World Heritage Site cultural programme heralds Cornwall’s brass and silver bands to tell mining story
Published in Events on 2013-05-14 by Empty Chairs
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On Jan 1st 1970, at
Sounding the call
World Heritage Site cultural programme heralds Cornwall’s brass and silver bands to tell mining story
Whilst Camborne Town Band is understood to have been established at the relatively early date of 1841, within what was then the most important mining and industrial area in Cornwall, the majority of Cornish brass/silver bands were to be created during the second half of the century and into the twentieth, when the external cultural influences were being felt the most. Today there are around thirty active bands in Cornwall, and together these blast out a proud legacy of Cornwall’s internationally important industrial mining heritage.
To celebrate this proud tradition, the Cornish Mining World Heritage Site has commissioned ‘Adventurers in Music’ - a new work for musicians and actors with a script by acclaimed Cornish writer Jane Pugh and a music score by 2012 British Composer of the Year Award winner, Simon Dobson, who grew-up in a Cornish brass banding family. This is the latest in a series of successful productions in the Cornish Mining World Heritage Site cultural programme, delivered by Near-ta Theatre and Carn to Cove and the resultant public performances will take place at the Royal Cornwall Show, Cotehele Quay, Heartlands, Geevor and Liskeard town centre in June this year.
The work is written in seven musical episodes to be performed by silver and brass band performers of different skill levels. One episode is written for primary school learners, another for a youth band, a third for a community band, fourth for a group of teachers, fifth for a competition level band, sixth for a very experienced flugel horn soloist, and the seventh is the whole ensemble.
Last year saw an amazing one off opportunity for some of Cornwall’s silver and brass bands to play alongside the BBC Concert Orchestra at Heartlands. Now wind musicians across Cornwall have been invited to rehearse the next four episodes.
Interspersed with the musical episodes are seven dramatic scenes, which tell a simple story of life in mining communities towards the end of the 19th century. The music was piloted in rehearsal by a group of five bands: Camborne Youth Band, St Stythians Band, Launceston Town Band, Bude Metric Brass and the young group from Lanner Band last year and scenes from the script by Near-ta Theatre at a development day.
Near-Ta Theatre has been successful in winning funding to match the commitment of the World Heritage Site for the project’s next exciting step from the Arts Council of England.
The performances will also be recorded to ensure that the script and music has a future in a digital realm including radio broadcasts. The recorded and mixed audio will be reduced to a headset/smartphone exploration at Cornish Mining World Heritage Sites, as well as being incorporated as new content on the website.
Deborah Boden, Cornish Mining World Heritage Site Co-ordinator says, “With a massive brass and silver band community in Cornwall and west Devon, this is a fantastic opportunity for us all to celebrate a music tradition which was integral to our mining culture. Doing this is a major achievement, which has directly garnered the support of the BBC Concert Orchestra and will continue to bring alive the stories of our mining heritage.”
Producer for Cornish Mining World Heritage Site Cultural Programme, Tim Smithies, says, “Thanks to the Cornish Mining World Heritage Site, Adventurers in Music is a unique opportunity to bring together a collective talent like never before within extraordinary and fascinating venues in the Cornish Mining landscape. We understand that musicians have other important commitments however we welcome all brass and silver bands in Cornwall and west Devon to be a part of this historic event.”
Performances and Key Rehearsal dates (Bands are not required to attend all of the rehearsals or all the performances ). Times to be confirmed
Main Rehearsal and Recording Weekend at Pool Academy
Friday 17th May (evening) (sectional rehearsal to be confirmed)
Saturday 18th May 10am – 10pm (sectional rehearsal schedule to be confirmed)
Sunday 19th May 10am – 10pm (full rehearsal schedule to be confirmed)
Performances
Thursday 6th June Royal Cornwall Showground, Wadebridge as part of the 2013 Royal Cornwall Show (excerpts only in the BBC Radio Cornwall Tent).
Saturday 8th June Cotehele Quay (Tamar Valley)
Sunday 9th June Heartlands (Pool),
Friday 14th June Geevor Mine (West Penwith) – School performances
Satruday 15th June Liskeard Town Centre
Main Rehearsal and Recording Weekend at Pool Academy
Friday 17th May (evening) (sectional rehearsal to be confirmed)
Saturday 18th May 10am – 10pm (sectional rehearsal schedule to be confirmed)
Sunday 19th May 10am – 10pm (full rehearsal schedule to be confirmed)
To take part, please call Tim Smithies on 01209 312500 or email tim@actcornwall.org.uk. For more details about Adventurers in Music visit www.adventurersinmusic.co.uk.
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