Category: Engagements

Saturday November 18^th 2023 saw the band head over the Severn Bridge to take part in a concert outside Wales for what is believed to be the first time!

Held at the Salvation Army Hall in Easton, Bristol, the ‘Best of Brass’ concert featured Filton Concert Brass and Pontardulais Town Band, along with guest Euphonium soloist Daniel Thomas, of the Cory Band.

Filton Concert Brass, with guest conductor Anri Adachi, opened the concert and chose to perform their recent Wychavon Festival of Brass set, before accompanying Daniel on ‘Rhapsody for Euphonium and Brass Band’.

The second part of the concert saw Pontardulais Town Band, conducted by Paul Jenkins, take to the stage to perform their own selection of pieces and to accompany Daniel on ‘In Gardens of Peace’ and ‘Fantasie Originale’.

The final part of the concert saw both bands combine to perform four pieces together, with Anri and Paul sharing conducting duties, appropriately closing with a rendition of ‘Fire in the Blood’ – a piece which was originally commissioned to celebrate the 120^th anniversary of the International Staff Band of the Salvation Army.

All proceeds from the concert went towards the Salvation Army’s work in the Easton region of Bristol.

The full programme of music from the concert is below.

Filton Concert Brass (Anri Adachi)

Clans Collide	Philip Harper
Cry Me a River Cornet Soloist: Neil Allen	Arthur Hamilton arr. TBC
Adagio	Samuel Barber arr. Keith Griffin
I Got Rhythm	George Gershwin arr. Alan Fernie
Thunder and Lightning	Johann Strauss arr. Frank Wright
Rhapsody for Euphonium and Brass Band Euphonium Soloist: Daniel Thomas	Johan Evenepoel

Pontardulais Town Band (Paul Jenkins)

Amazonia (from Windows of the World)	Peter Graham
Sosban Fach	Gareth Wood
In Gardens of Peace Euphonium Soloist: Daniel Thomas	Philip Harper
Fantasie Originale Euphonium Soloist: Daniel Thomas	Ermanno Picchi/Simone Mantia arr. Margaret Antrobus
Finale from Symphony No IV	Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky arr. William Gordon

Massed Bands

March – Praise	Wilfred Heaton
Banana Island	Etienne Crausaz
Nimrod (from Enigma Variations)	Edward Elgar arr. Eric Ball
Fire in the Blood	Paul Lovatt-Cooper
ENCORE – Climb Every Mountain	Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein arr. Philip Harper

We regret to advise that due to unforeseen circumstances beyond our control, the concert arranged for 1st October at Morriston Tabernacle has been cancelled. All tickets sold will be refunded.

As the ongoing COVID-19 Coronavirus pandemic has once again resulted in the cancellation of most of the band’s Christmas performances, the band instead has a very special treat for you – a joint virtual concert from Pontardulais Town Band and the incredible Pontarddulais Male Choir, with an introduction by the choir’s President, Mr Eric Jones.

The band are incredibly grateful to both for their contributions and are honoured to be sharing a stage with them, albeit a virtual one! The band sincerely hope Christmas 2022 will see the return of the much loved community Christmas Concert and the opportunity for all musical organisations in Pontarddulais to perform together once again.

Wishing you all a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

The ongoing COVID-19 Coronavirus pandemic has unfortunately restricted our ability to spread some much needed Christmas cheer in the local community.

Instead of public performances at local supermarkets, pubs, in the community and of course our annual Christmas concert, we are delighted to share a selection of past performances of our favourite Pontardulais Town Band Christmas pieces to put you in the festive mood.

As we countdown to the big day, we will be posting a new piece every day, including something VERY special on the weekend of the 19^th/20^th.

Keep an eye on our Facebook page, or check this page for updates!

24^th December – We Wish You A Merry Christmas

For our final video, a socially distanced offering of the piece we normally finish our carol playing sessions with.

We hope you’ve enjoyed our Christmas videos, we end with a message from the Chair of Pontardulais Town Band:

This year has proved to be a difficult one for us all. We are very grateful to all of you for your support in these very challenging times and value your continued assistance. The committee has been busy in working together and collaborating in keeping our members safe. We are now looking forward to the future in 2021 and would like to take this opportunity to wish you all a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.

Sue Aldrich
Chairperson, Pontardulais Town Band

23^rd December – The Twelve Days of Christmas

Time for a sing-along! This has become a bit of a tradition at our annual Christmas Concert!

22^nd December – (Not So) Silent Night

Now a different take, by Jonathan Mead, on the classic Silent Night, performed by the Senior, Training and Beginner Bands. Definitely another one to watch until the end…

21^st December – Mary, Did You Know?

A change of pace today with this piece, arranged by our solo horn player, Tara Smith.

20^th December – Santa Claus-Trophobia

Next up is the second of our special videos, recorded especially for this Christmas!

19^th December – Jingle Bells

Here is the first of the special videos as promised, recorded especially for this Christmas!

18^th December – Winter Wonderland

Another festive favourite today!

17^th December – Christmas Overture

How many Christmas songs and carols can you count in today’s offering?

16^th December – One Day I’ll Fly Away

Next up is a solo from our soprano cornet player, Kevin ‘Snowman’ Shanklin. Once again, keep watching for the hidden bonus track at the end…

15^th December – A Christmas Adventure

Today’s piece feature a solo from our solo horn player, Tara Smith.

14^th December – Jingle Bells

Now a joint effort from the Senior, Training and Beginners Bands.

13^th December – O Holy Night

Next up, we feature our solo euphonium player, Lyndon Harris. Watch to the end for an extra treat…

12^th December – Festive Intrada

Sit back, relax and enjoy our first piece, Festive Intrada – do keep a look out for a very naughty elf…

Due to the COVID-19 Coronavirus pandemic there is no Remembrance Parade in Pontarddulais this year. This video, using footage from previous years’ parades and the 2018 WW1 100 Years Remembrance Concert, as well as contributions from Pontarddulais Male Choir and Pontarddulais Town Band, has been put together as a tribute to the service and sacrifice of our Armed Forces, veterans and their families.

The band was sadly unable to hold its Annual Concert at Pontardulais Comprehensive School, scheduled for July 4^th, due to the COVID-19 Coronavirus pandemic.

Instead, the band were delighted to share its first ever Virtual Concert, which included some of its highlight performances and outstanding soloists’ contributions from previous Annual Concerts. The virtual compere for the evening was Band President, Garry Owen.

The band hope you enjoy the concert and encourage you to share it with your friends and family to enjoy too.

As mentioned at the end of the video, if you enjoyed the concert and would like to make a donation to the band, please follow this link to the band’s current campaign on GoFundMe.

Programme

	Men of Harlech	Traditional
1.	Ol’ Man River	Oscar Hammerstein and Jerome Kern, arr. Mark Freeh	2015
2.	Prelude on Two Welsh Hymns	Jonathan Mead	2019
3.	Stardust Guest Soloist: Chris Thomas – Trombone	Hoagy Carmichael arr. Bill Geldard	2015
4.	Green Hornet Guest Soloist: Tom Hutchinson – Trumpet	Billy May arr. A. Morrison	2018
5.	Ballade Guest Soloist: Sheona White – Tenor Horn	J. Golland	2019
6.	The World’s Greatest Storyteller	Philip Harper	2017
7.	Salsa Tres’ Prado	Philip Harper	2017
8.	Helter Skelter Soloist: Sara Llewellyn	W. G. Lemon arr. Ray Woodfield	2019
9.	Tale of the Dragon	Paul Lovatt-Cooper	2019
	Hen Wlad Fy Nhadau

The band was once again proud to lead the Remembrance Sunday Parade in Pontardulais on 10^th November 2019. The Senior Band was pleased to be joined on Parade by members of the Training Band, some of whom were taking part in their first Remembrance Parade.

Special thanks to band member Iwan Hill for playing the Last Post at the outdoor Service held at the War Memorial in Pontardulais.

A busy Remembrance weekend saw the band perform at a special ‘Festival of Remembrance Concert’ on the Saturday evening, before leading the traditional parade on the Sunday morning.

The concert, commemorating 100 years since the end of World War 1, saw the band give a world premiere performance of a composition written for the band, ‘Bugles Sang’, from the pen of local composer and current composer in residence of the Pontardulais Town Band, Mr. Haldon Evans.

Also performing at the concert were soprano soloist Adele O’Neill, local choirs Côr Glandulais and Lleisiau Lliw, and the prize-winning Pontarddulais Male Choir.

A number of performances were given by local children – choirs from Pontarddulais Primary School and Ysgol Llanedi, a choir and saxophone ensemble from Pontarddulais Comprehensive School and a dramatic presentation by Ysgol Gymraeg Bryniago.

The concert was held at Pontarddulais Comprehensive School and was compèred by Rhodri Lewis.

Llanelli online were present at the concert and have a report, along with photographs, available on their website.

Popular brass band website 4barsrest.com also have a report on their website, specifically about the premiere of ‘Bugles Sang’.