Summer Sounds Course 1998
by Brian Murphy and Trevor Johnston
The members of the Drogheda Brass Band look forward to one week in particular each year and that is the second last week of July, when Archie Hutchison of the CWS Glasgow Band takes the band for "Summer Sounds", a week-long course of intensive music rehearsals.
Archie at work during a break at one of the rehearsals.
First Rehearsal
Arriving on Saturday afternoon, the first rehearsal is always the hardest as although he is now familiar with every face, he must gauge how much the band has improved since last year. The choice of music is always fantastic, as the music at the concert proves. It was Archie who launched our performances of "Riverdance" two years ago, and no doubt many of tonight's offerings will become regulars.
The first piece rehearsed this year was Goff Richard's "Fanfare for a New Age", a performance of which can be heard on the recordings section. The week got off to a great start - at the very beginning of Saturday night's rehearsal, some children had wandered into the courtyard just outside the hall. To everyone's delight - not least their own - they were actually visibly impressed and that is no exaggeration!
Sunday
Sunday is usually a relaxing, enjoyable but no less important day of the Summer Sounds course, but this year we had our first official Skoda (who are patrons of the Drogheda Brass Band) engagement playing at the Trim Vintage Rally Show. So, seeing as he was available, Archie came along with us and played repiano cornet for the afternoon.
The event was packed, even though it must surely have been one of the windiest, wettest days that we've had an engagement in the last couple of years. Nonetheless, we played for about two and a half hours out in the open in the middle of the field, only finishing only a few minutes ahead of schedule due to heavy rain half-way through the last piece - which coincidentally was "Singin' in the Rain".
Rehearsals
For the next four days of the week, it was solid rehearsal time for the Senior Band. This year was probably the most difficult yet with one day of rehearsals essentially lost, but in the end it didn't seem to affect the aim of the week, which of course is the overall improvement of the band.
Archie always puts all of his effort into the week, with his personality and wit making for the most enjoyable rehearsals possible, but at the same time his ability and dedication with what must be achieved in the mere six days available absolutely second to none. In short, there is always a full attendance at the Summer Sounds course!
Archie poses with our bass section!
Pitch and Putt
The first annual Drogheda Brass Band Pitch and Putt Competition was held last year in the Julianstown course, and as it was such a great success it of course went ahead this year, again on Tuesday morning. This year the venue was changed at the last minute to Morgan's pitch and putt course, just outside Drogheda.
Last year's champion, Gareth McDonnell was on the injury list for the course this year, so the competition was wide open for someone new. Richard Rock, Tony Collins, Brian Murphy and Martin Shields each got a much-prized two, but at the end of the day it was Brian Murphy who emerged as the winner with a score of 60, with Richard Rock finishing a mere six points behind and Neil Kierans a further three back.
| Player | Score |
|---|---|
| Brian Murphy | 60 (+6) |
| Richard Rock | 66 (+12) |
| Neal Kierans | 69 (+15) |
| Tony Collins | 73 (+19) |
| Darius McGann | 73 (+19) |
| Archie Hutchison | 74 (+20) |
| Martin Shields | 79 (+24) |
| Andrea Rock | 82 (+28) |
| Barry Conlan | 83 (+29) |
| Caroline O'Brien | 89 (+35) |
| Christy Smith | 93 (+39) |
| Emma Hearty | 96 (+42) |
| Vivienne Lambe | 104 (+50) |
| Trevor Johnston | 105 (+51) |
Training Band
This year for the first time saw the Summer Sounds course becoming a real school of music with the Training Band, as it is now known, practising each morning with Lorcan Daly, a musician in the army. Reports from the band itself were extremely positive, and so the Training Band will almost undoubtedly have their own rehearsals again next year.
For the first time, the Senior Band shared the Summer Sounds concert with the Training Band, where they played for roughly twenty minutes. The audience had a very positive reaction to this middle section of the concert and most people agreed that it had thoroughly added to the concert. The band would like to give a big thanks to Lorcan for taking the band for the week.
A practice with the Training Band in the school.
The Big Concert
As usual, Friday came and with it the end of the week. But it's never as bad as it seems, and the highlight of the entire week - the concert - had arrived. As is Archie's custom, the concert began without any introduction, and we launched straight into "Fanfare for a New Age". After this, Archie gave some brief introductions and we played through some more pieces, including Brian Murphy's excellent solo rendition of "Stardust".
Although Archie had resolved to keep the talking to a minimum, the audience had also come for Archie's showmanship and so he couldn't disappoint. Only Archie would "interrupt" the concert to fix the lighting in the concert hall and still manage to keep the audience listening!
As always, some former band members were presented at the concert with small tokens of appreciation for making the band what it is today. This year those presented included Sid Kierans and Richie Whearty, two people still very much associated with the band. And let us not forget the Pitch and Putt trophy!
And so the concert ended and with it the Summer Sounds 1998 course. As always, it was a huge success, with everyone agreeing that it was the best Summer Sounds concert yet held, which is really saying something if you've seen any other. So hopefully next year's course and concert will be an even bigger success!
Lorcan Daly conducting the band at the concert in the Droichead Arts Centre.
Thanks
Naturally, all the band-members would like to show their appreciation to Archie Hutchison for making the week so enjoyable and for once again putting such effort into making the week's course a huge success.
Finally a mention must be given to Peter Govern who very kindly assisted with the transport of equipment for the course.