BBW Band CD of the Year

War Memorials, featuring Tredegar Town and Cory bands, has won this year's Band CD of the Year Award, adjudicated by Christopher Thomas, Paul Cosh, Erik Jansson, Nigel Clarke and Professor Michael Alcorn.

Masterminded by Paul Hindmarsh, this collaborative CD not only spans the bridge between the brass band and classical worlds, but also features magnificent music performed with remarkable insight by performers fully attuned to the repertoire.

Having won the same award with Dark Arteries last year, Tredegar Town Band’s Musical Director, Ian Porthouse, was delighted to be part of a winning combination once again, commenting: “It’s always great to be involved with repertoire of this quality and, as ever, my thanks go to Tredegar Band for its commitment and professionalism." Cory Musical Director, Philip Harper, added: “We, at Cory, were glad to play a part in what was a clear and ambitious artistic vision of Paul Hindmarsh. I am absolutely thrilled about the Award and look forward to future projects with our neighbours, the Tredegar Band."

The highlight of the winning disc was the inclusion of John McCabe’s gloweringly dark, yet masterful The Maunsell Forts, licensed from a live BBC Radio 3 broadcast given by Cory under its former Musical Director, Robert Childs, at the 2010 RNCM Festival of Brass. Speaking of its inclusion, Robert told BBW: “I must congratulate Paul Hindmarsh and all involved in this project. It is vitally important that original music for brass band is given this kind of exposure and, as always, Paul’s choice of repertoire is inspired. I am delighted this quintessential work, by one of the finest composers to have ever written for brass band, is now available on disc.”

Paul Hindmarsh extended his personal gratitude to Cory, Tredegar and the conductors involved for allowing him to produce this wonderful music, and also paid tribute to his production team: “I couldn’t have wished for a more co-operative team than Richard Scott and Melissa Dee, of World of Sound, to engineer and master the sound so sympathetically. NMC Recordings, which specialises in contemporary British music, has made such a great job of product design, production and marketing. Many thanks to all.” He concluded: “I am delighted and honoured that War Memorials has received the BBW CD of the Year Award. This recording means a great deal to me.”

You can listen to excerpts from the CD, read more about the featured composers, or simply buy a copy of War Memorials by following this link: War Memorials on NMC

To access the CD of the Year Awards feature from November 2016’s BBW, and read about the selection process, adjudicating panel, and all nominated CDs, subscribe to BBW Digital. Alternatively, subscribe to the printed magazine delivered by post: £40 (UK); £68 (Europe); £81 (Rest of the World)