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Woods Manufacturing Brass Band

To: brass-band@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: Woods Manufacturing Brass Band
From: James Gayfer <ap805@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Date: Fri, Jul 1995
Reply-to: ap805@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

>
>Eric Pittock asked me to tell him a bit about our new brass band, so I
>thought I'd share our story with other brass banders.
>
>We started our group in the Fall of 1994 with the sponsorship of
>a local Ottawa businessman, Guthrie Woods, who has a company
>making, among other things, military insignia. He is also
>involved in the Governor General's Foot Guards in Ottawa, which
>is a militia regiment in Ottawa. The band sergeant-major, Dave
>Druce, is a cornet player formerly with the Welsh Guards, and it
>was through that connection that we got started. 
>
>Dave is the director of the band and the musicians are from a wide range
>of musical backgrounds - some S.A, some ex-military and RCMP musicians and
>some who just like to play.  Because of the commercial experience that
>many of have, our band can swing, but the traditional brass band
>repertoire is a relatively new experience for me, at least. 
> 
>Dave has really stretched the group to the point where we felt comfortable
>enough to enter the North American Brass Band Championships last Spring in
>Toronto. We entered the open class because will still have some trumpets
>(to be replaced with cornets as money permits) and French horns.  I
>understand that to be able to enter championship sections, we need the
>traditional instrumentation. Cornets will make a big difference but, being
>a trombone player, I like the blend of the French horns with the low
>brass.  I really enjoyed our test piece, Partita for Band by Philip Wilby.
>I'd like to play something else of his - beautiful writing! The end result
>is that we are all having a marvellous time and look forward to every
>rehearsal.  Isn't that what it's all about? 
> 
>Now it's your turn.  What is your background in brass bands?  I
>have a lot to learn and I have only begun to scratch the surface. 
>The director of the local Citadel band is a friend of mine and he
>invited me to play with them this summer. Their summer rehearsals
>are going to be sight reading of all sorts of BB music - should
>be fun!
>
>P.S. Someone else sent me a message which I accidentally deleted in a
>flurry of technical incompetence. Would you mind sending your message
>again. You can mail me personally, if you like. Sorry about that.


--
Jim Gayfer		   |       Eschew obfuscation!
ap805@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx    |

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