Remember winning a few Comps with this as the set test in the old youth section. An English folk song suite. Thanks for Unfortunately loading it onto RU-vid Richard
A few minutes into watching this video I was suddenly shocked to realise I'd watched the original broadcast in 1977 (when I was a mad keen 19 year old brass band fanatic playing with Clydebank Burgh ). I've not seen it since until today, almost 47 years later in 2024! This realisation set off a welter of emotions given so much water has flowed under the bridge for me personally in the intervening years - in 1977 I was one year into my working life and today as I write this I'm weeks away from State Pension age of 66. Changes? In Britain the industrial and social landscape has altered out of all recognition. Information tech has advanced light years. As far as brass bands are concerned I find it especially interesting that this video illustrates powerfully how much the " sound " of the top brass bands has changed in the last 50 odd years - becoming much more orchestral and homogenous imho. Given the time which has elapsed since the original broadcast it's sad but inevitable that so many of those on show here are no longer with us - conductors Denzil Stephens, Geoff Whitham (both ex Black Dyke euphoniums), Richard Evans, adjudicators/organisers Bram Gay , Roy Newsome, HM ...... also potted a few outstanding players from that time including Martin McHale and Brian Evans at Brighouse and Stephen Roberts, Kevin Edwards, Stan Lippeatt and Ken MacDonald at Grimethorpe. Thanks for posting. Btw I wonder if this was the last year Granada sponsored this contest because I think it was sponsored by Rothmans tobacco by 1978?
Just found this clip looking for more. I saw them back in 1984 at St. Mary's College in Maryland. I was the photographer for the college newspaper and was taking photos during their act. Right in the middle of one song, they noticed me and quickly stopped their song and posed for me as if I was part of their act. It was great. I bought their LP and have been trying for years to find more info on them.
I'm just now coming across this video (Aug 1, 2017). Was telling someone about these loopy guys and how much everybody who saw them live totally loved them. I had the great pleasure of booking them a few times, near the end of their career, but this video shows them at their zaniest best, right in the prime of their heyday. Thank you so much for posting this. The memories linger. :-)
Not only Mnozil - they also influenced Canadian Brass to loosen up a lot! I saw them many times around the SF Bay Area and have all of their recordings!
How many recordings did they make? I have 3: "Just a Tiny Boo-Boo", "Live and in Debt", and "The Russians aren't coming". Are there any more? These guys were fantastic! I'd love to hear all I can of them!
i have a record from them some wear from the original brass band and yes I too saw them at the harvest festivals in the 80s so its good to see the lunacy live on
Wow! What a blast from the past!!! How lovely to see so many of my former pupils from "The Isle of Ely College" playing. What a privilege to have had some input into their tuition and development.e.g. Kevin Robbins, "Stanshawe" Principal Cornet and from "Jones and Crosland" Andy Culshaw Principal Cornet,Peter Wain Cornet and Martin Burn Tenor Horn The latter three being conducted by my contemporary Horn playing student friend at the R.C.M. Stephen Roberts.
Personnel: Trumpet: Philip Jones,Paul Archibald, ? and ? Horn: Frank Lloyd Bass Trombone: Raymond Premru Euphonium/Trombone: David Purser Trombone : ? and ? Tuba: John Fletcher Can somebody fill in the blanks?
These men are too young to be the Brass Band I saw performing at Dickens Christmas Fair in SanFrancisco - back in the mid-late 1970s. But the madness is much the same. So glad to see the tradition continues in another generation!
Avery Milieu These are definitely the same guys - I recognize them from the many performances of theirs, that I was privileged to attend. There was video back then, you know...
+Avery Milieu There were a few, very few changes in the personnel through the life of the band. When they disbanded, they sort of disappeared - I have run into a few of the members over the years, but they have no Internet presence at all (except for these few videos.)
I have known the Flying Karamazov Brothers for a number of years (Faire connections that lasted) and have noted that the actual performers are occasionally replaced as older ones retire from the road. I know that at one point there was MORE than one FKB group on the road at the same time... I recognized the Brass Band antics and uniforms, but this seems newer than the late 70s (film quality and all) and these guys, like the FKB could well be the next generation... I was startled to see the Brass Band - there are some memories of the year the Management scheduled them do a daily set in the Fezziwigs Dance Party... Not precisely easy to dance to, believe me - shifting tempos and the like.. Rather like dancing to Spike Jones... Long standing groups often do have personnel changes. Sadly, age happens.... Faster on the Road.
SUPER BRASS* WAS LOOKING TO SEE THEM IN TURKEY AND THEY CAME* WE HAD REALLY SUPER HOURS ALL TOGETHER AND THEY WERE GREAT ON CONCERT* WE WERE ALL IN ISTANBUL***
Really beautiful music! I often listen to the albums 'Le tuba enchantée' and 'The best of Fletch' from the in my opinion ever best tubaist of the world!! 'In modo religioso op.38' from A.Glazunov on their LP 'Romantic Brass' is one of my favourites.
Neil, I spoke to Tom Gansch and he said didn't know about them ?? - I saw The Brass Band many times including their first Perrier Award winning Fringe festival - . my ribs still ache ..
AdenosinePush - The Praetorius was included on their Focus on PJBE album. As I write there are a couple of 'biddables' for this album on eBay UK and one 'buy it now' for £5.
God I need to get this vinyl. Anyone know what album they cut the Praetorius on? There's something unique about English brass ensembles that I can't quite articulate. Doesn't really make much sense to compare them to the German Brass though, completely different sound and school of playing especially when you factor in the rotary horns....both groups are immaculate!
And the line up, here; Trumpets: Simon Ferguson, Graham Ashton, Paul Archibald, Philip Jones. Horn: Frank Lloyd. Trombones: Roger Harvey, Christopher Mowat, David Purser (doubling euphonium), Ray Premru. Tuba: John Fletcher.
German Brass are a superb group. However, other than the excellent Superbrass, brass ensembles in the UK don't seem to be as prominent as PJBE - in the way of recordings, anyway. London Brass's last 'solo' (i.e. not performing with choirs or other ensembles) CD was 'Surprise', several years ago. Is there still an audience for brass ensembles these days in the UK? German Brass did a mini UK tour a few years back - to half full halls. If they can't sell out here, who can?
