This recording and sleeve notes kindly provided by Chris Trevena at Sounds Like Cornwall.

SIDE ONE:
1. Restormel
2. Golden Rain
3. Cornish Rock
4. Cornish Festival Overture

SIDE TWO
1. Centaur
2. To A Wild Rose
3. Frolic For Trombones
4. Angel Voices
5. From The New World

THE BAND
St. Dennis Band (Cornwall) was formed in 1836 as part of the festivities in connection with the Coronation of Queen Victoria, and has continued to function by voluntary contributions up to the present time. Their first contest was in 1882 and this was followed by a series of contest successes covering all the ensuing years. Their contest successes were not confined to Cornwall, they had successes at Crystal Palace,. Alexander Palace, and no less than twenty-two first prize winnings of the much-coveted Prince of Wales Trophy in Cornwall. They are one of the most consistent bands in the country, maintaining a high standard of musicianship, despite all the usual difficulties-appertaining to public subscription music organisations.

THE CONDUCTOR. Eddie Williams is the son of a well known Cornish Band Teacher, but his experience was not only obtained in his native Cornwall. He was an accomplished horn player with Brighouse Rastrick, Fairey and Camborne Town Bands, and horn soloist with the “All Star Band of Great Britain”, The present high standard of the band is the result of his very thorough and painstaking teaching and leadership.

THE MUSIC
The two marches on this disc will be of special interest, they are new to the repertoire of brass bands. Restormel is a new composition by W. E. Moyle the Bandmaster of Newquay Town Band, and a well known composer/ arranger of band music. Restormel is the new name for the district of Cornwall around Newquay and St. Dennis. It is also the name of a historic Castle situated near Lostwithiel. The Centaur is a march newly published by Derek Broadbent, the present Bandmaster of Brighouse and Rastrick Band. Angel Voices. The introduction of a hymn tune arrange-ment is fitting for a record from Cornwall, and this is a new one by another contemporary composer/arranger, Derek Jordan. To A Wild Rose. This well known ballad is arranged as an Euphonium Solo and played by the band’s Solo Euphonium player M. Faro. Cornish Rock. “Have it which way you like”, Rock you eat, Rock Rhythm or a Cornish Rock so says W. R. Moyle
who composed this very interesting rhythmic number. This is the first recording. Golden Rain is the title of a delightful cornet duet composed by Drake Rimmer. It is most descriptive music and this in the form of a quite difficult duet, played very well indeed by the band’s two principal cornettists. The two major works on this disc are-Cornish Festival Overture (Eric Ball) and From The New World (Dvorak, arranged by Drake Rimmer) Cornish Festival Overture was commissioned by the West of England Bandsmen’s Festival, with the support of the South Western Arts Association for the first performance at the 50th Anniversary Festival at Bugle Cornwall in 1974. Cornish Festival Overture is dedicated to all Cornish Bandsmen, and contains some very well known Cornish tunes. These tunes, with additional original themes, are developed into a work in modified sonata form, with an expressive central section. This is the first recording of this work. The New World will be recognised by bandsmen, and is a welcome inclusion in this programme.

Production: Tom and Jack Beckingham. Sleeve Notes: Jack Beckingham. Engineer: Ray Prickett. Recorded at Foster Hall, Bodmin, Cornwall. Photograph by courtesy of English China Clays Ltd.