4BR downunder | comments

Pre-qualifier for Nationals; No District - No Nationals; States compulsory; Congratulations Tanunda; Where is John Hawker?; Keeping comments civil; Less emotive, more constructive; XLCR defends; Abysmal XLCR; Waste of Money...

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I agree that going to the nationals should have a pre-qualifier and I think the New Zealand model is fair and reasonable. Missing one year’s state title could be because of a whole host of valid reasons but missing two years running suggests a distinct lack of commitment.

Instead of vitriolic attacks on bands who don’t show up, as seen at events this year, let’s focus on making them WANT to show up.

Good on you Chris for putting the motion on the table. It is worthy of debate and I hope bands pay attention.

In reply to Chris Bowmans comment below, Chris and 4BR readers may be interested to know that New Zealand bands voted on Saturday at the BBANZ AGM the following:

"No New Zealand band shall be entitled to enter a National Contest band event if they have not competed in their own District Association Band contest within the preceding two years".

Currently this works for the solo competition - so why not bands events as well.

Others reasons are the same as Chris's and this remit was passed by a good majority.

Owen Melhuish
Christchurch

I have a fundamental problem with the Australian Nationals being conducted as an Open championship, whilst some State contests draw few entries.

The Victorian State Championship has been poorly attended, yet our bands have attended the Australian Nationals, other State Championships and New Zealand Nationals.

I intend to put the following Notion of Motion for to the VBL Delegates, and if supported, submit it to the NBCA.

"Any Australian band attending the Australian National Band Championship must compete in the State Championship of their home State in the year prior to attending the Nationals.
This regulation is to take effect as from the 2009 Australian National Championship contest, i.e., any Australian band attending the 2009 Australian National Championship must compete in their home State Championship in 2008."

NB: This proposed Notice of Motion is of my own initiation, and does not necessarily reflect the opinion of any other member of the VBL Executive.

Thank you and congratulations to South Australian Band Association, Barossa Band Festival and especially Tanunda Town Band for a fantastic weekend of band music and fellowship to celebrate the 150th Anniversary of the Tanunda Town Band.

It was very enjoyable and highlighted what our movement does best. I look forward to next year.

I recently attend MIFB and listened to great players and learnt a lot. Mnozil Brass was fantastic!

I was looking forward to hearing XCLR on the Saturday but was slightly disappointed, I thought maybe it was the venue or the fact that it wasn’t the band that I heard play at the nationals. However, on the Sunday I was far more impressed to hear a much fuller, richer sound and a livelier band, it was like hearing a different band! None of the MIFB sessions that I went to were a waste of money, although I was slightly disappointed to hear a similar program from Sun to that of Sat night. It was mentioned in earlier comments that members of XCLR had to pay their own accommodation costs involved, well so did I in attending MIFB and I came from interstate too. I agree with Kathy Clark that yes most bands don’t put up their preferred team on all occasions. I do feel lucky at the moment though in being able to play with a brass band that at rehearsals, contests and concerts nearly all occasions the same team is there and helpers aren’t required. It is hard in this day and age to get enough players at times. Here in my town there are many brass players that play in their own home band but are helping out sometimes up to 3 others.

After reading the past few comments it gave me a bit of a feeling of almost like a boxing match taking place and almost somewhat becoming personal in nature. I thought that this forum was to discuss and learn about brass banding. I as a music student and not always knowledgeable in the brass band scene like to learn and gain the experience and knowledge. Lets go for more constructive.

As with Mr Casagrande I wish to start my email with a caveat this is a personal opinion and not that of any band or association with whom I am affliated.

In respect of the negative comments on the Sunday MIFB concert I defy any band to truthfully say they put their preferred team up on all occasions. It is always a juggling act between competing priorities and funds available.

Did the audience enjoy themselves in the main? I hope so. We couldn't go due to a commitment with our own band, and I would like to take this opportunity to thank
those who managed to fit both OUR Slow Melody AND their commitments in the afternoon into what was a spectacular day of banding.

I'm sorry Messrs McMillan and Griffiths felt hard done by. However, as someone who is very much involved in promoting brass bands I think you could have perhaps been a
little less emotive and lot more constructive.

I've heard both Hawthorn and K&N many times over the years and I cannot say they put on a top shelf performance every time, nor with their own team there. What I can
say is I have enjoyed acknowledging the efforts they made to actually take part.

Kathy Clark

In reply to Mr Griffiths comments about the Brisbane Excelsior Band, I am the President of the XLCR Band and therefore my comments are rather biased and perhaps defensive but none the less they are open.

As far as XLCR was concerned most of us came to Melbourne having to pay for our own accommodation. XLCR was not paid a fee and as an amateur group it can sometimes come unstuck - however, XLCR's performance on Sunday was a hit. I guess if I was being paid the $12,000 per performance fee plus expenses that Mnozil Brass received then I think I could accommodate the shallow criticism that is coming from the tall poppy cutting crowd.

It is difficult for brass bands to get any sort of coverage these days in the professional ranks so now I guess Mr Griffiths of Catholic Education in South Australia wishes to contribute to the further demise of the brass banding movement.

It is comments such as these that make my resolve even tougher to do every thing I can to help XLCR retain its title.

If Mr Griffiths and Mr McMillan come to the Nationals in Brisbane next year and say hello, I will pay for their entry fee all weekend to ensure you get your value for money.

I attended the Melbourne International Festival of Brass (MIFB) and attended several events Master Classes and Concerts.

Top of the tree was ‘Mnozil Brass’ who were just fantastic from an entertainment and playing standard viewpoint, which at times was unbelievable and most inspiring. I would happily have paid double the $40 entrance as I am sure the capacity audience would have done also.

Bottom of the tree was the abysmal concert performance of Excelsior Band. The band was not Excelsior but a band of some local scratch players and the residue of the Excelsior band with a stand in conductor. The majority of pieces they played were nothing pieces that could have been played by any band.

To add to the concert miseries was the boredom produced by the Tuba player Jens Bjorn-Larsen, obviously a good player, who for a good 15 minutes performed a piece that sent most people to sleep. The trombone player Wycliffe Gordon was great as was David Childs on Euph. But as I had to pay $30 for this concert, as far as value for money this was a disgrace and the performance of Australias 'leading' band in front of an international audience left much to be desired.

I was really looking forward to experiencing Mnozil Brass live and was not disappointed, their performance was just fantastic. Congratulations MIFB for bringing them to Australia.

After listening to Mnozil I started to get excited about going to listen to Brisbane Excelsior Band in concert, what a disappointment, great soloists; David Childs very lyrical and entertaining, Wycliffe Gordon wow! Just blew us away, Jens Bjorn-Larsen great player but boring (almost nodded off). The band items were boring and way below the standard of playing expected from the current Australian and New Zealand national champion Band. I heard them play in both competitions and was expecting the same sort of brilliance, sadly disappointed. People go to concerts to be entertained, how disappointing MIFB wasted their money with this band.

2007 October