Vintage Video
Below can be found a series of videos of vintage Lewis-Merthyr Band, including archive footage of the band from the 1980s BBC Best of Brass series, YouTube videos of vintage audio recordings of the band in performance, plus Pathe newsreel footage of Lewis Merthyr antecedent, the Cymmer Colliery Band, parading in front of HRH Edward, Price of Wales - later King Edward VIII - during a Royal visit to Wales in 1932(!)
If you have, or are aware of, any archive footage of the Lewis-Merthyr Band not included below, please contact us here For video of the current band, click here
If you have, or are aware of, any archive footage of the Lewis-Merthyr Band not included below, please contact us here For video of the current band, click here
Best of Brass: The Way We Were
A vintage video of the band performing on the BBC series Best of Brass in the 1980's with longstanding solo horn, award-winning soloist Jeff Thomas featured in "The Way We Were".
Music - John Miles
Below is a video of the Massed Bands of Lewis Merthyr and Cory, conducted by Owain Arwel Hughes, and performing John Miles' "Music" at St David's Hall, Cardiff in the late 1980s
Aotearoa - The Land of the Long White Cloud
Champion Band of Wales
Philip Sparke's "Aotearoa - The Land of the Long White Cloud" was the set work for the band’s final contesting performance of the halcyon year of 1984.
It took place on Saturday November 24th 1984 at Porthcawl and followed four wins by the band earlier in the year at the Welsh Regional Championships in the Brangwyn Hall, Swansea (Waverley Overture); the South East Wales Brass Band Association Championships at Ebbw Vale (James Cook - Circumnavigator); the West Wales Brass Band Association Championships at Ammanford (Fantasy For Brass Band) and Swindon Entertainments Championships.
While the band had to be content with Second Prize at Porthcawl, adding this Runner Up spot to the three previous Welsh championship wins through the course of the year, Lewis Merthyr were crowned Champion Band of Wales for 1984, and went on to represent the nation at the 1985 National European Brass Band Championships held at Tivoli Gardens, Copenhagen, Denmark as National Welsh Champions.
This period was an absolute highlight in the 150 year plus history of Lewis Merthyr Band. All four contest performances can be found below
It took place on Saturday November 24th 1984 at Porthcawl and followed four wins by the band earlier in the year at the Welsh Regional Championships in the Brangwyn Hall, Swansea (Waverley Overture); the South East Wales Brass Band Association Championships at Ebbw Vale (James Cook - Circumnavigator); the West Wales Brass Band Association Championships at Ammanford (Fantasy For Brass Band) and Swindon Entertainments Championships.
While the band had to be content with Second Prize at Porthcawl, adding this Runner Up spot to the three previous Welsh championship wins through the course of the year, Lewis Merthyr were crowned Champion Band of Wales for 1984, and went on to represent the nation at the 1985 National European Brass Band Championships held at Tivoli Gardens, Copenhagen, Denmark as National Welsh Champions.
This period was an absolute highlight in the 150 year plus history of Lewis Merthyr Band. All four contest performances can be found below
Fantasy For Brass Band, Op. 114 - Winning Performance
On Saturday September 15th, 1984, Lewis Merthyr became the West Wales Brass Band Association Champions, performing Sir Malcolm Arnold's "Fantasy For Brass Band, Opus 114". The band was conducted by Denzil Stephens and this was the band and conductor's third consecutive win, leading to the band becoming the Champion Band of Wales.
WWBBA Champions - Winning Performance
Saturday September 15th, 1984
Ysgol Dyffryn Aman, Rhydaman, Sir Gaerfyrddin
1 - Lewis Merthyr - Denzil Stephens - 190
2 - Crosskeys Silver - Nigel Weeks - 188
3 - Rogerstone - Nigel Seaman - 187
WWBBA Champions - Winning Performance
Saturday September 15th, 1984
Ysgol Dyffryn Aman, Rhydaman, Sir Gaerfyrddin
1 - Lewis Merthyr - Denzil Stephens - 190
2 - Crosskeys Silver - Nigel Weeks - 188
3 - Rogerstone - Nigel Seaman - 187
James Cook, Circumnavigator - Winning Performance
On Saturday May 12th, 1984 Lewis Merthyr became South East Wales Brass Band Association Champions performing Gilbert Vinter's epic final work "James Cook - Circumnavigator". The band was conducted by Denzil Stephens and it was the band and conductor's second consecutive contest win of three that year, which would lead Lewis Merthyr to become the Champion Band of Wales of 1984/85.
The band and conductor would reprise their performance of James Cook almost exactly one year later, on Sunday 5th May 1985, when the band represented Wales, as National Champions, at the European Brass Band Championships, held that year at Tivoli Gardens, Copenhagen, Denmark. Additional competing bands included Norway's Eikanger Bjorsvik Musikklag and Stavanger bands, the Netherlands' Soli Deo Gloria, and eventual champions Black Dyke.
South East Wales Brass Band Association Champions - Winning Performance
Canolfan Hamdden Ebbw Vale Leisure Centre
Saturday May 12th, 1984
1 - Lewis Merthyr - Denzil Stephens - 193
2 - Tredegar Town - Steve Walkley - 191
3 - Parc and Dare - Ieuan Morgan - 190
The band and conductor would reprise their performance of James Cook almost exactly one year later, on Sunday 5th May 1985, when the band represented Wales, as National Champions, at the European Brass Band Championships, held that year at Tivoli Gardens, Copenhagen, Denmark. Additional competing bands included Norway's Eikanger Bjorsvik Musikklag and Stavanger bands, the Netherlands' Soli Deo Gloria, and eventual champions Black Dyke.
South East Wales Brass Band Association Champions - Winning Performance
Canolfan Hamdden Ebbw Vale Leisure Centre
Saturday May 12th, 1984
1 - Lewis Merthyr - Denzil Stephens - 193
2 - Tredegar Town - Steve Walkley - 191
3 - Parc and Dare - Ieuan Morgan - 190
Waverley Overture - Winning Performance
"Dreams of love and lady’s charms, give place to honour and to arms". Berlioz quotes directly from Sir Walter Scott in his score, whose novels were tremendously popular in Paris in the 1830s and 1840s, and the immediate success of "Waverley" was particularly phenomenal. Set in the times of the 1745 Scots' rebellion, the slow, romantic introduction of the overture, which was masterfully arranged for brass by Howard Snell, is followed by an Allegro, full of vigour and youthful spirit.
Below can be found the band's winning performance from the 1984 Welsh Regional Championships, which were held at the Brangwyn Hall, Swansea on Saturday March 24th 1984. The full results of the championships were as follows:
1 Lewis Merthyr (Cardiff Lift Company) - Denzil Stephens - 194
2 Parc & Dare - Arthur Kenney - 193
3 Rhymney Works - C. Brian Buckley - 191
4 Penclawdd Brass - Tony Small - 190
5 Tredegar - Steve Walkley - 189
6 Ynyshir & Cwm Colliery - Jim Davies - 187
7 Blaina - D. Banwell - 186
8 Rogerstone - Nigel Seaman - 184
9 Crosskeys Silver - Nigel Weeks - 181
10 Mid-Rhondda - E. Coombs - 178
Below can be found the band's winning performance from the 1984 Welsh Regional Championships, which were held at the Brangwyn Hall, Swansea on Saturday March 24th 1984. The full results of the championships were as follows:
1 Lewis Merthyr (Cardiff Lift Company) - Denzil Stephens - 194
2 Parc & Dare - Arthur Kenney - 193
3 Rhymney Works - C. Brian Buckley - 191
4 Penclawdd Brass - Tony Small - 190
5 Tredegar - Steve Walkley - 189
6 Ynyshir & Cwm Colliery - Jim Davies - 187
7 Blaina - D. Banwell - 186
8 Rogerstone - Nigel Seaman - 184
9 Crosskeys Silver - Nigel Weeks - 181
10 Mid-Rhondda - E. Coombs - 178
A Gloucester Psalm
Below is a video of the premiere recording of John Golland's "A Gloucester Psalm". Golland, a master composer for brass, enjoyed a strong relationship with the band during the 1980s. The band were in fact the first band to also record and broadcast perhaps Golland's best known work, "Sounds".
"A Gloucester Psalm" was performed by the band in concert at Gloucester Cathedral itself, together with Gloucester Cathedral Choir, on October 9th, 1983. The performance was conducted by longstanding former Musical Director of Lewis Merthyr Band, Nigel Seaman.
The performance was captured on tape, and, what we believe to be the only known recording of the work, is featured in the below video, laid over images of Gloucester Cathedral. Also included are the band's performances from the same event of Rimsky-Korsakov's "Procession of the Nobles" and Howard Snell's masterful arrangement of "Greensleeves"
"A Gloucester Psalm" was performed by the band in concert at Gloucester Cathedral itself, together with Gloucester Cathedral Choir, on October 9th, 1983. The performance was conducted by longstanding former Musical Director of Lewis Merthyr Band, Nigel Seaman.
The performance was captured on tape, and, what we believe to be the only known recording of the work, is featured in the below video, laid over images of Gloucester Cathedral. Also included are the band's performances from the same event of Rimsky-Korsakov's "Procession of the Nobles" and Howard Snell's masterful arrangement of "Greensleeves"
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BBC Listen to the Band
Below is an archive recording from a BBC "Listen to the Band" programme, presented by Charlie Chester, which was recorded at BBC Studios, Llandaff and broadcast on BBC Radio 2 on February 4th, 1981. The band conducted by Nigel Seaman and the programme includes Nigel's own arrangement of Reinhold Gliere's "Russian Sailors Dance", Dutch composer Meindert Boekel's fantastic "Scherzo", and the premiere broadcast of a manuscript work by the respected Welsh composer and conductor T. J. Powell entitled "Desert Caravan".
The full playlist, available below, is as follows:
The full playlist, available below, is as follows:
- Introduction by Charlie Chester
- Wagner: Introduction to Act III - Lohengrin
- Dvořák: Rusalka's Song to the Moon (Soloist: Chris Dawes)
- Newsome: Hat Trick (Soloists: Jeff Thomas, David "Dil" Brimble, John Williams
- T. J. Powell: Desert Caravan (from Three Miniatures) *Premiere Broadcast*
- Gliere / Seaman: Russian Sailors Dance
- Hanmer: Latin Americana
- Heyler: Tricky Trombones (Soloists: Richard Davies, Eddy Kelly, Robert Ingram)
- Gregson: Swedish March
- Boekel: Scherzo
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Parading for Royalty
Pathe newsreel footage of the Cymmer Military Band parading for a visit of HRH Edward, Prince Of Wales, later King Edward VIII, to Rhondda on 7th December 1932 can be found here The band can be clearly seen - and heard! - c.0:55 seconds into the video.
An article in Wright & Round's Brass Band News of January 1933 confirms that the band is indeed the Cymmer Band
http://usir.salford.ac.uk/45821/1/Brass_Band_News_1933_01.pdf
In a letter to Paul Williams and the band of March 1976, Muriel Amy Martyn, daughter of Mr G. F. Martyn, relates a tale of the visit, whereupon His Royal Highness, on seeing the band, remarks to his host, Colonel David Watts Morgan, "That's a damn fine band - who is it?". The quote is now included in the band's biography.
Colonel Watts Morgan incidentally was a leading Welsh trade unionist, Labour politician, and a Member of Parliament (MP) from 1918 to 1933. He was awarded the Distinguished Service Order for bravery at the Battle of Cambrai in 1917, when - after being added to his already burgeoning CBE DSO MP JP - earned him the nickname of "Dai Alphabet" in South Wales[*]
http://usir.salford.ac.uk/45821/1/Brass_Band_News_1933_01.pdf
In a letter to Paul Williams and the band of March 1976, Muriel Amy Martyn, daughter of Mr G. F. Martyn, relates a tale of the visit, whereupon His Royal Highness, on seeing the band, remarks to his host, Colonel David Watts Morgan, "That's a damn fine band - who is it?". The quote is now included in the band's biography.
Colonel Watts Morgan incidentally was a leading Welsh trade unionist, Labour politician, and a Member of Parliament (MP) from 1918 to 1933. He was awarded the Distinguished Service Order for bravery at the Battle of Cambrai in 1917, when - after being added to his already burgeoning CBE DSO MP JP - earned him the nickname of "Dai Alphabet" in South Wales[*]
If you have, or are aware of, any archive footage of the Lewis-Merthyr Band not included below, please contact us here For additional video of the current band, click here
