Camborne Town Band, Holman-Climax Male Voice Choir - Proper Job! (CD, 2001)
Track listing:
1. Trelawny (Concert March)
2. Jesus Shall Reign
3. A West Country Fantasy
4. Trelawny
5. The Trevithick Day Dance
6. Cornwall
7. Great Soul
8. Love Divine
9. The Cossack
10. Hail To The Homeland
11. Calling Cornwall
12. Proper Job
13. Plenteous Grace
14. Let There Be Light
15. Celtic Benediction
16. Mythic Trevithick
In Camborne, on Christmas Eve 1801, a truly momentous event took place. On that date, Cornishman Richard Trevithick completed and drove the very first self-propelled, passenger-carrying motorised vehicle - a vehicle that is now considered to be the true ancestor of every car and train in the world today. Few people who witnessed that journey through the streets of Camborne could ever have imagined how that event would change our lives. This recording, the idea for which came from Reg Bennett, Chairman of Camborne Town Band, celebrates both the 200th Anniversary of Trevithick's historic invention, and also the rich musical heritage of Cornwall, in particular, Camborne Town. The Camborne Town Band, formed just 40 years after Trevithick's steam-powered loco-motive trundled off on its maiden journey, can boast a proud history. The band has won many prestigious contests, appeared on national TV and radio, and gained a reputation for giving concerts of high quality both inside and out of Cornwall. Founded some 99 years after the band, the Holman-Climax Male Voice Choir has also achieved national recognition and is considered to be one of this country's finest male voice choirs. Over the years the choir has competed successfully in contests throughout Britain, undertaken concert tours of Europe and America and, like the band, gained a tremendous reputation for its concert work. As president of both the South West Brass Band Association and the Holman-Climax Male Voice Choir, I am so delighted to be associated with this recording. It also goes without saying that to have several of one's own works included and performed by such talented players and singers is indeed a great privilege. Thank you! Camborne Town Band The Camborne Town Band was formed in 1841 in a thriving mining area of Cornwall. Although the last tine mine, and associated industry, has closed, the band has managed to adapt and has maintained Championship status for the last 55 years. The Band has had considerable success in contests at national level, representing the West of England at the National Championship Finals at the Royal Albert Hall on forty-six occasions, achieving fourth position twice and being placed in the top six on six occasions.
The band recently achieved a hat-trick of wins at the West of England Bandsmen's Festival held at Bugle by winning the Royal Trophy in 1998, 1999 and 2000. In April 2001 the band became the West of England Champions and represented the West of England at the National Finals at the Royal Albert Hall, London. The band is not sponsored and relies upon raising much of its revenue during the summer months by performing for visitors at Cornish holiday resorts. I n addition the band performs regularly in and around Camborne. One of the concert highlights in the Band's history came in 1983 when they performed at the Royal Albert Hall with 1000 Cornish Male Voices. They have since toured France and Holland. In April 2001 the band joined with the Holman-Climax Male Voice Choir to give a Last Night of the Proms Concert for Rotary International at the Bournemouth international Conference Centre to an audience of five thousand Rotarians. The band were conducted by BBC Listen to the Band presenter Frank Renton, currently professional conductor of the Travel sphere Band. To ensure future success we have promoted youth development and at present have a thriving Youth Band with approximately sixty members. The Band's conductor for this recording is Graham Boag. Graham is a professional musician and after gaining a music degree spent 12 years in the famous RAF Central Band playing both string bass, bass guitar and E flat Bass. Whilst with the Camborne Town Band Graham successfully completed a degree in Brass Band Studies. Holman-Climax Male Voice Choir The Choir was formed in 1940 by the late Edgar Kessell MBE at the Climax Rock Drill and Engineering Works to alleviate distress among the Blitz victims of Plymouth. Upon his retirement after 32 years in 1972, he was succeeded by George Smith who success-[idly directed the Choir for eighteen years until his retirement due to ill health. Roger Wills, under whose leadership, the Choir has continued to grow, succeeded him in 1990. We are fortunate to have had only three Musical Directors in our history. The Choir, originally known as CLIMAX Male Voice Choir added the name HOLMAN to its title during the late 1960's after the two companies of Holmans and Climax joined together. Later the word COMPAIR was added to our Choir badge to reflect the changes in the company.