http://corshamwindband.org/
November 2014 Newsletter
Strasbourg Trip 23rd to 28th October 2014
Sonia and Evi provide the definitive Strasbourg Trip reports:
“We all had an exciting and safe trip to Strasbourg, I am extremely grateful to Evi, Martin, Julie, Jack and Andy for their support and particularly grateful to Peter Feltham and Schilitigheim Band for their fabulous hospitality.
Our eventful 5 days included:
DEPART Thursday 23rd October – MEET 07.30 The Pound
An early start and everyone arrived on time, with their instruments and papers – thank you!
Thursday 23rd October (packed lunches in disposable bags from home – you would not believe the size of the lunches, Joes Stones was almost shared with an unwelcome friend at the Gard du Nord Paris! )
07.30 Coach to St Pancras station from The Pound Arts Centre
An uneventful coach journey ending in the coach park at St Pancras station
11.25 Check in St Pancras
Best behaviour and absolutely 100% teamness from everyone. Larger instruments had to follow a different route, Sonia was left with 10 instruments and players that had set off the security ‘beeps’.
12. 25 Depart Eurostar to Strasbourg via Paris
A really fast trip through south east England and northern France, good seats and time to eat the packed lunches.
15.47 Arrive Paris Gare du Nord – walk
Larger instrument players set off on the taxi challenge – arriving the same time as the walkers who had experienced he slightly down side of Paris enroute. Martin led with impeccable pace.
A shortish wait at the station (Joe and his sandwiches), Emma and her ‘too many Body Shops’ experience – mobile phones helped.
17.40 Depart
Amazing to travel at 200mph through France – a really comfortable train
20.15 Arrive Strasbourg Garde
Met by a really friendly coach driver and Peter – a short journey to the Youth Hostel
20.45 arrive at https://www.hihostels.com/hostels/strasbourg-2-rives
21.00 Unpack / evening meal
Meal was welcome after the long journey, meatballs, rice and bread. Allocation of rooms was a lengthy process, which we resolved in the end. Band was brilliant!
A very quiet first night.
Friday 24th October
08.00 Breakfast
09.00 Practice – Youth Hostel
Sonia was unwell, Jack stepped in – the rehearsal was great! First sight of ‘Dambusters’ and an improved ‘Uprising’.
12.00 Lunch – Youth Hostel
A welcome salad, hot meal and bread.
13.00 Strasbourg Cathedral and Centre
A brief cultural tour around the cathedral, shops and cafes, band members purchased gifts and food.
14.00 Travel to Schilitigheim
Same friendly coach driver – great behaviour from the band. Singing started, ‘mainly Frozen’
14.30 Band Practice Schilitigheim
A fantastic rehearsal from our players followed led by Sonia and Philippe. ‘Ode to Joy’, ‘Dambusters’ and ‘The Longest Day’ sounded good.
Many shared Italian words – ‘Da Capo, Tutti, forte, piano’ with the occasional French instructions ably supported by our fantastic linguist – Melissa!
Richard and Dan and the clarinet section were amazing as were all the band members.
19.00 Return to Youth Hostel
A louder return, singing continued – ‘Frozen’ being a favourite.
19.30 Dinner
Salad, bread and a heavy stew – welcomed by most. Desert was good.
20.00 Free time
Our players met the German touring party – slightly noisier night.
Saturday 25th October
08.00 Breakfast
9.00 Coach to Strasbourg City Centre
A short return to the Cathedral market place
11.15 Boat Trip BATORAMA
A really good tour – we learnt much about the cultural history – how a fat chef was caught on the bridge, killing ? others and the importance of Strasbourg to European harmony.
12.15 Return to Youth Hostel
An even louder return, singing continued – ‘Frozen’ being a favourite.
12.45 Lunch at Youth Hostel
A lunch of salad, hot dish and bread.
13.45 Travel to Schilitigheim
Getting louder, singing continued – ‘Frozen’ being a favourite.
14.00 Band Practice Schilitigheim
We had a really good run through our pieces.
16.30 Joint Rehearsal
A highlight of the trip – joint practice – almost 90 musicians – our players were superb.
Many shared Italian words – ‘Da Capo, Tutti, forte, piano’ with the occasional French instructions ably supported by our fantastic linguist – Melissa!
19.00 Evening meal with Schilitigheim Band
Fantastic hospitality, the band room was transformed into a hospitality spce – all food had been prepared by band members and supporters. Our band were great – joined in, behaved well and helped.
21.00 Return to Youth Hostel
Getting louder, singing continued – ‘Frozen’ being a favourite.
German friendships curtailed.
Sunday 26th October
08.00 Breakfast followed by a morning walk
We watched the Strasbourg half-marathon from the banks of the Rhine – quite an experience!
09.00 Travel to Schilitigheim
Quiet – it was Sunday after all.
09.30 Joint Practice
The size of the hall and band were larger than those experienced by our players to date – another highlight. The level of musicianship improved and improved.
12.00 Packed Lunch
Youth Hostel lunch, bread, crisps, fruit drinks and cheese – filling.
Drinks provided by our hosts.
15.00 Concert – Schilitigheim Salle des Fetes
Watched by 500, the band played from our repertoire – soloists and each section were great.
Our hosts welcomed the Mayor and other senior representatives from the local community, they introduced us to more of the local culture.
The concert theme focused on ‘War and Peace’, Schilitigheim sounded very professional, our players sounded equally professional. Our audience was very sympathetic and the performance was extremely rewarding.
The joint pieces were HUGE!! We enjoyed the massive musical sound and the massive audience response was very enthusiastic.
We had a brief reception with the bands, dignitaries and some of the audience, which was full of warmth and praise for our players.
19.00 Depart
Getting louder, singing continued – ‘Frozen’ being a favourite.
20.00 Evening Meal – Youth Hostel
Bread, hot stew, salad and a great desert
22.00 Retire – this was a quiet night.
Monday 27th (breakfast and dinner at Youth Hostel, packed lunch)
08.00 Breakfast
Prepared instruments, music and documents
09.00 Depart
Getting louder, singing continued – ‘Frozen’ being a favourite.
09.30 Council of Europe
A truly memorable morning, with a fantastic bespoke tour and warm welcome from the Council officials.
http://www.coe.int/aboutcoe/index.asp?l=en&page=nepasconfondre
12.00 Concert
We performed in the foyer under the cathedral-like architecture to a transitory audience who stayed for most of the performance, we reached around 200 visitors and officers during this time. Musically a great performance by the band, the sound was exceptional.
Followed by some dazzling photography – you will see more at the Christmas Concert
13.00 Depart for the Castle
14.30 Packed Lunch on the roadside
Youth Hostel lunch, bread, crisps, fruit drinks and cheese – filling.
15.30 Koenigsburg Castle
Foggy, cloudy, worth a visit – very high
http://www.haut-koenigsbourg.fr/en/10
17.00 Depart
Getting louder, singing continued – ‘Frozen’ being a favourite.
18.00 Youth Hostel
18.30 Evening Meal
19.00 Awards evening / Star attractions
‘Strictly Come Windband’ – band members presented sketches based on their experiences on the trip – we ran awards and our judges played their part (Jack ‘Craig Revel Horwood’ Anstee, Julie ‘Darcy Bussell’ Bryan, Martin ‘Len Goodman’ Edmundson and Andy ‘ Anton Tonoli’ Tichcomb!
22.00 Retire – this was a quiet night.
Tuesday 28th (breakfast and packed lunch)
08.00 Breakfast
08.30 Morning - Pack / clear rooms,
A final walk to the river and across to the German town for last minute shopping
10.30 Depart for station
Getting louder, singing continued – ‘Frozen’ being a favourite.
11.42 Train to Paris
Very comfortable – 200 miles per hour!
14.00 Arrive and the return taxi and walk – the Terminal was heaving!!!!
15.34 Train to St Pancras
A good journey – band were really well behaved.
18.30 Arrive St Pancras
The journey back was not as straightforward as we would have liked – we will be reviewing our coach company.
21.45 arrived at The Pound
Thank you for your patience!
Q. What was the weather like?
It didn’t rain!!!!!
Q. What music did we play?
Answer: Theme: War and Peace
Music programme
Give Us Peace Dona Nobis Pacem Arr. Ted Huggins
Irish Tunes Percy Grainger
The Longest Day Paul Anka Arr. John Geneska Mortimer
Shepherds Song Traditional Arr. Kevin Thompson
The Great Escape Elmer Bernstein Arr. M J Pegram
Skyfall Adele Adkins, Paul Epworth Arr Jay Bocook
Lord of the Dance Ronan Hardiman Arr. Johnnie Vinson
Miss Saigon Claude-Michel Schonberg Arr. Warren Barker
Songs from World War 1 Arr. David Sampson
Les Miserables Claude-Michel Schonberg Arr. Warren Barker
Coldplay Coldplay Arr. Michael Brown.
Venus Gustav Holst Arr.Jay Bocook
Uprising Matthew Bellamy Arr.Steve Hodges
Mambo No. 5 Damaso Perez Prado Arr. Jay Bocook
Q. Who went on the trip?
Full Name / Instrument1 / Sylvan M E Biscoe / Baritone Saxophone
2 / Isabel Ledbury / Alto Saxophone
3 / Anya Sabrina Alice Whybrow / Alto Saxophone
4 / Katie Bunney / Alto Saxophone
5 / Martha Benedict / Alto Saxophone
6 / Thomas Holden / Alto Saxophone
7 / Mark Edmundson / Tenor Saxophone
8 / Emma Annie Mares Coulston / Tenor Saxophone
9 / Alice Griffiths / French Horn
10 / Rosalie Luff / French Horn
11 / Martin Edmundson
12 / Joseph Christopher Stone / Percussion
13 / George McGrory / Percussion
14 / Harry Truelove / Tuba
15 / Richard Meiklereid / Euphonium
16 / Daniel Stephen Jack / Euphonium
17 / Jack Anstee / Tuba
18 / Andy Titcomb
19 / Amy Elizabeth Kitchener / Bass Clarinet
20 / Phoebe White / Clarinet
21 / David Timothy Gubbins / Clarinet
22 / Tiffany Mares Coulston / Clarinet
23 / Nicola Dove / Clarinet
24 / Kathryn Titcomb / Clarinet
25 / Lucy Adams / Clarinet
26 / William Hughes / Clarinet
27 / Martha Stringer / Clarinet
28 / Jack Basley / Clarinet
29 / Timothy Horton / Clarinet
20 / Charlotte Louise Beard / Flute
31 / Melissa May / Flute
32 / Lydia Colomb / Flute
33 / Katie Manns / Flute
34 / Katelina Imogen Adams / Flute
35 / Becky Schofield / Flute
36 / Charlotte Cross / Flute
37 / Annabel Prees / Oboe
38 / Julie Bryan / Flute
39 / Miles Griffiths / Cornet
40 / Shula Scotford / Trumpet
41 / Finlay Dove / Trumpet
42 / Tom Price / Cornet
43 / Elliot Wilson / Cornet
44 / Bethany Eldridge / Trumpet
45 / Evelyne Coulston
46 / Sonia Blandford
End Note
This was a brilliant trip, run by volunteers from the Corsham Windband Association and Schilitigheim Band who devoted their time and expertise to the planning and leadership of the tour – THANK YOU.
Most of all – THANK YOU TO ALL OF THE PLAYERS, YOU WERE GREAT!” – Sonia Blandford
The incomplete diary of an accompanying adult. By Evi Coulston
A whirl of preparations, shampoo, toothpaste and soap times three; clothes clean;YCB blazer borrowed;black trousers and boots bought; two reeds each, just in case. Nagging the girls to pack only what they were going to actually wear, rather than upending the entire contents of their chest of drawers into their suitcases…end result, they remembered everything and I spent the week sourcing items for me which I had somehow forgotten. Boarded the bus, a parent checking the passports of each youngster boarding, all in order. All too excited to be car-sick. Onwards to the Eurostar, where the bigger instruments – some bigger than we thought - went separately, to join us safely on the other side. The tunnel came and went; we played card games, invented stories, read, chatted and steadily munched through our bulging bag of supplies.
Our walk between the Gare du Nord and the Gare de l´Est in Paris was interesting; we trundled past shops selling refurbished mobile phones, jostling with cafés and small restaurants from which tantalising smells wafted out to us. The pavements and roads were a rush of people of every nationality. Our little column progressed smartly without mishap, apart from the minor hiccup of my eldest walking out into traffic after confusing the little red with the little green man. Happily both she and the CWA tenor wobbling along on its makeshift trolley - affixed with my dressing-gown cord - survived the ordeal.
After exploring the station and shops we boarded a rather nippy train from Paris to Strasbourg, Sonia poring over a hot computer, me chatting with the retired gentleman at our table. He was impressed with the impeccable behaviour of our group, and enjoyed listening to what we had planned. He loved his music also, his hobby was singing, and he often travelled with choir groups through Europe.
Peter, the charming President of the Harmonie Schiltigheim and old (sorry) Corsham Band Member awaited us at Strasbourg station, which was amazing, a mixture of modern and old architecture, spotlessly clean, no chewing gum (not many pigeons, now that I think of it) imposing buildings, lights, trams. All very big city. Safely ensconced on our bus our long journey drew to a close with a twenty minute drive to the Youth Hostel, situated at the end of a road lined with weeping willows, situated in a park, right next to an equestrian centre. Hmmm. (I did manage to get in and pat a few equine noses, but that’s another story).
After some initial excitement sorting out the rooms, we had been allocated one fewer than expected, everything was ironed out by the “A team” and we unpacked. Supper was waiting. We had been warned, therereallywas lots of bread, lovely mini French sticks, with everything. The seating was at long trestle tables in the light and airy dining hall, the employees smiling and helpful although they seemed to work extremely long hours. Food was plentiful, hot meals twice a day, always with salad or something reasonably healthy on the side, the mains consisting of roast chicken, meatballs, moussaka, and for me, the highlight, a rather tipsy boeuf bourguignon.
The rooms were clean - if bijou - the facilities good and everyone soon settled in. In the evenings a final remnant of energy (or bread) would be burnt off and the scampering of little derby runners negotiating curves and straights, accompanied by stifled laughter, and the occasional bump could be heard, until the self-appointed guardians of the corridor, one in fetching leopard spotted pyjamas, and the other, the voice of authority, gently persuaded each and every one, down to the last morph-suited alien, to retire to their beds. All was peaceful at last, with only the occasional cough, untamed by the never-ending bottle of Calpol, breaking the silence.