Saturday 6 July 2024
On Saturday 6 July 2024, the Brass Band de Charente family met early in the morning in front of the 'Billi' terminal at Mérignac airport. At 10.20am, our Airbus A 319 took off, bound for Gatwick. The English capital was only a stopover. Barely on the ground and under a grey British sky, we boarded a bus for the four-hour journey to Rogerstone, Wales, in the county of Newport. At the end of a journey punctuated by "Obstruction on slip road" "Congestion. Stay in line", "Queue ahead", "Queue Caution", which saved us from a sudden change of scenery, we reached the manor house of Llantanarm Hall, home of the very upmarket Rougemont School, where we were to give our first concert that very evening.
Why this very spot? Because we were welcomed there by our friends from the Rogerstone Brass Band, led by Robert Burnett, a former member of the Cory who, when he lived in France, did us the honour of being our first euphonium player. The reunion was a fitting occasion for sharing and fraternity between musicians, with a massed band finale as is customary when two brass bands meet.
Rougemont School
Rogerstone Brass Band. Conductor : Robert Burnett
Junior ensemble formed by the Childs family and backed up by musicians from the Rogerstone Brass Band.
Le Brass Band de Charente. Conductor : Francis Chiché.
Sunday 7 July 2024
After our first night at the Premier Inn, close to Cardiff Bay, we took advantage of the morning of Sunday 7 July to wander around the city and visit Cardiff Castle and its underground passageways. The latter were used as shelters during the bombardments of the Second World War. We noticed that the posters of the time, urging everyone to join the war effort, had a distanced and sometimes humorous look despite the seriousness of the situation.
Cardiff Castle, with the Principality Stadium in the background, built on the site of the former Arms Park.
One of the many posters on display in the castle's underground passageways.
That same day, our second concert took place on the seafront of Barry Island, a seaside resort located to the immediate south-west of Cardiff. The first thing we needed was good weather, which is never a foregone conclusion in the UK. In this respect, the brass band gods were on our side, because when we arrived at Barry Beach, the sun was shining brightly on the sea. However, they had decided to add a strong wind to the sunshine. So we had to adapt to the wind so that the scores and even the music stands didn't go flying off all over the place.
Anyway, it was all in good spirits and the audience, although fluctuating in a place like this, was always fervent and warm. Our concert was part of a programme entitled 'It's Brassy Down the Island 2.0', which will feature nine different brass bands until 1st ofer September 2024. It's a real source of pride for us to open this programme, which gives us a good idea of the cultural and societal impact that brass bands have across the Channel.
Many thanks to our friends at Rogerstone Community Band for lending and transporting the music stands and percussion equipment.
And yes, at the top of the list, that's us!
The Brass Band de Charente at their sunny... and windy concert on Barry Island beach. A close-up photo would have shown you how many clothes pegs were used that day!
After an evening visit to Penarth and its pier, and a meal there, we headed back to Cardiff for a well-deserved rest, as the next day was going to be particularly busy and full of excitement.
Monday 9 July 2024
On Monday July 9, our first stop was Blaenavon, where we visited Big Pit, a former mine that was active from 1880 to 1980 and was converted into the National Coal Museum in 1983. Blaenavon's industrial landscape was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2000. https://whc.unesco.org/fr/list/984/
When you consider that the South Wales brass band movement was founded in the mines, this visit was a highlight.
First of all, she immediately linked us to the wonderful music of the film Brassed Off (Les Virtuoses in France) which, through the prism of its brass band, tells the story of the inexorable and programmed closure of a mine in Thatcherite England.
The visit to the bottom of the mine showed us just how hard this work was, almost inhuman at times as the miners put their health at risk, but also how proud these men were to do this work. "It was a good job, and if I could go back to work in the mine, I would do it straight away", our guide told us. His voice full of emotion, he then spoke to us in very choice terms about the government of the time. The pill is still very bitter for the miners today and has never been swallowed.
General view of Big Pit and photo taken at the bottom of the mine
That left us with the last, but by no means least, part of our journey, which was to meet the Cory Band and its director, Philip Harper. The Cory Band is one of the most famous brass bands in the world, and a benchmark in its field.
Our first stop was Cory's 'head office' at Ton Pentre, in the Rhondda district. Once there, we entered a real house, complete with rehearsal room, whose walls and windows are no longer sufficient to house the countless trophies won by this group since it was founded 140 years ago.
The entrance to the holy of holies: the Cory roomband
The perimeter and the trophy room
We then went to another rehearsal room currently used by the Cory Band to take part in a workshop led by Philip Harper. The programme included 'The Contestor', a traditional march by Tom J Powell (a former director of the Cory Band who, Philip jokingly told us, died while conducting, hoping that he would survive the ordeal), 'Canterbury Choral' by Jan Van der Roost and 'I Just Can't Wait To Be King' an extract from the soundtrack of the film 'The Lion King' arranged by Philip Harper himself.
We were a little impressed at first, but we didn't let the two hours of music Philip treated us to go by. Even though we already knew it, they allowed us to appreciate the talent of this great conductor, the effectiveness of his advice and direction, but also his simplicity and kindness.
Workshop with Philip Harper
After tucking into some fish and chips from a nearby restaurant called 'A Fish Called Rhondda' (probably a nod to the Blake Edwards film), we were treated to a Cory Band rehearsal. It was an enormous experience, of course, with an exceptional conductor and musicians in the midst of preparing for the final of the National Championship of Great Britain, which takes place on Saturday 5 October at London's Royal Albert Hall.
There's not much you can say about listening to a band that has reached such a level of excellence, other than to be delighted to have had the chance to be there. We'll all remember that Monday afternoon with the Cory Band for a long time to come.
Tuesday 10 July 2024
On Tuesday 10 July, after a free morning to enjoy Cardiff Bay and the city centre one last time, we headed for Bristol airport, from where we flew to Mérignac.
Once again, our warmest thanks go to Rob Burnett, as well as Olly Thomas (Chairman of the Rogerstone Community Band) and his wife Claire, who expertly managed the organisation of this project on the Welsh side. On the French side, our heartfelt thanks go to Becky and Steve Harrington for their commitment, which ensured that this exhilarating trip ran smoothly and without a hitch.
See you soon!
Welsh Parliament, at the entrance to Cardiff Bay
Cardiff Bay. Beneath the leaves, to the left of the tree and on a wrought-iron gate are inscribed these verses:
You have graced our world with your grandeur
Forever may you stay to smile your benedictions
Sweet tree of Cardiff Bay