On Sunday September 25th, the town centre in Darwen was the venue and setting for the 7th Annual Blackburn & Darwen Open Air March & Hymn Tune Contest, postponed at the last minute from its original date two weeks previously as a mark of respect due to the sudden passing of Queen Elizabeth II. The original September 11th date was hastily re-arranged for two weeks later and proved to be a very successful day for a number of the bands participating including us at Eagley!
Drawn to play No.1, we marched down the incline towards the contest area performing ‘Army Of The Nile’ and then formed up to play our two, own choice competition pieces. Prior to playing the hymn tune ‘Abide With Me’ and contest march ‘O.R.B.’ which our MD Chris Wormald had chosen for us to perform, we played the National Anthem to the sizeable crowd which had already gathered for the noon start of proceedings.
Once the audience had settled back into their chairs and adjudicator Andrea Price had signalled her readiness by whistle from her closed away location, our MD chose to performed the hymn tune ‘Abide With Me’ first rather than the march, Ms Price commenting “a well-controlled opening with good band sound” and “dynamics nicely controlled and not overdone.” She then wrote “wonderful Cornet sound from the soloist” in the central verse (our Principal, Lynsey Hayes), “well supported by the band. The hymn tune flowed well throughout and to the close.”
We concluded our performance by performing the march ‘O.R.B.’ “with a good, confident opening” and “the overall style is good.” Ms Price continued “some lovely lyrical sounds leading into the Bass solo” and “a good lower band sound here.” Then follows “nice style and lovely Cornet again” and “good clarity on all triplets.” The adjudicator concluded her comments with “overall, a stylish performance.”
In the results ceremony at the conclusion of the day’s playing, the placings were announced from the lowest sections upwards, with prizes, trophies and certificates awarded to the bands judged to have been the best in the 4th, 3rd and 2nd sections before the announcer said “And the First Prize in the First Section goes to….Eagley Band!”
It was a wonderful day for everyone taking part and for the contest organisers themselves at Blackburn & Darwen Band who were both delighted and relieved that they were able to stage the 2022 contest when it had looked only two weeks earlier that the event might have to be cancelled again so soon after it had to be during the Covid lockdown period.
EAGLEY BAND 