If you have never been in the Armed Forces, marching correctly to music is incredibly difficult. Doing it while playing an instrument must be almost impossible without hours of practice. I remember when I joined the RAF it took a Flight of us a week of 4 hours a day to get it together. Bandsmen will maybe have one evening a year just before The Gala to practice. If you have been to the Gala you will see many bandsmen out of step
Exactly! Well said! When I was a member of Langley Park Colliery Band our only practice before The Durham Gala was the night before when we marched round to the Aged Miners Homes to give them a short concert. No where near enough practice!
Come and see for yourself. This years Durham Miners Gala is on Saturday July 12th starting around 08.30. If you get to Old Elvet for about 09.15 you should bsee around 40 bands including a couple of Scottish Pipe Bands all on the march using regular recognised marches.
I must say that this day was one that will stick in my mind for a longtime as a day that I thoroughly enjoyed myself... even at that ungodly our of a Saturday morning!
After each Gala I am on a 'high'for 2 to 3 weeks (who needs drugs?). This was the first year I have gone in with a banner since the late 1950s when I used to go in with either Ushaw Moor or Waterhouses. I have only missed about 4 Galas since 1955 and look forward to each one. This year(2008) will be another first for me when I help to take in the new Thornley Banner which I financed with the income from the sale of my home-movies of the last 11 Durham Miners Galas.
Well said, we are a colliery band with may I add, a lot of young players. As for marching around empty streets, people were at their doors or windows watching us go by, and considering the time it was I'm not shocked that people weren't outside. Durham Day is about the heritage that mining brings and not how well we do or don't play. At the end of the day, the villagers enjoyed it as did we, so job done.
Yes you are a colliery band, once Sacriston and now Craghead. One of the few bands continuing the Colliery Band Tradition. Long may you continue. Thank you for backing up my comments
Good practice for the Gala. But not empty. Many people at their windows watching. Remember this is at 07.30 on a saturday morning - before many people are up and about. This banner and band has a great local following.
The "old Man" is the conductor. Small coal-mining village brass bands do not rise to such things as a "proper drum major". They are normally led by the conductor. If you havd ever been to The Durham Miners Gala you would know this. The only drum majors at the Gala lead Scottish Pipe Bands
We're a colliery band dickhead, not the Grenadier Guards. The "old man" is one of the finest bandsman that I've ever known. Come to the village on Durham day this year and I'll happily slap you around the head with a Euphonium.
also my grandad, so i'd appreciate you not insulting him thanks very much!
And ill let DrinkJawaJuice slap you round the head with my euphonium happily because it would be my euph that got used because, guess what..i play for them!
Listen to the cornets struggle at 4.07 in death or glory - thats what i mean - concert marches need to be played in concert format only otherwise it becomes embarrassingly over powering
At 4.07 they are playing "Our Director". We in The Durham Brass Band Federation consider "Death or Glory" a marching march played off a march card and it is one of the most popular easy marches. We have NEVER considered it a concert march. Concert marches are more like Castell Coch, The Contestor or The cossack.
Lampart, you may consider it easy but the majority of people don't. Playing concert marches on the march is unessecery hard work. Slaidburn is a school band march lol
I do not know where your "Majority of People" come from but in the Durham County area Death or Glory is a regular marching march. It is regularly played along with Ballerina, The middy, National Emblem, Arnhem, The Wellington, The New Colonial - all more difficult than Death or Glory. I suggest you come to Durham Miners Gala on the 2nd Saturday in July and see for yourself
Lampwort is right. Death or Glory has always been considered a stock march using a march card. If you want to try unnecessary hard work, you should try Wellington, Triumphant or Punjab which are also played at The Gala. Come and see for yourself
Officer of the Day and Our Director are 'proper' marches but certainly Death or Glory is a concert march and very hard on the lip, especially for solo cornets. Overall the band sounds well balanced and good. Smart unifroms would look better. A good little band....strong base section, keep up the good work. it just seems a bit pointless playing to empty wide bare streets. When you got to your destination you could tell 'lips' were starting to go.
Death or Glory is played by most bands at the Durham Miners Gala. I have many recordings of it and have played it many times myself while on the march. Other than Slaidburn I consider it one of the easiest marches around.
Smart uniforms always look better but most bands are poor and cannot afford new uniforms. They are no-longer supported by their local NUM Lodge or CISWO, so have to earn their own money and replacement or repair of instruments comes first
Seems to me abit pointless marching around some of those roads as noone about. Trombones lift them up so they're straight as it looks alot smarter. Why play concert marches on the march?? Your creating more problems for yourself.
You just do not understand! This IS the tradition in mining communities. You may not have seen anyone around but believe me they were all at their windows -probably still in their nightwear. Ref the trombones - quite right but just try telling them and you get excuses about them being heavy - such is the youth of today.
Which march are you referring to as a 'Concert March'? All 3 are regularly used at Durham Miners' Gala, the only coal miners' marching festival left in the UK. "Officer of the Day" and "Death or Glory" are both written on march cards for use on the march and "Our Director" is regularly used by The Changing of The Guard troops at Buckingham Palace
The streets are quiet as it's very early in the morning. Marching round the village is traditionally a warm up to entering Durham City later in the day. The choice of marches follows tradition too, so whether they happen to be road marches or contest marches is irrelevant. The whole spectacle is about preserving and celebrating the mining heritage of the area, not being judged on technicalities or deportment. If you want to adjudicate, may I suggest that you do it at a contest.
looking forward to a good day at this years big meeting, yes murton will be out in force, you always get a good party with murton.
durhamlad09 2 years ago
Look forward to seeing you all.
Roylambeth 2 years ago
Roll on July 11....Miners Gala 2009, looking forward to it already, hopefully Murton will turn out in force for a party :-)
MistaFozz 3 years ago
Murton ALWAYS turns out in force. It is a pity other banners do not have the support that Murton has.
lampwort 3 years ago
IN STEP please, how hard is it to put yr left foot down on the first beat of every bar!!!!!
luxiguy 3 years ago
If you have never been in the Armed Forces, marching correctly to music is incredibly difficult. Doing it while playing an instrument must be almost impossible without hours of practice. I remember when I joined the RAF it took a Flight of us a week of 4 hours a day to get it together. Bandsmen will maybe have one evening a year just before The Gala to practice. If you have been to the Gala you will see many bandsmen out of step
DMMuseum 3 years ago
I can quite imagine how hard it must be to keep in step in time with the music, near enough impossible without hours and hours of practice
MistaFozz 3 years ago
Exactly! Well said! When I was a member of Langley Park Colliery Band our only practice before The Durham Gala was the night before when we marched round to the Aged Miners Homes to give them a short concert. No where near enough practice!
DMMuseum 3 years ago
Yes, The Craghead Village Hall where the band & banner start out from is at "The Middles" which is between Craghead and South Moor.
DMMuseum 3 years ago
The Miners "National Anthem"Superbly played.My Dad was Methodist Minister there in the 70's.Near south moor isn't it?Cheers.
crunterstamps 3 years ago
Yes. This video starts at Craghead Village Hall which is at The Middles, just along the road from South Moor
lampwort 3 years ago
Come and see for yourself. This years Durham Miners Gala is on Saturday July 12th starting around 08.30. If you get to Old Elvet for about 09.15 you should bsee around 40 bands including a couple of Scottish Pipe Bands all on the march using regular recognised marches.
DMMuseum 3 years ago
a very good production
CALMANY36 4 years ago
Thank you
Roylambeth 4 years ago
I must say that this day was one that will stick in my mind for a longtime as a day that I thoroughly enjoyed myself... even at that ungodly our of a Saturday morning!
brassbender 4 years ago
After each Gala I am on a 'high'for 2 to 3 weeks (who needs drugs?). This was the first year I have gone in with a banner since the late 1950s when I used to go in with either Ushaw Moor or Waterhouses. I have only missed about 4 Galas since 1955 and look forward to each one. This year(2008) will be another first for me when I help to take in the new Thornley Banner which I financed with the income from the sale of my home-movies of the last 11 Durham Miners Galas.
DMMuseum 4 years ago
Well said, we are a colliery band with may I add, a lot of young players. As for marching around empty streets, people were at their doors or windows watching us go by, and considering the time it was I'm not shocked that people weren't outside. Durham Day is about the heritage that mining brings and not how well we do or don't play. At the end of the day, the villagers enjoyed it as did we, so job done.
AdvSL1 4 years ago 3
Yes you are a colliery band, once Sacriston and now Craghead. One of the few bands continuing the Colliery Band Tradition. Long may you continue. Thank you for backing up my comments
DMMuseum 4 years ago
here them play our dircetor thay cant play it at 4:20
sgoudie 4 years ago
Great fun marching around empty streets lol
luxiguy 4 years ago
Good practice for the Gala. But not empty. Many people at their windows watching. Remember this is at 07.30 on a saturday morning - before many people are up and about. This banner and band has a great local following.
DMMuseum 4 years ago
what the hell is the old man doing in the front, turning around, pointing - at least get a proper drum major
luxiguy 4 years ago
The "old Man" is the conductor. Small coal-mining village brass bands do not rise to such things as a "proper drum major". They are normally led by the conductor. If you havd ever been to The Durham Miners Gala you would know this. The only drum majors at the Gala lead Scottish Pipe Bands
lampwort 4 years ago 3
We're a colliery band dickhead, not the Grenadier Guards. The "old man" is one of the finest bandsman that I've ever known. Come to the village on Durham day this year and I'll happily slap you around the head with a Euphonium.
DrinkJawaJuice 4 years ago
Thank you for putting my thoughts into words. Your use of certain words are acceptable but should not be used by me as Moderator
DMMuseum 4 years ago
He may be an 'old man' but hes the best old man around, we wouldn't be who we are today with out him!
stephx91 4 years ago 2
old man = conductor
also my grandad, so i'd appreciate you not insulting him thanks very much!
And ill let DrinkJawaJuice slap you round the head with my euphonium happily because it would be my euph that got used because, guess what..i play for them!
EuphBuzz 3 years ago
Listen to the cornets struggle at 4.07 in death or glory - thats what i mean - concert marches need to be played in concert format only otherwise it becomes embarrassingly over powering
luxiguy 4 years ago
At 4.07 they are playing "Our Director". We in The Durham Brass Band Federation consider "Death or Glory" a marching march played off a march card and it is one of the most popular easy marches. We have NEVER considered it a concert march. Concert marches are more like Castell Coch, The Contestor or The cossack.
lampwort 4 years ago 2
Lampart, you may consider it easy but the majority of people don't. Playing concert marches on the march is unessecery hard work. Slaidburn is a school band march lol
luxiguy 4 years ago
I do not know where your "Majority of People" come from but in the Durham County area Death or Glory is a regular marching march. It is regularly played along with Ballerina, The middy, National Emblem, Arnhem, The Wellington, The New Colonial - all more difficult than Death or Glory. I suggest you come to Durham Miners Gala on the 2nd Saturday in July and see for yourself
lampwort 4 years ago 2
Lampwort is right. Death or Glory has always been considered a stock march using a march card. If you want to try unnecessary hard work, you should try Wellington, Triumphant or Punjab which are also played at The Gala. Come and see for yourself
DMMuseum 4 years ago
Officer of the Day and Our Director are 'proper' marches but certainly Death or Glory is a concert march and very hard on the lip, especially for solo cornets. Overall the band sounds well balanced and good. Smart unifroms would look better. A good little band....strong base section, keep up the good work. it just seems a bit pointless playing to empty wide bare streets. When you got to your destination you could tell 'lips' were starting to go.
luxiguy 4 years ago
Death or Glory is played by most bands at the Durham Miners Gala. I have many recordings of it and have played it many times myself while on the march. Other than Slaidburn I consider it one of the easiest marches around.
lampwort 4 years ago 2
Smart uniforms always look better but most bands are poor and cannot afford new uniforms. They are no-longer supported by their local NUM Lodge or CISWO, so have to earn their own money and replacement or repair of instruments comes first
DMMuseum 4 years ago
Seems to me abit pointless marching around some of those roads as noone about. Trombones lift them up so they're straight as it looks alot smarter. Why play concert marches on the march?? Your creating more problems for yourself.
luxiguy 4 years ago
You just do not understand! This IS the tradition in mining communities. You may not have seen anyone around but believe me they were all at their windows -probably still in their nightwear. Ref the trombones - quite right but just try telling them and you get excuses about them being heavy - such is the youth of today.
DMMuseum 4 years ago
Which march are you referring to as a 'Concert March'? All 3 are regularly used at Durham Miners' Gala, the only coal miners' marching festival left in the UK. "Officer of the Day" and "Death or Glory" are both written on march cards for use on the march and "Our Director" is regularly used by The Changing of The Guard troops at Buckingham Palace
DMMuseum 4 years ago
The streets are quiet as it's very early in the morning. Marching round the village is traditionally a warm up to entering Durham City later in the day. The choice of marches follows tradition too, so whether they happen to be road marches or contest marches is irrelevant. The whole spectacle is about preserving and celebrating the mining heritage of the area, not being judged on technicalities or deportment. If you want to adjudicate, may I suggest that you do it at a contest.
DrinkJawaJuice 4 years ago 2
Thank you for backing me up. This luxiquy person seems to be spoiling for a fight. He just does not understand the tradition.
DMMuseum 4 years ago
cool im from craghead
fungifeet2 3 years ago