BRASS ON GRASS 2007
Marching to Brass on Grass 2007
Truro 2007
3rd Section Champions 2007
Holland 2002
At the end of May 2002 Constantine Silver Band embarked on their first tour of Holland. The visit came about through band member Brian Edwards’s chance meeting with Bart Kraak from Holland nearly 30 years ago when Bart and his family were holidaying in the area, since then they have kept in contact ever since with Bart (a founder member of the Den Helder Fisherman’s Choir, a male voice of over 100 members) asking when is Ian going to come to Holland with a band.
So on Tuesday 28th May a party of 64 travelled to Den Helder in North Holland arriving on Wednesday afternoon. Everyone settled into the Hotel and in the evening the band had a final rehearsal before a hectic few days. During the rehearsal the Mayor of Den Helder came and officially welcomed the band to the city.
Constantine Band at the Floriade
The first Concert was on Thursday at the Floriade near Amsterdam. It’s the World Horticulture Exhibition only held every ten the company. The band played between the original copper vats and asyears and attracts some three million visitors worldwide from April to October. While the band were there everyone had a chance to look at the colourful variety of exhibitions on offer.
After the concert at the Floriade the party drove into Amsterdam city centre where the band played at the ‘Heineken Experience’ – Amsterdam’s latest tourist attraction. The ‘Experience’ was the former original brewery of the Heineken family who still own it and shows in great detail how “the beer that reaches other parts” is made and the history of with the Floriade became the first British brass band to play there. Following the concert the party had a chance to look around and some experiencing eating English style fish and chips with a strawberry on top!
On Friday the party had a chance to sightsee and shop in Den Helder which has some 60,000 residents. In the evening the band gave another well received concert at the Nogalwiedus Restaurant who’s owner provided a free meal for everyone. The evening ended with a traditional sing-song.
Saturday morning and the band were up early to play at the official opening of Den Helder’s Day Of Music which began in the city square. Following their onstage concert the band marched through the city centre.
Marching through Den Helder with standard bearers Dougie Down (Constantine Band banner), David Cotterill (Dutch flag) and Tony Waddington (St Piran’s flag)
The entire party were then treated to lunch at the Visserhall by the Male Voice Choir before the band had a quick practice with the choir prior to the sell out final concert at the hall with the Male Voice Choir and ‘Rejoice’, a 60 strong ladies choir. Each gave a 30 minute individual performance before the band and choirs massed together for the singing and playing of Glory Glory Halleujah. Again the band were the first British brass band to take part in the day of music. During their performance the band gave two encores much to the delight of the audience. Solo items on the tour featured Belinda Reynolds (cornet), Aly Smith (flugel), Cecil Bennetts (euphonium), Greg Williams (trombone) and an unforgettable performance by Tony Waddington on the bass drum.
The band laided a wreath at the new Den Helder Maritime Memorial.
Belinda Reynolds played the Last Post.
The party and choir members had a fairwell get together before returning to Constantine on Sunday June 2nd. Mementos of the band were given to Herman de Wijn for all his help and assistance to the band, the choir, the mayor, Brian Edwards and Bart Kraak. Travel arrangements for the visit were made by Dougie Down, Accommodation and concerts by lan Edwards and Herman de Wijn.
Constantine Band and the Nieuwediepervisserkoor
2009 Update
Busy time for Constantine Band
July is always a busy time for the band. First we had the Garden Show where the band played in the afternoon. This was shortly followed by an all Constantine flavour concert featuring the School Choir, Boys Choir & Samba band, Our Male Voice Choir, The Trengilly Singers, the bands Youth Group and ourselves all doing a short programme which was greatly enjoyed by all.
Sunday was our 28th year of Brass On Grass with guest bands Cambome, Helston and St Keveme and was certainly celebrated in style. The brass on grass is becoming more popular each year and is an evening of high class entertainment plus audience participation, The setting and staging tastefully decorated due to the hard work of the band members and friends who work to make the event memorable and continues to be one of the best band events in the area. The parade was led by the bands new joint Presidents Drs. Adrian and Paula Roberts who took over the role after the very sad death of Mrs. Barbara Scully. Mr and Mrs Scully had been the band’s Presidents for many years. Our new Presidents introduced the evenings Compere Mr. Phillip Hunt who carried out the proceedings for the second year running introducing each piece of music with his great knowledge of bands and music.
Looking back to the first Brass 0n Grass it is interesting to reflect that the first performance was actually in the open air on the recreation ground, hence the title Brass on Grass, In 1985 we went up market and began our long association with the garden show sharing the marquee and its cost, its nice to see two local organizations working together for 24 years. Many in the audience in 1981 have attended Brass on Grass without a break and most look forward to the bands parade which is an attractive prelude to the event.
This year the audience were entertained to a varied musical programme with many aspects of individual and duet performances highly applauded The massed bands under the baton of Gareth Churcher (Castle Coch) John Hitchens (Trelawny & Pomp and Circumstance) Kevin Mackenzie (Flora Dance & The National Anthem) played an ever popular and rousing performance in which the audience stood and waved flags to the playing of Trelawny and Land of Hope and Glory with an encore for both. Thanks were expressed to all who helped with the event and through out the year.
The following week-end the band played on the Sunday’s Two Days village Carnival event, but due to the bad weather had to play in the Social Club Function room .
The next week-end saw the band playing at Port Navas Regatta, this was followed on the Sunday with the band’s annual Carolare on the Quay where we were joined by the Church Choir and the Constantine Male Voice Choir. Reverend David Stevens officiated at the event.
Busy time for Constantine Band
July is always a busy time for the band. First we had the Garden Show where the band
played in the afternoon. This was shortly followed by an all Constantine flavour concert
featuring the School Choir, Boys Choir & Samba band, Our Male Voice Choir, The
Trengi I ly Singers, the bands Youth Group and ourselves all doing a short programme
which was greatly enjoyed by all. Sunday was our 2 8,h year of Brass On Grass
with guest bands Cambome, Heiston and St Keveme and was certainly celebrated in
style. . The brass on grass is becoming more popular each year and is an evening of high
class entertainment plus audience participation , The setting and staging tastefully
decorated due to the hard work of the band members and friends who work to make the
event memorable and continues to be one of the best band events in the area. The parade
was led by the bands new joint Presidents Drs. Adrian and Paula Roberts who took over
the roll after the very sad death of Mrs. Barbara Scully, who, with Hugh were the bands
long standing Presidents.Our new Presidents introduced the evenings Compere Mr.
Phillip Hunt who carried out the proceedings for the second year running introducing
each piece of music wtith his great knowledge of bands and music.
Looking back to the first B 0 G it is interesting to reflect the first performance was
actually in the open air on the recreation ground, hence the title Brass On Grass, In 1985
we went up market and began our long association with the garden show sharing the
marquee and its cost, its nice to see two local organizations working together for 24 years.
Many in the audience in 1981 have attended B 0 G without a break and most look
forward to the bands parade which is an attractive prelude to the event.
The audience were entertained to a varied musical programme with many aspects of
individual and duet performances highly applauded
The massed bands under the baton of Gareth Churcher (Castle Coch) John Hitchens
(Trelawny & Pomp and Circumstance) Kevin Mackenzie (Flora Dance & The National
Anthem) played an ever popular and rousing performance in which the audience stood
and waved flags to the playing of Trelawny and Land of hope and glory with and encore
for both
Thanks were expressed to all who helped with the event and through out the year.
The following week-end the band played on the Sunday’s Two Days village Carnival
event, but due to the bad weather had to play in the Social Club Function room . The next
week-end saw the band playing at Port Navas Regatta, this was followed on the Sunday
with the band’s annual Carolare on the Quay where we were joined by the Church Choir
and the Constantine Male Voice Choir. Reverend David Stevens officiated at the event.
Truro 2006
From the West Briton: Silverware for Constantine Band
Saturday was an historic day in Constantine Silver Band’s life. They played at the Cornwall brass band association competition in Truro and walked away with not just one trophy as the winners of the fourth section, but also the best instrumentalist of their section being awarded to Belinda Reynolds – principal cornet – and a shield for Mr Keith Anderson, musical director of the winning band.
The achievement of this success is the result of much dedication and hard work by the players themselves and a new challenge for their musical director Mr Anderson, who took up the baton just 18 months ago. Keith has been involved with local bands for many years and has attracted new players, thus improving the band’s performance to a higher standard. He has added much to the band with his musical knowledge, drive and enthusiasm.
Constantine Silver Band with musical director Keith Andersonand the trophies won at the Cornish Championships in Truro in 2006
The best instrumentalist award to Belinda was greatly deserved and her performance on the day flawless, and her success richly deserved. Not only is she a great player, but also an enthusiastic worker and dedicated member. She and her husband Chris, who holds the position of band secretary, are totally conunitted members and recently their two daughters have become senior band players, this being the fourth generation of the family to have been associated with the band’s history. The girls, along with others who have recently moved to the senior band, first began their banding in the junior section and were taught by Mr Anderson and Alyson Smith, who give up much of their time for tutoring the youth and the band’s future.They are keen to welcome anyone who would like to learn music. Practice nights are on Fridays from 7pm. The band’s success in winning the title is a credit to their hard work and also as added reward for the band’s chairman and his wife Dougie and Fran Down, who have actively shared their life with the band on a daily basis for 29 years since they reformed it in 1977, and they take this opportunity to say congratulations and to add how proud they are of the band’s success.
To have entered this particular contest over the past 20 plus years and missed winning it by the narrowest of margins on a number of occasions, it is a wonderful reward and a feeling of elation. Although the band have been extra busy with rehearsals for the concert, they still found time to fulfil local requests, one of which was to play at a 90th birthday.
The band is now looking forward to a very busy summer season, the high-light being their ‘Brass on Grass’ on July 16, where they will be celebrating 25 years of brass on grass. Guests for this concert are Camborne town band, Helston town band, St Keverne band and the hosts Constantine Silver Band, which makes this a night to really look forward to.
