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Fodens Brass Band, Rex Mortimer
Brass Supreme

Album UK 1971 on Polydor label
Brass (Brass Band)

NOTE - It appears that they ran out of recording space or being artistic. Half way through Cossack (B6) it just fades out quickly. Sleeve Notes: This famous band owes its inception to the late Mr. Edwin Foden, founder of Fodens Ltd, Elworth Works, Sandbach, Cheshire, whose commercial and passenger vehicles have an International reputation. It was in the year 1900 that Mr. Foden suggested the formation of a brass band. Since thattime, the band has achieved extra- ordinary successes under some of the most famous band teachers of this decade, not the least being the late Fred Mortimer, who, for 29 years, was the Band's Musical Director. During this time, the Band was National Champions eleven times, British Open Champions nine times, International Cham- pions, Hillebon, Guest Band at the Empire Exhibition, Johannesburg S.A., Guest Band at the Canadian Exhibition, Toronto, and Festival of Britain Champions, Bourne- mouth. During the 29 years Fred Mortimer had the benefit of three of his sons as principal players in the Band — Harry, a world-famous cornet soloist, and no_w universally also known as a renowned Conductor, Alex. °"e of the finest euphonium players of the cen- tury and later Musical Director of Scottish C.W.S. Band, Black Dyke Mills Band, and C.W.S. Manchester Band, Rex, thethird and youngest son who was an accomplished player on a number of instruments and in 1953 succeeded his father as Director of Music, Fodens Motor Works, and is the conductor on this disc. The name of Mortimer is still synonomous with Fodens. The Band has appeared at Royal Command Performances, and has a world-wide reputation for its regular broad- casts, television appearances and gramo- phone recordings. 500 broadcasts, including transmissions from South Africa, Holland and Canada. The Band comprises 26 instrumentalists, all of whom are employed in the Fodens Motor Works. Music: The music on this disc should please everyone. The marches “Bombardier” and “Gay Hussar" are both by the well-known Welsh Bandmaster/Composer, the late T. J. Powell, and are two of his best. The soloist, Colin Cranson (euphonium), with‘“Cavalier", dis- plays rare ability on this instrument. Two first performances — “Dué du" a scene from “Die Fleder- maus" arranged by Drake Rimmer, and “Marche Symphonique" (Frank Hughes)add interest. The two major works are so different from each other that the listener will find great musical pleasure in their diversity — “A Life for the Czar" (Glinka), an almost forgotten work, but possessing such beautiful melodies, and “Automation" (Peter Yorke), the typical work of a contemporary composer whose compositions are so well-known to the present generation, and one which brass bandsmen will welcome into their repertoire, if only because of the contemporary nature of the work, and, as the title suggests, a modern concept. "Little Lisa" and “Jamie's Patrol" are typical programme num- bers, and will have an attraction for most people. The band ‘fade out’ with their signature tune, the well-known march “The Cossack". A truly wonderful musical feast, all items are performed in a superb manner. F. J. Beckingham Conductor: Rex Mortimer commenced playing at the age of 14, and since 1928 has played with the Fodens Motor Works Band. He was appointed its Bandmaster 14 years ago, and has lead the Band to the country's highest honours on four occasions since. Under his conductorship, the Fodens Quartet has won the Quartet’ Championship of Great Britain on four occasions. He was presented with the Medal of the Worshipful Company of Musicians in 1962. He is in great demand as a brass teacher and coach, having coached many other leading bands in numerous contest successes of championship status. He is poss- ibly the only brass band conductor with the distinction of holding three Batons of Honour, as conductor of the winning band at the National Finals. In 1961 he visited the Toronto Exhibition with that large and distinguished assembly of leading players, the ‘Men 0’ Brass’, as an associate conductor to his brother, Harry. Personnel: Soprano - Granville Jennings Principal Cornet - Teddy Gray Tutti Cornets - Raymond Chadwick, Desmond Thomas, Geoffrey Whiston Flugel - Sidney Garrett Repiano - George Bailey 2nd Comets - David Moulton, Frank Hughes 3rd Comets - Howard Dale, Robert Shepley Solo Horn - Raymond Gaskell First Horn - Roy Sparkes Second Horn - Rodney Booth Solo Baritone - Ronald Bobs Second Baritone - Arthur Webb Solo Euphonium - Colin Cranson Euphonium - Arthur Mullock First Trombone - Alec English Second Trombone - Wynford Barrett Bass Trombone - David Richards E b Basses - Edgar Spurr, Geoffrey Wynes Bb Basses - Edward Swindler Jack Millington Percussion - Ellis Harvey

Musicians

	Fodens Brass Band , brass band, album by
	Rex Mortimer , conductor, album by
	Colin Cranson , soloist

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