Comments ~ 2001: December

Comments from December 2001

Peter's speech...
I know it was just a bit of christmas fun, but so surprising to come top of your poll. I'm sitting here in my white shirt, black bow-tie,and black tuxedo (and that's all) thinking what to write for my acceptance speech.

Ah well back to reality, keep up the good work, it's a great site for all the news (and a little gossip) I use it all the time. Thanks to all the people that voted for me, to my mum, sister, brother, man at the garage, dog, cat goldfish... ...

PETER ROBERTS

4BR reply:
You won the award by a fair old distance and it was well and truly deserved. We are sure that our sentiments are echoed by the thousands who voted. Any chance of giving us lesser mortals any secrets to your success?

Speedy stuff!
At 1159pm on Sunday 16th December I ordered 2 CDs online at www.4barsrest.com. They arrived 8am Tuesday 18th December. I'm impressed. Mainly because it's Christmas and I expected a delay. Amazon aren't that good and they charge p&p. Keep up the good work.

Simon Davies

4BR reply:
Many thanks Simon and we hope you enjoy the CDs. We hope to continue the service well into the New Year and we'll be having something of a New Year Sale on as well, just so that we can get some more money off you. We have expensive lifestyles to maintain you know!

Bin shopping:
I must just send in a quick note to say how very impressed I have been with your shopping service - A great selection of CD's all reasonably priced, some great special offers - free delivery to the UK! Plus a service that in my experience is second to none on the internet! (delivery was super speedy!) I highly recommend this service to all. If you have been impressed by this excellent site - you will also be equally impressed by the shopping service.

Obviously it goes without saying that the excellence of this service has gone some way to alleviating my obvious disappointment at not finding my name included in the Top 10 Trombone players of all time.

Simon Holland.

4BR reply:
Thanks Simon for the kind comments. Nice to know we are providing a good service - we hope to continue the CD sales at competitive prices for a long time to come. As for you not getting on the top 10 trombone players though. Try a bit of bribery next time and we may just put you in ahead of that chap Jo Alessi.

Finding MacArthur:
First of all I must thank you for a very fine magazine, it´s very nice to read aboute all the news from the mother land of brass band, keep up the good work. I´m writing to you because I'm trying to find the piece MacArthur Park in the arr. by Alan Catherall. I have tried to search on Just Music but with no luck Maybe it´s published or maybe it´s m/s I don´t know, but maybe some of you brass band experts know ??? Hope you can help me and many others.

Lars Haedersdal

4BR reply:
Is there anyone out there who can help Lars? MacArthur Park if we remember right was a hit for the actor Richard Harris in the 1970's. The music was great but the lyrics were included a line about baking a cake - very strange. If you know where to get the music please let us know and we'll pass the it on.

Brilliant Butterworth:
Just bought the Black Dyke "Butterworth" CD, and what a classic. Brilliant playing, sublime music [the Passacaglia is a fantastic piece]. Well done Black Dyke for sticking to their guns and bringing out a disk with no hint of 'end-of-the-pier' whatsoever. This proves once more that when it comes to contemporary British classical music, Brass Bands often lead the way. Let's hope the other major bands follow suit. I'd love to hear an all-test piece disk from the current Fodens band under the baton of Bramwell Tovey. Imagine it, a disk of this year's major test pieces; Jazz, Pageantry, Les Preludes and Albion! Or what about Snell and Fairey doing a complete Bourgeouis; Blitz, Concerto No.1, Trombone Concerto, Diversions.......

Dafydd Jones

4BR reply:
We must agree with you about the Butterworth CD, Dafydd. It's a superb release, and a brave one at that. Fine music superbly played - it was the winner of our CD of the Year category and well deserved it was too. As for your idea for Fodens - perhaps someone may take you up on it?

Diolch!
Thanks very much for giving the vacancies [Druids playtime] for fanfare trumpeters some attention on the web site. We had a good response, which included one strange one - he wanted to apply for a position playing in "The Lord of the Rings".

We have now closed the vacancies, and I will let you know who the succesful players are.

Alan Gwynant

4BR reply:
Thanks for letting us know that there was plenty of interest in the positions and that you even had the odd weirdo apply. Some people just like dressing up in odd costumes and making fools of themselves - hence "The Lord of the Rings" nonsense. What's that all about eh? Bonkers.

Amicable departures at YBS?
Really amazing how I hear always about people leaving bands (conductors, players,...) in "a perfectly amicable way". Not that I have trouble with it, or would like it to be different, but I would prefer 4barsrest should not follow other well known magazines in covering everything and turn around the real truth. Maybe it is not up to 4BR to reveal things, but then tell it like this.

I know Englishmen are always gentlemen, and they should continue to be, but 3 players and more to leave while "nothing wrong, no hard feelings" ... a bit hard to believe. If I can not believe 4barsrest, should I continue to read the news?

Edy Van Asch

4BR reply:
Sorry that we have disappointed you Edy, but the facts are pretty clear and we're not in the habit of making up stories (who said we ever did eh?)

We spoke directly with Morgan and he told us exactly how he felt and the reasons behind his decision - we have no reason not to believe him, and even if there was a different motive behind him leaving, he wasn't telling us and the libel laws in the UK are such that we couldn't speculate without hard facts could we?

If we do hear anything different we can assure you our readers will be the first to know. Watch this space.

Beaver uncovered!
I was reading the comments page on 4barsrest earlier and saw the request for information on the composer Jack Beaver. A few years ago I toyed with the idea of putting together a website dedicated to brass band composers ('cos I'm sad like that!) and pulled the following information off the 'British Light Music website' whilst doing the research. Sadly, the site doesn't seem to be up and running any more, but this is what it had to say about Jack:

"Another BBC composer, but going further back, basically to the post Second World War period is Jack Beaver (1900-63), educated at the Royal Academy of Music, who penned various medleys and incidental music for radio, music for films (especially when he was resident composer for Gaumont-British from 1984 onwards), a TV signature tune Picture Parade and even a test piece for the National Brass Band Championships of 1954, Sovereign Heritage. Other, basically orchestral, pieces by Beaver include the valse lente Lilith, Meteorite (1952), Mannequin and the March Cavalcade of Youth."

If you want to know what film music he actually wrote, the international movie database is pretty good (www.imdb.com).

Chris Jenkins.

4BR reply:
Thanks Christian. Jack Beaver seems to be forgotten name somewhat of the brass band world.

Christian also supplies the following from a search on the Internet Movie Database,

Film music:

It Happened Here (1966) (uncredited)
Gold Express, The (1958)
Five on a Treasure Island (1956)
Clue of the Missing Ape, The (1953)
Stolen Plans, The (1952)
Hasty Heart, The (1949)
Dusty Bates (1947)
Prime Minister, The (1941)
Case of the Frightened Lady, The (1940)
Face at the Window, The (1939)
Sexton Blake and the Hooded Terror (1938)
Ticket of Leave Man, The (1937)
Wings Over Africa (1937)
39 Steps, The (1935)
There Goes Susie (1934)

What an event!
Many congratulations on the production of 4bars rest. A Great site that I visit quite frequently. The only enhancement that I believe you could make to the site is an events/concert calendar. I know you preview and cover the main contests, but it would be nice to know when other bands are performing locally, so as to support and maybe even swell the audience. I believe this could be a great service to your fellow bands people.

Paul Binder

4BR reply:
Thanks for the kind comments Paul. We hope to be able to produce an events calendar to put onto the site for the New Year that will give details of al the major contests and concerts, events etc.

We would need some cooperation from bands though - they would need to e mail us with the details so we can out them on the site and keep it regularly updated. Fine idea though mate!

Sop novice:
Thanks for your kind comments about my sop playing at Pontins. My first outing on sop being given a sop for 7 days and buying the mouthpiece the night before from Andy Bannister (B&R).

David Notley

4BR reply:
Credit where credit is due then! For someone who only had the sop for 7 days you did a pretty bloody good job Dave - some of Mr Bannister's usual magic must have rubbed off on you!

As for Soham - why don't we hear more of this band? Great name as well!

Regional quandry:
If the bands don't compete at their respective Area competitions how will their Area Committees calculate their grading points for the purposes of potential (although unlikely) relegation in future years? If they don't compete at the Area they may have to accept bottom marks for grading purposes with the risks that that implies, i.e. possible relegation if they didn't appear in the following year again or came low down the section in the subsequent Area competition (incidentally, I haven't done the maths, I'm not that sad).

Bruce Jones, Pennine Brass

4BR reply:
This seems to be the very quandary the bands could well find themselves in Bruce.

It's a strange system we have at present with the Nationals in that four bands pre qualify for next year. Why? It would appear that the only reason is so the number of bands at the Finals is kept at 20. Why not just let the winners return without having to go through the qualifying process again and just let the two bands from each area go through. It would mean just 17 bands at the Finals, but so what?

It would also ensure that the Areas are kept to strength, but would mean that some of the stronger Regions would only have just the two representatives - the same as the weaker ones. It's a problem whatever way you look at it.

Dropping standards...
I just had to comment on you latest article:

"It is believed that a number of players within the bands find the current situation confusing and unfair in that although their band has already "qualified" for the Final's of 2002, they are still obliged to go through and compete at their Regional Championships"

1) What is confusing? It is very simple......all bands compete at the Area. Surely this is an opportunity for these great bands to prove their ongoing superiority against other local bands.
2) Unfair? What is unfair?

"This legal position is set in place to protect the organisers in the realms of current civil law".

Legal position, Civil Law...........sounds like the USA........remember, this is Yorkshire and Lancashire! What has Law got to do with it???!! We will be suing adjudicators next!!!!!!!!!

"the bands that come 3rd and 4th on the day get to go the Finals – a situation that other Areas may feel absurdly unfair".

Why would other areas feel it unfair? They would still have 2 bands qualifying It is a level playing field. If they feel it "absurdly unfair" then I suggest that they play better at the national finals and come in the top 4!!!

Usually your articles are informative and entertaining. Please don't let your standards drop!

Paul Oldfield

4BR reply:
Our initial reporting of the rumours seems to have been correct as it transpires that both Fodens and Williams Fairy have suggested that they do not see the point in competing at the Regionals, but instead they could give a joint concert at another venue and at a later date so that funds ca be raised to help meet the costs of lower section bands going to the National Finals in Torquay next year.

We reported the story as a news item and not an article - and the news has been confirmed. Whether we agree or disagree with their proposed actions is something we would consider at another time, but a verbal approach has been made by the representatives of Fodens to see if they will be allowed not to compete and give a concert instead.

We stand by what we say though - the situation needs clarifying - especially if the two bands do not compete as the implications could be far reaching. As for the civil law - even brass band organisers have had their fingers (and pockets) burnt and raided in the past and are now very wary of possible litigation.

It's a sad reflection on life - but American style litigation is a growth industry and the haphazard way in which the brass band world is run is a ripe and fertile ground for solicitors to make a very fast buck.

Bandpersons reunited...
Was wondering if there would be any chance of maybe starting up a web site similar to the friends reunited one which allows people to contact each other from their old school days. I have been trying to find the where-abouts of an old friend of mine who I have not seen for many years,and, need some assistance but, up to now have drawn a blank.

Whilst I appreciate that you have probably got enough to do running 4barsrest I wonder what sort of response you may get if something like this was started. The person I am after played for many years in brass bands and that is the reason that I am asking you about your views on starting something.

Thanks for a great web site and look forward to 2002 and your comments on the forthcoming Area contests. Happy new year 4bars rest!!!!

Tony Nash.

4BR reply:
We hope by putting this on the site it will help Tony, but at the moment we haven't the time or the resources to try and do something like it through 4BR.

We will be delighted to advertise the fact that any old bandsmen you once knew should contact you - and knowing you there must be literally thousands.

So if there is anyone out there who wishes to start some sort of reunion then contact Tony through us if you wish. Good luck - it could cost you a lot in drinks!

Service indeed!:
My cds arrived this morning, friday dec 7....service indeed. I already have my eye on a few more, being an ex. Scottish bandsman, the Kirkie one looks interesting. Your website in general is a great service to the banding fraternity, getting the results, comments etc., and with so much humour. Keep up the great work.

Steve Adair
Weston Silver Band, Toronto Canada

4BR reply:
We would never cast aspirations on a Scotsman and his money - especially as you've spent plenty of it through us. Nice to know you got the CD's in good time and we hope you enjoy them. Pass the word about the service and we do recommend the Kirky CD - it's very good.

Frog d'or:
I've only just joined your mailing list tonight, so it may be a bit presumptious of me to write, but I must point out that Diadem of Gold was not written by 'a bloke called George Bailey.' It was written c1900 by a French military bandmaster called Guillaume Bale (or some similar spelling - I don't have it in front of me).

The piece was called Overture Characteristique. A young Harry Mortimer heard it in France, and years later decided it would make a good test piece. They decided to anglicise the composer's name because they reckoned that the British bandsman of the time would not tolerate a testpiece by a frog unless he was called Berlioz! What I would like to know is if anyone has any information about 'Jack Beaver', who wrote a piece round about the same time called 'Sovereign Heritage.'

I like the style of your mag. I've been away from brass bands for quite a few years, but am impressed by the way they seem to be going - I only have to hear one to renew the old infatuation...

Bob Mann

4BR reply:
Thanks for the further information about Diadem of Gold - there has long been a query about it's provenance - no wonder if that was our attitude to all things French. It's taken us almost 1000 years to forgive them for beating us at the Battle of Hastings!

As for Jack Beaver and "Sovereign Heritage" . Even the old Black Dyke LP with it on says that they couldn't find another piece written by him for brass band and that the test piece for the 1972 Open was in fact arranged by Frank Wright. Can anyone shed some light on this for us?

WMBBA absense:
I was disappointed to see that 4BR did not cover the WMBBA contest at Leamington Spa on Sunday 2nd December 2001. A number of bands turned up ranging from 4th Section to the Championship which included Carlton Brass who are in the fourth section.

Carlton Brass who have been promoted to the Third Section in 2002 played Peter Grants Dimensions at Leamington, this was a chosen test piece in which the band excelled and won 1st Prize. Would 4BR be attending similar smaller contests ie. NEMBRA on Sunday 3rd February 2002 at Rolls Royce, Derby ?

Abigail Ireland, Carlton Brass

4BR reply:
Sorry to have disappointed you Abigail but we can't be everywhere all the time and we must also say that we only do this site as a part time hobby! We do have full time jobs and girlfriends. Congratulations to the band though on it's success and we hope to be able to give more extended coverage in 2002.

What about Masie Wiggins?
Can't argue with your list - who can when it comes down to personal opinion, but one ommision I and lots of salvationists and ex-salvationists (like me) will probably regret is Masie Wiggins (nee Ringham). When I was a kid it a)amazed me that anyone could play a 'bone like that and b) it was a women doing it. I know we're now used to top class female brass instrumentalists, but we're talking here of a while ago (that my hair and waistline give testimony to). I was pleased to find out that Maisie is still active and conducting the schools wind band in Hillingdon. Was the Eternal Quest written for her?

John Olver

4BR reply:
Thanks for the comments John, As for your personal favourite - the name of Maisie Ringham cropped up on more than a few occasions. Thankfully her reputation remains intact and we have just got a CD from SP&S that features her playing Erik Leidzen's Concertino for Band and Trombone recorded in 1955 with the ISB conducted by Bernad Adams. What a player!

Check it out - it's entitled "Army of the Brave" and it's on our shopping list.

4BR gets award:
With regards to the 4barsrest awards - I would like to suggest another category - the service to banding award - and nominate 4barsrest itself. Without a doubt this site has now become THE place to get the very best information on everything to do with banding. It knocks the staid old banding magazines into a cocked hat with knowledgeable, witty and (more importantly) up to the minute news on the banding scene. Where else could you get a live review of the major contests? Or today's (not last week's, last month's) news? Absolutely first class service! Everyone involved with the site is to be congratulated for finally giving us something worth reading and without ever being po-faced about it all. Well done folks!

Les Wood, Kirkintilloch Band

4BR reply:
Thanks for the kind words Les, You of course cannot be faulted for such good taste and for having such an expert opinion, but we felt it would have been a bit much if we decided to start handing out awards to ourselves. Our girlfriends have decided to give us the award for not spending enough time with them instead!

Thanks again - although there is no award either for the best bit of grovelling to us!!!

Stunning service:
My wife and I were lucky enough to be given two brassy CDs by our London-living daughter for Christmas. She ordered them through 4BarsRest on a Monday and they were delivered to us the next Friday. Since we live in Australia, we reckon your dispatch department must have hooked up with a Santa sleigh for such prompt service. We are most impressed. And we loved the chosen CDs, too: Brass On Broadway (Tredegar Town Band) and New Horizons (Nick Hudson). Absolutely marvellous music, we thought.

We love brass bands, even though we don't know much about them. After discovering your online magazine, we plan to get more acquainted.

Dan & Min
Perth, Western Australia

4BR reply:
Many thanks for the kind reply both. We are trying to set up a fast and reliable service for our CD online shopping - even to Australia.

We hope that you enjoy the CD's and that it will be the start of a long love affair with brass bands.

As for the two CD's you received - both Anthony and myself are playing on them so we have to applaud your choice and good taste!

Lovely remarks for a lovely player!
I wanted to thank you for your bizarre but good review of my playing at Pontins. When people told me what was written I wasn't quite sure what to make of it but I am getting used to the comments being made. Also, theonly decent comment in the remarks at Spennymoor were "Nice Flugel" by Geoff Whitham. The first comment he has made on my playing!

I also apologise for my wonderful, lovely parents e-mailing you. That wasn't supposed to happen.

Also, I think that we have to come in the top ten spot for worst uniforms.

Sian Carradus, Flugel Horn for Besses!

4BR reply:
Thanks for your e mail - it's nice to know that we are not the only people to think your playing was mesmerising. Well done for Spennymoor - your playing at both contests was top notch and we have never seen so many blokes just concentrate on one player!

As my mother tells me - "You can choose friends but not your parents!" I'm sure they are justifiably very proud of your achievements and it's nice to know they stick up for their daughter - my mother used to knit me swimming trunks, so you don't have to tell me about embarrassment!

As for the Besses uniform - wait and see

3* mouthpiece wanted:
Thanks for a fantastic site and resource. Thank you for your coverage of the major events over the last year or so and especially the interview with Peter Roberts - its all been fantastic.

I have been desperately trying to seek out an old Besson 3* (or Besson 3 Star) Bb Cornet mouthpiece for about three years now. After phoning a thousand different brass dealers and specialists and failing to find one, I was wondering whether anyone at the 4barsrest team or visitors to the site could help me find one of these particular mouthpieces - whatever condition it may be in!

I would be very grateful for any help that anyone could give me in what seems to be an impossible task. I look forward to many more years of 4barsrest. Keep up the excellent work.

Steven Symonds, Barnard Castle Band

4BR reply:
Glad to be of some help Steve. Is there anyone out there who can help Steve out. If you can then please let us know and we'll pass on the message.

Someone surely has a battered old bit of metal that's collecting mould in the back of their instrument case. Give it a better home for Xmas!

50 for 2: Howzat!
In addition to my e-mail yesterday, I would also like to point out two of our band members (Lydmet Lydney Band) both recieved an award for 50 years of Banding. They are Robin Cawley and Des Yeates.

David Storer

4BR reply:
Thanks for letting us know about the fine achievement of both Robin and Des and please pass on our congratulations to them both - it's people like them that keep the brass band movement as a whole on the road.

As for you first e mail (concerning the award to the best flugel player), we were given the information by a correspondent about the contest, at we apologise to Lyndon Follows who actually won the award. Well done mate!

Bramwell Tovey enlightens:
One of your correspondents asks about John Ridgeon. As far as I know he is very definitely still with us - he must be around 55 by now. He was a contemporary of the late & great trumpet player John Wilbraham. I last saw John Ridgeon at the Albert Hall about 8 or 9 years ago.

John taught me the tuba when I was a pupil at Ilford County High School. He was an absolute genius at teaching people how to play properly (contrary to your rather ungenerous comment) and understood the mysteries of what goes on behind the mouthpiece. I also accompanied many of his pupils for Associated Board exams and their standard was always very high. He was a good trumpet player himself although I don't think he actually liked playing the trumpet (just a personal hunch.)

I'm sure he will forgive me for saying so but John was a little different - he didn't seem interested in following an orthodox career and left Redbridge (where he had formed a spectacularly fine youth band which Geoffrey Brand used to conduct and in which I played) and went north to Leicestershire where for a while I believe he was a music adviser and conducted orchestras. Many of his Redbridge pupils ended up in professional orchestras.

At Foden's I often find myself uttering things I first heard from John Ridgeon.

By the way, it was the members of Foden's Band who first drew my attention to your website. Congratulations on this innovative project and best wishes for the future.

Bramwell Tovey, Vancouver

4BR reply:
It's nice see hear from someone who remembers John Ridgeon well and his far sighted teaching techniques. There are many players out there who have benefited from his teaching abilities and many bands have reaped the rewards. Our comments about his lip flexibilities were tongue in cheek - the benefit far outstrips the pain involved!

As for him being a little unorthodox - we seem to remember that the flexibility book contained the sight of a nubile young woman in a bikini demonstrating the correct postures involved in playing properly. Such an initiative made the practice so much more enjoyable for impressionable young men!

Alessi praise from old teacher!
Agree with your assessment of Joe Alessi as one of the great trombonists. He has recently recorded with Metro Brass, a New York based band made up primarily of New York Staff Band players and others who cannot be in that band due to scheduling conflicts, of SA trombone solos. The trombone playing is a model of every style imaginable.

Attending one of the rehearsals with my wife in Montclaire, New Jersey she remarked that the rehersal room was cold - my response, not for trombone players! In addition he is a thoroughly decent man - asking various people if he was playing OK.

The CD is called "Song of Exuberance". Should be available through SA sources or from Dillons music.

Ralph E. Pearce
SA Divisional Music Director - Phoenix AZ

4BR reply:
Many thanks for the e mail. Can I ask - are you the same Mr Pearce who was the music teacher at Tredegar Comprehensive School many a year ago - if so you may just remember me.

I must agree with your assessment of Joe Alessi - our panel was unanimous in it's appraisal of him as the best trombone player on the planet - some accolade eh?

Hope you continue to enjoy what we are trying to do - let me know if you are the one and the same person from my happy school days!

Iwan.

For those interested - Ralph was one of Iwan's teachers.

Lack of support:
Hey, you could at least give us some support, for the finals you put our rivals Carlton down to win the 4th section Championships, and when we win that and Blackpool (for the second year running may i add) you dont even give us a congratulations. Bloody charming.

Seriously, keep up the good work and look out for us in the Third section.

Emma Taylor
Shirland TRAINING band
(sorry about caps but people always get us mixed up with Shirland Band in the First section)

4BR reply:
Many thanks Emma and apologies for not giving you and the band the coverage you deserve. We did think you played a stormer in Preston though and we made sure people heard about that - also your conductor had the sparkliest top on we've seen for many a year!

Hope the band continues to win prizes and we promise we'll try our best to improve our coverage of the lower sections in 2002.

Anymore from Blackpool?
Out of curiosity, are you going to be printing a retrospective review of blackpool? I'm just interested to see what you thought of the performances cause I haven't seen a crit yet!

God, I need to get out more!

Alan Duguid, Conductor the Bathgate Band

4BR reply:
Sorry to disappoint you Alan but we didn't have any of our team at Blackpool this year able to listen to all the performances and give an informed opinion. We could have course just made something up (who to say that's what we do anyway!), but to be fair we couldn't do that.

Hopefully next year we'll be in the position to send someone up to cover the event as it should have been. Perhaps you'll find extensive pre match and post match analysis in other more august publications?

Crookston responds:
Without wishing to turn this site into a discussion forum, the 2001 Land of Burns Contest is probably the most controversial banding event I have ever attended in almost 30 years of contesting, regardless of whether the matter is resolved or not, so calling it controversial in any context is quite correct.

I would like to add that Iwan and Anthony who run this site have, in my opinion, kept a respectfully safe distance from my opinions and those of Whitburn Band and have made no comment without seeking facts from points of view other than ours.

As for letting the matter rest, how would your band react to receiving the type of treatment that Whitburn Band had at Troon which was a fine example of ‘not being helpful to the Brass Band movement as a whole' Kenny

4BR explanation:
The above is Kenny Crooston's response to S. M. Nicoll of Edinburgh, who's email can be read here

We stand corrected:
I must point out an error in your reporting of the 4th sections at Treochy. After a successful year that included a 4th place in the National finals at Preston, Briton Ferry Silver were placed joint champions along with Seven Tunnel and both bands gained promotion to section 3 for 2002

Allan Maggs
Chairman Briton Ferry Silver Band

4BR reply:
Thanks Allan for pointing out that your band has shared the overall Welsh title for 2001. We must point out that we were given the information about the overall results for the year from the organisers so we can't take all the blame.

Still - congratulations to you and the band and we hope to be able to report on further success for the band in 2002.

24Hr service - shopping with 4BR:
On Friday I ordered three Cd's from your website, much to my suprise they turned up on Saturday morning. Less than twenty four hours after I'd ordered them.

1st Class service from the banding worlds best magazine, either on the net or in the newsagents.

Keep up the good work chaps!

Steve Osborne

4BR reply:
Thanks for the kind comments Steve and we hope you enjoy the Cd's.

We try and ensure that we post the orders off within 24 hours so that you can enjoy your purchase as soon as possible.

We'll ensure that this is the case right up to the last posting day for Xmas so that everyone can have the chance to buy a last minute prezzy for the ones you love!!

Another happy shopper:
Just a line to say how enormously impressed I was by your newly formed CD retailing service.

At a loose end to know what to buy the old man for Christmas I chanced upon your "3 for £18" CD offer. Ideal I thought. So I ordered on Sunday evening hoping that they will arrive in time for me to send to my Dad for Christmas. Tuesday morning they arrive on my doormat. Service or what I ask?!

If you continue with this level of entrepreneurial enterprise then I think Iwan will have his Hot tub (see credits) before Wales win another Rugby International.

Dave Warren

4BR reply:
We've set up the service to try and provide top quality CD's at affordable prices, but also providing a quick postage as well. Seems that we've started OK.

We also are trying to ensure that each CD will have a review so that you know what we think of it, plus full details and times of the contents. In this way we hope you will be able to make an informed choice.

As for Iwan getting rich - some bloody hope. Wales will win the Grand Slam before that ever happens.

Pick 'n' Mix with 4BR shopping:
How about being able to buy the two cd's The Lighter Side of Maurice Murphy and Versatile Virtuoso for the combined price of £15 eh?

Mike Pickin

4BR reply:
OK! The demand for our CD's has knocked us over a bit, but we'll cave into demand and set up a "Pick and Mix" Woolies style section so you can have any two for £18.00 (selected CDs only)

How's that for sorting out your Xmas shopping eh?

JR help:
Is there anything you can tell me about John Ridgeon? Quite by chance I have recently acquired a JR flugelhorn mouthpiece. And a fine mouthpiece it is! The person I got it from thinks that it is about 10 to 15 years old and that they are not in production anymore. All I can find about JR is a brief mention in Geoffrey Brand's book "Brass Bands in the 20th Century", saying that he was a conductor who occasionally commissioned new music. Apparently he wrote a trumpet tutor as well. Is the man still among us, and what about his involvement in mouthpiece production, or maybe even in instrument development?

Dictus van Zwol, Heerenveen, The Netherlands

4BR reply:
We don't know a great deal more ourselves so hopefully anyone out there reading this can let us know more. John Ridgeon was a horn player we think who produced both mouthpieces and other brass bits and bobs such as teaching aids.

His book on lip flexibilities has killed many a promising students chops over the years.

Can anyone help any more on this.

Flugel not Flugal:
It was interesting to read of your 'unbeatable band' and the comments therein. However it was with dismay that you spelt one of the instruments incorrectly - Flugel (and Definetly Not Flugal as you have written).

I have been playing this for some 26 years and did not know that it had changed name !!

Peter J. McDowell
Librarian (and Flugel player)
Stedfast Band
Dublin Eire

4BR reply:
What a bleeding sloppy lot we are! Do you know you are the only person to have picked up on this mistake - shows how many actually read the piece doesn't it.

We'll endeavour to try a bit better - can't go upsetting flugel players can we.

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