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Lewis Merthyr Band
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Members Area

*Latest Members Area Update: November 29th
​

*Current repertoire list updated November 29th - please ensure you now have a complete Christmas pad plus High Peak - click here for full details

All additional music should have now been returned to the bandroom
*Latest Engagements Area Update: November 29th
​
​Please ensure all updated 2023 | 24 dates are correct and added to your diaries. Up to date information is available via Spond

​- Engagements Diary

All current engagements are detailed www.lewismerthyrband.com/engagements


*Dates in italic text are subject to confirmation

*If you cannot make any engagements or rehearsals, please let both Sam know in advance

Thank You
​
- Pre-Contest Rehearsals

- Rehearsals the week before every contest are Monday, Wednesday & Friday evening


- Please keep these free, in addition to the contest dates themselves

- Sectional rehearsals are always welcomed and can be arranged at any time

- Uniform

- Dress for all engagements is:


Walking Out Uniform
All black with white shirt, band tie & black softshell jackets


Stage Uniform
All black with white shirt, band bow tie & stage jacket


Uniform for percussion is all-black

*Please carry stage jackets in the uniform covers, available in the bandroom, at all times

*If you require any items of uniform, see Rhiannon

Remaining 2023 Engagements


Christmas Engagements
Dec 1 to 24
​Various Locations

This year we have an increased number of formal Christmas engagements, with a reduced amount of carolling sessions to compensate

Carolling is undertaken in groups of six or more at multiple locations throughout December. It's one of the band's main sources of income, and is also of course a good way to keep the band visible in, and supportive of, the local community

​With the increased number of formal Christmas concert this year, carolling has been kept to a minimum, but has been retained at a number of key locations and dates for the above reasons

Details of all Christmas dates, in calendar order, can be found in the Engagements section of the website and are also listed below, separated into formal full band concerts and small ensemble carolling engagements


Please respond with your availability via Spond, or an email to Sam if preferred, and please do give full availability in order that we can distribute the carolling fairly and evenly. You won't be asked to commit to every carolling date you provide availability for

​Diolch | Thank you

CHRISTMAS CONCERTS

The Glory of Christmas
Saturday December 9th, 7:00pm
​​St Elvan's, Aberdare
with Dare To Sing Ladies Choir

- Midnight Sleighride
​- Carol: Hark the Herald
- Polar Express
Town Church School Choir

Love Shone Down
The Song of the Winter Wind
The Gift

- Three Kings Swing
- O Holy Night
Dare To Sing

A Million Dreams
Silent Night
Joy to the World

- Frozen

- Carol: O Come All Ye Faithful

- Schneewalzer
Dare To Sing

Chapel of Love
Winter Wonderland
Holly Jolly Christmas

- It's The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year
- Frosty the Snowman
Town Church School Choir

Sisialau'r Awel Fwyn (Wind through the Olive Trees)
Mary had a Baby
Hallelujah  (Leonard Cohen)

- Christmas Festival
(-) Jingle Bells
Picture

Sunday 10th & 17th December
Two performances - 14:00 & 16:30
The Snowman - Live!
St Elvan's, Aberdare

All I Want For Christmas Is You
​Frozen

Santaclaustraphobia
Polar Express
The Snowman - Full Score
Jingle Bells


www.ticketsource.co.uk/stelvans

Box Office: 0333 666 4466

A Christmas Night at the Movies
Wednesday December 13th
​St John’s, Cymmer
with Tonyrefail School Choir

Picture
CANCELLED


Thursday December 14th
Christmas Service
Coychurch Crematorium

Carol: Once in Royal David’s City – organist only accompanying congregation
- Midnight Sleighride  
- When A Child Is Born

Carol: Joy to the World (No 47 - 3 verses plus intro)
- Three Kings Swing
- Polar Express

Address
- It's The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year
- Frozen

Carol: O Come All Ye Faithful - organist only accompanying congregation
- Santaclaustraphobia
- Christmas Festival

Carol: Hard the Herald  - organist only accompanying congregation
- Exit Music - Jingle Bells

Tuesday & Wednesday December 19th & 20th
​*SOLD OUT*
​Carols By Candlelight 
Heritage Park Hotel, Trehafod

- Midnight Sleighride
​- Carol: Hark the Herald
- Polar Express
Vocalist
- Three Kings Swing
- Carol: We Three Kings 
- O Holy Night
- Frozen


- Carol: O Come All Ye Faithful
- Schneewalzer
- Carol: Good King Wenceslas

- It's The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year
Vocalist
- Feliz Navidad
​- Frosty the Snowman
​- Santaclaustraphobia

- Christmas Festival
- Jingle Bells

CHRISTMAS CAROLLING
*Small Ensemble Engagements*

Sunday December 3rd
Christmas Carols

Tonyrefail Community School
*Ensemble Engagement*

Saturday December 16th
Christmas Carols

Asda, Coryton
*Ensemble Engagement*


Monday December 18th
Christmas Carols

Asda, Tonypandy
*Ensemble Engagement*


Saturday December 23rd
Christmas Carols

St David's 2, Cardiff
*Ensemble Engagement*


For dates of all additional engagements to date, visit www.lewismerthyrband/engagements


Engagements 2024


Saturday January 20th
Band Dinner

Bunch of Grapes, Pontypridd TBC

February 24
Regional Workshop

with Guest Conductor & City of Bristol Band
St Michael On The Mount, Bristol

Monday March 4th
Regional Championships Rehearsal

with David Hurst
Bandroom

​Saturday March 16th
Welsh Regional Championships
Brangwyn Hall, Swansea
Test-Piece: High Peak

​
13:00 Rehearsal

Briton Ferry Bandroom
nr. Vernon Place & Regent St West
Briton Ferry
Neath Port Talbot
SA11 2PL

Directions:
goo.gl/maps/Xk9MbuooEzGJ1zs4A


The bandroom is located in Briton Ferry near the old Llansawel Primary School at Vernon Place. You can find it at the bottom of the lane whose entry is located near the meeting of Vernon Place and Regent St West, opposite the side gate of the old school building

*Please park on the main road - do not enter the lane to the bandroom itself*


2023 Contest Timings
15:00 Draw

16:30 Band Number 1 backstage
17:00 Band Number 1 commences. Total number of bands are detailed below
Brangwyn Hall, Guildhall Rd S, Swansea SA1 4PE


Curry Timings
​20:30 Panshee, Swansea
29 Singleton St, Swansea SA1 3QN
pansheeswansea.co.uk
Menu

pansheeswansea.co.uk/menu​

2024 timings TBC when known

2023 Welsh Regional Result & Final Rankings

Ebbw Valley 4R + 2 + 1 = 7 [PROMOTED]
BTM 1 + 3 + 4 = 8
Beaumaris 4 + 4 + 2 = 10
Goodwick 4R + 4R + 3 = 11
Lewis Merthyr 4 + 4 + 5 = 13
Burry Port 4R + 4R + 7 = 15 
Parc & Dare 5 + 5 + 6 = 16
Deiniolen 3 + 6 + 8 = 17
Markham 4P + 7 + 9 = 20 [RELEGATED]
www.wrbbc.co.uk/grading-tables

DRAFT 2024 Grading Table

Beaumaris 4 + 2 = 6
BTM 3 + 4 = 7
Goodwick 4R + 3 = 7
Abergavenny 4P + 4P = 8
Northop 4R + 4R = 8

Lewis Merthyr 4 + 5 = 9
Burry Port 4R + 7 = 11 
Parc & Dare 5 + 6 = 11
Deiniolen 6 + 8 = 14
www.wrbbc.co.uk/grading-tables
Picture

Saturday May 18th
Oriana Festival
​St Elvan's, Aberdare

Picture

Afternoon Concert
Lord of the Rings
Massed Bands with City of Bristol Band

- Gandalf
- Hobbits
- May It Be
- Gollum's Song

- King Under The Mountain
- Misty Mountains Cold
- Mirkwood [premiere]
- An Age of Kings 

​Evening Gala Concert
with Rhondda Symphony Orchestra
Under Milk Wood Suite (Gareth Wood)

- Rum & Laverbread [premiere]

Saturday July 13th
​The Wrong Trousers
​St Elvan's, Aberdare

- The Incredibles
- The Sorceror's Apprentice
- Encanto
- How To Train Your Dragon

- The Wrong Trousers
- Chicken Run
Picture

Sunday August 4th
National Eisteddfod of Wales
​Ynysangharad Park, Pontypridd

Entertainments Programme
The Lord of the Rings
- Intro: Gandalf
- Hobbits
- May It Be OR Gollum's Song
- King Under The Mountain
- Misty Mountains Cold
- Finale: Gandalf

Remembrance Sunday
Sunday November 12th
Bridgend Cenotaph (seated)

Seated Engagement
Arrive 10:00

Repertoire

​- Processional: I Vow To Thee My Country

- Hymns, as required
Parade Arrives, then As Parade re-positions:
- Hymn: O Valiant Hearts (Supreme Sacrifice)
Service

- Hymn: O God Our Help (No. 79 - 5 verses - Last 4 bars & 1 beat intro)
- Last Post & Reveille
Wreath Laying
​- Hymn For The Fallen
- Hymn: Abide With Me
(No. 29 - no intro - verses as required)
- Hymn: Eternal Father (No. 52 - 4 Verses - Last 4 bars & 1 beat intro)
National Anthems:
- God Save The Queen
- Hen Wlad Fy Nhadau
Parade Departs

- Departure Music: I Vow To Thee My Country
- Hymns, as required

Remembrance Sunday
Sunday November 12th
​Tonyrefail School, Gilfach Rd, Tonyrefail, Porth CF39 8HG
(Road March & Service)

Parade and Service
10:00 Meet Tonyrefail School
10:20 Form Up
10:30 Step Off
​

Route
Tonyrefail School to Trane Cemetery
9 minute march 

Parking
Tonyrefail School
Marching Procedure

​
Verbal Instruction: "Parade - Quick March"
Step Off without playing - Bass Drum only plays 2 x 3 pace rolls

Band segue into March: Death or Glory

Music rounds out, Bass Drum continues "Left - Left - Left, Right, Left"
Bass Drum signal to resume - 2 x 3 pace rolls - Band segue back into March: Death or Glory
Bass Drum signal to end - "Double Tap - Double Tap - Left, Right, Left"
STOP PLAYING BUT KEEP MARCHING
Bass Drum continues - "Left - Left - Left, Right, Left"
Keep Marching, wheel right into Trane Cemetary

Vocal signal to halt - brief pause then second vocal instruction to “Fall Out” and single bass drum double tap to fall out reposition to concert formation

Repertoire

March:

Death or Glory
Service:
Hymn: Abide With Me
(No. 29 - 2 verses - Last 4 bars intro)
Last Post & Reveille
Wreath Laying:

*No Music Required
National Anthems
- God Save The Queen
​- Hen Wlad Fy Nhadau
Departure Music:
- I Vow To Thee My Country

Individual Practice Resources

Below are a few practice routines, courtesy of a few friends and colleagues, free to download
​Warming Up - Sion Rhys Jones
Straight Forward Warm Up Routine
File Size: 95 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File


​Daily Practice Routine - Chris Turner
Daily Practice Routine
File Size: 5300 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File


Six hymns with play along backing tracks

The music and backing tracks can be downloaded from:
Google Drive: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/10lPpTvh1J87tx0qBtmGYqyqjszuc0UF2?usp=sharing
Dropbox: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/aha1hgz1iv0108z/AAAQoeVUPp4gfO5GeLymHpjja?dl=0


The accompaniment videos can be found in this YouTube playlist
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLiObarmr8IJ5gzv--FPIhlvD4eXBSrsJY

Backing tracks are also available (in both mp3 and WAV format) to play along with, or piano accompaniments for both Bb and Eb instruments are also included

Arban Cornet Method (Complete)
Click here to download free
​​
Recommended Exercises (page numbers below refer to the pages in the document, not the printed page numbers)
​
Pg 29 - No 47
Pg 30 - No 48
Pg 34 to 36 (single tonguing)
Pg 44 - No 38 (intervals)
Pg 47 to 49 (slurs)
Pg 50 (flexibilities)
Pg 67 (scales)
Pg 84 (chromatics)
Pg 99 (key signatures)
Pg 140 (triplets)
Pg 149 - No 45 & 46
Pg 150 & 155 (key signatures)
Pg 163 (triple tonguing)
Pg 183 (double tonguing)
Pg 293 onwards (studies & air varies)


Past Member Only Recordings

Saturday February 29th
Welsh Regional Championships
​Great Hall, Swansea University
Test Piece: Legacy

LMB live contest performance recording

2020 Results

1. BTM
2. Tylorstown
3. Deiniolen
4. Lewis Merthyr
​5. Parc & Dare
6. Pontarddulais
7. Newport
W Llanrug
www.wrbbc.co.uk/2020-results

Post-Contest 2021 Rankings

Tylorstown 3 + 5 + 2 = 10 PROMOTED
Deiniolen 4 + 4 + 3 = 11
BTM 6 + 7 + 1 = 14
Pontarddulais 5.5 + 3 + 6 = 14.5
Lewis Merthyr 5 + 6 + 4 = 15
Parc & Dare 5.5R + 6R + 5 = 16.5
Newport 5.5P + 6P + 7 = 18.5
Llanrug 8 + 9 + 8 = 25 RELEGATED
*Ebbw Valley relegated from Championship
*Markham and Taff Vale promoted from Second Section


Previous Recordings

Recordings of the band over the past few years can be found below
For video recordings of the band, visit the video section of the website here 
For the Brass & Voices of Wales disc, visit www.lewismerthyrband.com/cd 

The Brass & Voices of Wales album is also now available for download at www.lewismerthyrband.bandcamp.com
Additional videos are available on the band's YouTube channel here

GBBA 2019 Recordings


Band Cymru 2018 Recordings


Band Cymru 2016 Recordings

01_home_of_legends.m4a
File Size: 6528 kb
File Type: m4a
Download File

02_whirlwind.m4a
File Size: 5040 kb
File Type: m4a
Download File

03_abide_with_me.m4a
File Size: 4800 kb
File Type: m4a
Download File

*As a larger file, the fourth track Peacemakers must be accessed for download via the Dropbox folder here or can be played online by clicking on the image above
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