone

-from strength to strength...

-..appearing in some of Britain's

-most prominent music festivals...

-..and working with some jazz greats.

-We enjoy performing jazz

-and playing in big bands.

-We have for years,

-some longer than others.

-The craic with the boys is great.

-We have fun when we're performing.

-We have a gig tonight.

-Ceri is great with the band.

-He's quite a character.

-We've had enough of his jokes!

-We've had enough of his jokes!

-

-We hear a new joke occasionally.

-Once a year!

-Most have played to a professional

-or semi-professional level...

-..playing to a very high standard.

-Tommy has been a professional

-musician since the 1960s.

-He's performed

-with Petula Clark and Tom Jones.

-He's one of the country's

-best tenor saxophonists.

-To compare traditional brass bands

-with a jazz band...

-..is like comparing

-apples and oranges.

-We'll try and convey to the judges

-that we love this type of music.

-We're here to stay.

-We failed last time

-to win the 10,000 prize.

-This time, we want to put

-the big band on the map.

-We don't want the boys in the

-brass bands keeping all the money!

-10,000 or not,

-they're a livewire band.

-They're ready to showcase

-their musical ability.

-Please welcome

-Capital City Jazz.

-We've chosen a varied programme.

-Three different styles.

-We open with All The Things You Are

-by Jerome Kern.

-This give us an opportunity

-to establish ourselves...

-..and show our characteristic

-swing style.

-Our second piece

-is very different to our first.

-It's a Latin American piece.

-It was written by Dizzy Gillespie.

-It's called A Night in Tunisia.

-It's a difficult, rhythmic piece.

-We've chosen an American

-composition for our final piece...

-..by the Gordon Goodwin Band.

-It's called Sing Sang Sung.

-This gives the whole band

-an opportunity to shine...

-..as well as individual musicians.

-We love playing this piece.

-We hope the judges and audience

-enjoy hearing it.

-I could see you swaying

-during that solo. Did you enjoy it?

-The solo gives me the freedom

-to play as I want.

-Yes, I enjoyed,

-it was a good performance.

-Well done. You're the jam jars

-in the brass sandwich.

-It was fantastic, it was great

-for us. Very enjoyable.

-It was so cool. There's only

-one more question to ask.

-Can I join you?

-Can I join you?

-

-You can. Anytime.

-Thank you.

-The Arts Centre has become

-a temporary jazz club.

-Geraint, what did you think

-of this jazz band?

-It's so nice

-listening to splendid sound.

-It's important for the competition

-to have this kind of entertainment.

-It was a performance

-of the highest order.

-They play the music on the copy

-and lift it off the copy.

-They also improvise and take

-the piece to very different places.

-On top of that, you have great

-solo performers and an ensemble.

-I really enjoyed it.

-From the first note,

-I felt completely relaxed.

-It was an easy listening experience.

-The highlight of the programme

-for me...

-..was Gareth's trombone solo

-in A Night in Tunisia.

-He was fantastic.

-I didn't want it to end.

-Every piece

-offered different challenges.

-They had to deal

-with different rhythms.

-It was entertainment

-of the highest order.

-Well, such great praise.

-The judges felt very relaxed

-listening to you.

-A performance of the highest order.

-Very happy with that, very happy.

-Fair play, that was excellent.

-The best we could have wished for.

-Exactly. Special praise

-for the trombone, well done.

-Happy with that.

-I agree wholeheartedly!

-We're getting ready to hear

-the best West Wales can offer...

-..as the Burry Port Band

-close tonight's competition.

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-Representing the west

-is Burry Port brass band.

-It was formed in 1896.

-The original aim was to entertain

-locally in fairs and processions.

-Since being re-formed

-during the '70s...

-..the band has regularly come out

-on top in Wales.

-They are former winners

-of the Welsh Open Championships.

-In 1972,

-there were many local bands.

-Kidwelly, Mynydd-y-Garreg, Llanelli.

-There was no band in Burry Port.

-Local children had nowhere to play

-during their spare time.

-That's why we re-formed.

-As the band improved...

-..we attracted good musicians

-from West Wales.

-We've worked our way up from the

-fourth division right to the top.

-It's like a community.

-We're all good friends.

-We don't just come here to play

-and go home straight after.

-We all chat, we're all friends.

-There's a lot of characters in the

-band. I've been here for 12 years.

-It's the band

-that I learnt to play in.

-A number of people have been there

-since I've been playing in the band.

-Welsh bands

-rank amongst the best in the world.

-To win would be a major achievement.

-10,000... Ten thousand pounds!

-Of course, 10,000 would be

-of immense use to the band...

-..to run the overheads

-of our building and buying music.

-If we win, I think we'll fill

-the tuba with a couple of pints.

-I don't know how much we'd get

-out of 10,000 but we'll do alright.

-Good luck to Burry Port.

-They're ready to fill the tuba

-with beer.

-Let's hope they fill this hall

-with the sweet mead of their music.

-Here's the Burry Port band.

-The theme of our programme

-is the strength and power of fire.

-The first piece is an arrangement of

-the popular song The Heat Is On...

-..by Glenn Frey of The Eagles.

-It's a tongue-in-cheek

-representation of fire...

-..and introduces one of our long

-standing members on the drums...

-..Emyr Rees.

-We slow down the tempo next.

-It's an original composition

-by our conductor Tom Davoren...

-..called Embers.

-This piece will create a warm

-and tender musical portrayal...

-..of bright embers

-as a fire dies out late at night.

-The next piece will highlight Chris

-Smith's skill on the euphonium.

-When Sparks Fly

-comes from a concerto...

-..called Healing Power Of Flame.

-It depicts the thrill

-of falling in love.

-Our final piece was commissioned...

-..for the band to celebrate

-Kidwelly's 900th anniversary.

-It was written by Tom,

-our conductor.

-It is based

-on the hymn tune Calon Lan.

-You can hear

-the percussion instruments...

-..creating the noises

-of Kidwelly's old tinworks.

-Every note has been struck.

-The judges depart

-to make their decision.

-We'll reach the crescendo

-of the result after the break.

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-Welcome back to Aberystwyth.

-Fire was the them for Burry Port.

-I thought you were red-hot!

-How do you feel?

-Really pleased with that

-performance. We've worked very hard.

-Soloist Chris Smith was excellent.

-We're very proud.

-Did you find that easy on stage?

-Did you find that easy on stage?

-

-I can't say it's ever easy.

-It's always nerve-wracking

-being on stage.

-It seemed to go OK. The band

-played well. Yeah, very happy.

-Burry Port's music

-shone brightly in Aberystwyth.

-Did you enjoy the warmth

-of their music?

-Definitely.

-Burry Port offered us

-something different...

-..because three-quarters of their

-programme was composed by Tom...

-..a very talented young man.

-I very much liked the second piece -

-that showed the softer...

-..romantic side of the band

-superbly well.

-Tom knows his band - he composed

-music especially for them.

-I enjoyed the Calon Lan piece.

-When I read Pure of Heart,

-I never imagined it to be that.

-He breathed new life into a hymn

-I think is sung too often.

-That made me

-listen to the hymn afresh.

-I must also compliment the soloists,

-Chris on the euphonium.

-When Sparks Fly - you could almost

-feel the heat of his euphonium.

-Burry Port can be very happy

-with their performance.

-They've risen all the way

-to the first division.

-They're a mixture of young and old.

-They had a lot of experience

-to provide the gusto.

-The youngsters show that the band

-is in good hands for the future.

-Performing on a national stage

-and on national TV...

-..will inspire more youngsters

-to emulate them.

-Happy with the comments.

-Our varied programme

-showcased our talents.

-I think it paid off.

-Adjudications and contests

-are a strange thing.

-We do it because we enjoy

-being together and playing.

-The fact the audience and secondary

-judges enjoyed it is good news.

-The bands have completed

-their programmes...

-..and they now await the

-three wise men to make one decision.

-Colin Sheen has bridged the gap...

-..between the classical world

-and the big bands.

-The main trombonist with Don Lusher

-and the English Chamber Orchestra.

-He's recorded

-with Paul McCartney and Pavarotti...

-..and played on the Harry Potter,

-Batman and James Bond soundtracks.

-After a career

-as a Royal Military band leader...

-..Dr Graham Jones retired to focus

-on his career as a conductor.

-He was responsible for the music

-at Trooping the Colour...

-..and the Remembrance Sunday Tattoo.

-He's also conducting

-the official celebration...

-..of the Queen's 90th birthday.

-American Jon Faddis is regarded as

-one of the greats of the jazz world.

-"He is the best ever,

-including me..."

-..which is what

-Dizzy Gillespie said about him.

-He's performed

-with Duke Ellington and Count Basie.

-As an instrumentalist, he emulates

-Louis Armstrong and Miles Davis...

-..whilst creating

-his own unique style.

-The band that won tonight displayed

-rhythm, melody, intonation...

-..dynamics, playing together.

-They produced a good, interesting,

-varied programme.

-They performed it impeccably.

-They occasionally

-made my hair stand on end.

-It was good programming,

-well performed music...

-..that connected with the audience.

-That's what we were looking for

-and we found it.

-While the bands

-bite their nails backstage...

-..our jury has scrutinised

-their performances.

-Who shone for you tonight?

-The band I'd like to take home

-in the boot of my car...

-..is Capital City Jazz.

-They would be my instinctive choice.

-I think the judges will choose BTM.

-Branwen?

-I don't want to sound

-like Polly Parrot, but...

-..I'd give the prize

-to Capital City Jazz...

-..but I think the judges

-will choose BTM.

-Let's find out if you're correct.

-We're about to reveal the name of

-the band that wins this semi-final.

-The three judges

-are waiting eagerly.

-The name of the victorious band,

-please, Dr Graham Jones.

-Tonight's winners are...

-..the BTM Band.

-Jeff, congratulations,

-all the hard work...

-All the hard work pays off.

-I'm very, very pleased.

-This is a brand-new band.

-We've got a massive history

-in BTM...

-..but this is a brand-new band

-and I'm over the moon.

-You might see a baton instead

-of a pencil in the next round.

-That's my superstition

-until I pass my apprenticeship.

-Many thanks, diolch, I'm chuffed.

-Congratulations. Well done Jeff.

-Congratulations to the BTM band...

-..winners of our second semi-final.

-The adjudication, performances

-are on S4C's website.

-For now, from Aberystwyth, cheerio.

-S4C Subtitles by Adnod Cyf.

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