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CHRISTMAS ENGAGEMENTS 2013
1st December - Concert at W.I. Hall, Holbeach
6th December - Carols at Band Fund-Raising Bingo
7th December - Concert at Broad Street Methodist Church, Spalding
8th December - Holbeach Christmas Fayre
13th December - Concert at Market House, Long Sutton
14th December - Carols at Sainsburys, Spalding
18th December - Carols at Masonic Hall, Spalding
22nd December - Moulton Carol Service
24th December - Carols at Tescos, Holbeach
1st December - Concert at W.I. Hall, Holbeach
A wonderful start to our Christmas season. We performed our first Christmas concert of the year at the W.I. Hall in Holbeach.
The ladies of the W.I. had decorarted the hall in a festive way amd made the stage look very nice. Unfortunately, they did not appreciatehow much room a brass band takes up; they had stacked surplus chairs and tables on the stage; they got quite upset when we cleared most of them off the stage! The stage was still quite a tight fit, but e managed.
Our programme went down very well with the audienc. The pieces were interspersed with carolswhich the audience sang along to. In fact the audience also sang along to many of the carols in the pieces!
Programme:
| Christmas Festival - arr. Leroy Anderson |
| First Noel (Christmas Cracker) - arr. Stephen Tight |
| For Unto Us a Child is Born - Handel arr. Jan van Kraeydonck |
| When Christmas Sleeps - arr. Gavin Somerset |
| Oompah Christmas - arr. Len Jenkins |
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| Jingle Bells Fantasy - arr. Darrol Barry |
| Coventry Carol - arr. Ian Bartram |
| We Three Kings - arr. Gavin Somerset |
| Do They Know its Christmas - Midge Ure & Bob Geldof arr. Frank Bernaerts |
| Partridge in a Pear Tree - arr. gavin Somerset |
| Merry Christmas Everybody - James Lea & Neville Holder arr. Frank Bernaerts |
6th December - Carols at Band Fund-Raising Bingo
The band holds bingo sessions every month and decided to take a smallish group to play some carols during the half-time break. Slight problem that band members serve refreshments at that time, but, fortunately, friends of the band stepped forward to provide the refreshments leaving the band free to play. We played for a bout a quarter of an hour.
7th December - Concert at Broad Street Methodist Church, Spalding
We were delighted to be invited to play our Christmas Concert at the Broad Street Methodist Church. The Chuech is undergoing major repairs and we were not sure, untl a couple of weeks ago, that the church would be ready, but it was.
We performed a very similar programme to that at the W.I. although our drummer was absent so we missed out a couple of pieces that needed drums the most!!
The concert went very well and the audience were very appreciative.
8th December - Holbeach Christmas Fayre
We had a good turnout for the annual Christmas Fayre. We started playing at 1.00pm and finished around 3.30 when most of the crowds had left.
We invited members of the Holbeach Victoria Training Band to join us.
13th December - Concert at Market House, Long Sutton
Our third Christmas Concert. This time at Market House, Long Sutton - a very nice venue (helped by the mulled wine and mince pies).
Similar programme to the W.I Hall concert on 1st December. The audience sang along heartily to the carols (and to some of the pieces). Although there were a couple of hiccups, it was a very enjoyable concert and we had a lot of positive comments from the audience.
14th December - Carols at Sainsburys, Spalding
A nicely balanced group turned out to play carols outside Sainsburys Supermarket in Spalding. The weather has been particularly kind to us (so far) this year, so we did not get totally frozen!
Some of our younger players from the Training Band also joined us.
18th December - Carols at Masonic Hall, Spalding
We made our annual visit to the Masonic Hall in Spalding to play a few carols for the Welland Lodge following the monthly meeting. We were well received as always. We had to improvise because we left the bandroom in a bit of a rush, following our normal weekly practice, and when we arrived we discovered that our music stands had been left behind! But some ingenious balancing of carol books on tables and propped up with beer glasses saved the day.
22nd December - Moulton Carol Service
A lovely evening at the carol service at Moulton Church. We played two concert pieces before the service started. Then all lights were turned off and the congregation sang by candlelight; fortunately we had stand lights with us so it all went well; I'm not sure how the band were able to see the Musical Director conducting, but they followed him!
24th December - Carols at Tescos, Holbeach
A delightful end to our Christmas playing for this year. Carols on Christmas Eve at Tescos in Holbeach with members of the Holbeach Town Band and the Training Band. Thanks as always to the collectors.
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