Britons Blow into Bremerhaven

Over the Bank Holiday weekend, members of the Crumpsall Concert Band and Adamson’s Military Band, Dukinfield, visited Germany to make music with the Blasorchester Wulsdorf - a wind band with similar musical interests to ours. You may think this was a funny thing to do on a Bank Holiday, but the impetus came from one of our most enthusiastic members. Eva Kahan comes from Bremen, but lives and works in Manchester. She had the idea to organise this trip, and has worked like a beaver to bring it about.

We travelled overnight on Thursday August 25 by ferry to Rotterdam, and the following morning by coach to Bremerhaven, where we established Headquarters in the Youth Hostel (highly recommended). In the afternoon we rehearsed for the first time  with Wulsdorf, who then treated us to a  barbecue and social evening.

The next day, Saturday, Adamsons took part in a civic ceremony to open a road, giving an impressive display of marching and playing skills. Later, in the evening, they were to perform again, this time alternating with a local marching band, the Seahawks, whose style is influenced more by American than British tradition. However, things did not go according to plan, as a tremendous thunderstorm broke over our heads, causing everyone to seek shelter for at least half an hour. Eventually the rain stopped, and the marching displays were completed. The final event of the evening was to be a short concert by the Blasorchester Wulsdorf, assisted by Crumpsall Concert Band. This began without incident, but the light soon began to fail - remember, we were in the open - and we finished our performance in darkness, helping each other with flashlights if we had them. Then, to the astonishment of all, the gallant Adamsons found a spot where there were some street lights, and gave us another great performance. What a band of heroes!

Sunday was our big day - a concert at the Stadttheater Bremerhaven. The concert was advertised as “Last Night of the British Proms”, and had been booked solid for weeks beforehand. We rehearsed in the afternoon, had sandwiches, and waited till 7:30. The conducting was shared between our conductor, Derek Farnell, and Gaby Lührßen of the Blasorchester Wulsdorf. Gaby had insisted on the inclusion of the Dambusters’ March and Rule  Britannia, so Derek obligingly dressed up and pretended to be a bomber aircraft while conducting us. Of course, the final item was Pomp and Circumstance no 1, at the end of which the whole audience joined  in singing Land of Hope and Glory.

It took some time before the audience could be persuaded to cease stamping, clapping and flag-waving, but finally, floral tributes were presented to Gaby, to Derek, to our lovely young Irish mezzo soprano soloist, Katie Hainbach, and of course to our own beloved Eva Kahan.

As far as I know, we are all back safe and sound, and it’s quite anti-climactic to be writing this at home in Alkrington.

As well as expressing my undying admiration for Eva’s persistence, I must thank all those on both sides of the pond who made our short visit so memorable.

Doug Graham (bassoon)