Comments ~ 2005: May

Not a happy bunny; Dyke dates; Strongbow man and even some Aussies looking for a good time as we head to the last day of May.

Not a happy Brass Alive Bunny!
 
I am the band manager for Coalburn Silver Band in the Scottish 4th section. I feel compelled to contact you regarding this years fiasco that is Brass Alive.
 
We have supported the Brass Band week in Scotland over the past few years arranging a number of events including an open top bus tour amongst others. This year again we registered our Concert that was held on the 21st  of May and were promised the associated posters,press release etc.
 
We received all the leaflets, posters and associated correspondence the Tuesday prior to the contest, not very helpful I'm sure you will agree. I registered the concert on your web site and today as I looked through the event list I was horrified to see that our event didn't even make it onto the list.
 
I have thoroughly unimpressed with the organisation of this years event and very dissapointed to say the least. I will take this up with the S.B.B.A for their comments but would like your views on this.
 
Alan Court.

4BR Reply:
Thanks for letting us know about this Alan. We will contact the organisers and try and find out what has gone wrong with this for you.

150 Years or Not? 

Following on from comments from Peter Stone and Christy Smith regarding Black Dykes 150th anniversary I feel I can shed a little light on the subject.

After digging out my copy of their CD entitled "150 years of John Foster Black Dyke Mills Band" released in 1987 and reading the sleeve notes it would seem that Black Dyke are indeed celebrating their second 150th anniversary. 

In 1837 Black Dyke began their association with John Fosters Black Dyke Mills. At this stage the band was a Brass and Reed Band (formerly known as Queenshead Band – after a village called Queenshead, later to be renamed Queensbury). It was 1855 before John Foster equipped the band with a full set of Brass Instruments. 

Their 1987 celebration would have indeed been 150 years after being renamed "Black Dyke", although the first 18 years as a "Brass and Reed Band". Their 2005 celebration would be 150 years after officially becoming a "Brass Band".

The cynics amongst you can decide for yourselves but does it really matter, after all, they have surely given us 150 years of Banding excellence to admire (or should that be 168?) and hopefully many more to come!

Congratulations to all at 4BR on a truly great site and keep up the good work.

Leslie Dalzell
Northern Ireland    

New Dyke dates?

Just a line to inform those asking about this bands origins. According to a book published in 1905 (Concerning Black Dike Band) the formation of the Queenshead band was in 1833 , not 1837.

When it fell on hard times in 1855 Fosters decided to save it, calling it the Black Dike Mills Band. Hence this years celebration of 150 years as Black Dike Mills Band. Although it has no longer any connections with the firm of John Fosters.

I have no idea why the celebrations took place in 1987, unless it was because Fosters sponsored the band from this time.

John Clay.

Mistaken identity?

Morgan wasn't playing for Yorkshire Building Society in 2002 when he won the Best Soloist prize. He was playing for Williams Fairey (he left YBS in December 2001 and rejoined in May 2004)

Darran West

4BR Reply:
Thanks Darran - it will be amended as soon as possible

The Strongbow tuba player is...

The tuba player in the 'Strongbow' advert on the television is Dave Kendal from Alliance Brass.

Lewis Edney

4BR Reply:
Thanks for that - check it out for yourself!

Cloudcatcher two years in a row?

Why is 'Cloudcatcher' shown as the 2004 test piece for the Masters?
 
Stephen Walker

4BR Reply:
Our mistake Steve - it should have been 'Harrison's Dream'.

Aussies searching for a good time?
 
My wife (a brass musician) and I are planning to travel around England between August 18 and September 12 this year - she's pretty keen to see a British brass band while we're over there. 

Is there any central calendar that we can access on the Internet that will show what performances we'll be able to catch, as determined by where we'll be each evening?  Any help you are able to provide will be greatly appreciated.

Bernhard Sayer
Adelaide, South Australia

4BR Reply:
Look in our classified section at what is going on around the UKs bandrooms and we are sure there will be something to tickle your fancy.

Lying about their age?

How are Black Dyke celebrating 150 years yet again? in 1987 they celebrated 150 years and in fact produced a recording celebrating the fact. Can someone confirm which is the correct date?

It is also strange that a celebration concert for a band based in Bradford should be held in Manchester, with a guest soloist called wizard of oz? when you think of the great players who have played with the band over the years it would have been more appropriate to use one or two former members to appear. Rod Franks, Maurice Murphy, Robert Childs, Sandy Smith, Phillip McCann to name a few.

Peter Stone
Kingston Park 

Fred Dibnah
 
Could you please tell me the title of the CD used on Fred Dibnah's BBC1  show?

Martin Baker.

4BR Reply:
If we remember rightly it is general music played by Black Dyke that the producers wanted, and they took the music off a number of their records at the time. The main soloist is Bob Childs though playing Carnival of Venice.  We don't think there is a special CD.

The mystery tuba player?
 
Does anyone know who the tuba player is on the Strongbow advert on the television at present? Have we a budding new star in the making even though they don't say or play a thing!

Ian Chislett

Amendment at Broadoak

Can I make an amendment to the results for the Broadoak contest.

I received a letter from the organisers saying that we, (Bakewell Silver), have been credited with the 3rd section prize.

I was following your news on the website as the results were appearing over last weekend and on Saturday you had credited us with the result, (miss-spelt as Bakewill!), and on Sunday it had changed to Wardle & District Anderson Brass. I was disappointed that there had been a mistake initially. This turned to delight when opening their letter yesterday!

All the best, and thanks for a brilliant web-site.

Ian Wildgoose
Secretary, Bakewell Silver

No invite to the Masters

Just to clarify for the benefit of all after the question mark in your prediction article. The EYMS Band did not receive an invite to the competition this year. Hence they are not competing.
                
Tony Newiss (Chair)

A Doctor and a teacher?

Profiles of the conductors preparing to do battle in Cambridge made for interesting reading.  However, qualified as Dr. R. Childs might be, I can't help but think that saying he has a 'PGC in Education from the Open University' is a slightly trumped up way of saying 'He's a teacher'!
 
I'm certainly no doctor, but even I've got one of those!
 
Tim Morgan BA (Hons) PGCE

Was Whit Friday fair to all the bands - great and small?

At the recent Whit Friday contest I overheard a comment, which made me think about the fairness of the event. Why is it that some bands can do 12 or more contests while others can manage only half that number whilst seemingly flying from one contest only to wait in turn for what can seem an eternity.

The comments I heard told of certain high profile bands having people strategically placed at venues and booking their respective bands in before they were even there and so avoiding the queues.

I was wondering if there are any rules governing the whole contest or whether it truly is just a big free for all.
 
M. Banks.

Whit Friday fun comes first for us

As one of the team that organises Salvo Brass I can assure everybody that we register at all the venues as unclassified.

We are a group of mainly Salvation Army members who enjoy taking part in the Whit Friday contests. We do it for fun and the fact that last year we were fortunate enough to be placed in some of the contests was a bonus.

The decision as to whether we have performed well enough to be placed is down to the adjudicators and the organisers. It is not our intention to cause any ill feeling we just enjoy the atmosphere of the whole day.

Steve Young

A Silent Protest at Delph

Young people from the 2nd Rossendale Scout Group Band based in Bacup in Lancashire had their Whit Friday band contest night ruined by bureaucracy and lack of common sense as they reached their supposed final venue.
 
The band, regular participants in the annual Saddleworth Whit Friday contests, has for a number of years finished the night with a performance at one of the historical homes of the concert, the village of Delph. Indeed some three years ago they had the honour of being the final band to play and duly performed the National Anthem before their final contest march. Many of the parents and friends of the young people in the band travel to Delph to support them and 2005 was no exception.
 
However:
 
When the band arrived in Delph at about 9-40pm they were told that as they were a Scout Band then they must compete as a Youth Band and as that section had closed at 9pm they would not be allowed to compete. It was pointed out to the organisers that the band had a history of playing Delph at the end of the night, often around midnight and if the Youth Section had closed then could they enter as a 4th section band (alongside other adult bands).

"NO!" came the curt response, "you are a Youth Band and you are not playing in Delph this evening." An appeal was then lodged with the chairman of the contest committee, and a member of the Delph team was sent to find him (no small task in such a packed village!) When he arrived at the contest control point, representations were made by members of the 2nd Rossendale Scout Band, pointing out that other youth bands often competed as section bands at the National Championships – a point that seemed to fall on deaf ears.
 
Realising the considerable upset this decision would cause to the young brass players in the band, a final plea was offered to the organisers for the band to participate but not be considered within the competition element of the contest. Pointing out the past history of the band participating at Delph, alongside the numbers of parents and supporters that were becoming increasing frustrated at the situation, senior members of the band pleaded to be allowed to simply march down the street and play their contest march within the ring at the bottom; giving the players some recognition for their efforts.
 
It was not to be and after some 40 minutes of protest, the band finally conceded defeat, and returned to their coach, too late to even get to an alternative final venue to finish the night.
 
But then:  
 
The young people in the band were not prepared to accept the sheer lack of spirit shown by not letting them compete as a section band or even participate for enjoyment purposes and amongst themselves decided to offer a visible protest. Not wishing to affect the performances of other bands by attempting to play down the street or perform in the contest ring, they instead made a silent protest to raise awareness of their situation, and marched down Delph main street to the sound of their own footsteps.

This purposeful protest was carried out with the utmost of dignity and provoked much applause from the crowd; many of whom had heard of the decision to prevent the band from playing at Delph.
 
Speaking after the event, the bands Musical Director Mr Graham Helm said, "the decision of the organisers not to allow us to take part only served to further the bureaucracy that prevails amongst some elements within banding. These young people had worked tirelessly for weeks towards their Whit Friday performance and had been led to believe that Delph was the pinnacle of Whit Friday playing.

Sadly, for many of the young people, Delph will now be remembered for all the wrong reasons. We fully accepted that to be considered for the Youth Band section bands must have signed in by 9pm but when did we stop letting bands with young players compete as 4th section or indeed within the North-West, 3rd and 2nd section bands?" 
 
Graham Helm

Five hour pleasure trip in Florida

I had made an inquiry about a year ago to the locations of Brass Bands in the state of Florida. Thank you for sending the information.
 
This Saturday past, my wife and I finally made the five hour trip to Orlando from our home in Ft. Myers, to visit relatives and have a listen to the Brass Band of Central Florida. Gosh are we glad we did! It was worth the low ticket price and the gas to hear this remarkable group. And they say they are amateurs! HA!
 
From the opening moment of the concert I sat at the edge of my seat. I could not believe the level of playing and the choreography to boot. These are volunteers? They do this for free? I had to find out more.
 
During intermission, I had the pleasure of meeting some of the members. Many said this was just a labor of love and fellowship with great people. I would have to agree. My wife made way to the foyer to purchase one CD and give a small donation. We were told by the MD, who also severed as the MC, that the band had been invited to what he stated as the most" prestigious brass band competition in the world", the British Open in Birmingham England in September of this year. Needless to say we bought three CD's.
 
I got the feeling from some of the members they really enjoy this type of entertainment concert. Evidently the band performed several selections they had done at US Open Brass Band Championships last November in Chicago Illinois. No wonder they won.
 
At end of concert, and after a five minute standing ovation, I kid you not, I was again able to meet and talk with many of the members that made themselves available to the audience. I believe they have no expectation of winning the British Open. I believe they feel honored, humbled, and perhaps even a bit nervous about competing against the best brass bands in the world in September. One member said this could be a once in a lifetime opportunity.
 
No matter what the outcome of the British Open, I will bet that the Brass Band of Central Florida will represent the best in Brass Banding here in America. I wish them well. My wife and I will again return to the Orlando area hear this wonderful group.
 
Robert and Francis Garnet
Ft. Myers, Florida

No more Cheese please!

I'm right behind you James!! Having recently worked the last summer circuit with a few bands I have seen the banders cringe as they thumb through the pad. Some of it is to do with the misconception of what audience want (MD), some is also laziness from the bands part.

They race right up to the Park season without preparation and pull out last seasons pad to make the learning curve less painful! Some, always work the set format of, March/Overture, solo, duo, trio, selection from the musical, novelty, classical, Instant Concert & home!

Well crafted arrangements are not hard to find, I myself have set the task of trying to skillfully arrange "Mambo No 5", however, I may be some time in this task, and, I already fear some one has beat me to this mammoth task?

But I must take my hat off to one of the all time great band arrangements, that is "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles" this is a veritable masion de fromage! If you have this in your pad, yes, you know who you are; award yourselves the "Parmesan Band" of the year medal!

Phil Lawrence.
Composer.

Cheese isn't that bad in moderation!
 
My eye was caught by the letter from James MacFadyen regarding what he describes as ‘Cheesey Arrangements'. Now while I agree with his underlying premise I have to wonder whether he's really thought it through.
 
I have the pleasure to be the MD of a fourth section band; a grand bunch of musicians who devote a lot of their time to entertaining a large number of people. However, when I choose programme material I have to temper what I'd like to include with what they are able to do justice to. Mr MacFadyen refers to arrangements by Alan Fernie, an excellent musician, band trainer and arranger, who I had the pleasure to play under briefly whilst on holiday in Scotland.

Now whilst his arrangement of ‘Singin'in the Rain' enjoys regular exposure in our programmes, other purchases have had to be returned to the library because they were beyond the current abilities of the band.
 
Make no mistake, I have devoted my life to brass bands and have done everything in my power, at every opportunity, to dispel this awful ‘cloth cap image' we still have in most circles, but at the end of the day we have to give way to practicalities. It's a fact of life that the more ‘playable' arrangements tend to be more ‘cheesey', although not always so. And since lower section bands outnumber the elite by a substantial margin it stands to reason that these ‘cheesey' arrangements are going to prevail.
 
Some of my players are unable to cope with the technical demands placed upon them by an increasing number of new publications, so perhaps our composers and arrangers might do well to bear this in mind? In the meantime, could someone please pass me the Gorgonzola?
 
Roger Pearcey.

Are the Yanks ranked?

I read the details about the ranking system for the top 200 bands and I was wondering if the NABBA competition counted towards that. The James Madison University Brass Band had a dominating showing in its sections (Honor Section) and it is not ranked even though bands with lower scores in lower divisions are.

I'm curious, did these bands compete in other competitions that gave them points or is NABBA not worth anything in the rankings?

Thank you for you time!

Jonathan Schiffler

4BR Reply:
Yes - the contest was fully ranked.

Any Shepherd CD?

I am a big Jimmy Shepherd fan and was brought up on Dyke LPs with him playing the Nightingale and the Paragon. I have been trying to locate these JS solos on CD but can't find them anywhere. I can get hold of historic American recordings of such people as Mendez and Clarke, so it would be a shame not to have access to one of our home grown heroes on CD.

Mark Davies
Principal Solo Cornet
Roberts Bakery Band

4BR Reply:
Off the top of our head we think there is at least one CD featuring Jim as the soloist. If anyone has further details please let us know. 

Flying Welsh Pigs!

Sue Bohanna in her recent comment has every right to point out that there is a democratic structure in place in which local associations represent bands on Regional Councils. (Also on the BFBB). Also that, typically, the association representatives are the same people who run association and regional contests, i.e. do the organisational work, and also therefore have (in theory) the bands' best interests at heart. Also that (by implication) bands cannot complain about decisions made by such representatives when so few bands take an active interest in their own associations.
 
Unfortunately, despite its logical basis, this structure is not effective. Not all bands belong to their local associations, for a variety of reasons, including a lack of confidence in the structure itself. Difficult decisions are taken at Regions and BFBB without reference back to member bands, whereas in most organisations these decisions would be made by vote of all members at Annual or Extraordinary General Meetings.
 
Unless the constitutions of the BFBB and the Regional Councils are altered to allow a more openly democratic process (which at the moment seems only possible with the say-so of the association representatives (and certain commercial companies?), who seem to be quite happy with the status quo), bands and band people will continue to feel disenfranchised.
 
It is of course our own fault. We allowed it to happen. It's easy to let things happen when it means other people do all the work for us. But it's interesting to consider what it will take to force a change. Whatever, it may make the Ibstock affair look trivial in comparison.
 
There is of course a simple solution. All contests should be run under the ultimate control of one national organisation and only bands that are members of that organisation should be allowed to enter. Regional decisions should be by vote of all member bands in that region and national ones by vote of all member bands.
 
And pigs might fly!
 
Peter Hartley
Bournemouth

How old are Black Dyke then?

How can Black Dyke Band now be celebrating 150 years this year when they have already celebrated this same event as far back as in 1987? There is something odd going on here.Have either I or they been in a time-warp for the past 18 years?

Perhaps some one of your readers might be able to offer an explanation for this phenomenon? As Agent Mulder says in the X-files," the truth is out there somewhere"

Congratulations on an excellent site for Brass Band nuts. Sorry! I mean aficionados.

Christy Smith,
Drogheda,
Ireland

Not quite enchanting Fairey's
  
Having paid £15 each for my wife and I to hear Fairey's at the Anvil, Basingstoke, on 14 May, I have to say I feel a little cheated and disappointed with the performance given by one of our premier bands.

Although things got better as the evening progressed the overall standard was well below that which we would expect from such a band. Having played in bands for the past 25 years, and recently at Championship level I know that no matter how good the band is there will be slips and the odd dodgy moment because we are humans and not machines.

However on this night hardly a piece got away without slips, bad intonation/tuning, and some dodgy ensemble. The final few bars of one particular hymn arrangement went very seriously awry, and most of the audience knew it too. Then, and please forgive me if I am wrong about this, a rather fine young euphonium player gave up during a tricky passage of the Shostakovich ‘Festival Overture'. Fewer would have noticed that but having played that very same part myself, I noticed.
 
Please don't mis-understand me…I do not like or make a habit of picking holes in the hard work and endeavour of other bands, and had I been listening to one of the multitude of decent top or even 1st section bands I might have been content. But if you pay £30 to hear a top name band you expect and deserve to be amazed and dazzled, and maybe learn a thing or two (that is really why us lesser bandies go and see better bands) and quite frankly I wasn't impressed and did not increase my knowledge of brass playing one bit. 

Even the programme was a bit old hat and a little on the safe side (in terms of difficulty). I know they have had a rough time recently, but any players they recruit really should be up to the job.
 
I don't want a whole host of Fairey's players and followers telling me not to be so critical and if I think I could do better then maybe I should come and try because, admit it, even you guys knew that it wasn't good and must have been disappointed.
 
Having said all of the above, things can only get better and I am sure it won't be long before Fairey's are firing on all cylinders again. I look forward to that day.
 
Dave Wilds
Andover

Stick to CDs and mouthpieces 

After listening to, and reading many comments by representatives of 4BarsRest I feel compelled to make some comments of my own.

I think that the representatives of 4BarsRest who sit and adjudicate at contests should stick to selling CDs and mouthpieces and refrain from their unskilled and misdirected attempts to comment on the efforts of many adjudicators who are quite frankly much more experienced and able to do the job.

It is the nature of competition that there will be many more disappointed people than happy people and therefore it is all too easy to pander to the majority without courting much criticism.

If you must continue with this maybe you should put yourselves in a box of your own so you can do nothing but adjudicate with your ears, not your eyes! It is far too easy to sour constructive comments with criticism when you do not have to make the all-important decision.

Win or lose, let's have some respect for our adjudicators. If not! Let's have some new names put forward for the job.

Glyn Wydell,
Huddersfield.

What about Symphony Hall then?

In reply to Gavin White, re: can anywhere top the Winter Gardens for a single venue – I agree it's a good choice, but what about the ICC in Birmingham?
 
Everyone knows of Symphony Hall, which seats 2000, but there are also the other halls which can also act as auditoriums (Hall 3 – 3000 seats) (Hall 1 – 1500 seats) (Hall 4 – 825 seats), as well as the bar, café and restaurant on site. Not mentioning the numerous pubs, bars restaurants etc within walking distance. The other smaller halls can also be used for changing / warm up on site.
 
As with all things though, I guess that costs are a major factor and cost of hiring the whole facility for a day could be prohibitive.

Gary Jones
Bromsgrove

Fair play at the Whit Fridays

I learned recently that last year some Whit Friday contests put unregistered bands in the 4th section.  This led to amazing results, particularly with a certain Salvationist group who won prizes against championship bands at some venues then, unsurprisingly, beat the 4th section bands at others.
 
Organisers - if the bands belong to the band registry then put them in their own section.  If not they should compete in open contest rather than take badly needed prize money from the lower sections.
 
Bands - you know if you're a registered band or a scratch outfit so play fair and go in the appropriate section when you book in!
 
Chris Genty

Iwan knows a lot about nothing - except perhaps banding!
  
As a former teacher of Iwan's, I felt it necessary to leave the country rather than live with the consequences of that, I can partially agree with Mr Hunter.  Iwan knows next to nothing on a whole plethora of subjects but banding is not one of those.
 
It's easy to hit out at those who go out on a limb and do something new - like an on-line Brass Band magazine - less easy to do something.
 
Not sure if I know what Mr Hunter's area of expertise might be!!
 
Ralph Pearce 
Divisional Music Director
Phoenix AZ

4BR Reply: 
The 4BR Editor is touched by the response of his old Mr Chips, especially as half the time he was either bunking off to play football!

Ethical business practice

I am grateful to Liam Groves for his support regarding my letter about the anonymous sponsor of the English National Championships.
 
Since writing my original letter I have discovered that the sponsor is in fact a company, although I have no idea whether Mr Groves suggestion of their identity is correct.  I've heard at least one other name mentioned as the possible mystery sponsor.
 
The first point is this.  If the sponsor is to remain anonymous forever, they cannot possibly gain any extra commercial advantage from advertising, sales or goodwill.  So what ARE they getting out of the deal?  Have they done some covert deal with the BFBB to promote themselves subtlely in other ways?  If so, we, the consumers, and especially BFBB members and bands planning to take part in the contest, have a right to know.
 
Second point.  What if the sponsor turns out to be someone who bandsmen have issues with?  How would, for instance, a former colliery band whose old colleagues had suffered during the 1984 miners strike, feel when they received a prize from a sponsor who later turned out to be, for instance, a national newspaper who had supported the then governments stance? 

What if the sponsor is revealed to be someone who bandsman might feel generally uneasy about - dodgy Sicilian businessmen, maybe, or an American sports tycoon with designs on British institutions?  How would a band sponsored by, for instance, a bank or building society, feel when asked, at the end of the contest, to pose for a victory photograph behind a banner advertising one of their sponsor's closest competitors? (I bet I know how their sponsor would feel!)
 
The idea of a clash between sponsors is not hypothetical.  Three months ago West Indian cricket was in turmoil because the Windies new team sponsor was Digicel, and several prominent players, including captain Brian Lara, were personally sponsored by Digicel's rivals Cable and Wireless.  The conflict almost caused a general strike, the collapse of the West Indies team and the cancellation of two tours by visiting teams.
 
A principle is at stake here.  The issue is one of ethical business practice and it must be addressed by the BFBB and its mystery sponsor.  The BFBB has had an unhappy time of it recently, and yet another public relations disaster it can well do without.  If there is anyone out there from the interested parties, let's here from you.
 
Jim Yelland
Hinckley, Leicestershire

A French Farce? - not really 

In response to article in rumours section, records show over 10 years, 6 out of 10 bands performing at the Gala Concert also ended up winning the contest. 

Is this a fair proportion of gala concert band standards - 60%? I would have thought so. 4 out of 6 are as follows: Fodens, Wingates, Thoresby, Marple - surely the source (the mole) is not suggesting the French are fixing it for the British to win!  A French farce indeed.

The crucial programme format of a band having to play a test piece, produce a soloist of quality and entertainment value all in 25 minutes under contest pressure conditions tells me this will always find the best band on that day .The idea of this event was to enlarge our movement and to encourage healthy competition between bands throughout Europe.

Regarding the seriousness of this event, I'm sure if you were to ask Roy Curran, Frank Renton, Stan Lippeatt and Gary Cutt (some of the winning conductors), how serious this event is, you would get honest answers.

Credit must go to Jacques Gaudet and his committee for organising a superb event (record entry in 2005 I believe). I can't wait, and I have been every year.

Stuart Broadbent
Holmfirth
Yorkshire

Your hard working Welsh Representatives
 
For the information of your correspondent Kerry Bowden, conductor of a 1st section band in South Wales.
 
Your Welsh Regional Council is made up of representatives of all three Welsh Brass Bands Associations: You are represented by 4 S.E.W.B.B.A members, 3 W.W.B.B.A members and 3 N.W.B.B.A members. 
 
Your Local Association is therefore very well represented on the WRC and in fact, has more of a say than either of the other two Associations in decisions affecting Welsh Banding.  Up until the reunification of the Welsh Regional, to include all of Wales, decisions affecting Welsh banding were made by the S.E.W.B.B.A and the W.W.B.B.A alone.  It was North Wales bands that had no say whatsoever up to that point. Happily, that situation has now been rectified, and not before time as far as I, and many others are concerned.
 
You appear to have staggeringly little insight into what goes on around you. Do you sleep a lot? If you want to know who makes decisions, try attending your Association meetings.  If you do this, you will find in the main that the people who make the decisions are the same people who do all the work and put in hours of their personal time to organise your contests and keep banding alive and well for your benefit and for the benefit of those who follow behind you. 

Decisions are often not popular, and occasionally there are bad decisions, but they are always made in good faith mainly by people seeking only to serve the interests of those they represent.  Perhaps if you gave more time to supporting those who work hard on your behalf rather than criticising them, you would be better informed generally and possibly may find that ultimately you will have less cause for complaint.
 
Sue Bohanna
Rhyl Silver
North Wales

Getting the name right!
 
I am a member of the Oldham Band (Lees) and ever since our re-birth you have failed to get our name correct on any news item on your website, the latest being after the success of two of our players at Elland Slow Melody Contest.

I would be grateful if you would amend your files to show the correct title of our band to  The Oldham Band (Lees)

Mark Edwards
Treasurer of the Oldham Band (Lees)

4BR Reply:
Sorry Mark. We will ensure we don't get it wrong in future - as long as the organisers send us the right details too.

It was us - without a conductor though! 

Just to point out - you have us third (at the recent Crawley Entertainment Contest) with conductor Martin Buss. YES we came third - but we actually did the contest with no conductor - just a vacancy sign on the rostrum facing the audience. We had a few slight edgy sections but with the percussion section in the middle of the band leading us, and a few nods from stage right principal Martin Buss, the set up more Jazz style than the usual line-up we had a reasonably successful afternoon.

We are currently advertising for a conductor (as per add on the site), and welcome more applications our  "conductor idol" extra theme of Crawley not leading to any extra applications from audience members yet!

Mike Pitkin

A French letter

I was not surprised when I read on the 4Barsrest ‘Rumour Mill' that the French may be up to their old tricks again – this time at their own brass band contest.

The Amboise event is a great occasion, but in all honesty it is not a brass band contest in the same way as other ‘Nationals' that we know and love.

It started as a promotional event for Courtois the instrument makers, and since then it has developed very nicely into a laid back festival of brass playing that the locals enjoy (even if they do take the Gala Concert start time as a matter of negotiation rather than of instruction).

It has never been a really ‘serious' event, and should be seen as such. It is a beautiful place to visit and play, but the contest is of secondary importance – and any band thinking otherwise shouldn't go. It is there now to help promote banding.

So what if the French want a concert with the winners on stage? So what indeed, if the French do their own thing – they have been doing that for the past 250 years!

Peter Edwards
Newcastle

Dodgy predictions eh?
 
After enjoying your coverage of the Spring Festival, and then seeing all the fuss about the results and your so called level of competency, I took the opportunity to look once again at your pre contest ‘dodgy' predictions to see how ell they did, and whether or not you were talking through your backsides!

Your prediction for the Grand Shield was as follows: 1. Hepworth; 2. Leyland; 3. Mount Charles; 4. Ransome; 5. Travelsphere; 6. Flowers; Dark Horse: Cwmaman.

They came respectively: 1st; 15th, 6th, 7th, 4th, 3rd and 12th.

The Senior Cup predictions were: 1. Staffordshire; 2. WP Sovereign; 3. Newtongrange; 4. Wingates; 5. Dobcross; 6. BTM; Dark Horse: Stocksbridge

They came respectively: 2nd, 3rd, 18th, 9th, 11th, 5th and 10th.

Your Senior Trophy predictions were: 1. Camborne; 2. Alliance; 3. Tongwynlais; 4. Pemberton Old; 5. BHK Horden; 6. Thoresby; Dark Horse: Ratby

They came: 7th, 1st, 2nd, 4th, 6th, 8th and 11th

Given what has been written, it isn't a bad set of predictions is it from people who ‘haven't done anything' .

You predicted the winners of the Grand Shield and had four of your bands in the top six. You had three out of the top six in the Senior Cup, including two out of the four qualifiers and you had six out of the top eight bands in the Senior Trophy, plus three out of the four qualifiers there.

It seems you may well now your stuff after all, although you were a bit way out with Leyland and Newtongrange.

David Powell

4BR Reply:
Thanks Kevin - although we always knew that our 'sticking a pin in the page whilst blindfolded' was the most scientific way to show how much we really knew in advance!

What's wrong with owning up then?

I must agree with Jim Yelland's recent letter to 4BR concerning the ‘anonymous' sponsors of the English Championships.

If I am wrong then, I apologise and wait for the solicitors letter through my door, but isn't it common knowledge that the Salvation Army are the ones putting the money into the event? And if they are, why are they so reticent not to have it made public knowledge?

I have no problem with them coming into brass banding and putting their money in at a time when nobody else is bothering, but I do have a problem with them remaining anonymous about it all.

I am sure there is no ulterior motive behind it, so why no come out and say so. It promises to be a great event and good for English banding, but remaining anonymous about their part in it will only allow the silly conspiracy theorists to gain credible ground, and that is the last thing the movement needs at present.

Mr. Liam Groves
London

Brian Evans

As a boy I heard many
and many of them were great
but one man stood out like a beacon
because he was more than great.
 
I dreamed of meeting my hero
and speaking of many things
but mainly how could I become
a player that makes my cornet sing..
 
One night at the Navigation
he told me of a passion
that he could not teach me
I had to reach within.
 
The art of playing music
is something that can't be taught
it is a long and hard battle
that many few have fought.
 
To feel all of your emmotion
rising from your heart
and expelling through your mouthpiece
is the ultimate in my art
 
To become a great player
takes effort, time and patience,
but most of all an understanding
of all your inner thoughts.
 
So I took his advice away
and tried to understand.
I put all of my heart into my playing
at home and at band
 
The results weren't first forthcoming
and I sometimes did doubt..
but deep inside my heart and soul
there was a passion to come out
 
As I got older and learned life's lessons new
I started to realise that ...
The passion He spoke of
grows each day of life's battles I have fought
 
So thank you Brian for my start
in making music from my heart
I have not and will not forget
the words you spoke that night
 
Even now as my years get older
and my youth seems far away
I think about your playing
and the music doesn't go away
 
Thank You Brian Evans, My Hero, My Motivation, My Inspiration.........
Love and heartfelt wishes to all of Brian's loved ones you are not alone.. His music lives on in all of the Soprano players today.............
 
Kevin Donaldson

Brian Evans
 
It is with great sadness I learnt about the death of Brian Evans this week. Brian was my first 'real' teacher as a young Cornet player, and the memories of his 'wise words' and sheer humbleness will always remain. He always maintained that he could not really explain to another player or student 'how to do it', as all his music came from his heart and soul, and could never be written in books or tutors.

He will leave a big hole in banding tradition, which I am sure will be filled by equally big stories by all those who knew him! My sincere condolences to all his family.

Mrs. Kirsten Stott
Royton
Oldham

This is what you get for not sitting on the fence 

So, I always understood if you charge for something and your purchasers don't like it that makes you accountable.  If you don't charge on the other hand and people don't like it, that makes you opinionated.
 
So Mr Disgruntled of Huddersfield, if you, like me do not like opinionated people (unless of course you share in their opinions) you have the choice to ignore them.  I trust you will consider exercising this freedom of choice. 
 
Whether I like Mr Fox's opinions or not, I welcome them, cos they are free, fresh and funny.
 
Richard (sitting firmly on the fence) Walker
 
PS.  I trust Mr Hunter's tongue was firmly in his cheek when he questioned Mr Fox's banding career.  I personally would have thought the extensive number of years spent at Tredegar on the hot seat, at all the major contests and venues would certainly be a qualification to " know what banding is all about"

Short and to the point!

In reply to Mr Hunter

B******s

Try searching Soprano, you'll find him

L Price CDM and Bar

Fox in the Box

Cometh the Nationals Finals in London lets put  ' Fox in the Box ' - although it will have no bearing on the result lets see what Mr Fox comes up with.
 
Tim Malpas
Save the Fox campaign.

I am sure that what you see and who you know may influence your decisions and opinions, but there's only one way to find out........review each contest under the proper adjudication system, have 4BR box. This would provide a fairer, unbiased result and would make it very interesting to compare 4BR results with the official final line up!

Peter Hunter asked what Iwan has ever done in banding and requested that 4BR use people who know what they are talking about. Iwan was/is one of the finest sop players in this country and has been for many years. I ask what the old chaps (that we insist on using) in the box have ever done??? - Not
much more in fact and many, many moons ago.

"Fox In The Box" I say!!

Julia Telling
Flowers Band

4BR Reply:
Thanks for the vote of confidence for the Editor, but as we are against cruelty to animals the Fox will remain free and ready to shoot from the lip in the wild open spaces of contest halls - unless the 'Fox Hunting' ban is overturned!

Why complain when it is free!

I have to add my wholehearted support to James MacFadyen's comments about 4BR. Of course there are times when I don't agree with you, but that's banding. However, it continues to amaze me that a site this comprehensive with such in-depth and rapid coverage of the major contests can be free.

There are a lot of people in banding who expect the right to enjoy their expensive hobby for free; the same people who aren't prepared to be on the committee but are happy to bitch about their decisions. The same people who whinge about MDs, rehearsals and music but don't have a single positive suggestion to make. The same people who never pay their subs, and moan if it goes up. The same people who moan about paying to get into the Winter Gardens and then demand that the contest should be in a better venue, with better warm up facilities, better parking and nicer food. Every band has
them - You know who you are...

Very little comes for free in life, 4BR is one of those rarities. Long may it continue. Maybe you should offer a subscription service to those who don't like the content with the proceeds going to pay for reviewers to attend every section of every contest? I wonder how many takers you'd get...

Andrew Baker

Favourite March Sought

Ken  Robey  began  playing  the  euphonium in the Ardington & Lockinge Band (Berkshire)  at  the age of 7 in 1927. As a junior bandsman he took part in some of the 1000-strong Aldershot Searchlight Tattoos of the 1930's – these began  at  10pm,  the bands marching back to their barracks around 12.30am!

Every note had to be memorised. Taking part was a great experience and Ken, now  85,  recalls  that  his  favourite march was 'The Watchtower', by Rudolf Herzer.

Ken  is  a  mainstay  of  the present Wantage Band; he no longer plays, but presents an imposing figure as he leads the Band on Ceremonial parades.  As a tribute to Ken, the Band wishes to play ‘The Watchtower' at the Annual Concert in October but cannot locate the music. Can anyone help?

Please  contact  Alan  Sykes  (asykes@waitrose.com) or via the Wantage Band
website www.wantageband.org

Can anywhere else top the Winter Gardens?
 
Have just read Iwan Fox's review of the Spring Festival at Blackpool, and can't help but agree with many of the comments...i.e. Blackpool, home to the hen night etc....

But I can't help thinking that in the Winter Gardens we have a venue that can accommodate 3, maybe 4 different band contests - in a way, very similar to Belle Vue, or even Crystal Palace. I have participated in a North West regional at Blackpool, and found it quite amazing, having all these banding folk together under one roof, and I wonder, is there anywhere else in the country that could offer this?
 
Gavin White
Wrexham.

A strange position

I find myself in a rather strange position writing this letter to 4BR. After listening to the bands in the Senior Cup, and then reading your remarks on each performance, I must have disagreed with almost 50% of what you said about some of the bands.

However, after reading your retrospective, I found myself agreeing with about 50% of what you wrote!

Thanks for the efforts lads – your opinions got me thinking and analysing in my mind what I had heard at the contest once more. I didn't agree with all that you said in your ‘live' remarks (especially the winning band, who I enjoyed, but you didn't) but I agreed with a lot you said in your retrospective.

My conclusion was therefore that 4BR had shown balance and a fair amount of insight, and as a result I spent a couple of nights going back over the contest once more!

Keep it up!

Robert Thomas
Manchester

Fed up with Iwan Fox

I have just read your retrospectives of the Grand Shield contests, and in my opinion I have to say that I am fed up of Iwan Fox and his reports, which show that he knows next to nothing about band contests.

If he actually listened with his ears rather than his eyes perhaps we would get less biased views from him time and time again. Put someone in front of a band that he knows well and you get a glowing report, whilst those he does not tend to get disregarded however well they play.

What has he ever done in banding? Let us have someone reporting who actually knows something about what he is talking about.

Peter Hunter
Huddersfield

One of those Saturday night girls
 
I have just returned from Blackpool, where I really enjoyed myself. Although we didn't come anywhere we all had a great time and must thank the organisers for putting on such a well run event.

Blackpool is a bit of a dump, but we have come to expect that, so it doesn't really matter. The Hall is also a bit run down, but so what? It was a great atmosphere, the results were fairly right and I really liked the way in which they were all announced together at the end, so that there was a great atmosphere with everyone in the hall.

I also liked your reports on the contest and the postcard from Blackpool was great. I was one of those girls on Saturday night!

I can't wait for next year

Sheila King 

Agreeing with 4BR - although they came nowhere!
 
There has been lots of discussion since last Saturdays contest at Blackpool regarding the comments on 4barsrest compared to the adjudicator's decisions in the Grand Shield and Senior Cup especially.

I would like to say that in my opinion, after hearing a lot of the Bands involved, you got it right!!!

This isn't sour grapes because my Band had a bad day …and you BOTH agreed with that!
 
Heather Smyth
United Co op Crewe  

Rankings puzzle        
       
I'm a bit puzzled by this months rankings. Johnstone Silver Band have dropped from 103rd to 115th despite winning the Scottish area 1st section. Is this a mistake and if not what is going on?
Keep up the good work guys.

Gavin Lindsay.    

4BR Reply:    
As we have said in the past, the rankings are continuous and based over a number of years. Since the Scottish Championships, there has been a number of other events which have had a direct effect on the rankings of all bands, and this is why in some cases a band may appear to 'drop' in the rankings.                    

And what about us Swedes?

My name is Andreas Glänneskog and I'm a member of the Betlehemskyrkans Brass from Sweden.

Today I saw the updated rankings for the top 200 bands in the world. When I've studied it for a while I started to question the whole ranking system. Is it just the EBBC and the biggest competitions in UK that matters?

Betlehemskyrkans Brass went to Norway during the last weekend of April to compete in Grenland Brass Festival - one of the biggest competitions in Norway. The Band competed in the 1st division and after two days of hard work we won the 1st prize!!!

When I studied the rankings today I couldn't believe what I saw. Betlehemskyrkans Brass lost ten places AFTER the competition!!!!

Eikanger-Bjørsvik Musikklag also competed in Grenland Brass Festival (Winners of the Elite Division) and now they've lost one place!!!!! I'm really curious to find out what's happened with the ranking calculation...

Andreas Glanneskog

4BR Reply:
Thanks Andreas, but we would refer you to the reply given above. It is a continuous process, so nothing stays the same for too lonmg in the banding world - even the rankings!

A bit of compositional support

 It seems there's not a month that goes by without someone bad-mouthing 4BR for something.

Always, without fail, it's the people who play in a band who think they know everything. You know who you are. We expect that from teenagers, who believe even with their inexperience of life think they can do it better themselves and have the answers for everything. However, teenagers grow up and live and learn the hard facts of life that just don't sink in when you're all of 18 or whatever.

Likewise, the people who come on here and say 4BR made up the comments regarding the Spring Festival Contests are just as bad as teenagers, think you know absolutely everything about everything and know you can do it better.

There's a simple solution for these people - don't use 4BR and do it yourself by providing a Brass Band news resource centre. I run my own Publishing Company, and even I can only imagine how busy and how difficult it must be to keep 4BR ticking over.

There is also the occasional talk of 4BR not saying a good word about banding. Oh my god the irony!

I'd just like to say, that 4BR is fantastic resource, forum and news desk for the banding world. There is not a single Brass Band website that comes close to its success. Sure, Iwan and Anthony have worked their asses off, I know this because that's the only way you achieve success - they do not sit around and make up adjudication remarks, I'm quite sure about that!

Not only that, they are happy to take criticism, although it seems this is abused by accusations and just ungrateful comments of a free service.

Criticism helps us grow and fix problems and errors, instead of trying to tell 4BR how to do their job (especially when you nothing about doing it yourself) suggest to them new ways or new ideas, I'm sure they'd be happy to listen and take on board what you have to say, they are here for all banders and supply it all for free.

Anyway, that's my bit said, just enjoy 4BR's free services and if you do think you could do it all better, go ahead.

On the other hand if you do have anything to suggest, why not do that - but please, some respect to 4BR.

James McFadyen
Composer

Brian Evans

I was sat around my kitchen table on Sunday lunchtime May 8 with my family when we received a 'phone call to tell us that Brian Evans had passed away.

We were all stunned and too shaken for words. The family, friends and the wonderful world of the brass band movement has indeed lost a very exceptionally talented man. Brian always seemed to be smiling and would leave a room with a comment such as 'God Bless'.

Well Brian 'God Bless to You' and from the words of a Salvation Army Hymn, 'Safe in the Arms of Jesus' that is where you are now. In recent years Brian had become very special to the Members of Elland Silver Band as his beloved Pam joined the training band to learn to play the cornet. The memory of Brian will live on for many years, rest in piece Brian, 'A job well done' We send all our love to Pam
and members of the Family.

Kathleen Harrison and family and all at Elland Silver Band

Brian Evans - a true inspiration

Having just read the news of Brian's death I would just like to add my own personal comments. Brian Evans has been my inspiration for most of my "soprano" career, having heard him in my younger days at the British Open at Belle Vue and at the Nationals.

I met him at the Free Trade Hall when I was queuing to hear Revelations and I took the opportunity to ask him if I could shake his hand and thank him for his beautiful playing and, of course, his inspiration.  When I told him that I had heard him when I was a youngster he was very humble.  I shall treasure that brief meeting as we don't all get the chance to meet our heroes in the flesh.

I have had his Dedications album on tape for many years now, and I would also recommend that any young sop player buy it so that they can hear what a great player Brian was.

Mark Pye
SWT Woodfalls Band

RSAMD - a recommended event
 
I have just read Malcolm Wood's retrospective of the RSAMD's Brass Spectacular and wanted to recommend this event to people in the future.

I attended the day to take part in the NABBC Conducting Competition and thoroughly enjoyed the experience. The opportunity to conduct the Scottish Co-op Band will not be forgotten by the finalists I am sure and huge credit has to go to the Johnstone Band for their murderous 'shift' of ten works that included a few 'Gaelforce's and 'Dimensions', plus a first-read of the tricky 'Ad Optimum'! This type of event held on a more regular basis up and down the country would be of massive benefit to the movement.

We are often willing to take a chance on young players, but young conductors need as much if not more coaching and opportunities - Nigel Boddice and his team provided a terrific model on which others could organise similar events.

I was unable to stay for the rest of the day (work on Monday and home was 250 miles away for me!) but looking at the line-up of world class instrumentalists, it leaves you scratching your head why the attendance was not much higher - especially as the RSAMD did not ask a penny for admittance.

Well done to the organisers and keep a look out for the next 'Brass Spectacular' - I am sure you will not be disappointed

John Ward

Interesting comments

Thanks lads for the reports from the Grand Shield weekend in Blackpool. Interesting comments too – not all of them seemed to be in synch with the adjudicators did they!

However, that is what makes contesting (and 4BR), so interesting. There were some performances you liked and didn't come anywhere, and some that you didn't like and came in the prizes!

I couldn't get to Blackpool his year, but found your reports fantastic reading, and to be fair you had a pretty good success rate as well.

Keep it up – your fingers must be aching!

Peter Collins
Corby

Any explainations please?
 
Will someone please explain why it is that your website gave such a glowing report on Leyland Band's performance at the Grand Shield (a view shared, incidentally, by many in the hall), and yet they were given only 15th place by the official adjudicators?  

Conversely, how is it that for many of the bands that were given much higher positions, including even some of those placed in the first four, you gave more critical and disapproving reports than for Leyland?

Does your reporter still feel the same way about his opinions, and if so, what does he feel about the competence and credibility of the official adjudicators? 

Has the time come for adjudicators for contests as important as this to be selected only from people who are still intimately involved in playing and/or conducting at the relevant level, ie people with real up-to-date credibility, rather than from those who had an illustrious career in banding 20 or 30 years ago, for which we respect them, but maybe no longer up to judging at this level in the 21st century?

Richard Smith,
Adlington.

A contradictory rant

I had a wonderful day on Saturday listening to one of the finest test pieces written for brass band, ‘Montage' in the Senior Cup.

As in all contests some performances were better than others, but, as one of the few (along with a few friends) who did listen to all the bands, I must congratulate the adjudicators on getting the result spot on.

I must confess that by band 17 my backside was in terrible pain and I was tempted to go for a beer at the bar, but I'm so pleased that I didn't because the next two bands (who we're to be placed 1st and 2nd respectively) we're simply outstanding.  Special mention must go to the soloists of the winners Burry Port who's Principal Cornet was sensational, and I also heard one of the most wonderful pieces of euphonium playing I've heard in years by their very special Solo Euph player (who deservedly won the best instrumentalist prize).

 It was clear to most impartial listeners that the winners would be one of these two bands. I got home this afternoon and logged on to your website, as I usually do after a major competition and read your remarks with utter disbelief!!! Whilst I totally agreed with your report for Staffordshire Building Society who came 2nd, your report for the winners Burry Port beggared belief.

I genuinely believe that the person who wrote the report was not in the hall and just made up a report thinking this band, who he probably never even heard of before were never going to come anywhere.

Either that or he lacks even that most basic knowledge of music, or his hearing aid was off. I've always been a fan of your live reports and have spent many hours staring at my screen in my house on a major contest day reading your reports straight after the bands played and I've always assumed that the report writer was of a sufficient musical calibre to make these comments. But the experience of the weekend has certainly changed that.  Sort your act out 4barsrest.

Craig Hammersmith
Dundee

4BR Reply:
What a contradictory letter Craig. We can assure you we listened to every band in each of the three sections and as always we put our necks, and opinions on the line for everyone to read and to agree or disagree with – which you seemed to do.  That's what makes contesting and 4BR what it is – although we don't resort to the personal abuse angle as you seem to think was necessary.

Brian Evans

Brian Evans, a true inspiration, has passed away far too early.  I am lucky enough to have heard Brian play in his pomp! We will never again hear the like of Brian's playing. It was purely from the heart and broke ground for all to follow. He could make a glass eye cry!
 
Brian was a dear friend for many years and I will miss our pints in the Crown in Brighouse and his grinning face peering through my front window demanding bacon butties and coffee from my partner, Fiona.
 
I was with many of Brian's friends this evening just hours after his death. I've never seen so many grown men so upset to lose a humble and loyal friend.
 
My thoughts are with Pam who has lost the love of her life.
 
Simon Gresswell
Hove Edge, Brighouse

Brian Evans - a great person

Just seen the very sad news about Brian Evans, I am stunned by it. I have heard him play at many contests and spoke to him when he came to the Walsall Town Hall with Brighouse and Rastrick in 1979, got his autograph and also the LP he did which I have now got on CD.

A great person, and for me the best soprano player of his era. A conductor who I was conducted by, Peter Bright, played in CWS Manchester with Brian on the wins of the Nationals on ‘Force Of Destiny' and ‘Belmont Variations'.  Peter played 2nd man down to Derrick Garside.
 
Ian Perks
Gresley Old Hall Band

Brian Evans - a true legend
 
I'm sure I won't be the first and certainly won't be the last to say that the passing of Brian Evans comes as a huge shock to the banding world. A true legend amongst the brass banding world, and a character who will be sorely missed by one and all. My thoughts are with his family and friends at this awful time.

A great loss indeed.
 
Gavin White
Wrexham.

Distasteful Europeans - not on 4BR! 

How dare someone write something so distasteful about your retro of the Europeans - (OK I was one of those who spouted off about your retro of the West of England Regionals - well, no ones perfect!).

Unable to attend this year's European (Cardiff 1986 was the closest I ever got - 2 kids and a wife to support!), I rely on the entertaining and informative view and insight you guys give to these kind of shindigs (classic Forest of Dean Talk).

I have never enjoyed so much a preview, review and insight into this years Euro and Euros gone by (took me 2 hours to read every article!).

The review of the lost test-piece 'Arragorn' alone was an absolute classic (especially being a percussion player - hitting hell out of the hobbits - brilliant - give me a hobbit to hit any day!), nearly fell off me chair laughing!

I have been playing with brass bands on and off for the past 25 years (Robert Morgan Lydbrook Band - how about some kind of long service award?) and you guys give me my weekly fix (daily if possible) of brass band news and reviews.

In a nutshell, the 'Walters' clan may have been there, done that and got a real tacky foreign t-shirt to show for it, but you guys are the professionals (no I don't want a job reporting - but thanks for the offer very much) and your reviews are the ones that count!
 
Andrew Brooks
(UKBBP - United Kingdom Brass Band Party!)

Careful with the Irish though

Really enjoyed your critique of the Europeans, my daughter was playing in the Youth band.  One criticism however.

You stated the "Irish" delegates were in attendance. As you are aware N. Ireland is a minefield for potentially causing offence. N. Ireland is part of the UK and I certainly do not view myself as Irish. To be labelled as such causes great offence and I am sure many others within NIBA would share the same sentiments. Keep up the good work.

S. Church

An ulterior motive behind the English Championships?
 
My mind is boggling with the news that the sponsor of the forthcoming English National Championships wishes to remain anonymous.
 
There are two types of sponsors.  There are the private individuals who contribute their own money to a cause because they want to see it prosper - philanthropists like Paul Getty, for instance.
 
Then there are the corporate sponsors who expect something in return for their money - advertising or selling the company's products, for instance.
 
If the sponsor of the English National Championships is of the first category, his/her anonymity should be respected because they are not seeking to gain anything for themselves.  If, on the other hand, the sponsor is an organisation with an ulterior motive behind their contribution, no matter how honourable that may be, I think we have a right to know their identity.
 
Perhaps the contest organisation can clarify the matter?  If they don't, the rumour mill will undoubtedly spring into action, and that is unlikely to be helpful.
 
Jim Yelland
Hinckley
Leicestershire

Buxton
 
Ok lads, re - the Buxton contest.

OK some bands played pieces that were from the higher section, but as Roy Sparkes said from the stage, all bands from the first to the last, played a creditable performance.

Being a player in the band that came last, I know I was proud of the performance our band put up. Two thirds of the band had only been on a contest stage once before, and yes they were disappointed at their result, but encouraged by the comments from Roy Sparks.

His remarks were very good and at the end he put "a very creditable performance". After all some choice of set pieces are very often deemed to be too difficult for the sections. So come on lads lets have a little encouragement for the lowest section bands.

E. John

Can anyone find Eventide Variations?
 
I am sure someone out there knows where I can get hold of the band set of ‘Eventide - with Variations' for band arranged by William Rimmer. Wishing to return (musically) to my youth when I last played this piece at Hammonds Sauce Works Junior band conducted by the great Gershom Collison in 1969! Cost not an issue! (apart from me coming from Yorkshire that is.)
 
Gordon Eddison

Fancy getting your name into print?

I wonder if any of your readers would be interested in contributing to the following book which I am writing.

"Classical Music's Strangest Concerts and Characters" is to be published by Robson Books in Spring 2006. I would be glad to hear from anyone who has stories of unusual events involving brass bands when giving concerts with any classical music content. Stories can be contemporary or historical.
Contact by email at brian@levison.fslife.co.uk or by telephone 01865-791202.

Brian Levison
6 Princes Street
Oxford
OX4 1DD

The Walters on the European - number 1

I am shocked and disappointed at your overall retrospective of the European Championships in Groningen.

I attended the weekend's events as an enthusiastic listener and had one of the best brass band weekends ever. The music, the enthusiasm and the opportunities for new ideas for the progression of the brass band movement were all there and oozing out of it. It is saddening that all you can do is shoot them down and complain.

Ok, so the hall may not have been perfect but it wasn't that bad. Yes, we came up with some different remarks to you for the bands from sitting in the first section of raised seats but we were amazed to see you sitting right in the front row - that's never the best place to hear a brass band. Perhaps we should sort our own halls out before complaining about other peoples.

The brass band movement is continually wondering why we don't get listeners to our contests - here is one that does (I nearly took a photo just of the audience because it was so great to see so many people listening and so many of the bandsmen themselves listening and supporting the other bands instead of getting drunk in the bar), but you want to go and limit that and decrease it - make your mind up whether you want to support the growth of the movement or not.

I am sorry that details such as sponsors and press being looked after weren't up to scratch but is that really the most important thing? Obviously the contest needs the support of the sponsors and the press but it is not the be all and end all of whether the event is good or not for everyone else.

The Dutch are renowned for being crazy - I'm sure no-one will be offended by that - so they did things a little differently with their presenters and programmes - there's nothing wrong with that - if you always want it the same then have the same old people run it in the same old place each year until it dies. The attempts at the presentations to the conductors after each band provided a little light relief in a hard days banding!! Don't take it all so seriously - it's music. Remember what Marcus Bach said on the stage about music - "Life without music is unthinkable, music without life is academic!" Keep it exciting.

This applies to the Gala Concert as well. I thoroughly enjoyed it and didn't want it to finish - it was not too long as it was so exciting and entertaining. The mix of entertainment in the second half was fantastic. It was amazing to see a brass band in so many different lights with the different acts. My only criticism of the concert was that it was all microphoned up which was unnecessary and spoilt the sounds, but otherwise it was great musically and visually.

I also do not believe everything that you have written in your report. You say that David Daws had to drum up his own support for his masterclass, yet he was only expecting 18 people and there were over 70 people waiting to go in and listen.

Anyway, I had no real gripes about the presentation of the weekend, and as I said above, I thoroughly enjoyed it. I was disappointed by the comments you received regarding your lack of coverage of some of the area contest this year and supported your efforts one hundred percent. However, I am disappointed that from this fantastic weekend of enjoyable music making and appreciation, you couldn't write a more positive review of the event.

Finally, may I congratulate all the members of the EYBB for some fantastic and very impressive performances. - Just one of the many positives that stuck in my mind from Groningen 2005.

Helen Walters
England

Walters - Number 2

I have to disagree with your highly negative view of the European Brass Band Festival/Contest in Groningen. My wife and I had managed to make our way to a European event for the first time (so admittedly were not measuring the event from the high level of expectation that the events in Bergen/Glasgow had obviously generated).

We were present for all the events from Friday onwards, and enjoyed everything on offer...from free concerts around town (Thursday night outside a restaurant eating dinner listening to a good brass band was great) to the contest, masterclass by David Daws, talk by Johan de Mei, gala concert, and the excellent European Youth Band.

Obviously your sitting in the second row with your digital camera to get good pictures would cause a crick in your neck! There is obviously an element of sour grapes as a result of the poor treatment of sponsors, which I agree would need to be done better if the brass band movement is to secure the future of this wonderful event. The acoustic of the hall was nowhere near as bad as you make out, and it was definitely way above the acoustics of the Riviera Centre in Torquay where an event as important as the West of England regionals is held!

The set test piece was excellent and never have I seen a composer so friendly and smiley as Johan de Meij during his very instructive talk about his work. Few bands managed to capture and feel comfortable with the gamelan rhythms that had been strewn throughout the piece. Thank you Johan de Meij for a great piece which will sadly probably not receive as many performances as it deserves due to the bottle playing section. Thanks to Stavanger Band for providing the best musical performance of this piece in my opinion (the composer seemed to enjoy it too!).

In terms of the gala concert it was brilliant entertainment and the whole of the second half worked really well to highlight how much more can be done to expand the horizons of brass banding! The segment that caused the concert to be longer than necessary was the non-Dutch, Black Dyke segment, which with the Edward Gregson video intro must raise a smile since he thought his piece was modern and pushing the boundaries of brass banding (sadly, he was not present to hear what you can achieve with 10 green bottles!).

Thanks also to the French band for playing some music with real expressiveness in it (Essence of Time) on the Saturday in the Own Choice segment of the competition. You asked in your opinion section last month where had the good brass band sound gone?

Well it only takes an afternoon listening to an own choice contest by Championship Section bands to realise that there are hundreds of technically adept players out there who can whiz through cadenzas and demisemiquaver runs at ease, as required by the technical pieces they choose, but the absence of great "musical" chorale sections in these pieces of any length is a major cause in the loss of the great warm sound that brass instruments are also capable of making (the only piece other than the Essence of Time with any smooth musical section of note was the Ginnungagap played by the Dutch Band). If you think that many of the players in these bands live for contests or the playing of highly technical variation style solos, then it is no surprise to find that the warm sound is less prevalent or apparent.

We also managed to find the trade stands, located in probably the best position for them, behind the bar!! Difficult to find, out of sight location, what planet are you living on, don't all bandsmen/women visit the bar at least once during the day! The signs were a bit of a giveaway too!

Anyway, enough of the rant. My wife and I had a fantastic time over the whole weekend and were thoroughly entertained. Congratulations to the EBBA. See you in Belfast next year!

Hadrian C. Walters

What about the poor old tuba players!

How about a mention for principal tuba in your end chair line up? Especially with two key solos in 'Masquerade'?
 
Probably too late now but what about the future?

Robert Stradling

4BR Reply:
Sorry Rob, but not this time, as we would have run out of space. For the next major event we will try our best to include the tuba players, although we can envisage a time when every member of the band will want to get their name in print!

Bass Trombone for rent - Whit Friday a speciality

I was looking forward to going to Whit Friday this year but the band I was going with has pulled out
so if anyone knows of a Band that needs a Bass Trombone player, I would be very happy to help.

If you need to contact me my work E-mail is
adam.gregory@allianzcornhill.co.uk

I play with the Friary Guildford Band in the Southern Counties (OMG not a Southern Softie I hear you say)

Adam Gregory

Wales and the European

My name is Kerry Bowden, I conduct a 1st section band in S. Wales. I am a life member of the South East Wales Brass Band Association. I have also been an executive member of that association, yet I do not know of any person or band, or any other organisation, whose opinion has been canvassed as to whether to support the EBBA or Besson, in organising future European Brass Band Championships.

Who are these people who make these decisions? Before Wales became a region covering all Wales, both S.E.W.B.B.A. and W.W.B.B.A., had an input into what decisions the regional committee made, now, since we have joined up with our cousins from the north, we in the south and west have no input, yet even the band most likely to represent Wales haven't been consulted.

So my message to the E.B.B.A. is: Please don't think that the decision of the Welsh Regional Committee is that of the brass band community of Wales, because it certainly isn't.

Kerry Bowden

Poor treatment handed out to BAYV

Not knowing all of the political issue's in the "Welsh Region" it is difficult to ignore the apparent demonstrative actions of Wales concerning BAYV. Having had the opportunity to work with Dr. Bob Childs, David Childs and actually, an honour I might add, of sitting next to Owen Farr in a performance, I can't imagine such buffoonery.
 
These gents are well respected here in the States and have been wonderful ambassadors for all of Britain both personally and professionally. BAYV is a world class organization. Why is the treatment less than spectacular? 
 
Kevin Cramer
Tampa, Florida USA

The European in Wales eh?  Ebbw Vale or Treorchy?

What next from the Welsh Association? When will the announcement come that qualification for the Besson European will be through the Association contests in South Wales and not the Area Contest? Watch this space!
 
J. Hughes

Roger should stick to the cornet (ouch!)

Having read the news of Roger Webster's misfortune with Superglue, I wonder if there is any truth in the rumour that he was offered a blow at an E flat bass. "No thanks" said Roger, "I think I'll just stick to the cornet"
 
Hugh Brennan

Whit Friday and the 4BR Rankings

I was just wondering how Whit Friday fits into the world rankings.
 
Allegedly the World rankings takes into effect the quality of the competing bands...well this years Whit Friday includes the likes of Hepworth, Fodens, Black Dyke, YBS, Old Silkstone, Brighouse, etc...
 
How does it compare to something like the Yorkshire Areas or British Open, which has some of the same top bands?
 
PJ Herak
Watford, Herts

4BR Reply:
We understand that the Whit Friday contests do not form a part of the rankings as they are an informal contest, which is open to non contesting bands.

Are Yorkshire flugel players any good then?

Having just returned to Norwich from the Yorkshire area at Bradford I would like to congratulate Peggy Tomlinson and her team for an excellent show of organization.

From an audience point of view it was almost faultless. Well done to them all. Whilst writing though I was intrigued to see Roger Webster play the opening melody of Rienzi with a bag of some description over his bell. I guess to achieve the flugel tone?! 

I am sure the esteemed Dr N. Childs has good reasons for this and I would be interested to know them. Surely the combined efforts the great Black Dyke horn section should suffice.  As a flugel player myself I have never thought of my sound being that of a cornet with a bag stuck over the end!! 

Anyway having got over that on come Stocksbridge and I am flabbergasted to see the flugel horn player sitting out whilst again a front row cornet sticks a bag over his bell and does exactly the same. I could understand this if I was listening to a lower section band but this is arguably the finest championship section in the country. What hope do the rest of us flugel players have? 

So on to conductors. It was noticeable that the very best of our conductors were obvious by their understated but positive leadership. It was often very annoying to have to sit and have your concentration disturbed by conductors who see this as a stage to exhibit there own "talents" rather than let the band do themselves justice.

My advice,  take a long look at Nicholas Childs, James Gourlay and the like. I realise the adjudicators don't see this but I have to say I wish we the audience didn't have too either. Save it for your concerts if you must!
 
Geoffrey Barber 

The one and only Maurice Murphy

You know, nearly all of our great orchestral trumpet players have come form bands (I generalize somewhat, but 89% true).

Harry Mortimer (WHAT!), I hear you say? Well, he never took up a post but he did his fair share with the Liverpool Phil when the notes got black. Jack Macintosh, BBCSO but he actually held a cornet post, Willy Lang LSO, John Wallace Philharmonia for many years, and not forgetting our present hero, the great Maurice Murphy LSO. I'm sorry if I have left a few out (which I have), ok, erm- Martin Winter & Alan Stringer! There.

I wish to remark on what has been a truly great, in fact phenomenal, career. Mr. Maurice Murphy. Last night (April 28th) I witnessed one of the last great orchestral trumpet performances of the 21st Century. The LSO with Maurice at the helm performing his last 'Mahler 5' on UK soil (he has one other in Daytona this summer). 'Mahler 5' is one of THE greatest roasts known to a trumpet player along side 'Petrouchka,' 'West Side', 'Heldenleben', but all of these have their different foibles & styles.

The first 12 bars of this hour marathon belong to solo trumpet, as one other member of the section put it; "one needs large sphericals for this number- and Murph has a wheelbarrow for each".

A capacity audience was in the Barbican inc. 25/38 trumpet players and students. A pin could have been heard to drop (but the percussion was tacit). The first three notes, D#'s rang out as clear as Nepalese mountain water, then, straight away one knew, just from those three notes, the style, the clarity and the purpose belonged to a legend of players!

Maurice's high C#'s sang with a warm zing, his lyrical passages moved and sang like an air from a gypsy violin, his counter melodies stood wide up against the entire 110 piece orchestra, his pp's on high B's + vib made one wonder if an angel had just whispered in my ear. His whole range from low Bb to high D had quality centered throughout, intonation never a question, comes as standard. He sat on top of, and lead, a huge brass section of distinction who all played their musical socks right off not dropping a note anywhere (and the horn parts are wow, Mr. Pyatt a star).

Maurice received two standing ovations, too bloody right. His last 'Mahler 5', and I believe he's performed it over 110 times, but I was there for the last one before he retires at the end of the year. What an experience, I thought you should all know!

Phil Lawrence

There is no great movement out there.

The outpouring of impotent indignation over the latest calamity to befall the BFBB was entirely predictable.  Every time bandsmen are on the receiving end of some perceived injustice, the clichés come tumbling out, and usually revolve around that old favourite 'this great movement of ours'.

I'm sorry to have to tell you that no such national movement exists, because there is no actual commitment to it from bandsmen themselves.  All we have is a collection of autonomous musical ensembles with no effective national body, no effective leadership, no national goal and no national direction - as I say, no national movement.  Bandsmen who describe what they do only as their hobby are far nearer the mark.

Your correspondent Nigel Morgan puts his finger on the obvious solution when he says "..can I suggest the BFBB considers some form of individual membership with a voice on major issues...".  In fact, individual (or associate) membership already exists, although such members do not at the moment appear to have any voice at all, if my own experience is anything to go by. 

And Mr Morgan's suggestion, also hinted at earlier by David Bishop-Rowe, is in fact one which I myself put forward in an article which was published in the current (April) edition of Brass Band World magazine.  I humbly urge people to read it.

Whatever mess the brass band fraternity is in, it is entirely of its own making.  We have relied on external forces to run our activities for us right from the very start.  If we want to run our own affairs in the future, that will require individual personal commitment from us, the bandsmen.  Yes, YOU, dear reader.  The Federation is the only national body we have.  As Howard Snell said last year, don't waste time writing whinging letters to the media or brass band chatrooms.  Join the BFBB now as an associate member and start lobbying them for change.  You need them, and they need you.

Maybe too the time has come for a national forum to thrash this issue out.  Perhaps some enterprising concern - a popular web-based magazine, for instance - might like to consider sponsoring it?

Alec Gallagher
London NW9

Thanks for the rumour

Nice to be considered for the Brighouse sop seat but I've not been approached and am quite happy at Ashton, although it would be nice to go back to an ex-band!
 
Mark Rodgers

^back to top