Comments ~ 2005: October (Part 2: 19th October onwards)

Plenty more from the Nationals; Adjudicators; Jack of all trades; Improving your colloquial Italian and even something about a Pig. An everyday bag of delights then from our readers....

Marple were not a shock!

Just a quicky about your Nationals retrospective. You begin by saying was this a shock result in the lines of a Marple or City of Coventry.

Well I find it amazing you say Marple's was a shock result as for the 4/5 years before our win we had been placed in the top six on a number of occasions. This was no shock result as we deserved the title. Just because our name isn't Black Dyke Mills, YBS, Corys, Grimethorpe or Fairey does that mean that bands like Marple, Leyland and hopefully soon Hepworth who are playing so well at the moment can't play as well and beat the above mentioned bands??

When we won the Open we to were received by boos and jealous bandsmen from the above mentioned bands. Isn't it amazing that these so called brilliant brass players can't accept that they can be beaten on any given day? Sorry for the rant but it had to be said.

Matthew Murphy
Marple Band player

4BR Reply:
Thanks Matthew, but the point we were making was not that it wasn't deserved, but that the result itself was still something of a shock when it was announced on the day - and to be fair, when most people talk of that contest they do still see it that way, especially as Tredegar were second!

Putting things into perspective

I am not directly associated with the band in question but I feel moved to make comment on your retrospective with particular reference to the Tavistock Checter-le-Street Riverside Band.

I consider that the statement '..had to also overcome the lack of a bass trombone who unfortunately was taken ill prior to the contest...' does little to illustrate the actual circumstances and plays down the effect that Brian's sudden illness had.

I have been informed that Brian had a severe heart attack a matter of hours before the band took the stand and had in fact been rehearsing that day.

The band was not made aware until they were preparing to perform at the RAH (he was in theatre as the band was playing). I am sure that the band would not thank me at all for attempting to make excuses for any perceived weaknesses in their performance and that is certainly not my intent. I do feel, however, that they deserve a somewhat more sympathetic review and perhaps their courage in deciding to still take the stand with not just a man down but rushed to hospital (just how do you compensate for a missing bass trom in this piece, at short notice?) should be applauded or at least recognised.

I do note that you did not mention the missing man in your live comments so  they must have managed to cover at least in part.

More importantly I am also informed that Brian is now at home and is recovering from his ordeal and I am sure that all concerned wish him a swift and full recovery.

Bob Mellis BSc(Hons)

4BR Reply:
Thanks Bob for letting us know more about the siuation and that Brian is fit and well again after his scare. We were only given very sketchy information on the day and afterwards so had to be careful with what we wrote. However, we had to judge the performance on how we heard it on the day and that is what we did.

Adjudicator's holding hands?

I had the pleasure of being at the RAH Saturday - some stunning performances but a result that yet again left the door open to criticism. Don't get me wrong (I have no affinity with any of the bands who were in the frame neither was I playing) Leyland are clearly a superb band with a fabulous history and a pedigree of success. Their performance did it for the adjudicators on the day. I have been playing long enough to know that's banding! - Well done Leyland and all associated with them.

However, having played the majority of my banding career at Championship level I am at a loss about one thing? When there is more than one adjudicator why are they sat together? What's the point? Can't they make a decision on their own? Why do they have to sit together? Why don't they sit in separate boxes and average out the scores.

Isn't it better to have three subjective opinion's against just the one (& we all know there is always a dominant voice when they do sit together). At a contest as big and important as the Nationals it must make sense to average out three scores rather than one. It always makes me smile when the remarks come out and three people all have the same score and placing? If people didn't put so much time and effort into a serious hobby it might be funny!

Irrespective who you would have put first or second Buy as you View were never 2 points behind Leyland playing 5 & 6 - my only explanation is David, Malcolm and John preordained certain bars in the music that would be their holy grail. Whoever played those bars to their pre agreed style would win the contest. I might be being unfair but 2 points is a big margin in banding and those guys made that call against two bands playing side by side. Had you been there you would know exactly what I am talking about. There was at best a fag paper between them! Who would be an adjudicator? Yes, I know and after all it is subjective - by the way where are all the younger adjudicators at times like this? Obviously not on the 'A' list! 

The piece? Beautifully written, technically very difficult, tough to read and for the none educated bands person an awful listening piece!

We wonder why the hall had empty seats? Music is for most a pleasurable listening experience. Most supporters of bands will know to some extent what they are listening too, most go by how it sounds.  It is possible to write tunes that are technically difficult (ask Philip Wilby and Phillip Sparke) and test the most difficult of skills. However, if we are going to continue down the road of having pieces like Eden (& the Open piece - albeit both fantastic writing for bandsmen) then get used to seeing and playing to empty seats.

Please do not take this as a criticism of the composer, it is not - however it is a plea to the organisers to choose music that is challenging but also pleasing to the ear for the listening majority. 

I spent some time in the presence of a customer of my employer last week - the most telling remark was quite simply "I am grateful you understand I have a choice and can go elsewhere" So can our audience and it appears they are!   

Craig Williams
Dudley         

Standards of adjudication

Well, another contest, another unpredictable result and another set of questions raised about the standard of adjudication at major contests.

Before I start this is not a knock at the Leyland band.  They've been through some tough times recently and deserve a little luck.  Their talisman, Russell Gray, certainly knows how to win contests and this could be a match made in heaven if the current batch of adjudicators we have on the circuit keep getting used.
Having sat through the vast majority of the bands (I  missed 2 – neither in the top 15 thankfully) I cannot understand how the adjudicators came up with the result they did.  My only explanation is that that Leyland's was the performance that the guys in the box finally realised what a good piece of music Eden was and that no other band played it the way they did.

How they could have placed Leyland above Cory and Grimethorpe though is inexplicable.  They would have had a direct comparison between bands 5 and 6; Cory came on and made the piece fill the hall, it meant something and didn't have the "I need to make something out of every bar" feeling that the Leyland performance did.  They were bigger, louder, quieter, had more style, the list goes on and on.  At the end of the day Grimethorpe came on and were even better.  Also good were Dyke and YBS, who I thought would have won with that reading had the soloists performed better, so much poise and detail.  But splits lose contests nowadays!

I was also shocked to see the result for Redbridge.  How can a band where a major solo in the work is played by someone in a different section get 7th.  Their sound was small and they pulled nothing out of the score that half a dozen later bands also did.  I had them outside of the top 10.  Perhaps it was their closeness to Leyland in the draw that helped them?

Our adjudicators are not good enough.  None of them would have understood that score and had I competed, to think they hadn't even approached the composer for guidance would have smacked of conceit and disrespect for the bands and MD's who worked so hard on the score.  When will our organisers listen to what the bands say and get some new blood in the box, preferably with experience of banding at the top level within the last 10 years?

Mr. D. Amiss

Thanks from the back stage team - although change the shirts boys!

Just a quick response to Nigel Brinklow. Thanks for the thanks - it was a very enjoyable day for us, made all the easier by the percussion being "set". Just one thing, the shirts were purple, and quite right, doesn't match anyones skin tone.

Well done to all the bands, and thanks for making our job that much easier.

Rob Gowing  

Jack of all trades...

I heard the Glyn Williams spectacle at the Nationals post-contest mini concert and I did not enjoy his performance.

The phrase 'jack of all trades, ..............' comes to mind. After a whole day of listening to some fine playing by some of the bands, I really do not want to hear wallpaper music. I would prefer to ponder on the performances heard and form my own judgement. If I had not been waiting to hear the decision of the adjudicators, I would probably have walked out.

R. Harvey.

Improving your Italian?  
 
Just in case you're interested the Italian for F*** O**  is  Scopata Fuori or so I'm reliably informed -  although you probably can't put this on the site now for fear of upsetting the Italian banding fraternity!!
 
Noah Jacobs

4BR Reply:
Too late for that now...

Some good stuff again this week. But?

1. Keep up the live contest remarks. I had chance to get back to my hotel to log on and read what you thought of my Bands performance. Well structured comments and pretty much what the Band thought too. After the results, paid another visit to your sight to read up further. I thought you were again not far out with your comments excluding Leylands position. (Congrats Russell and the Band)

2. When are the latest rankings due out?

3. What's happening with the juicy bits for the Mill?

Bernie Logan

4BR Reply:
Thanks Bernie. Points 2 and 3 are being addressed as we write.

Bram Wiggins - anyone know how to contact him?

Any idea how I could contact the man, would really like to know the composers desired tempo in a test piece... The marking is L'istesso tempo e con moto...after a meno mosso.

Robert Coyle

4BR Reply:
Do you really think it is going to make that much dofference Rob?

Hats off to Desford

Perhaps there is a middle ground between the two stories so far put forward by friends and enemies of the Desford organisation.

Yes, I believe that most of the band are long standing members, supplemented by pros as and when required.  However to say they play together often is stretching it a bit.  Getting together half a dozen times before each contest they enter hardly classes as regularly attending band now does it?  Whilst I admire what they do on contest and tour stage alike they really must accept that some criticism will come their way from bandsmen that drive the sort of distances quoted by some of their membership week in and week out.

However, given the option, with a young family and growing responsibilities and extra hours at work, would I join a band that did the Nationals, the Open, the Mineworkers but only rehearsed 20 times a year – absolutely!

Hats off to them!

Dr. R Willis

Help needed with my flugel horn!

Hello, thought the combined knowledge that is the readership of 4barsrest, I could really use some help with my Yamaha Maestro Flugel Horn.

It is about 2 years old and is owned by the band that I play for.  I am persistently experiencing problems with the valves sticking etc.  It is usually at the most inopportune moment (a solo etc!).  I have cleaned the instrument through many times, I have tried various valve oils including Webster, Blue Juice and have had to go back to Yamaha oil. 

The instrument has been serviced and has also been back and had the valve casings reworked on 2 occassions.

Laterly I have replaced springs, felts and guides (did you know that they are all individually numbered, and not one fits all!!!!!) but the valves keep getting stuck.

The one thing that I have noticed that persistently keeps happening is that the bottom valve caps get full of this grey/black gunge - within less than a week!!!!.  Where does this rubbish come from and how can I get rid of it?

Please, in total desperation, can someone give me any advise?  Have I the only badly behaved flugel in the world?  What am I doing wrong?

I am seriously looking at buying my own flugel, but I am a little wary after this problem (although the Yamaha Eb Horn that I own has fantastic valves and I have had no problems with it).

Heidi Worth
Flugel 
Heyl Town Band

4BR Reply:
Either send it back again and again to the makers until it is sorted Heidi - if it is not right they should be obliged to sort it out. Or you could just play the horn instead! 

Any recordings of that little clever piggy?
 
Is there a recording of a track called "That'll do" (which was sung by Peter Gabriel, played by Black Dyke band, and was in the soundtrack of the film "Babe - Pig in the city").  I've looked on the Black Dyke and on the Peter Gabriel site and had no luck so far.

Beverley Kirk

4BR Reply:
Don't know Bev - anyone squeak us an answer? 

Why print this rubbish 4BR?

Why print such rubbish as this man's (Duncan Edgar - see below) letter.

Mr Edgar obviously took offence at the booing and I can understand that, none of us condone such childish behaviour. But to try and pin the blame on two band's supporter's is pathetic.

My own view of Brass Band Supporters is that the majority are quite impartial at the beginning of a contest. Its only after they have intelligently arrived at their own decision that they are deemed to be supporting one band or another. Mr Edgar's impression is that each band brings bus loads of partisan supporters with them, that's rubbish.

Black Dyke players were all back stage when the results were given out waiting to start their Gala Concert rehearsal. As I told Mr Edgar in a personal email the vast majority of BAYV players were elsewhere when the results were given out.

However, I am surprised that 4barsrest has printed this garbage when your own report of the results ceremony clearly identifies the booing after Grimethorpe's 4th position and not after BAYV or Dykes.
 
There was a little rumble in the hall when Brighouse were announced as sixth, which turned into a slightly bigger grumble when YBS were placed fifth. However there was some genuine booing and dismay at Grimethorpe's fourth spot and a real air of bemusement at BAYV in third. It seemed it was going to be Dyke's day, but the announcement of them in second place was greeted with somewhat bemused silence - 4barsrest.
 
Come on 4barsrest give everyone a voice but screen the people out who you know are misinformed or clearly just causing trouble.

Mr Edgar please get your facts right before you accuse anyone publicly of wrong doing otherwise you might be falsely accusing  people and making a big fool of yourself in the process.
 
Bob Childs

4BR Reply:
We totally agree with your sentiments and personal findings about the booing Bob. However as you state yourself, we must try to give everyone a chance to voice their opinion. That opinion may well be ill informed or misplaced and one that we at 4BR do not agree with, but to not print it because we do not agree with it, or others may not, whilst not breaking any libel laws would be censorship of the wrong kind.

Small minority letting the movement down
 
It is, quite frankly, disappointing to read on 4barsrest that some people chose to boo when the certain of the contest results were announced.  These people are a small minority but they are letting down a movement with a great tradition which includes accepting the outcome of an adjudication.  As in any contest or competition, the decision of the officials should be accepted even if one personally disagrees.
 
It is also impossible to disagree with the views of John Pickard in relation to adjudicators being as pepared as possible for their onerous task.  They should take all possible steps to fully understand the music on which they have to adjudicate.  For ANY contest that clearly requries a meticulous study of the score and any doubts should be addressed by a meeting with the composer whenever that is possible.  This seems even more important for new works.
 
Peter Hargreaves

The Bournemouth angle on their booing...

Thank you for bring up the issue of booing after Bournemouth's performance at the Nationals.

I have been told that some of it was supporters of our band cheering for one of our cornet players (Ro - o - land Wright) but I was also told that certain elements west of Bournemouth were also responsible for some booing. If true, that's a shame. I can make a wild guess as it seems to fit in with comments made on other web sites at the time of the Areas. I do not want to be sued for libel so will refrain from naming. I have no proof other than independent comments.

All bar a few West of England Championship section bands gave us their support either by email or telephone, I would like to thank those bands that did  (St Austell, Mount Charles, Woodfalls, Yeovil etc.) and the cheers and clapping for our performance mostly drowned out the booing.

For those that were booing... GROW UP  your band does not have an automatic right to qualify. Check West of England placings at the Nationals over the last 6 years or so, your band may not have done much better.

Anyway, Bournemouth band enjoyed the first time experience and hope it will not be the last time.

Bill Willis
Secretary
BCB

And the Italian for F*** O** is?

A few observations that may shed some light on the Booing saga after our  (Bournemouth Concerts ) performance, and then during the results.  I, like the rest of our band did hear what we thought was a section of the crowd booing us after our performance. I am pleased to say that we found out soon afterwards that the section of the crowd in question were actually supporters of the band and were chanting something that unfortunately and unintentionally just happened to sound like boos.   
  
The same cannot be said during the results however.  My wife and I were unlucky enough to be seated next to a group of Italians, whom, as the results were announced,  were quite happy to let rip with a chorus of Boos when the band of their choice hadn't won.  I did ask them to stop , pointed out that it was a little rude and asked them why they felt the need to do it, but was told to F*** Off in Italian.

Andy Robertson
Eb Bass Bournemouth Concert              

And hopefully it was directed at the poor flugel player...

With reference to the 'booing' after Bournemouth Concert Brass performance at the Albert Hall on Saturday, I think after a certain amount of research I can confirm that although it sounded like 'booing' it was in fact a rather childish ritual chant in tribute to a member of the band who also happens to conduct the band with whom these people belong.

I was somewhat bemused at the time as it certainly sounded like it, I thought maybe it was aimed at my rather inept Flugel playing at the lament section!! I had a nightmare!!

The band was delighted with the response from the surprisingly large audience, seeing that we followed YBS. Many nice comments were made to the band saying that we did the West of England proud, we deserved and warranted our chance to play at this wonderful venue. A truly unforgettable day for our band and many supporters.
 
Steve Rowland
Bournemouth in bloom winning gardener, and 'dodgy' Flugel player!!

It was us Guv' - but not the way you may have thought

I hope perhaps that you may have misheard some genuinely positive cheering on Saturday after the (for us and maybe us only?) exciting and historic performance of our favourite band Bournemouth Concert Brass!
 
A big group of happy and (over) enthusiastic friend s travelled up with the real intention of giving a loud and cheery welcome to the south-coasters and reward them for their big-effort in preparing for their big day.
 
We are sorry if others in the hall were offended by the racket - sadly the combination of highly trained brass players lungs and the distance from the circle may have distorted what was shouted by our ensemble.  We had not intended to upset anyone and will apologise directly to our contacts in the band if any of them or Mr Taken were distressed by our audible action.
 
To be honest we were so pleased they got through it that our extatic response may have been over the top but expressed our genuine admiration for the band, especially those of our closer acquaintance.  As yet none of them have reported that our cheers sounded negative.  If you want to know what we were calling please call!
 
For what it's worth none of us were remotely involved in the jeering at results time, though also had BAYV as winners - and that's why we love band contesting!!
 
Danny Silver

Guess who made the money in London this weekend?

Just thought you would all like to know; between the hours of 5pm & 7.30pm, the Queens Gate Mews Pub took over £4.5k, well done you lot! And, as for the contest? Enough will be said without my oar in there!

Phil Lawrence

4BR Reply:
We won't ask how you came by this information Phil, but knowing a number of bandsmen and women as we do we would ask - Was that all?

The Picture of Dorian Gray? No - it was the Queen

Following your recent discussions regarding the patronage of the National Finals, imagine my wry smile when a gentleman from Amsterdam sat down in an adjoining box last Saturday, opened his contest programme at the photograph accompanying the annual greetings from Buckingham Palace and promptly exclaimed, "Good gracious, Her Majesty the Queen gets younger and younger every year!"

Even if the organisers don't consider a new patronage, let's at least consider an up to date photo!!
 
Graham Helm

Another well done for Mr Pickard from the percussionists union

I've got to say that I'd like to echo Greg Perkin's comments regarding the percussion set up at the Nationals this weekend. Like Greg, I have always been against a set layout for the percussion section, but I think it worked a treat at the Nationals due to the work that had gone into a general layout - though some tweaking was necessary for three players (unless the bass drum/anvil player had a fourteen feet wing-span).

I played timps and I must say that I prefer to be beside the bass trombone and Eb bass rather than behind the high pitched cornets. Nothing really to do with pitch, it's just that I am able to whack Andy Austin our bass trombonist on the head with hard mallets when I feel the need (and that's most of the time) - only joking Andy - when I'm sitting at this side.

Seriously, it is actually a sound compatibility and personal preference for me. Despite the initial shock suffered by the third cornets following the first ruin through (that was a typo - supposed to read "run through" but, I thought it would be more apt to leave it as "ruin") of the "furioso manic" section on timps at AA, the change to the "other side" of the band wasn't so bad after all. The third cornets may not necessarily agree with me though (but between you and me they never agree on anything).

Thanks to Bob and the stage team who helped during the day. Not sure if blue suits your skin tone though.

Nigel Brinklow

Forget the Norwegians - Leyland won with a litle bit of Irish/Australian help!

I noticed a picture on your website of my brother Edward (well at least the back of his head!) playing No 3 with Leyland at the recent Nationals. Originating from Belfast before migrating to Brisbane Australia, Ed has just recently moved to Manchester to do his Masters in brass.

We both have enjoyed the company of Russell Gray on his numerous outings to Oz both as a player and conductor and it was magical that Ed was able to play under Russell and help take out the big one! I don't know for sure but I'm willing to bet that the luck of the Irish may have helped just a wee bit!
 
John Kennedy
Moorooka
Brisbane, Australia

Getting the facts right

In your review of the National Finals "Contest Archive" you state the following: "…and after 1945 in the Royal Albert Hal".  In actual fact the contest was held in the Empress Hall, Earls Court in 1952 and 1953.

Just to put the record straight.
 
Derek Rawlinson

4BR Reply:
Thanks Derek. You are quite right - the 1952 and 1953 contest actually took place at Earl's Court. Was it full of Australian bar tenders all those year's ago too?

The Desford Core remains the same

I note the "interesting" comments about Desford - I was involved with the Desford organisation (Snibston and Desford) for 8 years following a work move to the Midlands - having been contacted by one of their stalwarts Dean Seargent.

Whilst I was there like most other bands I have played with, I saw changes at Desford most due to work moves etc, but the core band remained the same. Pete Smith and the Desford team worked very hard to make it work and rather than being berated, they should be applauded for doing so and also for maintaining their high standards - ah but that's not the way of banding is it?  

I left the organisation to join another band with no hard feelings on either side - I wonder how often that can be said? I know that if I turned up to the band club to listen or just have a chat or even allow Pete to pull me a pint I would be welcomed with open arms - try it you might be surprised.

I recently purchased the Regionals CD from 4barsrest. Having listened to ‘Journey to the Centre of the Earth' - I can't wait to hear it played live by Desford. 
     
Graham Rix

Disgusted by booing

I was disgusted by the response to the announcement of Saturday's results in the Nationals of Black Dyke and Buy As You View.  I have been assured by Bob Childs that players were not involved in the booing, however it is very clear that supporters of both bands were involved.
 
Clearly every band and supporter wants their band to do well and because of its very nature the results are down to the interpretation of the three adjudicators.  For supporters of both bands to boo as the results for their unsuccessful attempts to win were announced is appalling.  Bands must take the opportunities that they have to ensure that their supporters find this type of reaction totally unacceptable.  Bands cannot simply wash their hands of the actions of their supporters.
 
Anyone who is not big enough to accept defeat in a proper manner then they should simply be banned from the performances in such competitions.  They do the image of brass bands a great deal of harm by their poor behaviour.
 
I suggest that, unless both bands issue a strong public apology denouncing the actions of their supporters then, both bands be stripped of their positions and points and be recorded as unplaced, points zero. Perhaps then they would learn that ‘performance' is not just linked to the stage but also how they accept the result.
 
We must hope that the responses of both bands do not make it into the mass media – banding can do without bad press.
 
Duncan Edgar

4BR Reply:
We too heard booing at the results Duncan, but it was our belief that it came from various quarters of the hall and not from any specific area. The BAYV boxes were next to the 4BR one, and we didn't hear anything from there, and we are sure no band woyld condone such responses from so called supporters. There was some loutish behaviour after Bournemouth Band played - some booing mixed in with some good natured banter. We hope it is not a sign of things to come at future contests, as it is now occuring with a worrying frequency. 
 

Great day, great piece, great number of empty seats

I thought the set piece for the Nationals, Eden was a super piece. I had not heard it before band number one, but by band 20 I felt I was into it. Eden had so much musical content and gave every band a big challenge, some surmounted that challenge, some did not. I enjoyed listening to every performance, which gives great credit to John Pickerd who knows how to write for brass bands. Thank you to the composer and all the bands for an entertaining day.

What a pity though that the hall was never even 70% full and pathetically had about 10% for some bands. I phoned the RAH for a ticket two days before the event to be told that there are hundreds of tickets still available. There was a time when tickets were as scarce as a cup final ticket and touts did well. The only ticket tout outside the box office this year had lots of tickets available and I doubt he charged above box office prices or if he did any business at all. To those who stayed away thinking the music would not be enjoyed, you missed a real treat.

Leighton Rich
 

Thank you Dr Pickard - from the percussionists of Eden
 
Every so often the topic of percussion set-up at contests raises it's head, with many people asking why every band can't have the same percussion set up, reducing change over time.

I am usually one of the first to argue against this point of view, saying that we need everything the same as it has been in rehearsal, especially since with certain pieces it takes us a great many rehearsals to come to an arrangement where everything is exactly where we need it to be.

However, with Eden, Dr John Pickard clearly put a great deal of thought into his percussion writing, making sure that each player had is own set-up, with little or no sharing of instruments. He put the time into testing out a set up that worked, and then supplies us with a plan and photographs, meaning we had the time to rehearse with this set-up in our own bandroom. The result was that we knew in advance where the instruments would need to be on stage, his thoughtfulness meant that the set up actually worked so we didn't need to tweak it, and it meant I went on stage more relaxed without having spend 5 minutes moving equipment around the stage when I would rather be focused on putting in a great performance.

Composers take note, if all test pieces had this much thought going into the logistics of performing what is written, I (and I'm sure others feel the same) would welcome the idea that we all set up the same way.

Thank you Dr Pickard!

Greg Perkin
Brighouse & Rastrick
 

Thanks but no thanks 4BR
 
I have quite enjoyed reading your live commentaries during important competitions and fully realise that they are your own views and therefore unreliable indicators as to the actual result.

In future, however, I have decided to ignore them. Given the numbers of people that visit your excellent and informative website, I can only imagine that after reading your live commentaries last Saturday (15th October 2005) some people may get the distinct impression that Leyland did not really deserve to win.

You liked them and said so, but did not put them on the pedestal like some other bands. Do you really have this right - even in the name of fun - to put a cloud over a wonderful achievement which I am sure was hard earned by the MD and the players? Are your commentators members of ABBA, professionally or highly qualified musicians? Can you honestly say that your comments are completely unbiased?

My concerns are not only based on the commentaries from last weekend, but also from the lower section national finals and the Spring Brass Band festival which provoked a number of thoughtful comments as published on your website.

Could I suggest two possible remedies: enlist the help of qualified adjudicators in a closed environment to provide these commentaries (perhaps you could send your commentators on an approved course to gain the necessary qualifications); simply do not provide live commentaries, just post the result on your site.

As I said above, I know that these are only your own views and are meant to be fun, but for a number of bands your comments can be negative and hurtful especially when they have actually done very well in a contest.

David Batte

4BR Reply:
Thanks David. We stick by our views both live at the contest and in our retrospectives. We did like Leyland's performance but honestly didn't think it was as good as the three of Black Dyke, BAYV and Grimethorpe. We don't think we were alone on the day though. As for being as qualified as the ABBA members - that really is a question that could open up a whole can of worms.
 

Less than entertaining Dyke

What happened to Black Dyke in London?  The performance in the day wasn't bad but it was lacking the usual lustre, and the less said about the gala concert the better.  The choice of programme was less than entertaining, and the playing again lacked the lustre.  Mnozil brass on the other hand completely stole the show, and were given a standing ovation and cries for more, compared with a mediocre applause for Black Dyke. 

Maybe the time has come for Black Dyke to move over and let some one else play in the gala concert, Leyland maybe??

Well done to Mnozil Brass and Leyland for putting Black Dyke in their place!

Aled Clement

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