First Baritone - June Wright
My main claims to fame in the Brass Band World are made
because I am Gordon Langford's fan club
and also Auntie June to Lynda Nicholson, the well-known cornet player
and conductor. I started to play a
brass instrument soon after I married Maurice, who was conducting
Haslemere and also playing baritone for
Liss Band. He was always out, so I asked if he would help me to play so
that I could join a Band. He said 'No
fear, you'll just be disruptive.' I took a 'Tune A Day' and a trombone
that was lying about and taught myself the
rudiments. ( Rudiments. What a lovely word. It sounds quite vulgar
actually.) I played in the Training Band for
a bit and then was allowed into both Liss and Haslemere Bands. (I often
ask myself 'Have I ever been
disruptive?' 'Certainly not.' I reply.) Having heard Robert Childs
playing I fell in love with the euphonium which is derived from the
word
euphony, which means 'beautiful sounding' and bought a cheap
second-hand instrument. I was allowed to
change sections. Being with the euphoniums was bliss and playing the
baritone is second best. I love all kinds
of music and enjoy the complete range of pieces written expressly for
brass. It is difficult to narrow down my
favourite but I love 'Sinfonietta' by Gordon Langford and 'Stantonbury
Festival' by Ray Steadman- Allen.
