Squeezed in between a hectic Christmas schedule for Derwent Brass a ten piece ensemble from the band managed to find time for a whistle-stop trip to Mainz, Germany to take part in the Christmas Festival there.
The ensemble flew out from Stansted on Friday afternoon, were greeted at Hahn airport (and each presented with a chocolate Santa !) then whisked off and within an hour of landing in Germany were on board the pleasure boat Gutenburg to entertain a corporate Christmas party as they cruised down the Rhein. After playing for an hour or so we treated to a dinner and beer on board. The cruise ended at Mainz where we disembarked and managed to find a pub still open.
Eventually it was off to find our hotel (yes, checking in at midnight ) and Friday night saw a serious assault on the hotel bar stocks into the early hours. "This is beginning to turn into a proper band trip" announced MD Keith Leonard as only half the ensemble appeared for breakfast Saturday morning ! A half hearted attempt at a rehearsal Saturday morning (which not everyone managed - no names) before off to town to check out the venue for the evening event - the Mainz Christmas festival. Mainz had really got into the Christmas spirit and a bright cheerful Christmas market filled the town square with all different goods ons ale and every other stall selling food of one sort or another. The now complete ensemble (except for a continually disappearing percussionist claiming some sort of stomach disorder - it's called a hangover Matt!) managed to find some time for shopping and sampling the various edible treats and a visit to the magnificent cathedral, before it was time for a sound check at the venue.
Other performers at the festival included an angelic choir and an italian girls dance party, so the audience were certainly jolted into life when the derwent brass ensemble lannounced their arrival with a full blooded Strike Up the Band.The ensemble then entertained the audience in the first half with a 'traditional' entertainment programme which included, Kalinka, Troublemaker, Reflections (featuring Graham Johnson on flugel), La Bamba and Varied Mood from euphonium soloist Dan Cheadle.
In the second half of the evening the ensemble launched themselves into a Christmas programme with Joy, a blues style version Joy to the World and Keith soon had that German audience clapping swinging along with the beat and thoroughly enjoying every minute of the performance. The Christmas programme included light items such as Christmas Calypso, Christmas Swing, Gaudette. The swinging style of the programme seemed to go down very well indeed and the bass trombone solo Frosty the Snowman delivered by Chris Clayton was especially well received and delighted the crowd.
The programme was brought to a close with that old favourite Jingle Bells and the ensemble were treated to a total standing ovation from the appeciative audience. Unfortunately there wasn't time for the encores they were asking for, but organiser Harald Schmidt did take the time to introdue every member of the ensemble individually (and the biggest cheer was for principal cornet Jamie Cooper who seemd to have developed a fan club among the all female Italian dance group !!!!)
The whole evening was rounded off by a verse of Silent Night with choir and audience, all in german of course, and accompanied by the ensemble.
After some more late night partying (compulsory on all band trips surely?) it seemed only fair to repay the hotel with some entertainment on Sunday morning, whilst they had a special Christmas Feyre and lunch before rushing off to catch a flight home.
A well worn and tired ensemble arrived back in Derby Sunday night after a thoroughly enjoyable trip. Many bands have 10 piece ensembles but the Derwent ensemble is only a recent idea. It was an honour to receive this invitation, and although hectic and tiring, the ensemble had a wonderful time. The excellent performances produced by the ensemble were very well received and it is to be hoped we have been ambassadors for the Midlands and Derwent Brass"
back stage before the first performance at the Christmas feyre
left to right :
standing at the back Jez Kearney Colin Sidney Dan Cheadle Jamie Cooper Chris Clayton
seated : Graham Johnson Karen Pitts Matt Collinge Adrian Beresford Dai Roberts Keith Leonard
