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By Lochaber Community Wind Band

All fears were allayed the moment Charles lifted his baton. With At the concert on Sunday afternoon, Charles fronted a band of
just the right mix of laid-back congeniality and concentrated players who were red-cheeked with excitement and smiling from
musical focus, he coaxed and motivated, insisted and encouraged, ear to ear, at having overcome what had seemed insurmountable
with what appeared to be an instinctive ability to sense where his challenges only the previous morning. With the help of dedicated
efforts would be best spent. Fully appreciating that the weekend sectional instructors from as far apart as Fort William, Ullapool
was more about musical challenge and experience than putting and Glasgow, Charles transformed the Spring Fling group from
together a flawless concert, Charles and the band worked through a tentative scratch band to a musically assertive and attentive
the seven pieces at the all day rehearsal on the Saturday and ensemble.
again on the Sunday morning.

Paris Sketches (Martin Ellerby) John Whytes Reel (Alan Fernie)

Noted British composer Martin Ellerby calls this work Alan Fernie is one of the top arrangers of his
“my personal tribute to a city I love.” Each movement generation with brass bands all over the world playing
pays homage to a specific locale in Paris and to the his music; this is what he had to say about our Musical
composers who lived, worked, or passed through it. A Director. “I first met John whilst in Lochaber with
theme of bells, a prominent feature of Paris life, runs Caledonia Brass, and experiencing the first of many
through the entire piece. The first movement “Saint- long and wild nights in the legendary Glenfinnan Hotel,
Germain-des-Pres” evokes the bohemian Latin Quarter with all stops in between! He was then kind enough to
with shades of Ravel. “Pigalle” depicts the Soho of Paris, ask me, frequently, to work with the young people, not
with its car horns and police sirens. The third movement, “Pere Lachaise” only just in Lochaber, but with the Highland Schools band too - great times,
which is named after the city’s largest cemetery, recalls Satie’s Gymnopedies with great, great folk. And as always, it is an exhilarating ride with John, in
and closes with a quotation from the Dies Irae. The fast, bursting finale every respect! It was never less than wonderful, and also a slight relief when
“Les Halles” reflects the old market area of Paris and contains themes from it was over, just to slow down a bit!!! (Thus explains the slightly frantic and
Berlioz’s Te Deum, which was first performed in 1855 in that district. impatient nature of the piece I wrote for him!)

We are well aware that what we witnessed in Fort William that weekend was teaching excellence at work, and will forever be grateful to
Charles Hine for giving so generously of his talent for our benefit. We had such great fun at the weekend that the committee and band
are now looking ahead to running a similar event in the future. Perhaps one of the most challenging aspects of organising such an event
is acquiring funding and we were delighted that BASBWE and local organisations had generously contributed towards the educational and
organisational aspects of the weekend, through financial and in-kind assistance.

Amongst the many positive aspects that came out from the weekend celebration. Two former players of our band came back to join us for
the weekend, having not played a wind instrument for 10 years or so. They are now looking forward to joining bands in their local area having
met visiting players near to where they now live.

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