Comments ~ 2006: September

The mysterious Mr Whitehead; Vague spelling: Fourth Section judges and much more as a busy September comes to a close.

The mysterious Mr Whitehead

I refer to the three successive commentaries from E Whitehead that were published in the June, July and August Comments Section of the 4BarsRest website regarding:-
 
(i)    the Panel of Adjudicators that affiliated at the 2006 Masters Contest in Cambridge and
(ii)   the Panel of Adjudicators selected for the forthcoming National Finals (Championships Section) at the Royal Albert Hall,   London.
 
Since the 1998 Data Protection Act does not permit the owners of 4BarsRest to provide the Association of Brass Band Adjudicators (ABBA) with the Email address of the correspondent E Whitehead, ABBA does not have direct control to review the validity of these commentaries.  Consequently, as Secretary of ABBA, I urge E Whitehead to provide me with evidence to support the denigratory assertions contained within these commentaries, since the Adjudicators that formed both Panels are members of ABBA.
 
My address is "Egmont" 81 Gabalfa Road, Sketty, Swansea, SA2 8ND.
 
I look forward to receiving this information, if possible by the 4th October 2006 via recorded delivery post, obviously, postage costs will be reimbursed to E Whitehead.
 
Yours sincerely

C. Brian Buckley

Vague or vageu spelling 

If you are going to haul publishers over the coals for lax proofreading of scores, as Phil Lawrence did, it is wise (in the absence of a subeditor) to take on the responsibility for checking your own scribblings for sense and typos before committing to print.

Mis-spelling the word 'vague' three times in succession, in a letter criticising other people's lack of attention to detail, can make the writer look - well, a rather imperfect fool.  I hope Mr Lawrence's own music publications are of a better standard than his letters!

Alec Gallagher 

Bloopers Mr Lawrence
 
May I say how much I enjoyed Christy Smith's wry comments about Phil Lawrence's critique of the error-strewn Perfect Fool.

In fact, Christy didn't mention Mr Lawrence's most obvious blooper - the mis-spelling of the word 'vague' three times in ten words - but perhaps enough fun had been had by then.

Jim Yelland
Hinckley
Leicestershire

Top class judges in the Fourth Section

Just a quick note in reply to Elaine Rogers Wincanton Silver Band about her thoughts on Ian Brownbill and David Lancaster not being top class adjudicators.

What makes a top class adjudicator? Personally I don't know David Lancaster, but for Ian Brownbill his track record speaks for its self. I played principal cornet under Ian at Haydock band for three year and he is a fine conductor taking the band to the National Championships of Great Britain in 2003.

He knows what is required out of a band to win competitions and he is also a great player. Ian has also been adjudicating in the North West for many years now and when summing up at the end of a contest he tells it as it is, so better luck next time Wincanton Silver band - I think it is a touch of sour grapes.

Mark Jones 

Business is business - even if 4BR doesn't like it

So 4BR, you don't like this CD (Black Dyke plays Greatest Movie Hits - Volume 2). While I appreciate your forthright comments I'm just a little surprised at your question Why does Black Dyke do it?

I think the answer is very clear. It's a business decision; they get paid to make these recordings just the same way that 4BarsRest earns a commission on the sale of them. I assume that anything released by Black Dyke sells like the proverbial hot cakes.

Now if you backed up your comments by stating something like "We at 4BarsRest have made the decision not to market this release because it has little or no merit" then your review would really be on the money.

But that would probably be a bad business decision wouldn't it?

As for me, I'll probably skip this one so keep those reviews coming.

John Brooks
Cambridge, Ontario

4BR Reply:
Thanks John. We do say it as we hear it and in this case Black Dyke try mighty hard to make something of nothing, but the product is poorly thought out and executed that it does them no favours at all.

A Celtic Song

Regarding the request for a Celtic song for soprano vocallist and brass band, could I recommend ‘The Water is Wide' arranged by Andy Duncan, an arrangement of the folk song ‘O Waley, Waley'.

This is the feature which Whitburn and Wingates Bands have used (amongst others) in its ‘cornet feature' arrangement, but it was originally scored for the vocal soloist Aileen Marley and Unison Kinneil Band, and it is gorgeous.
 
It can probably be purchased from Lewis Music Press.

Paul Drury 

Thanks - but where is our ranking? 

Hi guys! Thanks for your write ups on your site what a good weekend it was for us at St Dennis by the way. I was just wondering how long or how many points we need to get into the rankings because we have yet to be beaten this year?

Thank you once again and well covered at Harrogate

Luke Bazeley
St Dennis Band

4BR Reply:
The rankings will be with you as soon as we can get our man to work out the info on his computer.

Not the impression of Harrogate we got

I have read with interest the (4BR) article "Harrogate Impressions", and in particular, the view that "market forces" were the reason that hotel prices were so high over the weekend. 

Secretaries of bands who qualify for the National Finals very soon get to know that the only way to secure accommodation for their band over the Harrogate weekend, (save camping on the banks of the River Nidd), is to book with the "official tour operator", which is run by brass band people and, (one would have thought), for the benefit of brass band people. 

I am aware that the small 4BR team managed to privately obtain a cosy little B&B at a very reasonable price, but, try as we might, even at that early stage no accommodation of brass band proportions was to be had within Harrogate or the surrounding area. All had been previously snapped up by the tour operator. 

We therefore had to "bite the bullet" and book through the agency at their prices. 

Just to give the reader an inkling of the costs involved here:- Two nights B&B at the Holiday Inn, including coach travel for 49 people. Total – an incy-wincy £8330. If, however, we had been given the opportunity to book privately with the same hotel and a local coach company, we could have had exactly the same deal at £3540 – a saving of £4790 if my maths are correct.! 

We obviously couldn't fill the coach at these mega-prices, but due to a small stroke of luck, some rooms became available later at the Holiday Inn and we were able to secure these privately at (the far cheaper) hotel rates. As far as the article's contention that it is "easier to book through an agency" is concerned, I would have to say, (3 letters, 30 e-mails and countless phone calls later), that it isn't. 

It was also suggested in the article that "the cost of booking has nothing to do with the Promoters"

Oddly, my correspondence from the Tour Operators states that they are "in association with" Kapitol Promotions.  Indeed, they were also pleased to announce that they had been "appointed by the Promoters as the Official Tour Operator for all qualifying bands" 

So as far as "market forces" being responsible for the "rip-off," - I am still looking for the market!

Paul Rigby 

Not quite the Perfect Fool in criticism either

I have just been reading the comments by Phil Lawrence on the arrangement of "The Perfect Fool" which was used for the 1st Section Finals last weekend.

He is quite direct, and scathing, in his comments regarding the arranger, publisher and selectors of the piece. However, he is strangely reticent about naming any of these, claiming he does not know which arrangement was being used. As almost everyone is aware, the arrangement is credited to Peter Parkes (or, blamed on him, depending on your point of view). Somehow or other though, I can't quite visualise Major Parkes as a checkout clerk at Homebase.

And yes, it presumably is a quite old arrangement, as Major Parkes recorded it with Black Dyke Mills Band back in 1985, and the recording was published by Chandos Music in about 1986. However, the really interesting thing about Mr Lawrence's comments is that, he says that Imogen Holst had heard some of Isao Tomita's work in 1997. Quite a trick,considering that, as he informs us, she had died in 1984.

It just goes to show how easily those Bloopers seem to be able to infiltrate everything, and then come up to bite when you least expect it.

Wishing him every success in his campaign to eliminate bloopers.

Christy Smith
Drogheda

Thanks lads even with the mix up

Just an email to say many thanks for the many words of praise you have shown towards Kibworth band with regards to the National Finals in Harrogate, they have been most gratefully received.

Just thought I'd let you know you have our flugel player down as Nathan Waterman, when its infact Guido Damore, Nathan is our solo horn player. 

"The opening was so tight and authoritative from the trombones and ensemble and confidence just soared through the band.  The dynamics were excellent and it was certainly exciting.  The delicacy of the ‘Water' section was captured beautifully, none more so than through the flugel playing of Nathan Waterman, aided by Bob Stradling on soprano." 

Once again many thanks for the words of encouragement etc.

Richard Orme
Bass Trombone
Kibworth Band

Raised eyebrows

A couple of points I see have already raised my eyebrows to the point of exasperation.

So a TV crew followed the 3rd section National Champions, Long Eaton Silver Prize around the whole weekend, and yes they filmed them in rehearsal and yes they interviewed them, and yes the band indeed did win.  So does this now conspire against the remainder of the bands in the contest cos they have a "televisual" advantage. I don't think so Mr Gibbs. 

OK Kapitol Promotions, allowed the TV crew to film them cos they wanted the maximum exposure for Brass Bands, good stuff.  But they had bugger all to do with arranging the filming in the first place.  That was down to the hard work of the committee of the winning band, marketing themselves, to the point that they came to the attention of the film crew in the first place.  As for the filming, giving them an unfair advantage, what a load of twaddle. 

There were a number of listeners in the audience who felt they had won fair and square, who were not associated with the Band at all, to fact, to quote 2 gentlemen sat in front of me were overheard to have said " the only travesty with this result, is why they were only 2 points clear, it should have been more". 

Yes I am biased, cos I'm very proud to be associated with this Band, it being my local town band, and I don't play with the Band at all, before anyone asks, but to suggest the TV crew influenced a decision in any way shape or form is downright ludicrous, especially when I think the 1st 4 bars of Long Eaton's performance did it on it's own. 

Richard Walker

The need for good proof reading skills

In reply to Phil Lawrence's comments about the appalling Holst score, I would like to add some comments.

Major Parkes' score was indeed done when Holst was briefly out of copyright before the period was changed from 50 to 70 years. It was done for a recording and therefore perhaps not proofed as much as a published test-piece would be.

But I agree that this was an unacceptable state of affairs. It is not possible for your Music Panel to proof all the works they accept but they must surely be able to build a list of trusted publishers. There is indeed little excuse for errors in these days of computer setting.

I had the pleasure of playing Philip Sparke's Dances and Alleluias recently and the number of errors we found in that score was precisely --- nil. I believe the same goes for his Valerius Variations, judging from comments on various brass band forums. So it is possible.

I agree that all bands who competed in the 1st section should have their money refunded and the Music Panel should be more careful whose publications they chose in future.

Sybille Fiek
Zurich

Looking for a Celtic song
 
We are urgently looking for an Irish, Scottish or Welsh song for soprano (singer) with accompaniment by brass band.

Can you help us please?

Luc Oscé
Begijnbosstraat 91
1653 Dworp
02 380 29 51
mobiel: 0475536903
luc.osce@pandora.be

Balanced reporting

In the interests of balance may I say that I found 4BR's resume of Amington's performance quite fair. We were very happy with our tenth place, particularly since the band only set out to re-establish itself in 2005, after a long period in the wilderness.

Keep up the good work.
Wesley Kendrick 
MD Amington Band

Great weekend

What a great weekend the Clifton and Lightcliffe Band have had.  We competed in the 3rd section finals and although we only came eleventh which was disappointing we were delighted and very proud to have qualified and taken part in this great competition.  The event was well organised on the day and the hotel (Majestic) where we stayed was very opulent.

On the Saturday evening we had a party at our house and even had members of the Gillingham band present.  Its great that two bands who are 200 miles apart can form such friendships.

Then on Sunday we had been invited by the BBC to take part in the National Village Competition that was filmed at Nostell Priory with Alan Titchmarsh and a host of other celebraties.  To our delight Alan came along and conducted the band whilst we performed the music to Ground Force and a spell in Breezin Down Broadway.  The programmes are to be shown next March on Sunday evenings at 6.45p.m. 

Our youngest member Nick Walker celebrated his 11th birthday during the weekend and after being presented with his birthday cake we are sure this is one weekend he will always remember. To me this is what banding is all about.

Jane Clay
Secretary

Harrogate concerns

Firstly can I pass on my congratulations for your efforts at the Lower Section Finals and whilst we at Moulton know we didn't play as well as we could, appreciate your feedback on our performance.

May I also say that the comments from the adjudicators where in my opinion fairly accurate in most places although I did disagree in others (but that is only to be expected!!).

May I now go on to the reason for my email of which I would welcome any comments your readers feel are appropriate under the circumstances. Whilst predicting our place of 10 well before the end of play on Saturday I and others do have some concern over the conduct of the contest after the bands had given their all on stage.

It must be the first time in the history of the Finals that someone has announced the order of play of all bands prior to the adjudicators coming out of the box.

Whilst not in any way questioning the integrity of the two gentlemen who had the task of adjudicating the section, it must be a concern for us all that it took some 15 minutes for them to appear after the announcement had been made. Further, why did they find it necessary to reassure the audience that the announcement had bore no relevance to the final order of merit. It must be disconcerting to the band that came second given your running commentary on performances during the contest.

The question of a band having a television camera following them around throughout the day and I presume during the days before the contest and they happened to come first should also be of concern to anyone who took part. Interestingly I have been told by the promoters that the sponsors required as much exposure as they could get, if this is the case and may I say I do understand the requirement, why not have each band taking part featured, or if this is not possible surely there are other ways.
 
I do have concerns over what took place and feel that some explanation should as a matter of urgency be forthcoming from both the promoters and indeed officials who where in control of the event. The gentleman who made the error was a very experienced guy and I am told has never made this mistake before (I should hope not).

Looking forward to your slant on the matter and keep up the good work that you do.

Howard Gibbs
MD Moulton 77

Thanks to our irate supporter

St. Pinnock band would like to warmly thank Mr O'Bavin for his enthusiastic support in this column for our playing at Harrogate it is nice to know that someone out there follows us. However, after our "blobby" opening bar it was never going to be one of our vintage performances. The band had a rollicking good weekend, and enjoyed every minute. We are a better band because of it (which is the whole point ) and all in all it was a fantastic experience.

 Having been named twice in letters to this website in comments of a less than charitable nature about yourselves, we felt it was time to say that the St. Pinnock band, on the whole, believe that you do a fantastic service to the movement. That after all, is why everybody reads you. This is a first class, free service to Brass Banding and we are lucky to have it. Your commentary is no more bizarre than that we all read in adjudicators comments and full marks  to you for at least bothering to recognise the existence of the lower sections and provide an excellent pre match build up and on-the-day commentary.

Our stunningly attractive and multitalented Flugal Player meanwhile, had to summon every ounce of her Cornish pride to work out if being compared to a Cornish pasty was a complement or not. We assured her that it could have been worse and you could have used our other great national dish, "Star gazy pie" (fish pie with all the heads looking at you) or even  "heavy cake"! It's such a shame that nicknames have a terrible tendency to stick.

Best wishes - don't stop.

Chris Luckhurst
St. Pinnock Band
Cornwall

Heard it all before

Having read with some sympathy the comments over the 1st section national test piece and the state of both score and parts. It seems to me that we have heard this all before.

Players, conductors and librarians who were part of the fiasco to last years 2nd section regional piece will have suffered the same total lack of confidence in the printed music.

Is it only me that feels that music with several gross mistakes is not actually the piece that was paid for. Often we get errata sent out with music (how often do we get M&S sending out a missed off sleeve for us to stitch on ourselves). When I have enquired I have been told by the publisher that its the composer and, you've guessed, the composer has told me its the publisher. In my opinion that's for them to sort.

We need to take a stand on this 'trade descriptions', 'fraud', or just plain poor quality what ever it is publishing material that is not 'fit for purpose' should be stopped.

Unfortunately purchasing music for set work contests that does not meet requirements leaves a band in very difficult position. Do they send the music back and ask for a refund which stops them from entering the contest or do they carry on inevitably marking the score and parts rendering them impossible to return.

One possible solution is to 'black list' publishers who do not meet the required standards. This may result in a much more defined contract with composers and hopefully a much more trustworthy set of parts and score.  Finally a 'true' score must be a fundamental part of any criteria based adjudication. Please music panel ensure that you set and impliment an acceptable quality for the music you choose.
 
Dave Bishop-Rowe

Three comments on Harrogate

Having unfortunately been unable to attend the Lower Section National Finals at Harrogate this year, it seems that in view of comments received on your pages, thing are not as smooth as people will have you think. I have three comments to make.

Firstly; I have grave concerns to read, that in one section, the adjudicators remained in the box for a total of 12 minutes, whilst a compere read out the names of competing bands in order of play. I have total trust in my fellow adjudicators and believe that nothing would be amiss.

However, a large majority within the movement have a great deal of mistrust in our adjudicators. Circumstances like this, just add fuel to that fire. Surely, the person responsible for instructing the compere to read that list out, requires severely reprimanding. It must have been one of the organizing team and obviously puts doubt and mistrust into the minds of competitors.

I would be interested to know which Section that happened and indeed whether it occurred in every Section. Perhaps S. Galpin could answer this question and also state whether he had any affiliation to a competing band.

Secondly: Why do we, as a national movement, which may I say, spend a great deal of a bands hard earned cash on music, have to put up with the rubbish which is forced onto us by publishers. If the Music Panel of a Competition, no matter which competition it is, selects pieces of music to play in the required sections, surely they should make every effort and have the decency to at least have the score and parts proof read, prior to bands purchasing them.

In all honesty, I don't think the Publishers give a monkeys about the quality of their copy or printing. All they think is that bands have to compete and purchase music, therefore they can produce anything they wish.
In the past it has been adjudicators who have written errata's or in one case I remember John Roberts and Chris Wormald releasing one a couple of years ago, which related to an Area Test Piece. In fact that was actually released to bands, through 4bars rest.

I recall myself purchasing a piece of music, which had just been printed by a reputable company only to find an Errata sheet within the packaging. How long do we have to put up with it. If  band Secretary's would just spend time to write and complain to the respective Contest organizers, we may get a positive response and something may just be done about it.

Surely what has happened in the 1st Section Final must twigg with people. Can we really accept comment like the following which where printed within the article produce on 4barsrest news page. Both adjudicators made the point that they too had been forced to work extremely hard to try and rectify their own scores and had a great deal of sympathy for the bands, even to the point that they were well aware that many errors still persisted in on-stage performances on the day.

Malcolm Brownbill told the audience: We were well aware of the errors and even though a number of bands still played wrong notes through no fault of their own on the stage we did not penalise them for it?

I'm sorry if anyone thinks I am being a bit outspoken, but as far as I am concerned this is an absolute disgrace and competing bands should not have been subjected to such rubbish. Major Peter Parkes must be grossly embarrassed to read the article released on 4 bars rest and anything else relating to the pathetic publication of his arrangement of 'The Perfect Fool'.

I just wonder who is the perfect fool, I feel that it must be the competing bands because they have been taken as Perfect Fools by both Music Panel and Publishers alike.

Thirdly; Would 4 bars rest please inform everyone of the names of the persons who acted as critics this weekend and indeed at every contest which has 'LIVE' comments? I feel that members of bands subjected to some of the comments and members of the public may wish to know, and indeed, have the opportunity to reply too, whoever it may be.

Who are these people and what qualifications do they have, to make, at times, such very hurtful comments?
Surely if you are going to publish critic on the web, people have the right to know who it is who has written it. After all, this weekend, these bandsmen and women have worked dammed hard to get to the finals, for some unknown person to lambast them and tell them where they went wrong.

People who make comment should be accountable to the people they are commenting on. Every other media publication names their correspondents why not 4barsrest? After all you do have the monopoly regarding e-comments within the movement.

Dave Ashworth
Conductor and Independent Adjudicator.

4BR Reply:
Lots to think about here Dave - but we do say who makes our comments - its always one the 4BR team. Check out the retrospectives of Harrogate later tonight.
 

Having the best judges

Having just competed in the Fourth Section of the National Finals I would like to know why we in the lower sections do not deserve top class adjudicators, many of us having never heard of Ian Brownbill and David Lancaster.

While I realise that the decision is theirs alone I do query why two sets of notes can contradict each other so much.  Also why is it that each adjudicator awards the same points!!! Surely each should give their own points and combine the two scores!

This is not sour grapes as our band were so proud to be at the finals having been in the doldrums for the last 18 months and this time last year did not have enough members to enter even a local contest. But please treat us as we deserve not as lower class musicians.

Elaine Rodgers
Wincanton Silver Band

Geographical break

Give yourselves a break, if you know your local geographical history the confusion is justified the area of Diggle, Delph and a big slice of Saddleworth changed metaphorical  hand not so long ago and many locals still regard themselves as Yorkshireman, and quite rightly so.

Allan Heeley
Yorkshireman marooned in Lancashire

How did the finalists get to Harrogate?

I left Lincoln at 7am on Saturday to visit Harrogate, and spend a day listening to a field of regional Champions battling it out for the 3rd section title.

I wasn't disappointed in any way at all from the day of listening to the music, an excellent and very listener friendly test piece, a few head and shoulders above performances, and a few "how did they get here" performances made my day all the more pleasant.

I have an interest in the 4th section group of bands, and found to my surprise that save for the very top three performances in the 3rd section, the standard of 3rd to 4th is not that significant, and by another quirk of coincidence, the placings around the "regional" groupings would support this assertion.

The midlands region (a very large region) supplying a host of top six places throughout the weekend, and the once great Yorkshire region (a very small region) providing the one very deserving victor. Does it not register with the policy makers that a realignment of our regions is long overdue, particularly with 100% more bands competing in some regions than others. Yorkshire section 4, twelve bands, Midlands section 4, twenty four Bands. The same disparity applies thro the North East and South West numbers.

Sadly, this is reflected in the standard of bands reaching the finals, and more importantly, the discouragement of arguably better standard bands who do not, due to the numeric qualifying criteria within their region.
Just another point to ponder, alongside the venues used for our up and coming brass musicians of tender years.

St Georges Hall Bradford for 12 bands or Belvedere Park Club Burton -on -Trent for 24+  let me think a while and consider what would bring the best out of my band?
 
Finally, off my soap box !! I bought the 2007 regional disc, an excellent choice of test piece yet again for section 4 Bravo!! I counted my coppers, and made £56 and went along to the trade stands to buy the prescribed "The Seasons" and yes!! Nowhere to be seen, not a crotchet or a quaver, nor a faulty score, or unproofed copy, nothing. A great service by the trade stands, but I could order it!!

Music companies please note, if a National piece is being announced well in advance of its use, and you have the opportunity to sell it to numpties like me, then please have the decency to have a few copies on sale at THE NATIONAL FINALS, there is no excuse for ignoring your customers needs, whatever it is you are selling.

Alan Needham
Lincoln

PS: I nearly gave 100% support to the 4Barsrest live commentary, although I think Tullis Mills and Freckleton players could feel rightly aggrieved at not being at least one place higher

Well done BBA

I have just listened to the new Brass Band Aid CD for the 8th time since purchasing it on Saturday at the Nationals. All those concerned with this fantastic disc deserve congratulations. 

Putting aside for a moment the goals and achievements of BBA this is just a great CD. After a summer of playing songs from the shows and other traditional fayre in the parks of Yorkshire this CD was exactly what I needed to remind me of the diversity of sound that a band can make given the right music.

The composers have come up with a variety of styles and sounds that are so refreshing and really open your mind to new possibilities- just the remedy needed after a summer of the traditional and mundane.  It is also nice to see some newer names (for me at least) on the composers credits too. Their work more than stands up to comparison with some of the better known artists.  Gavin Higgen's Ivory Ghosts is one of my current favourites as it manages to achieve such an intensity of plaintive sound that it just seems to fire off the emotion right in the centre of your head. So congratulations to Bob and all the artists and composers involved in such a fantastic job.

Stuart Warriner
PS. Mnozil brass......just plain bonkers but you will laugh for the whole 1.40 mins!

More Wilby less Mozart?

Just to go along with Camilla's comment you did say did you not that Reg Vardy MD Ray Farr had totally misread this one and gave us too much Wilby and not enough Mozart.

Surely that is the intention isn't it? Mozart did not compose ‘Vienna Nights', the fact that the adjudicators did not like the interpretation is another issue. The MD did what he is supposed to do and I have it from a good source that Dr Wilby himself thought that it was indeed a faithful reading of his score.

I also do not think that one result out of the top ten in all contests in the last 2 years constitutes the fact that Reg Vardy are going backwards!

Gordon Mcgeorge
Reg Vardy Band

A downhearted 17 year old

On the 9th September I was in Birmingham with some relatives for the day. We went to a brass band competition and it was OK, but a lot of people were complaining that the bands that should of done well did not and the bands that did not expect to do well came tops.

Plus I noticed the person who was in the box at the back kept looking out of the curtains. I thought that was not right. It was my first experience and after what I saw, it will be my last.

Downhearted 17 year old.

Gemma Woolridge
Stoke on Trent

Second horn plaudits
 
After reading your comments on second horn involvement in the band I agree that the persons in question should be given the chance to shine by conductors and other horn players.

OK -  if they are not up to the challenge then let the others do it, but my point is they usually only get one go and if they mess up on that they are out , so give them a chance and give them time to practice their part. You never know they may surprise you.

From someone who knows and eventually gave up

Margaret Southwell

Disgust at the 4BR pundit!!!

Having come out of the hall after the first four acts, and logged online to your web-site, I would like to express my disgust at your pundit, who yet again slagged of St Pinnocks Brass Band's performance. I guess yet again that this is the same "pundit" who slagged them off at the Torquay performance, that they went on to win!!!!
 
I think your so called "pundit" should resign with immediate effect, and not get drawn in to his own self belief's, as I believe he must have an acute stage of deafness in both ears!!!
 
St Pinnocks, and the fourth playing band, whose name escapes me, but I believe were from Scotland, are cut above anything in the Third Section.... but I await the others with intripedation.....
 
Pascal o'Bavin

4BR Reply:
Thank you Pascal, but we would draw your attention to the results on this occassion.  

What a load of rubbish!

What a lot of rubbish the organisers have managed to convey re: 'the adjudicators were ready to leave the box'.

THE ADJUDICATORS WERE IN THE BOX FOR A FULL 15 MINUTES AFTER THE COMPERE ANNOUNCED THAT HE WAS GOING TO CALL THE BANDS NAME IN THE ORDER THAT THEY PLAYED. Plenty of time to doctor any results. The only fair result was to void the result and carry it over to next year.

Can somebody do something about ticket sales at the conference centre they are so slow. The difference between them and the test piece was two minutes and that was 12 minutes long.

S. Galpin

Well done Swiss Miss

Congratulations to Ensemble de Cuivres Melodia who won yesterday's Swiss Open in Lucerne.

One of their trombone players is Helen Stewart who lives and works in Lausanne and is a former member of our own bands Houghton Brass and Houghton Area Youth Band.
 
Len Adams
Houghton Brass

Only fools and...

I just have to jump in on this one (as an arranger and a publisher). I can't believe how many complaints I have read over the last weeks on the error strewn arrangement of Holst's 'Perfect Fool'. I wish I had a blunderbuss so I could get all the miscreants with one shot. This firstly is a great piece and I've done the original more than once, and it should translate well for band.
 
I don't know who has arranged this, but I have the feeling that there is more than one about. So, should we say first who ever arranged this that their works (as in arrangements) should be refused to be chosen again, and perhaps they should consider a job at the checkout at Homebase? 
 
Can we also say that who ever published it should also be blacklisted from supplying works for contest as it seems that the full errata was never supplied or attempted to?
 
And the panel that chose this, can they not spot this amount of errata - it seems to me that a charging rhino with a white stick could have spotted some of these mistakes (and tripped over them), so a no confidence vote in the panel all round?
 
And to throw in, a guesstimate! If this is a new arrangment via Sibelius, whatever, then the arranger really does deserve to be shot down in flames with a very loud gun, as hurting his/her ears first won't really matter!
 
And guesstimate No 2. If this is an old arrangment (20/30 years) there is a vauge (and I do mean vauge, but an educated vauge) guess that the copyright permission was not obtained, and if it was, it was dead jammy.
 
Everything Holst had to go by his daughter Imogen Holst, she even told B&H what to do regarding her fathers works. She was a real stiff stick in the mud when it came to other than perfromance of her fathers works.
 
Point in case, Isao Tomita who did all that electronic Debussy stuff (Snowfalkes are Dancing) back in 1974, he then got it in the head to do the Planets in 1997 with RCA Victor, and on the strength of a Debussy track Imogen had heard, she said ok. It only took him about a year to do, and the day it hit the shelves Imogen got a earfull and pulled it off the shelves as she thought Isao was taking the p***!
 
Well, it's back on the shelves now and I recommend you get it, a real blast. But when most came to her door in the 1960' & 70's (she died in 1984) the answer was generally, no!
 
So, consider the motions above, and vote accordingly!
 
Lets clean up this messy Blooper town of those writing bloopers, publishing bloopers and those who can't see the bloopers!
 
Phil Lawrence

A question of boundaries
 
4BR have got it wrong again, oh dear. What's this nonsense about the first section having two bands from Lancashire then?
 
I quote:- "The Red Rose county of Lancashire has an even better record at this contest having provided the winners on five occasions, and they will also be sending two strong contenders across the Pennines in the form of Wire Brass and United Co-op (Crewe), both of whom could be well up there come the results."
 
The last time I looked at a map neither Warrington nor Crewe were in Lancashire.
 
Jim Britcliffe
Crewe Co-op
Very firmly in the county of Cheshire

4BR Reply:
Sorry to on and all - we should have checked our geographical facts.

Lea Hall Overture?
 
Sorry to bother you.  I have been asked by my dad to try and find out about a piece of music the "Lea Hall Overture" which was composed by Percy M Young (I think in the 60s) for massed NCB brass bands. 

There is a reunion in October for Lea Hall Colliery workers and they would like to play the piece of music if possible.  Do you have any idea if there was a recording of this made?

C. Ricketts

4BR Reply:
Can anyone help on this one?

A comment on applause
 
In response to recent comments on applauding bands on stage and composers conducting their own pieces:
 
The applause should be reserved for the band at the end of the performance because the difference in audience size for a "big" band and a less fancied band would give the adjudicators an idea of the sort of band on stage. This may (or may not, hopefully) give an opportunity for some to call for biased results if prizes were always given to top bands. It is for this reason that applause should be saved until the conclusion of a performance in a contest situation. Another reason is that the audience have been asked to do something by the organisers and out of respect for them the audience should do as asked.
 
On composers conducting their own piece, Philip Sparke (who was mentioned in the previous commentators piece), has conducted his own composition at a contest and had the same sort of review from the adjudicators as Eric Ball did in the second example the editor gave.
 
Nicholas Garman
Principal cornet and Resident MD,
Denham Hendon

Only minor points of concern at Open

An excellent event in an excellent venue...well done the organisers and their helpers!

One minor point for consideration and reflection. I was wondering if the owners of the Birmingham Complex are sponsored by the Health Education Council? In my attempts to purchase some over priced fizzy beer, in between listening to  the bands later in the draw, I found bandspeople three deep at the bar and approximately three people behind the bar trying to serve. While this may be good for overall behaviour and health levels I would have thought the hall owners would, by now, have managed to recognise trends at this event and set appropriate staffing levels and stock levels.

On clarification. I met Mr Robert Richardson of YBS, after their performance. Robert was carrying two baritone cases and after assuring me that he had not played the short baritone duet on his own informed me that he was returning one of the instruments after completing his review for 4barsrest.

He informed me that he was unable to reply to my request (through 4barsrest comments) for clarification on certain issues re the instrument as he and it would appear most of his chums at YBS could not understand the point I was raising. Having not managed to catch him in the bar later in the day I would like to re state the question and perhaps if he reads this in an Australian Accent it may help him and his YBS chums to understand.

The point is with my current baritone (original Sovereign..though I have also checked a more up to date 4 valved version) the tuning when using alternative fingering for the likes of middle C and A above the stave are not particularly good. I was wondering if he had checked the instrument for this and what his comments would have been on this matter. I hope this clarifies the question.

On other comments...any chance of updating your Listen to the Band listing?

 J. Corrigan

4BR Reply:
We will ask Rob to look at your point again. As for Listen to the Band - when they get around to sending us some information we will amand what we have got.

Whats wrong with audience appreciation then?
 
"... it perhaps should be a trend that should be stopped in its tracks before it really does start to get out of hand" - 4BR's comment regarding applauding bands on stage.

I think to prevent this or to stop it in it's tracks would be a backwards step. What's wrong with the audience showing their appreciation for a band's efforts in appearing at the ' Open? It really annoys me when the "shh" brigade are on form and when we're given a list of instructions of restrictions and what we're not allowed to do. What about enjoying a day out? Hmm. I think you're off-track here, boys.

Anyway, thought you were spot on with your comments regarding the milking of applause at the end of a performance.

Nigel Brinklow

Composers conducting considerations?
 
I noted in a recent comment from Camilla the part of the M.D.s job is to realise the composers intentions. That brought to mind that Phillip Sparke will be conducting Denham Hendon Brass in the National Finals, and for a second there I thought Mr. Sparke would be conducting his own piece until I realised the Denham is in the second section - what a mistake to make...

But that raises a very tantalizing possibility. Wouldn't it be great if composers did conduct some of the bands in the National Finals on their own works? Has a composer done this to date? We have already seen Mr Fernie in the box during one of the recent areas.

I have studied composition for many years and have written a fair bit. I believe that the writing of the music itself involves a level of interpretation - annotating an imagined sound-world using traditional music notation relies on many assumptions and I believe that no two composers would notate the same piece in the same way.

Then we obviously have the business of trying to translate the written music back to what we believe was intended. Likewise the adjudication is another level of interpretation. With all of the different interpretations involved during the whole life of  a test piece - from desktop to adjudication - surely there would no harm in a composers conducting his own work at a contest.

I'm very interested to hear anyone's comments as I plan on doing just that a contest very soon.

Huw Cole

4BR Reply:
Eric Ball once won the British Open no less conducting his own piece, 'The Conquerors' with Ransome and Marles, whilst on another occassion he was upbraided by one adjudicaor after he conducted a contest performance of 'Resurgam' to be told in the written remarks that he didn't have a clue of what the coposer's intentions were with the piece!

The very imperfect fool

With reply to the comment from Gary Jones about the mistakes in The Perfect Fool, so far we have counted something like 80 mistakes, many we found that are not included in any of the errata sheets in circulation.
 However, the two most blatant errors it seems are being totally ignored - the wrong note ( F natural when it should be an F Sharp) at the end of the second Trombone statement and the omission of two parts which are played by the Trumpet in the original orchestral version. This omission is even more baffling as the two missing bars are the melody - bars 74 & 76.

Despite repeated attempts by our conductor with the organisers to have those two errors corrected, they have still to be mentioned on any errata list.
 
It would appear then that we are to perform an inaccurate version of The Perfect Fool at Harrogate at the weekend. And we wonder why the orchestral world don't take brass bands seriously?

Sandy McAughtrie
Troon

Radio 4 gets it nearly right
 
An interesting comment from Alan Birch about the Radio 4 programme.  I think that at the age of fifty five, having read so much uninformed information about brass bands, I now just smile.  I once wrote articles about actual musical publications giving wrong information, but why bother. 

Let us just accept, and keep smiling, that to many people, a brass band is anything brass, including saxophones.  A final thought, why choose "Sgt Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band" with two french horns?  "Yellow Submarine" is much more accurate, following the words "And the band begins to play".

Tim Paton

Bands on the radio - playing in Welsh!
  
Just thought to say that the Radio Cymru contest started its broadcasting today!  Who listened to it??  (Thursday's 12:10pm) Not many people I suspect.  Not very convinced on how this contest was promoted however.

For those who missed it, the programme is repeated at 9:35 on Sunday. That's Radio Cymru, NOT Radio Wales!!!

Martyn Patterson

4BR Reply:
Thanks Martyn. We have asked the organisers on a number of occassions to provide us with details of the contest and when it will be aired but they have yet to tell us anything. Tune in though as best you can and enjoy the music, even if you can't enjoy what is being said!

Rankings update

Please can you let me know how often you update the Rankings chart. The current top 200 says it was 11-May-2006. I know the system is complicated but surely you know how it works? Especially after major competitions I like to know how the results affect the standings, not 6 months down the line.
 
James Franey

4BR Reply:
We do try and update the rankings as often as possible, but they are complicated and do take time to sort out. The next rankings list will appear this week.

Hey Diggle, Diggle!
 
Just for your information, Diggle Band represent the north west area not Yorkshire.  Yorkshire's representatives in 2003 were Hebden Bridge, Yorkshire Third Section Champions and Stanley Newmarket, runners up; neither of who figured in the top six.
 
Mixing up a Lancashire and Yorkshire band, unforgivable.

Fran Ellis

4BR Reply:
Sorry Fran - wrists slapped!

Fantastic playing in a brass band

I have recently completed a week of concerts with the Bournemouth Concert Brass Band in the lower gardens of Bournemouth's town centre. We had a really good fun week of playing but also an excellent series of social events as a band. It's fantastic to be in a band with such a friendly feeling and also a general sense of camaraderie.
 
At Bournemouth Concert Brass we all enjoy spending time together and we genuinely enjoy the playing, with no one worried about losing their place in the band and everyone supporting each other. Although we don't always have full rehearsals because of the pressures of modern life we really pull together for concerts and contests and the spirit of the band is always very high on these occasions.
 
It always worries me slightly when I read pages of doom and gloom comments on 4barsrest about conductors resigning and players complaining about almost every single aspect of banding life it seems! I thought it might make a refreshing change for someone to share a positive outlook, and perhaps it will encourage others to do the same?
 
Sarah Evans
Bournemouth Concert Brass.

Well done Desford!

Can I congratulate Desford Band and Nigel Seaman for their third place at the Open this year. After spending the best part of a decade with the band before moving abroad, I can confirm that the result is a reflection of all the hard work put in by the players and the chairman over the years.

I thoroughly enjoyed my time with the band and am only bitter that I have only just missed this result! I must also congratulate my old tuba teacher Nigel Seaman.. It was Nigel that first got me into banding all those years ago and I'm glad that he has finally got the big result I knew he deserved. 

Thanks Desford and thanks Nigel!

Nick Sharpe
ex 2nd Eb Bass player Desford Band

Why just the Black Dyke praise?
 
Why is it 4BR always has fantastic things to say about Black Dyke and BAYV and never about any of the other bands that come in the prizes at the major contests.  You did it again this year and even though Black Dyke won you did your usual overboard report on them and forgot about everyone else.

Come on 4BR there are more than just a couple of bands out there.

Jane Hughes

4BR Reply:
Jane – please read the retrospectives from the weekend again and we are sure you will see that in fact we mention every band in plenty of detail!

Why bother...
  
Having come back from yet another British Open I am starting to think why I bother.

For all the great music making (and especially Black Dye's winning performance) why do we still have to put up with the adjudicators telling us nothing about why they reached their decision. No wonder the audience now pick and choose who they listen to as you have no idea why some bands get in the prizes.

Come on, don't the organizers realise that it is the public that pays for the privilege of listening and not the bands themselves and so we should at least expect something more back in return than a few glib words from one of the judges at the end of the contest.

Peter Jackson
Bury 

How come you can have too much Wilby in a Wilby piece?
 
I enjoy your website - keep up the good work! One question for you, though: How can there be too much Wilby in a Wilby piece?

In your British Open retrospective, Reg Vardy Band`s performance at British Open is more or less slaughtered - and you accuse MD Ray Farr of "misreading this one completely with too much emphasis on the Wilby elements and not enough on the Mozart"?

Vienna Nights is another great Wilby piece, and part of the MDs job is to realise the composer's intention. So: "too much Wilby" in a Wilby-piece...?

Camilla

Birmingham gripes
 
I would like to thank all involved with the Open this weekend for such a wonderful event. It was my first go as a performer, and everything was exceptional (apart from the hanging around bit!).
 
However, I do have several major gripes with Birmingham itself. Saturday was the first time that I brought my Step children to a contest, and generally they had a great time. Apart from when I tried to get a drink afterwards. Every pub within near radius had no child access after 6pm, even outside. So much for a family orientated movement. Even one of our cornet players (18 yrs old complete with photo id) struggled somewhere that would let him in due to the over 21 rule…..

I would also like to thank the organisers of the Arts Festival for exposing 2 young children to foul mouthed ‘Rap' language during the afternoon. Entirely inappropriate and shameful.

Apart from that, can't wait for next year!
 
Andy Austin

The none too Perfect Fool
 
Are you considering printing anything about the recently published Perfect Fool for the 1st section finals? Having now seen the quality of the music published (we are onto our 3rd errata and still finding mistakes and omissions in the parts?) I do think that this has to be one of, if not the worst quality music publication I have come across.
 
It would seem that the printed parts were hurridly produced for the competing bands at the finals and I cannot believe from the number of errors that the parts were checked.

As far as I know, those bands that have written to the publishers have not yet received an apology for the quality. Perhaps via your excellent site we would be able to get a representative to explain at Harrogate why such poor quality material was sent, or perhaps at least apologise.

Thanks in advance for your consideration.

Gary Jones

4BR Reply:
We ourselves haven't received any errata as yet, but we will try and find out before the weekend and publish it on the site.

Tragic death

I have just ordered a Rath Trombone, looked at their website today and found out one of their team - Adrian Davidson who specialised in the slides was sadly killed in a motorbike accident in the evening on Monday 11th September.

I think this is important news and he should get a mention, for more info visit their website: www.rathtrombones.co.uk 
 
Blaine Betts

4BR Reply:
Thank you for letting us know Blaine and our thoughts and deepest sympathy go to the family at this time.

Did you hear us on Radio 4?
 
Did you hear the piece on Marching [Brass] Bands on Radio 4 on Monday? 

They quoted a "leading brass website" - 4barsrest!  However, it was a bit disappointing to then hear, as an example of "Brass Band in popular music", The Beatles with Sgt Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band, strongly featuring French Horns in the extract!!  However, they did manage to mention Grimethorpe playing with Peter Skellen and Brighouse play Floral Dance.
 
When can we expect an arrangement of Outkast?
 
http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio/aod/networks/radio4/aod.shtml?radio4/frontrow_mon
 
Alan Birch
Wirral

4BR Reply:
We did hear it Alan and we must say even though it was nice to get a mention the feature itself was a touch strange! See what we mean when you listen to it again.

GUS remembered in full

With reference to your excellent article on the GUS Band - Frozen in Time.  Here I beleive are all the names of the players in the band. Unfortunatley time has taken many from us.

Conductor:   Stanley H. Boddington  R.I.P
 
Front Row:   John Berryman; David Read;   Lloyd Landry; Adrian King;   Harry Gray  R.I.P.
Soprano:      Emlyn Bryant  R.I.P.
Flugel:          Cecil Annettes  R.I.P. 
Repiano:-     Johnny Thorpe
2nd:             Ken Thomas (Welsh--Beautiful singer)
3rd:             Tom Smith  R.I.P.
                   Ben Thornton  R.I.P.
Solo Horn:   Hughie Higgins
1st:              David Kelsey  R.I.P.
2nd:             John Cobbley
Solo Euph:   Bert Sullivan  R.I.P.
2nd:             George Beasley
1st Bari:        Norman Ashton  R.I.P
2nd:              Norman Lewis  R.I.P.
Solo Trom:   Maxwell Thornton
1st:               Jack Wesson
Bass Trom:   Alf Morton
Eb Bass:-     Ray Tucker
                    Albert Garrett  R.I.P.
Bb Bass:      Arthur Eathorne(Band Sargeant)  R.I.P.
                    Jack Foreman  R.I.P.
Percussion:   Jack Miles
                    Frederick(Micky) Grace
 
When this was taken,they all "worked" within the factory. John/David & Lloyd  as I'm sure you know, all still activley involved with banding. Adrian King- I believe in Bedfordshire. Johnny Thorpe- still in Kettering I think and Ken Thomas may be R.I.P.

Hughie Higgins - not sure; John Cobbley - still in area; George Beasley - I think R.I.P; Maxy Thornton-still playing a mean Trom (helps Lloyd do local charity concerts); Jack Wesson - emigrated to Western Australia - still communicates with John B (well,wives do); Alf Morton-not sure; Jack Miles - I think R.I.P; Micky Grace-was helping Lloyd playing kit. Haven't seen him for sometime, but he was very ill. Ray Tucker - was conducting and playing a euph last year-but now not sure.
 
Hope this helps.I think Iv'e got it right,but no law suits if anthing is wrong!!
 
Russ Booker

4BR Reply:
Thanks Russ - We are sure the picture has brought back mnay happy memories for many people.

Pontins Youth - is it a case of too many contests?
 
It's a real pity that the entries for the Pontins Youth contest are a disappointment for the organisers but you can't help wonder if there are just too many competitions throughout the year and it isn't easy to fit the contest in, at the right place and right time?
 
Sympathy has to be given to both the organisers and the bands.  Having a contest in June isn't sensible when it's a critical time for students and holding it at the beginning of the academic year doesn't seem to have met with the bands approval.  With Pontins' generous support, one suspects it is important for them to find that 'window of opportunity' when it doesn't impinge on high season.
 
It has been suggested that late February is a possibility but with the Action Research Youth Entertainment Contest in Blackpool in February, is it sensible to hold two Youth Contests in the same Month?  March is a no-go area due to the Regionals, April has the National Youth Championships (next year on 29th April) in addition to the NYBBGB Easter Course (should Easter fall in April which it does more than it doesn't); May is Spring Festival; June, exam time, July, August, holiday, Summer band courses and then you're into the Autumn/Winter contest season when there is always something happening, nationally or locally, even January now has Butlins, but perhaps January would be better than September
 
If the contest was held on the same weekend as another event then it can easily create conflict for the indiviuals concerned as they may have other commitments with other bands and asking them to choose means someone loses out.  This situation isn't new but the individual will feel they've let somebody down through no real fault of there own.
 
It really isn't an easy one at all.  Whether the event is held in conjunction with Pontins or not, it does seem its about finding the right time - or as was mentioned at the beginning, its find that ideal time that is the crux of the problem

John Abraham
Bradford

Unwanted sop record?
 
Having read that Bert Van Thienen is to play soprano with YBS at The Open, he will become the fourth soprano the band has used on the contest stage in twelve months following Alan Hobbins, Kevin Donaldson & Stevie Stewart
 
Is this an un-wanted record?  It must be a very unusual statistic for bands competing at the top level (within the UK) within a twelve month period?

David Lloyd
Mansfield

4BR Reply:
It may well be an unwanted record David (although other bands have had a pretty good go at it in the past)and they have also used Nick Walkley too, but that will all be forgotten if they win on the weekend!

Another one wrong...

In your otherwise excellent feature on the British Open, '154 facts and figures,' fact no 23 states that 8 of this years competing bands have previously won the title, (Dyke, Brighouse, BAYV, Fairey, Fodens, Grimey & Carlton Main).

Fact 126 refers to a win by John Pryce Jones with the Yorkshire Imperial Band, and the Runners and Riders feature clearly shows a hit trick of wins for the Imps. Is Statto losing his touch, or has the Editor had a heavy, (Viennese) night!
 
Carole Rayworth

4BR Reply:
Thanks Carole - and you got down to number 126 too without losing any friends in the process?

And a shed builders gripe...

I see the percussion section doesn't merit a mention in your line up (Runners and Riders)!
 
R. Stephenson

4BR Reply:
Sorry all percussionists out there, but we can't mention everyone otherwise there would be no room for anything else to write about the bands!

Brass band coverage in the Daily Mail

I am sure this will be one of many comments on the recent Roy Hattersley column in the Daily Mail (Tuesday 5th September). Given that the brass band world rarely gets a mention these days in the "popular" press it came as quite a shock and a dissapointment to read Roy Hattersleys article during a quiet period in work.

I found the article to be very patronising in its tone and factually incorrect which makes you wonder if the information was freely given or just made up to add colour to the story. Great band as Grimethorpe undoubtedly are even the most biassed supporter of the band would surely raise eyebrows at some of the claims made!

To an outsider the article would have done nothing to dent the impression of the brass band fraternity being more than an old working class institution where playing music was an escape from the day to day drudgery of existence. The article was maybe written with the best of intentions but I am sure I am not alone in wishing the article wasn't written in the first place. 
 
Julian Baldock
Llanover

4BR Reply:
We did hear about this Julian (although 4BR is not a regular Daily Mail reader - you would never guess). We have though asked the paper for permission to reprint the article on the 4BR site and have tried to contact the good Lord Hattersley for a comment but we are still waiting a reply from both - perhps they are both too busy enjoying Mr Blair's current misery...

Masters CD?

I was just wondering if you were aware of the date on which the All England Masters 2006 CD will be released, and where I will be able to purchase it from?

Matthew Allsop

4BR Reply:
We understand there has been a delay in production this year but the producers are trying to get the CD as soon as possible. When they do it will be available through 4BR.

Brits in the USA

In reply to George Hawkinson asking about bands touring the USA, the British Airways Brass Band will be touring Los Angeles from the 1st. to the 8th. of  November this year, as guests of the Golden State Brass Band, and with Willson Euphonium artist Charley Brighton as guest soloist.

The tour details are here;
http://www.britishairwaysband.com/tour.htm

Charley Brighton.

Just going a touch askew  lads

Your historical perspective is a bit askew.  By September 1975, when Elgar Howarth's Fireworks was lighting the traditionalists' blue touch paper, Richard Nixon had been out of office for a almost a year, and Britain had already been a member of the EEC for two years.

Still, you're probably all too young to remember it, unlike your ageing correspondent,

Alec Gallagher

4BR Reply:
Thanks Alec, but we were just about right. Nixon indeed resigned on the 6th August 1974, but the Watergate defendants were found guilty on the 1st January 1975. The UK entered the then Economic Community on 1st January 1973, and the referendum, which we were alluding to, took place on June 5th 1975. As for the Cod War – that started in December 1975! What a great time though the 1970s were!

Be fair with your predictions
 
Why is it that every time 4BR makes its predictions for the major contests it never even takes into account bands such as Hepworth or Rothwell or Reg Vardy and always opts for the so called 'name' bands such as Black Dyke or BAYV or Grimethorpe?

Give these bands a break and treat them with the respect they deserve.

John Collins
Prestatyn

4BR Reply:
Just look at the results the bands get over time John. We are not that far off that often and we do have the greatest respect for all competing bands. Lets see what happens on Saturday though.

Just how did they do it?
 
Thanks 4BR for the excellent coverage of the British Open – so much information. Reading about the top 10 conductors at the British Open makes you wonder how on earth the likes of Rimmer, Gladney or Owen had the time to actually go to rehearsals of their bands let along take them on stage.

Given that there were no motorways and the railways were pretty slow and cumbersome how on earth did they manage to fit the rehearsals of the bands in, or did they just turn up and took them on the day?

Peter Howarth
Gorton

Anyone coming to the USA?

I review your web site daily and truly enjoy it, as well as the sites for a number of the UK bands.  I have one question:  do any of the bands have any USA tours scheduled?
George Hawkinson

4BR Reply:
Only one band we understand is making its way across the pond this year from the UK and that is the Jaguar Band who will be taking part at the US Open Brass Band Championships in November. I'm sure they will be doing the odd concert or two when they are out there, so try and contact the US Open organizers and they may be able to inform you.

A little classified gripe

First of all I would like to congratulate you on a fabulous website, it's always the first one I check in the morning (when I should be working).

However, I do have a little bit of a gripe. I find that every time I go to look at the classified section, the same bands are posting the same post every few days to ensure they are at the top of the list, meaning all other bands postings get pushed down the list.

For example, a band was the top of the list for about a week because no other band added a post to the region - not a problem. But as soon as another band added a post, it stayed there for a while, but then the band previously at the top of the list re submitted their vacancy, pushing other bands who only put one post on down the list.

I know this sounds very picky because regular visitors to the website will see all the posts. I don't expect anything to be done, and it may just be me being touchy about it, but I feel better for voicing my gripe!

Claire Coombes

4BR Reply:
No problem Claire, but the classified section is open to the bands themselves to put the information on as they feel best benefits them. If some are better at it than others then good on ‘em. It may mean they are being more proactive.

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