BALLYGOWAN FLUTE BAND
Band News
The Civic Centre in Lisburn was the venue for the 50th Annual Own Choice Contest on Saturday 27 February. For most flute band people this is the best day of the year, because of the variety of music on offer, but for some, nothing much changed other than the date, since last year's result was repeated exactly (Kellswater won it, Ballygowan were a close second and Hunter Moore finished third).
The adjudicator, Hughina Naylor was very well qualified for the job - being a flute player and flute teacher. It was also her fourth time to perform this function, and she stated how it was a privilege and that she was humbled by the standard of flute playing. She also referred to the brilliant arrangements of David Heaney (Ballclare) and Mark Douglas (Ballygowan) - they were responsible for no fewer than nine of the test pieces.
We would like to invest a few lines in appreciation of our Solo G-Treble player, Richard Douglas, who, for the third successive year, directed and conducted Ballymena Young Conquerors to first place in Grade 2. Also to Richard's partner on the first G-Treble, the youthful Victoria Watson, who directed and conducted Roses Lane Ends to a win in Grade 1.
Some examples of the music on offer: Sicilian vespers (Verde), The Accursed Huntsman (Franck), Fingals Cave (Mendelssohn), Hungarian Rhapsody No. 2 (Liszt), William Tell (Rossini), Rodeo (Copland), Slavonic Rhapsody (Friedman), Poet & Peasant, Light Cavalry (both by Suppe),
On a snowy Friday evening of the 29th of January, members and friends of the Ballygowan Flute Band met in La Mon House Hotel for a nice meal and an evening's fellowship, and in particular to say "thank you" for the contribution over 15 years of our recently retired Musical Director Dr. Windsor Hylands. During this period the band returned 33 wins in various competitions - something that the members would love to do again, but there are other excellent outfits out there who will have a say in that! His wife Isobel received a lovely bouquet and Windsor received a beautiful set of crystal decanter and glasses (presented resp. by Sarah Bass and President Sadie Strain).
Lots of very nice things were said after the meal. Windsor talked about the enjoyment and pleasure of his time with the band and thanked everyone for their cooperation and friendship. He also reminded us that he would willing to step into the breach at any time in the future. He picked out James Gourley, Darren Canmore and Mark Douglas for their input in sectional rehearsals, and for Mark's contribution with his excellent arrangements. Band Chairman Dougie Gourley reflected on Windsor's legacy from 1994 to 2009 - 5 wins in the World Flute Band Championship, 10 first places in the Flute Band Association Own Choice Contest, 5 wins in the Scottish own Choice Contest and placed first in 9 Portrush Masters Entertainment Contest (no mention of a further 15 second place finishes in these contests nor of two firsts in the Isle of Man and two wins in March competitions). Dougie also highlighted the number of times when the Band was not placed first, that Windsor won the interpretation prize - as recently as the 2009 Own Choice Contest. Dougie added that these successes were achieved in an era when bands had become very professional due to the tuition available in our times, and to the ever increasing standard within the Flute Band movement.
Click on the photos for a closer look
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Photos (from top left):
Laura McBride & Sarah Bass, Windsor & Isobel Hylands, Sadie Strain
(President) & Dougie Gourley (Chairman), Jane & Joanne Gourley, Sharon
Gourley & Heather McCracken, Leeanne & Brian Kerr, John Presho & Bob
McMurray, Sylvia Presho & Jim Gourley, John & Jenny Dawson and Jean
Browne, Sadie McMurray, Margaret and Rosaline Gourley, Stephen Gourley & Tom
Gourley, Rod Kerr & James Gourley.
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Playing at the Ballygowan Association's Christmas Tree Party which started in 1983, and the band has played in every one since - this one being 2009. Unfortunately our conductor was adjudicating in Scotland and a number of our members also attended. Mark Douglas conducted and James Spratt (next to the Christmas tree) took the photo.
World Flute Band Championship 2009 Winners
Ballygowan players and followers were delighted on Saturday 24th October
evening to hear the adjudicator call our name as 2009 winners. The test piece
was not a popular one, but none the less a good test. The top three bands made
an excellent fist of it, but the proof of the pudding surely came within the
adjudicator's remarks. Because the music was not at all well known - indeed it
was composed by a pianist for pianists - he referred to having looked forward
with interest to hear how the respective bands would "make music out of
it".
The success was all the sweeter because it was our conductor, Windsor Hylands'
last contest before he retired from active banding. Windsor worked very hand - not just in
front of the band, but also at home - to make the most of this piece of music,
and it capped a magnificent and memorable year for him. In the Flute Bands
Association Own Choice Contest in February he won the interpretation prize for
Dvorak's Carnival Overture. In the Scottish Own Choice Contest in May,
Ballygowan were judged the best overall band, and he was awarded the
interpretation prize for this year's World Championship. All-in-all it is a fitting
tribute to one of our country's most respected musical directors. The number
of first places that Dr. Hylands landed in his career may not be recorded, but
it is probably more than 75! Enjoy your retirement Windsor, and accept your
most sincere thanks for everything you did for us!
This year's test piece was Theme & Variations by Taneyev, arranged for flute by P.Walton (Saturday 24 October). The arranger actually composed the finale specifically for this contest.
Sergei Ivanovich Taneyev was born near Moscow in 1856. He began taking
piano lessons at age five, and when he was nine entered the Moscow
Conservatory - he was later to study under Tchaikovsky.
He graduated in 1875, the first student in the history of the Conservatory to
win the gold medal for both composition and performing (piano). He was
also the first person ever to be awarded the Conservatory's Great Gold Medal.
Taneyev was an accomplished performer and composer, and Tchaikovsky came to respect his professional opinion above most others (even though his frank opinions sometimes hurt the sensitive genius!) He was the soloist in the first Moscow performance of Tchaikovsky's Piano Concerto No. 1, and he was to perform other Tchaikovsky works for piano and orchestra. His pupils included Rachmaninov.
A Night at the Races in Comber Rec. on Friday 25 September was a successful fun night, even if there was room for more punters! This was the first stage in building funds to replace our marching uniform which has stood us in good stead for over 25 years. The race was won by Tom - he has a eye for a good horse (misspent youth?)
Banding Friend
Jimmy Greenaway passed away earlier this summer after a period of illness. Jimmy started his banding career with the 39th Old Boys but moved soon afterwards across the city of Belfast to The Ravenhill Temperance - he was also on the founding committee of the Gertrude Flute Band. In an earlier life Jimmy taught the beginners in Ballygowan, before a career move took him to South Africa. On return from the dark continent he rejoined the Ravens, but also guested from time to time with Ballygowan. Indeed, with Ravenhill not competing in the 2008 World Championship Contest, Jimmy played with us. He has played in Ballygowan colours on many occasions - indeed he was to guest with many bands throughout his life.
Jimmy is on the left with Mark Douglas, and the occasion was the 2006 Black Preceptory Parade in Scarva. He is being sorely missed.
Last away day for the band was in early May 2009 when a fairly large
group from the membership travelled to Troon to compete in the Annual Spring
Contest organised by the Scottish Amateur Flute Band Association - the
opportunity was not lost to have some fun along the way!
Eight bands participated, each playing a march and a test piece, and there were
prizes for the march, for the test piece and prizes for entertainment. At the
end, all points gained by each band were added up and there was a best overall
prize.
It was a good day for Ballygowan winning the march (with Bolts & Bars) and the test piece (Irish washerwoman, Champions Theme and Dvorak's Carnival Overture). We also collected the prize for the best piccolo performance as well as the entertainment prize - which also guaranteed that we were the best overall band on the day.
Highlight for everyone in the hall including the adjudicator was our solo G Treble player Richard Douglas' performance of the Champions Theme. All-in-all a good day at the office!
Four good men travel with the band to Newcastle in 1984. From the
left, Richard (Dick) Douglas who played the piccolo for years, and until shortly
before this photo was taken, had been conductor for some 20 years. William
Strain and Martin McMinn separate Dick from brother Tommy, who moved to
Banbridge in 1930, and made a telling contribution there as conductor to the
Conservative Flute Band and, when they changed their instruments, to the
Banbridge Silver Band.
As a young lad, Dick Douglas once received a standing Ovation after playing a
difficult piccolo cadenza in the World Flute Band Championship in the Ulster
Hall Belfast.
Our conductor at the time the photo was taken was Brian Houston.
