Wonderful Mayo memories of former brass band days
The Castlebar Parish Magazine was of a very high standard again this year and great credit goes to editor Joe Redmond and his team.
Particularly enjoyable were Todd Burke's memories of his early days with Castlebar Concert Band or 'The Town Band', to which it is frequently referred.
In a piece entitled 'How a famous British composer, conductor and Berlin university teacher was an early pioneer of Music West,' Todd recalled that when he first joined the local brass band in the early 1960s, it was on its knees despite having a long and distinguished history in the county town.
He explained: “I was walking down Castle Street one day after work when Tess Collins came out of her house and asked me straight up if I would join the band.
“She said they were trying to get it back on its feet again after a period of decline and needed new members urgently.
“Tess told me there was a gentleman with some musical experience living in the town at that time and he was prepared to help out.
"She told me his name was Jolyon Brettingham Smith, who was later to become an accomplished British composer, conductor, performer, author, radio presenter, and a university teacher at the Berlin University of the Arts.
“Seemingly, he was going out with a local woman and planned to be around for a while and was willing to lend his experience.
“I told Tess I would give it a go and, to be honest, it was one of the best decisions of my life because I have gained such enjoyment out of playing the euphonium in both the band and orchestra over many years. Indeed, I am still a proud member of the band.
“But, at the time, neither I nor Jolyon Brettingham Smith knew what we were getting ourselves in for and, thinking back, it was probably just as well!”
Todd turned up for his first day of practice in what could only be described as ‘a shed’ located behind Linenhall Street between the Town Hall and a property owned by Tommy Gilboy.
He recalled: “It was very basic, to say the least, just a few benches left out and a press at the back with some instruments stored in it.
“Jolyon, to his credit, got on with it but insisted on a piano being purchased for the place to help with tuning and harmony and so on. I am sure he was a little sorry that he asked when he saw what turned up - a broken-down piano missing quite a few chords.
“People’s expectations were not the same in those days and we just got on with it, making the best of what we had. I learned a lot of scales under Jolyon’s direction and we were playing a few easy marches and Christmas carols within a year or so.
“But we could never practice during a fair day in Castlebar because the field where our shed was located was used to lock up cattle that had been sold and awaiting transfer to whatever farm they were heading to.
“Needless to say, there was a lot of cleaning up to be done outside our practice hall after every fair day. But, as I say, we just got on with it and got great encouragement from people like Frank Nolan, Jimmy Feeney, John Lawless, Adrian Coady, Tess Collins, Mary Campbell and others.
“When I look back now, I always break into laughter thinking about the times we had and how so much has changed since those days.
“Now when I walk into the new Music West building out on the Breaffy Road, I have to literally pinch myself at times because I cannot believe the wonderful facilities we now have. It’s a credit to all involved and Michael Basquille, who drove it on for so many years, is a proud man in heaven.”
Todd became hooked on performing music after working with Mr. Brettingham Smith for a year or so before his return to England, where he career really took off.
He went on to study philosophy at the University of Cambridge as well as musicology and composition at Heidelberg and Berlin, where he was a pupil of the Korean-born composer Isang Yun.
Between 1970 and 1980 he played viola in the Gruppe Neue Musik Berlin. From 1973 until 1978 Brettingham Smith was artistic assistant professor at the Free University of Berlin.
The Bielefeld Opera House engaged him as guest conductor for their 1975 season. In 1976 he began teaching as a full professor at the Berlin University of the Arts. He also became a famous radio presenter in Berlin.
Todd kept a close eye on the development of Jolyan’s career over many years and was saddened to learn of his death on May 17, 2008.
Added Todd: “We have had some wonderful musical directors in the band and orchestra during my involvement in Music West, as it is called now. But I will always harbour fond memories of my first director.”
Lovely memories and it's wonderful to see how the band has grown in recent years.