Comments ~ 2008 July

28-Jul-2008

NAB is big..where are you?!; Two fingered typist; Everyone's a critic...

NAB is big...where are you?!

Where's all the promotion and hoo haa about National Australia Brass in 4barsrest?

NAB is even bigger than Kevin Rudd speaking Mandarin to the Chinese during trade talks, yet it doesn't even make a decent comment at brass banding's most prominent propaganda promoting production line.

Who are the personnel? What are the "seasons"? What are audition requirements? So on and so on.

NAB organisation, make use of 4Barsrest. Please don't just have a facebook group that almost no one knows about.

NAB is big! Real big!!! Where are you?

John Szkutko

Two fingered typist

Love your work Kathy :)

Getting the last name wrong was bad form and I promise to spell someone else's name wrong, instead, next time.

Hope you enjoyed hearing the boy play - I did!

David Chaulk
2-fingered typist

Everyone's a critic

A grade from Christchurch.

We all know how to use the backspace and delete keys. But what happens when you just don't have the time...

Firstly, let's acknowledge that live posting is a dangerous occupation and full marks to the author for attempting such an ambitious work.

Friday night's programme was good test of repetitive material requiring individual treatments so it will be interesting to see how it worked out.

Band No 1

Without knowing the keyboard skills it's hard to comment on the use of TLA (three letter acronym) so early in the work (OTT) - was it nerves perhaps?

Use of the personal pronoun we seems odd for a single reviewer but is an acceptable stylistic embellishment.

Band No 2

Just watch the use of punctuation in comments. It's a tempting shortcut but does interrupt the flow.

Band No 3

Good attempt at humour with the committee meeting but spoiled by a slip in the arranger's name for the hymn. At this level attention to details such as this is expected.

Intonation train wrecks seems a rather dramatic description. Otherwise, very fair and sensitive feedback.

Band No 4

There seems to be a theme of tiredness running through the comments. Nerves, carelessness or just lack of thought not options to consider?

Be careful with irrelevant comments, eg. tapping of feet, if your brief is to review the music.

Band No 5

This is much better work in terms of staying closer to the brief. Again, the OTT jars but that may just be a matter of taste. Seems you are getting in your stride a bit here.

Band No 6

Much more exciting work here and the audience can feel your eagerness as the competition shapes up. The cadence and rhythm suffers a bit from the tam tam/kit kat saga. If you had that much time to tell such an involved story perhaps a sub head, such as intermission, might have heightened the effect?

Band No 7

The terminology is getting rather emotive now. Perhaps a little tiredness creeping in? Just watch the dramatic content. Going from average to downright bad is very subjective and risks alienating your audience.

Band No 8

Commenting on the quality of sound in relation to the professional lives of amateurs raises a smile. Is this a deeper reflection of personal beliefs?

A sop restoring order? I'm sorry I missed that!

Band No 9

You obviously enjoyed this performance as your writing flows with as much rise and fall as the music you describe. I did enjoy your performance here very much, thank you.

Band No 10

There's a subtle change in pronouns. Most wouldn't see it but again, at this level, it shouldn't happen.

Overall

A few inconsistencies as the comments moved away from the musical brief but in places a very entertaining read. There is no doubt as to the musical knowledge of the reviewer. however without knowing the logistical and time constraints imposed upon such an exercise, it's best to say that an even start steadily built up to a good finish, and we look forward to the Own Choice Comments.

Kathy Clark

Tongue in cheek

A tongue in cheek look at the online reviews of the A Grade in Christchurch continues as the Pen takes on the baton for the Own Choice.

There isn't any gain in repeating the comments of last night so I'll just point out anything new that comes to my attention.

A good steady confident style is brashly interrupted by the 'tubaphobia' comment. It feels a bit tacky at this level.

What happened to the comments on Band Nos 6 and 7? This is a very abrupt change in style. Is it lack of knowledge of the music or a change of typist?

I feel sorry for Bands 9 and 10. Just because they played the same piece does not mean they should get exactly the same opening comments. It seems a good intention to save time became a bit of a train wreck edit.

Overall, this is much better writing but some careless edits towards the end cannot be forgiven.

My prediction - The reviewer has done a sterling job given the task at hand. A little more attention to detail and consistency would make some very ordinary work most memorable indeed.

Kathy Clark

About these comments

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