John Youngman

The first clarinet choir congress was held at Conwy on the last weekend of April and proved to be a very stimulating and enjoyable event, to the great credit of the organisers and pleasure of the delegates.

Conwy was an excellent choice, situated as it is in a very beautiful part of Wales, and is ideally suited to the non players who were very well catered for by a full programme of walking and sight-seeing activities. Although accommodation was provided in a number of different hotels this did not prove to be a great problem thanks to the provision of minibuses to return us to our hotels after the Saturday night buffet party. For the players, who numbered about 110, the two days were divided between playing in various choir rehearsals with great opportunities to explore new music. There were also optional sessions designed to cater for the more specialist requirements of instruments at the top and bottom of the range, together with discussions on arranging music for choirs and a repair workshop.

The first session on Saturday was a run through of Gordon Lewin's new work Grass Roots, which arrived hot off the press for the weekend, and was later performed in St Mary's Church as the opening of the concert, the first half of which was given by the participating choirs. After the interval the British Clarinet Ensemble showed the possibilities that beckon for choirs, with a performance that amazed those who had not heard them before, and delighted all of us. Amongst other pieces, the choir played the Chaconne from Gordian Knots by Guy Woolfenden. This movement was written in memory of Woolfenden's own brother, who died during the composition of Gordian Knots. On this occasion it was played by the Ensemble in memory of Graham Brooker, who died so tragically earlier in the year, and whom the choir will remember with sadness and affection.

All those at the congress owe a big thank you to all the tutors and behind the scenes organisation which have hopefully heralded the start of a regular event for choirs, although those who do not play saxophone have been advised to start playing forthwith in preparation for next years first Saxophone Choir Congress!

A forest of bass instruments at rehearsal

Time to relax at the convention centre, Bryn Corach

Tuning problems, resolved by Daniel Bangharn on Glenda Wain Hobsons Eb Clarinet

Autumn 1999 CASS Magazine