Besson trip - and I'm coming back to the US!

Hello everyone! I just wanted to let you know that my trip to the Besson factory in Markneukirchen, Germany was awesome. I left on Tuesday, March 27 and flew from Manchester to Frankfurt (really big airport... too big, really...) and then took a regional flight to Hof. Hof is about a 40 minute drive through the country to Markneukirchen, and has some really pretty landscape.

During the testing I played 52 horns in total. About 30 Sovereigns and 22 Prestige - I think. It was great getting to play that many instruments at one time, and they all played EXCELLENT!

While in Markneukirchen I got to sample some of the local cuisine (and beverages - can't beat em'), and really enjoyed two days away from Manchester. Living in a big city has really got me thinking that I don't want to live in a big city - although I'm moving to Phoenix next year - let's hope that my neighborhood is quieter than my dorm room.

Anyway, I get to come home on MONDAY! I am doing a slightly different route this time and flying through Atlanta. No real reason other than I couldn't get a ticket on the American flight through Chicago, so I guess that's a good-enough reason.

One quick thing - I got a factory tour at the Besson factory, and have put up a new webpage on it. Check it out here. The next time I update I will be home in the US! See you all soon!

Playing the horn...

I have finally recovered from the frantic pace set forth by the brass band area competitions, and my performance with the Grimethorpe Colliery Band were something that I will remember forever. I have vivid memories of my first brass band CD, which was a Grimethorpe CD. I thought, man it would be great to hear them in concert - little did I know that the first time I heard them live, I would be sitting in the band. That was just a little too cool for words.

Heading back to Germany next week to test horns for Besson. I have been getting some great opportunities to help out the company that makes it possible for me to do what I do. I really hope that I can continue this relationship once I get back to the US. For those that have been following the Besson-saga, the company declared bankruptcy about 18 months ago. It was completely restructured and now is producing (yet again) the finest brass instruments in the world. The Besson name lives on, and it will need some rebuilding to make up for the last 3 or 4 years - but when everything is said and done it is the best instrument that you can buy.

After I get back from my trip I get some much needed rest back in the US. I am so looking forward to going home, even if it is only for 3 weeks. Once I come back from vacation, though - it's just a short push to the finish line here at the RNCM!

I have been here in the UK since September 11, 2006, and I thought I would share a little retrospective on my experiences here... and what I have learned so far.

PAT'S UK RETROSPECTIVE, PART I

1.) It's good to have a queen, that way there is always someone that God should save. I wish that our country had someone that no matter what political party - they all loved... Maybe God Save Steve Jobs... maybe not...

2.) Given the exchange rate right now, if you work at a McDonald's in the UK then you would be making about $14/hour. Pretty cool, huh?

3.) I think that the Grammy's need to add a EUPHONIUM category to their awards. Seriously... no, I'm not kidding... seriously.... why are you laughing?

4) I've decided that not all forms of public transportation are created equal. Even in the UK we have different 'classes' of buses and trains. Strange...

5.) I used to think that playing the instrument was the most important thing, but after meeting people over here I realize that the overall musician is much more important. There is more to life than how fast you can triple-tongue.

6.) Operas are good for more than stealing repertoire.

7.) They have some weird ideas in the UK about what is acceptable to put on a sandwich. Over here you have to have Flora on it (that's what they call margarine), and if the contents aren't fried - they should be. And seriously, shrimp and cranberry? YUCK!

8.) Brass banding in the US will never compete with the British. It's like the British playing Basketball - it just won't work. If brass banders inthe US knew what was good for them, they would stop imitating the UK model and come up with something that is their own - Americanize it! It's our favorite pastime!

9.) I still think British money is too complicated.

10.) I appreciate cardio gym equipment more over here. Kilometers per hour makes it look like I am going faster than I really am, and my weight in Kilos is much easier to look at than lbs.!

If you were wondering, yes that was a humourous (like that u?) take on the truth - so don't get offended! I promise pictures from Germany, and a full report when I get back!

high points and low points...

I thought that I would start off this post backing up about a week. There are afternoon concerts here at the RNCM, which I was part of last week. The college brass band was made up of some of the top players from all of the studios, and I was lucky enough to get to play Solo Euphonium in this group.

Pictured to the left is our entire euphonium and baritone section with Dr. Nicholas Childs who conducted the brass band that day. Cyril (the other euphonium player in the picture) and I were happy to get to play for such a fine conductor, while still being a bit apprehensive about the difficulty of the euphonium parts. The planets did seem to align last week for us, and everything came off great.

So last week Besses o' th' Barn was preparing for our first area competition. We rehearsed every night last week leading up to our performance on Sunday. We felt confident and ready for our performance, and were very happy with our playing after we came off stage. The judges, however deaf they are, were not so happy. The points didn't come out in our favor, but we did accomplish what we set out to do: to play the piece the best that we could, and to impress as many people while we were doing it.

While at the area competition, I did get to hear some other great bands and take in the trade show for a bit. It would be great if brass banding could generate the same following in the US as it has over here - it is really treated like a sport... with beer free flowing... ;)

This week has been really nice. Since last week was inundated with rehearsals and such, it was great to finally have some time to start preparing this final recital that I have to give at the end of May. I keep telling myself that I don't have that much time (even though I really do) in the hopes that I will be prepared before the actual recital and not stressing about my pieces...

Since we don't have Besses rehearsal this week I was able to go over and play with another brass band on Monday evening. One neat addition is that after the rehearsal I was asked to play two concerts this weekend with the Grimethorpe Colliery Band, which is the band that the movie Brassed Off! is about. It really has been a dream of mine to get to play with one of these great bands - and luckily I was in the right place at the right time. Really, timing is everything... If I think back to pivotal moments in my life - timing really has a lot to do with it. Maybe it's fate or karma - but really, it's just plain luck!

One of my good friends Ray is a member of the euphonium studio at the RNCM. If you scroll back up to the picture, he is the one playing baritone - and he is from Taiwan. I think he is the first student from Taiwan to study in the euphonium department at the RNCM. He is a great guy, and always has his camera ready (insert stereotype here...). Just kidding! But, it is great that he is always taking pictures - because he shares them with all of us! Here are a few pictures that he took of me throughout our brass band rehearsals and performance.

Not exactly sure what I was saying when this picture was taken, but the tall guy in the red striped shirt is Cyril. Cyril is from Switzerland and he plays with Brighouse and Rastrick, who had a little better luck than Besses did last weekend (they won). Little known fact - Brighouse is the only band to ever have a top-40 hit.

You gotta love that pencil behind the ear. It's like a gun in the holster - always ready... ;)

Long week - quick post...

It has been one long week here in Manchester. First off, the RNCM Brass Band performed yesterday at the lunchtime concert series with Dr. Nicholas Childs conducting. It was my first experience in the college brass band, and performing under Nick Childs. I must say that his expectations were very high - and I had to really work to make him happy. For those that don't know who Nick Childs is - he is a very famous euphonium player who is now the conductor of the Black Dyke Brass Band, which may or may not be the best brass band in the world (depending on who you ask). But, here is our program from yesterday, it was a Russian spectacular-of-sorts...

Festive Overture - Shostakovich
Selections from Cappricio Italien - Tchaikovsky
Finale from Symphony No. 2 "The Little Russian" - Tchaikovsky

The concert was easy to listen to - not easy to play... But, all told - went very well... Now, on another banding front, Besses o' th' Barn is getting ready for our first area contest with our new redesigned band. The band is really in top formation right now, and we hope to do well. Last year the band finished at the bottom of the Championship contest (highest level), so we were relegated to the First Section (the next level down)... The band that is in uniform right now is not the same band - virtually all of the players have been rotated out, and we have a new conductor. Hopefully if everyone keeps their head screwed on straight (including myself) we should have a very positive outcome. For more info on our contest, and banding in general, click here.

Right now Steven Mead is over in the US, and I'm jealous. A few more weeks until I get to see my family. I have to go back to the Besson factory in Markneukirchen in Germany to test horns for them at the end of February, and to finally replace my Besson Prestige with a new model - really looking forward to getting my little hands on that... Anyway, that's about it for now. We have been having band every night this week, so time is tight. I promise to update with pictures from the contest and more info soon!

Spanish Brassurround 2007

I just got back from my four days in Spain, and it was a great time. We started off the trip last Thursday flying to Alicante, which is a major tourist destination for UK residents.

The weather was great once we stepped off the plane. Not too hot, no humidity - felt great! We were greeted by two euphonium players from Spain who drove us to Torrent, where the festival was.

On the first day of the festival, we got to meet a lot of euphonium players from other places. There were about 15 euphonium players from all over Spain, as well as a guy from Holland and then myself and Phillippe who were along for the ride from the UK.

There was a welcome address and some remarks (all in Spanish, mind you) and we got off to a start in a 3-hour masterclass with Steven Mead.

Other than Steve, there was also the Spanish Brass Quintet (who are amazing), Jens Bjorn-Larsen from Denmark (one of the most musical tuba players I have EVER heard... seriously...), and a great guy named Rupert Hoerbst who was an artist who drew caricatures musicians and musical 'jokes.'

Steve played with a town band in Torrent, which was actually pretty darn good. He played Peter Graham's Bravura, and then followed up with Believe Me If All Those Endearing Young Charms. Two pretty standard pieces - but, the crowd went nuts. A great concert, and a great start to the weekend.

Meeting people from a different country (with a language barrier) was definitely interesting. Luckily, most of the younger students spoke a little English, which was nice. You kind of felt ignorant to no speak their language - and wanted to learn some to feel more 'at home' in their country.

Overall it was a great week with a lot of good food, good music and beautiful landscapes. Spain is a beautiful country with nice, friendly people who really enjoy their heritage and culture.

So, now I am back in Manchester getting ready for the first area competition with the Besses. The test-piece is getting there - but, we have a whole week of rehearsals leading up to the 'day'... More posts later, but for now - enjoy the rest of the pictures!