“If Pac-Man had affected us as kids, we’d all be running around in dark rooms, munching pills and listening to repetitive electronic music.” — Marcus Brigstocke

oh…how ironic o.O

Although there’s nothing natural about it. I’m pretty tired, I’ve literally just walked through the door, after playing a combined concert with Pelorus Trust Wellington Brass Band (the one I’m in and incidentally the first B Grade band in history to be Champions of Australasia (that’s New Zealand and Australia combined!) and Wellington Citadel Band (the Salvation Army Band) - The band played a number of pieces along a celebration theme; The first half was dominated by Citadel Band starting with ‘Proclaimers’ by Kevin Norbury and bringing their half to a climax with ‘Glorifco Aeternum’ by Dean Jones.

After a very short break it wasy our turn, and we kicked things off with ‘March - Praise’ by Wilfred Heaton closelly followed by the first public performance of our test piece for the Nationals in Christchurch this July (still a little rough round the edges but certainly getting there) - ‘Renaissance’ by Peter Graham. We finished our set with ‘Make His Praise Glorious’ By William Gordon which some in the UK may recognise as the theme to Songs of Praise (unless they’ve changed it recently?)

Finally both bands massed together to play a number of pieces my favourite of which was ‘When I Survey’ by Olaf Ritman; which I am sure was used in a movie soundtrack…..just can’t place it right now? It’s actually based on a traditional folk tune ‘O Waley, Waley’ and Olaf coming from a Salvationist background with the Amsterdam Staff Band, does this great justice indeed.

in other news…? I ’still’ haven’t sold my house in the UK and I am beginning to get a little ‘nervous’ about it!