Part One of a fascinating video showing Black Dyke, CWS Manchester, GUS and Fairey Aviation Bands, performing and socialising. Showing rare footage of Eric Ball. The playing is astonishing, such musicianship.
Eric Ball the gentle man of brass kindness personified Have the memories of playing under him several times left you with the feeling of God sitting on your shoulder' 'a true gentleman''
I remember seeing this back in 1972. It has now become a piece of history as the conductors have passed into legend. I think they get a beautifully tight sound which massed bands often find it hard to get because of the sheer volume of sound. Very much enjoyed seeing it again.
Nice to see a reply to my comment. For what it's worth, I was 22 at the time and a member of the Weston Silver Band. The massed bands arrived a week before the big concert and each band put on free concerts in various cities between Niagara Falls and Toronto. I was in the thick of it as we hosted one of the bands at a local Legion. I believe a Niagara Falls travel agency was the main sponsor and for some reason thought there would be a greater return on their investment. The big show was well attended but I don't know how the sponsors could ever recoup their expenses. There was no live recording of the concert and the CBC documentary is the only proof that it ever happened. We had our own town band festival in the Toronto area but sadly it folded after 2 years of little to no interest.
Roy Newsome genial as ever had the wonderful opportunity of playing ''Bass in the Ballroom under his batton & will not forget his encouraging words ''you just play it & i'll follow you'',How Humble is that
I have never heard of or seen this before. Thank you for posting and such a shame it hasn't had more views and comments. Are bandsmen/women uninterested in their history? "Geoffrey Brand is the youngest of the conductors ... " Golly he looks like a young man alright in this video! This event must've taken an enormous amount of organisation. Man of the players went on to become conductors themselves. It's good to spot players here.
