The third weekend’s recordings occurred in various locations in the Eastern Cape. This weekend also had the most players in total. Audio recordings started the Friday evening in Salem Moravian Church, Schauderville, Gqeberha (Port Elizabeth) and continued the Saturday. The first BBSA Brass Festival in the Eastern Cape was held in this church on Sunday 2 November 1952, thus also of historic significance. The Sunday players travelled in convoy to the Tsitsikamma National Park. No-one expected the spectacular scenery within the national park with pockets of near pristine wilderness and beaches, with the Storms River Mouth nearby. Players were standing, some bare feet, in the water on the beach, others on boardwalks across streams whilst being filmed. Awesome video footage, to say the least, and the proverbial cherry on the cake, some of this video footage was taken with a DRONE.
It is worth mentioning that there is always a player or two with a bit of humour. Whilst the drone was hovering above the players, a voice was heard, “Ek het sommer lus en skiet die ding af met n kettie”. (I have an urge to shoot down the thing with a catapult). It took the drone operator a while to restore order after spontaneous outbursts of laughter.
Thereafter the players travelled to Thornham and Clarkson, two old Moravian Mission stations where further video footage were taken at various locations around the two respective church buildings. A quick stop at the Storms River bridge where three Fanfare Trumpeters were filmed on a boardwalk with the spanning bridge as backdrop, breath-taking at its best!
The traveling in convoy to the various locations with food baskets and snacks characterized the uniqueness of this weekend whilst the camaraderie amongst the players underscored a sense of purpose, to serve the Lord with SOUNDS of BRASS. This was also evident in the solemnness and passion with which “The Prayer” was played.
Indeed, a memorable weekend!
Gallery
BBSA70 + 1 Music Festival 