The Story behind the trumpet Section quitting

The Story behind the trumpet Section quitting

As I suggested I have interviewed the band members today to try and find out what has happened.

I have also re-read through all of my research notes. I have tried to contact Bob from the trumpet section, but he is not answering my calls. I have tried to email Miles, but he has not replied to my emails and I have been round to Louis’s house but he will not let me in.

I still stand by my writing as the trumpet section is a difficult bunch; they were un-cooperative during the profile research and have caused a number of arguments in the past. However, I do not hold them accountable for the accident and neither do any of the CMB members.

It seems that the trumpet section was unhappy with the following:

·         The logo - they wanted it to have a trumpet in it

·         The blog – they wanted to write it

·         The name – they wanted it to be ‘The Kenilworth Trumpets section & friends’

·         The uniform – they wanted it to be a brass / gold colour with silver trim

·         The formations – they wanted the formation to be the same every gig, in the shape of a trumpet

·         The tunes that the band plays – it’s fairly obvious that they wanted all tunes to be played on trumpets!

The various arguments over the years have included the above points, but also they have a problem with playing Coronation Street as they don’t like the programme; they all prefer Eastenders or Emerdale. They are unhappy with me being the official biographer they don’t think I fit the professional feel of the band since I am self taught!

It is my personal opinion that they wanted the band to be something that it is not and never will be. They have tried over the years to push the band into various directions and it has not worked. I believe that they have finally realised that the CMB is what it is and there is nothing they can do to change that.

It is a sad time, but I have every faith that Dotty will find the next trumpet section – the show will most definitely go on!

For the time being, Barbara has agreed to use her old training trumpet for the next few performances.  Barbara is very happy about this as she has a great love for brass instruments and does miss the tuba terribly. She has been practising last minute to ensure the band has their full sound on Saturday.

- Godfrey Yammerstein, 30th June 2011

Apology to the trumpet section

Apology to the trumpet section

Dotty has informed me that the trumpet section left the band because they had read the blog and taken offence with what I had written about them.

I apologise for any offence I have caused to the trumpet section.

Yes, I do know their names. However, I did make it clear at the time I was collating research for the blog that I would only upload profiles about members who had given me their consent - The trumpet section did not give me that consent.

I do not agree that it was my writing which forced them to quit!

I will now re-read through my research notes and asked the rest of the band members what they think has happened so that I can piece together the story.

- Godfrey Yammerstein, 30th June 2011

Trumpet Section Vacancy

Filling your ears with quality since 1945

VACANCY

We have recently lost our TRUMPET SECTION and have 3 Vacancies to fill.

What we need are 3 trumpet players who are competent and exceptional.

If you have a passion for marching;  a feel for music and a love of Kenilworth then please contact us via email for further details: marchingband@btinternet.com

For further details please take a look at our blog:

www.ccmarchingband.blogspot.com/

Breaking News - Trumpet section have just Quit

Breaking News

The trumpet section has just quit the Chinewrde Marching Band!

I have no idea what this means yet, but I have been informed that the CMB will still be playing Kenilworth Carnival on Saturday.

Fortunately they have some back up plans:

-       To play pre-recorded mp3’s of the trumpet section in the background

or the more preferred option

-       To ask Bab’s to dust off her old training trumpet and see if she can do some of the tunes

Either way, Coronation Street has been scrapped.

I will find out what has happened and post the story behind this dramatic twist of events.

-       Godfrey Yammerstein, July 2011

Chinewrde Marching Band play Kenilworth Carnival

Looking Good!

The final rehearsal goes down a storm in the sun!

The Chinewrde Marching Band will be taking to the streets of Kenilworth for the first time in their 66 year history to support this very ‘important’ carnival of Kenilworth.

Originally formed in July of 1945, the current cohort of the Chinewrde Marching Band take to the streets of Kenilworth this weekend in their first ever appearance in the town’s annual carnival. Among them will be the group’s leader and spokesperson Dorothy Crochet. A CMB member since the early days and now well into her eighties, Dorothy plays percussion and keeps the band running to time, albeit a little quick on occasion.

Speaking about what it means to be marching in Saturday’s Kenilworth Carnival procession, Dorothy says: “The Carnival is such an important part of our town’s history and I can’t wait to play a part in it. I’m so excited, I just can’t hide it! I love The Pointer Sisters.”

With the current formation of twelve marching in four rows of three, the Chinewrde Marching Band continues to take huge steps forward. New members Frieda (Flag Bearer, 42) and Felicity (Trombonist, 19) both bring something new, with the latter having been brushed by fame in 2009 when she met Ant and Dec at a Britain’s Got Talent audition.

Final word from Dorothy: “The band had a really good final practice on Sunday and rehearsed some new material and adventurous formations which we hope will drive the crowd wild. Listen out for Benny Hill tune and a jazzed up version of the Pink Panther – pure sax appeal!”

Final Rehersal

Excerpt taken from the press release

History of the Chinewrde Marching Band 1991 – 2011

The Chinewrde Marching Band march onwards to the future!

After Dotty took over in January 1991, things seemed to calm down a little. And although Dotty took the band more seriously than Myrtle, she was easier to talk to and was less bossy. Dotty, like Myrtle before her, wanted the band to be un-prejudiced as well as professional, committed and the very best at what they do. She had new uniforms made for the band in 1992, and reviewed the band’s ethos on a yearly basis in an attempt to ensure they remained dedicated and professional within their amateur status. As regards the elaborate formations which Stixx had tried to introduce she compromised with him and suggested that anything he wanted to try had to be simple, and more importantly, safe for the band members. Dotty decreed that anyone in the band could have their say on anything, but if changes were suggested by anyone (including her) they would put it to the vote and the group would decide as a whole. Basically what Dotty did was take the shell of Myrtle’s band and nurtured the concept creating an environment where each member could excel and feel comfortable enough to add to the overall performance – Myrtle would have been proud.

Dorothy also managed to have a calming effect on the trumpet section and between the years 1992 and 2009 the trumpet section seemed happy, indeed there were a lot less arguments. This calming effect had happened shortly after January 1991, where Dorothy explained that she had no tolerance for arguments or spite in her band and basically they all want the same thing. More importantly she made it clear, via both her whistle and vocally, that she would just replace them if they started again! For the next few years, the band managed to get gig’s all over the world and their over all look was much more neat and sophisticated due to the new uniforms.

In 1998 the local social services got in touch with Dorothy about a man who called himself Blind Smokin’ Toots who had enjoyed an extremely varied life but had hit hard times. The woman asked Dotty if he could join the band as part of his therapy. Dotty said yes on hearing that he was a Saxophone player, after all the CMB had never had a Saxophone player before.  In 2006, Dotty was still on the look out for some different musicians, and went to a fete at the local school. After watching Tina Cleff perform a wonderful piece of music on her flute, Dorothy asked her to join. The Chinewrde Marching Band now had a flute player!

During the annual review of the band’s ethos in 2009, Dotty felt that something was missing. The band were doing well and had a fair few gig’s but apart from their many fans, no one knew who they were. Dorothy felt that they needed a presence - a website would be useful. And although they had a logo they needed a much more sophisticated one and more importantly they really needed to use it! Dorothy asked a local illustrator to provide them with a logo and then started looking for someone to set the band up with a website. In 2009, after reading an article by me about her band, Dorothy contacted me and asked if I would help set up the blog complete with profiles; this would eventually lead to me becoming the band’s official biographer.

Still on the look out for new recruits (as always) Dorothy put an advert up in the local shops, churches and pubs for a flag bearer and some back up trumpet players! In December 2009, Freda Flagstone auditioned and was offered the position as the CMB’s flag bearer. Now all the band needed was a flag! At the end of 2010, Jerome Flabagaster (who had walked out of the Philharmonic Orchestra) was due to be helping out the CMB playing the viola on the John Cale version of Leonard Cohen’s Halleluja!  However, he has since been persuaded to join, and has switched his instrument to a saxophone to strengthen the popular Pink Panther theme.

Meanwhile, Barabara had been dieting for a number of years and had finally lost the weight which was causing her health problems. This had meant that she had switched from the tuba to the recorder and the CMB were in desperate need for something to replace this loss. In February 2011 Dorothy put up a new advert offering vacancies and a young girl called Felicity came along to the audition, liking the girl immediately Dotty asked her to join – the CMB now had a trombonist!

The band was in full force and was marching towards success again! So Dorothy updated their ethos:

·         A professional amateur band

·         Open to all who excel and are exceptional

·         To be in full uniform, neat and tidy

·         To use the logo in an appropriate way

·         To make full use of all new digital media in order to increase their fan base

·         To keep waste to a minimum and recycle all uniforms and instruments

·         To be environmentally friendly and keep carbon emissions to a minimum

·         To always be ambitious and fresh in their approach to new challenges

And I conceived their motto filling your ears with quality since 1945

It is now 2011, and the band is looking forward to an exciting future, Dorothy still tries to communicate to the band using her various whistles and the band tries to understand the squeaks and squeals. They have just agreed to play Kenilworth Carnival and are rehearsing with excitement and have put an ambitious list of music together for the day, with some wonderful formations choreographed by Stixx and enforced by Dotty.

I look forward to seeing the Carnival, I shall be watching from my usual spot on Rosemary Hill.

Official Biographer for the CMB – Godfrey Yammerstein: A Profile of a Great British Marching Band

History of the Chinewrde Marching Band 1990

The Accident and the March onwards and upwards

Tragedy struck in 1990, with the loss of the founding member Myrtle Appassionato. She had created a fantastic band and encouraged them to have an input in how they performed, where they performed and what they performed. This encouragement was to contribute to her downfall!

When Stixx joined the band he was immediately liked and is still a popular figure within the band today. His personality and background has influenced his showmanship qualities and therefore from his professional stance within the Marine Corps he strives to be precise and perfect at all times. His time with the cheerleading group has also equipped him with a keen eye for elaborate formations and how to organise them. Therefore during the beginning of 1990, Stixx had been introducing exotic formations for the band to perform during their many gig’s.

Meanwhile, Dotty had also taken to introducing new qualities to the band’s performance. It is at this time that she started to talk about the tribe she was part of as a child – Sqwistpe. It turns out that this tribe was a group of orphans who lived in the workhouse and they communicated using high pitched squeals and squeaks. Dotty had transcribed the various squeaks and squeals into a type of language and could use her whistle to communicate in a similar way. So in 1990 Dorothy started to introduce the concept of using her whistle to communicate with the rest of the band on directions, beat, speed and various other types of valuable information. She felt she needed to do more with this exceptional instrument than just the first note in Yakety Sax.

Also during this year, Ann had started drinking heavily due to her second divorce and the band was trying desperately to keep her sober. The trumpet section was becoming increasingly difficult to work with; their volatile behaviour was getting much worse. Barbara had put on such a lot of weight that she had to keep resting in between her notes and finally Stixx’s formations were getting more and more dangerous as the year progressed.

Late in 1990 the disorientation and disorganisation took its toll. During a very difficult formation for the theme tune to the Pink Panther disaster struck. The formation consisted of a human pyramid - marching extremely slowly - with Myrtle on top conducting, while various other members of the band clicked their fingers to keep time. This was supposed to last for the entire song, but the trumpet section remarked that the band would look stupid and Sophia added that it was dangerous and she especially did not want her mother that high up. Barbara was complaining that the weight of people on her shoulders was taking its toll on her already weak ankles. With all the complaints and commotion from the trumpet section, and Dotty’s incessant whistling which no one understood – let alone reacted to, an argument ensued.

The Chinewrde Marching Band was entangled in a human pyramid while arguing with each other. They were still linked to each other but moving in different directions and at different speeds; thus they all came tumbling down instruments and all. Unfortunately Sophia was trying to help her mother down from the pyramid before they all toppled and she too was caught within the heap of band members and instruments. When she eventually disentangled herself she found that Lady Fleur’s drumsticks had been embedded into her legs, from this day forth Sophia was unable to walk. Much more tragic than that, was the realisation that they had lost their founding member Myrtle Appassionato.

Myrtle was later found crushed to death under Barbara and her tuba - the Chinewrde Marching Band were without a leader. After the funeral, they scattered Myrtle’s ashes over the Abbey Fields so that she would remain a part of Kenilworth forever. And In January 1991 the band voted Dorothy Crochet as the new leader of the Chinewrde Marching Band. Dorothy happily took to the role and continued in Myrtle’s footsteps.

Official Biographer – Godfrey Yammerstein: A Profile of a Great British Marching Band

History of the Chinewrde Marching Band 1941 – 1989

Myrtle's envelope

Myrtle’s Band has a make-over!

After the disaster in November 1940, Myrtle met with the other survivors: Sarah Somaton; Dorothy Crochet and the trumpet section. They decided to start building a new band in the New Year. So in January 1941, they began searching for new members. Myrtle still wanted the band to be un-prejudiced and open to all who excel, but the trumpet section was pushing for a more professional feel.

The trumpet section’s quest for excellence and professionalism started a number of arguments within the band. These arguments happened on such a regular basis, that between the years 1940 and 1962 many individuals joined but very quickly left.  This volatile atmosphere was upsetting and early in 1945 the entire band walked out leaving Myrtle Appasionato; sarah Somaton; Dorothy Crochet and the trumpet section for a second time.

Myrtle made it quite clear that it was her band and the trumpet section needed to back off. The trumpet section made it clear that they believed the band was unprofessional; Myrtle corrected them by maintaining that she led an amateur band! This debate between them concluded in an agreed set of rules for the new band:

The new Rules were as follows:

1.    To be un-prejudiced and open to all, as long as they are the best at what they do

2.    To excel and be exceptional

3.    To be a professional amateur band at all times

4.    To have a uniform which is neat and looks good

5.    To have a logo which fits the sophisticated band’s ethos

6.    To always be on the look out for exceptional people

7.    To have a new name that evokes the band’s ethos

The band’s ethos was:

·         To provide quality entertainment to their fans.

·         Keep waste to a minimum - so they would continue with a make do and mend vein and create uniforms from their own clothes until they had some money to buy new ones.

·         They would endeavour to be innovative and ambitious in their choice of music to be played at each gig.

·         The colour scheme was to be black and gold.

As for the new name, since most of them were happy to settle in Kenilworth and thought of the place as their home they decided it should have a Kenilworthian theme. Taking the original Kenilworth name Chinewrde they became the Chinewrde Marching Band in July 1945.

While on the look out for band members they were limited to what music they could play having only three trumpet players; a baton twirler; conductor and a percussionist who played the whistle and triangle. Myrtle was in desperate need of some drummers, and a xylophone player at the very least!

In 1948 Myrtle gave birth to her only child Sophia. Desperate to keep the band going Myrtle started to teach Sophia to play the xylophone and glockenspiel as soon as she could hold the beaters!  Sophia Appasionato joined the Chinewrde Marching Band in 1950 at the age of 2 and played her first few gig’s in her pushchair. Meanwhile in an attempt to please the woman who saved her from the workhouse, Dorothy vowed to learn a new percussion instrument every year. However, this was not enough and Myrtle was still on the look out for drummers. The band continued to multi task and struggle for the next few years.

As their profile and fan base grew, it became easier to persuade musicians to join the small group and in 1962 Myrtle finally got a drummer! Lady Fleur Merlotte joined the band in an attempt to restore her sanity. And in the 1970’s Alfred and Bert joined the band playing the harmonica and the banjo thus enabling the band to play much more diverse music including Hello Dolly and Oklahoma!

During the 1980’s the band grew with 3 new recruits, the first of which was a 17 year old called Annie Greenberg. Annie joined in 1982 as a way to cope with her loneliness; the band was really all she had. Then in 1987 Barbara Mallone, a tuba player, joined. And finally in 1989 Stixx Malone joined and with his drumming abilities matching those of Lady Fleur’s, the Chinewrde Marching Band was finally on its way!

Official Biographer for the CMB – Godfrey Yammerstein: A Profile of a Great British Marching Band

History of The Chinewrde Marching Band 1940

KIDDUUMS to MMB

The KIDDUUMS band had changed its name between 1932 and 1940, and was now known as Myrtle’s Marching Band or MMB for short. The band had been going strength to strength and had a repertoire so unique and diverse, that many people were stunned into silence whenever they performed. Their rendition of Aint nobody here but us Chickens;  Bye bye birdie and Flanagan & Allen’s Run Rabbit Run were popular favourites.

In the summer of 1940 Myrtle introduced three trumpet players to the MMB, and they continued to turn up to rehearsals. The rest of the members of the band were concerned as they did not know anything about the three trumpet players including their names. The three trumpet players turned up on time for rehearsals, and left on time at the end of the evening. They never let the band down and were always present and played their best at any gig. They never spoke a word to any of the band members, except to Myrtle who couldn’t even hear what they were saying. There was an air of uncertainty around them but no one asked them any questions, after all this band was unprejudiced and diverse.

The incident that changed the band forever!

At a practice in Kenilworth town centre, November 1940, things changed for the band forever.

Myrtle was trying to get the band to march in formation, which was something new to the group. Unbeknownst to her and because of her balance issues she was having trouble keeping to a straight line,  each time she showed them what to do and then watched them march in formation she could not understand why they kept veering to the right. During this practice - which was going on for quite a long time - certain members of the band were starting to question the Trumpet section, what were their names? Where were they from? and more importantly how come they were not fighting in the war? The trumpet section was getting agitated and argumentative (something which continued from this day forth) and started shouting and waving their trumpets about in a fit of rage. Myrtle was trying to calm everyone down when a big explosion occurred up by the Globe Hotel.

We now know that the explosion was a German landmine going off, but at the time the band did not have any clue what it was. The Trumpet Section fled, Myrtle was thrown backwards and crawled to safety under some rubble with Dorothy and Sarah following close behind. In a strange twist of fate, all the other band members who were questioning the Trumpet section died that day leaving only Myrtle, Sarah, Dorothy and of course the three trumpet players.  For the second time in her life Myrtle vowed to create the best band ever, with new recruits... again!

And the new name would be The Chinewrde Marching Band

Official Biographer for the CMB – Godfrey Yammerstein: A Profile of a Great British Marching Band

History of The Chinewrde Marching Band (1925 - 1932)

Myrtle Appasionato, Photo courtesy of Sophia

Myrtle and Sarah leave their lives in search of a perfect beat and meet a Dotted Crochet!

The beginnings of this fantastic marching band start with a travelling Carnival passing through these parts in autumn 1924. Myrtle Appasionato and Sarah Somaton were part of that travelling Carnival and in spring 1925 they ran away from their troupe in order to settle here in Kenilworth. Myrtle was excellent at keeping time and was pitch perfect, so with these natural talents she knew she could make it as a conductor. Myrtle and Sarah packed their things and left in search of a band to lead. According to the limited records that I managed to source Myrtle was born in 1913, and left her Carnival aged 12. I cannot find any records for Sarah Somaton.

Life was hard for the pair, as they scrambled to survive. They were ridiculed for being travellers, but they managed to live day to day surviving by any means they could. Myrtle had heard that a band would be playing in the Abbey Fields after the Carnival procession that year and as the pair were missing the entertainment limelight they decided to join the band. Although the band gladly took on Myrtle, they were not interested in a baton twirler and so they turned Sarah down. The band did indeed play the Abbey Fields after the Carnival procession that year, but unfortunately Myrtle was not conducting!

After being cast aside by Myrtle’s new friends Sarah was distraught and begged Myrtle to find another band for them. Myrtle asked the band to reconsider, but it seemed the band was scared of Sarah – due to her childlike features and her accompanying adult outlook. Myrtle accused the band of being prejudiced and attacked them with her baton and a fight ensued ending with the percussionist boxing Myrtle’s ears with his cymbals and the pair were sent on their way.

It wasn’t long before Myrtle reaslied that having her ears boxed had seriously affected her talents at conducting music. She could no longer hear, and was slightly off balance when she was standing or marching. She was so angry at how they had treated her friend Sarah that she vowed to get even and create a better band which would be more diverse than any other band before. There would be no prejudice within her band and being different was a pre-requisite - it would be open to all who wanted to excel! Myrtle Vowed to create the most diverse, dynamic and innovative marching band ever and so The Kenilworth innovative, diverse, dynamic and un-prejudice, un-conducted marching or static band (or The KIDDUUMS Band) was born!

Myrtle took the band all over the place while she searched for the best player of each instrument. In 1932, during this search for excellence, she came across a former workhouse where some children were still living.  In this former workhouse she met an 8 year old girl called Dorothy who had been born in the workhouse and therefore believed it to be her home. Myrtle was so taken by the girl’s talent to use anything as a musical instrument including an old battered whistle, grass, an old shoe and a mouldy old carrot that she rescued the girl and Dotty joined the band! With Myrtle and Shirley both searching for new band members and recruiting as many as they could, the band grew into a large group of 25. The KIDDUUMS Band was on its way!

Official Biographer for the CMB - Godfrey Yammerstein – A Profile of a Great British Marching Band (first published March 2011. 2^nd publication May 2011)

CMB Profiles: The trumpet section



The trumpet section of The Chinewrde Marching Band


The trumpet section of the band refused to be interviewed and there is a lot of unrest between them and the rest of the band. They are excellent trumpet players, but extremely volatile and argumentative.

The three of them were hand picked to join the band by Myrtle and so have been with the group for a great many years. They seem unhappy with all of the changes that have been made over the years – including the new name!

I have tried to acquire some information about the three of them, but none of the other members are very happy with them currently, so this has not been possible. I do hope that they sort these issues out, as they are extremely good at what they do and they do a fantastic version of their follower’s most popular tune Coronation Street.

Excerpt taken from Godfrey Yammertein's 'A profile of a Great British Marching Band', published May 2011

CMB Profiles: Freda Flagstone

Photo courtesy of Freda

Freda  Flagstone


Freda (42 yrs) is one of the more recent members to join the Chinewrde Marching Band. She is not however new to marching bands. From the age of 13 until late 2009 she was a member of another marching band. Freda never let her band members down and was always there to bear the flag! Unfortunately due to the credit crisis that band had to split; this meant that Freda was free to audition for the Chinewrde Marching Band early last year.

The CMB took her on because she is the best flag bearer they have ever seen. They have actually never had a flag bearer before and as a consequence they do not have a flag, therefore for the last few gigs’ Freda has used a broom. It never fails to amaze me the way this group always find a way to ensure the show goes on, nothing fazes them.

The flag is currently being designed and sewn together ready for its first appearance which will be at this year's Kenilworth Carnival.

Excerpt taken from Godfrey Yammertein's 'A profile of a Great British Marching Band', published May 2011

CMB Profiles: Alfred & Bert

A photo of Alfred or Bert


Alfred & Bert


Alfred used to play the harmonica for the Chinewrde Marching Band and was very talented and able to play such beautiful melodies. Alf has given up his pleasure of the harmonica after Sophia’s accident; he has selflessly taken on an extremely important role instead - to make sure the band keeps their unique sound by ensuring that Sophia can still take part. Alfred pushes Sophia in the wheelchair (or whatever vehicle they manage to acquire) for each of her gig's and therefore has swopped an important role within the CMB for an even more important role!

Bert used to play the banjo for the band, but has in recent years been increasingly more involved in the roadie and driver positions. Bert is a fun loving guy who always has a smile on his face and joke ready to tell.

Excerpt taken from Godfrey Yammertein's 'A profile of a Great British Marching Band', published May 2011

CMB Profiles: Sarah Somaton

 

Sarah Somaton

Sarah is a mystery. I have not had the chance to interview her, as she refuses my questions at every turn. Dorothy seems to be the only member of the band who knows her and therefore knew when she joined. Unfortunately Dorothy is getting more and more forgetful these days and every time I ask her about Sarah, she says she simply cannot remember.

I have managed to piece together some information regarding the band’s baton twirler, from what the other members have said. None of the CMB members know when she joined, but the more I dig the more I am convinced that Dotty recruits a child and calls her Sarah so that the band appears youthful, I would hazard a guess that once the child has grown 'too old' to be a baton twirler they are trained to play an instrument and revert back to their actual name. I firmly believe that Annie Greenberg started as a 'Sarah Somaton'.

This might be the reason that the band claim to have knowledge about her, whether I am right is actually irrelevant, she is an amazing baton twirler and the Chinewrde Marching Band are lucky to have her.

Excerpt taken from Godfrey Yammertein's 'A profile of a Great British Marching Band', published May 2011