Comments ~ 2008: March

More and more about comments and retrospectives, Dyke on Spectrum, and even something on streaming bands...

Don't swallow the serious pills

Having read some of the correspondence regarding the Areas Retrospectives, I feel that we all need to stop swallowing the serious pills. Having been the conductor who was the butt of one of the jibes in the Scottish retros, namely this one……………..
 
“Lochgelly opened the contest with perhaps the longest drum roll in the history of all national anthems played in Scotland (if it would have been played before a firing squad the prisoner would have died of old age)”
 
…………I feel comfortable in making the comment that I found this to be pretty funny really, and very close to the mark, as it indeed was one of the longest drum rolls in history. Come on folks, let’s lighten up and recognise that we do this for enjoyment and pleasure.
 
By the way, my mum thought it was the best National Anthem she heard all day, and I was more than delighted with my band’s performance of both the National Anthem and, more importantly, the test piece (not to mention the result!).
 
Paul Drury 

Half a job?

My concern is with regards our comments from the adjudicator for our performance of ‘The Dark Side of the Moon’ at the North West Area where we came last.

Firstly let me say this is not sour grapes at our position in the adjudicators eyes we didn't play well and that's banding in all its glory wart's an' all. I have been in contest where I have played in bands and won and come last that is just the nature of contests.

My concern is that the adjudicator was paid to do a job and in my eyes he did not do what he was paid for in that the remarks went as far as letter T and then stopped.

So what happened to the rest of our performance?

We worked hard to put on a full performance on stage and he was paid to adjudicate it all not just to the point where he decided he had had enough. Even if he had stated our playing did not improve, or was not worthy of further comment from that point at T to the end would have been reasonable but to do only half the job at that level I feel is insufficient!

Maybe next time we should cut the performance short if it is not going to be listened to and comments made for the whole performance. Did any other band suffer this failure to get from the adjudicator what he was paid for?

Maybe the organisers of such event might like to consider this for future contests, certainly I don't feel we got value for money.

Please note this is personal comment and not necessarily representative of the feeling of the rest of the band.
 
Colin Tarry
Pilling Jubilee Silver Band 

Pinch of Salt or lack of humour?

I don’t see why humour and constructive feedback need to be mutually exclusive. 

Yes, we expect to be judged against our peers at the Area.  Yes, we prepare to the best of our abilities.  Yes, sometimes we are not good enough or have a bad day.  

To pick one example; if the trombone players of the band who got the comments "…their triple tonguing at times sounded more like George Chisholm playing an aboriginal didgeridoo", are upset, I assume this is because they lack a sense of humour? 

I am not a trombone player, nor do I play for the band in question, but the self-serving 'witticisms' of this article really annoyed me.

Apparently, there is a dearth of young players coming into the brass band world. I wonder how many younger players might be attracted by the prospect of getting this kind of feedback for their efforts? 

Let's hope the 'right kind' of sense-of-humour is in the National Curriculum.

"Dear Johnny, you're mock GCSE paper read like it was written by a 5 year-old with all the imagination of a Kangaroo - please do not be de-motivated by these remarks, as they are meant to be witty and entertaining - PS: I've published them on the web".

Pete Scrowther 

Where did Dyke come?

I am trying to do a bit of research and have got a little stuck.
 
Does anyone know where Dyke came in the 1969 Open with Spectrum?  I think they won the Nationals that year, went on tour and released a couple of famous recordings.  Brand was the conductor and Newsome the bandsmaster, I know that Grimey won the Open that year but Dyke are not listed in the top 6. 

Can anyone help?
 
James Cunningham
Desford Colliery

4BR Reply:
According to our records we don't know either but we are sure there is someone out there who knows. They did have to take to the stage early on the day after player from Templemore Band lost their instruments and Dyke were ushered on in their place - so that may have upset them a bit!  

Where's Albert?

I would just like to point out that in your report on Area winning conductors you missed out Albert Coupe who's long period between wins was 26 years and with the same band; Luton.

Albert's service to Luton predated this, as a player, back to the time of the band's famous 1923 Crystal Palace win, and beyond.

In my opinion, more worthy an achievement than some of the 'pot-hunters' in the list.

Colin Stevens
Corby

4BR Reply:
We didn't forget him - he's there with 5 wins. 

Live streaming

Just wanted to agree with Paul Dickens comments re live streaming of band contests.

I didn't pick up the Australian event, but if the technology exists to provide a reasonable listening experience for those of us who can no longer regularly attend band contests then I'm all for it.

Having spent the last 6 years in Texas (the human ear can only put up with so much country music - no offence intended!) I would love to be able to spend 8 hours listening to 20 performances of the same test piece again (Open, National, Areas - why not - we get great DVD's of some events now?)!!

Some might say I'm mad but you don't always appreciate what you've got until it's no longer available!
 
Keep up the great work.
 
Chris Freaney
Houston, Texas 

Not over quite yet!

I would just like to remind John Stirzacker that the Areas are NOT over for this year. The Northern Region is still to compete this coming weekend. 

We may be the smallest region but it doesn't mean we can be forgotten about
 
Michelle Garbutt 

Music please?

I am wondering if anyone can help me locate a piece of music.
 
I am trying to locate an unaccompanied marimba solo arrangement of Evelyn Glennie's "A Little Prayer"

Hours of searching have turned up nothing, does anyone know where I might be able to get my hands on a copy? Also without wanting to get drawn into all the usual area pro's and con's my take is this.

To those who did well congratulations and good luck at Harogate, to those who were unfortunate this year (my band included) keep up the good work and better luck next time.
 
James Holt
Manchester

Pinch of salt

Are we really that serious about the thoughts of a 4BR reviewer at a contest??

Surely the point of making music is to enjoy it? Now anyone with an ounce of humour in their bones can see the remarks are made tongue in cheek!!...The questions you have to ask yourselves are:

1. Could you have played any better?
2. Did you enjoy it?

If you answered yes to question 1 then surely you expect to get slated. If you answered no to question 2 then its time to give up.

At the end of the day the remarks you usually get off judges go something like Excellent start, letter B cornets super, Horn at letter H absolutely wonderful all this leads to a fantastic close...Bravo!!!! - Position 12th.What use is that?

Now if the adjudicators had freedom of speech I don't think the comments from 4BR reviewers would be that wide of the mark for some bands. As for some of the reviewers having no experience of all the hard work that gets put into a contest performance I happen to know some of them are very respected players and members of the brass band world.

So just take it with a pinch of salt. The comments are not meant to be personal so don't take them as such.
 
Alan Ball 

Dutch help anyone?

Could I, through your great website, appeal for support from anyone who may be reading this from Holland?

I am organising our summer tour, and I'm looking for concerts in the Den Haag area. I have friends in the city but they are not brass band people and are struggling to get contacts for organising our gigs.

We are going to our twin city Aschaffenburg, Germany on the 4th July to celebrate our 30th Anniversary.  Following a holiday to Den Haag, Holland last summer I thought it would be nice to stop by on the way. We are booked into Hotel Centrum from the morning of Tuesday 1st July, leaving early on Friday 4th. I had thought it would be good to do a concert somewhere in The Hague, and also maybe in the main squares at Delft and Gouda... but I'm open to ideas!

Can anyone help? We are a 2nd section band, and the tour band will be a mix of our senior and junior bands. We're pretty flexible and we'll have all our own equipment (just need to borrow chairs). If anyone was able to host us for a concert (indoors or outside), I'd be really grateful. My 'band' email address is georgepb1@hotmail.com

Thanks so much in anticipation!

George Annan
Perthshire Brass 

Score not up to the mark

Having just read the adjudicators (David Horsefield) comments from London SC regionals: "David went on to say that as much as there was a need to play the notes and follow the tempo markings, there was also a real need to read the instructions placed on the score by Vinter too."

Can I say that this year the score for the wonderful test piece "James Cook- Circumnavigator" is a joke.

We spent the majority of a two-hour rehearsal amending parts from an errata sheet and new score, only to find that with one week to go to the North East area competition we are still finding in discrepancies.

Would it be at all possible for the publishers of NOT VERY CHEAP music to get the difference between a tennuto mark and a staccato dot right?

The old score which we're working from has it's errors as well, but please, make our hobby a bit easier, the piece is hard enough without euphs maked at fff on old score now having to blow at single f still not knowing if they're right or wrong.

It's too late at the pre contest draw, an adjudicator saying what he's looking out for, when we've been practicing what a composer originally intended.

Steve Perry
WACB 

Enjoying a brass band contest - at home... 

For only the second time in 10 years I went to a band contest today. I used to go a lot as a conductor, but work demands stopped all that a while back.
 
Unfortunately I slept in so I missed the first few bands. Then it was much as most contests are – some good playing, some bad playing and most somewhere in the middle.

Mind you they did seem to manage to get the bands on and off stage a bit quicker than I remember, and it was good to have some music to entertain you between bands, although it was a bit repetitive after a while. A cracking test piece too. Funny that the day ended without any results being announced.
 
Still can’t grumble – my seat was comfortable, and the sound I heard wasn’t bad – oh and I could see everything that was happening too. The continuous supply of coffee helped too, and there were no distractions from rustling sweet papers and coughs and sneezes – mind you that dog sitting next to me kept snoring.
 
It was so enjoyable I think I’ll go back tomorrow for the second day – even better I will have a bacon roll and coffee at the same time.
 
You’ve probably guessed by now – I was at the Australian Championships in Brisbane. First time I’ve been too.

Even better that I didn’t have to leave the comfort of my own sofa to be there, thanks to broadband and live streaming, and saved goodness know how much in air fares.
 
So when do we start moving into the 21st Century at our major contests over here, and streaming them live too so that folk like me who are interested but not able to be there can still enjoy the day?
 
Paul Dickens
East Lothian 

Missing the moaning...

The areas are over for another year. Good! The annual bullying and press ganging are gone until next January, and we won’t have to suffer this so called important part of banding until next year.

There is one enjoyment though I will miss - the usual winging and moaning on the comments section of 4BR, although there appears to be little new this year.  Quite disappointing, really.
 
Top as usual though - the number of adjudicators in the box.

Why should a qualifying contest be on a level playing field? Why should logic get in the way of stubbornness - after all it makes sense for banding to look a farce if a section in one area has 10 entrants and two adjudicators, while others with 24 have the one. Brass banding cannot be seen to be fair - that's half of its appeal!
 
Then in my section was the complaint that the stage had shrunk. Of course it had!

It is much better to annoy lower section bands with inexperienced players by continually putting them in a badly lit, cold, scruffy hall. But the whole of the appalling Blackpool venue is like that anyway.

So if the facility isn't stopping bands entering every year, try shrinking the stage, so bands can’t set up as normal, even though there is plenty of room, and do it by putting up a needless stage of flimsy wooden boxes that is of no benefit to anyone. Surely there is a clause where banding must at all cost look ridiculous to any outsider looking in!
 
My favourite moan this year involved my own band, and a player who was sacked.

I admired him. He wasn't the best player, but was a character. In his resignation letter he emphasised his dedication, his strong practicing of the Arban, and how his loyalty had been betrayed, because the change of rehearsal schedule had meant he wasn't able to attend the ones he was free to.

He was one of the few players who actually lived in the town, and the week before the contest, the band only had one night off - the one a week after he last made an appearance, so this was clearly the only one he would have attended. 

However, if you are part of a band you have to play with them some of the time if you want to succeed.

I will never understand why all bands at the areas cripple themselves to enter. The titles are in many ways meaningless. The only advantage I see is that the areas are like giant reunions, and as such should be encouraged.

The organisers are really dedicated and helpful, I know that (I deal with them on a professional basis), but they would love new blood and ideas.
 
As most of your correspondents would not make the effort to join one of the organisations, I make one plea: Let banding continue its self destructing downward spiral, as banding seems to love its own self pitying.

Next year all those who complain, please continue to do so, and ignore Peter Bates impassioned plea for new blood to replace the SAGA generation.

If you are to complain, then please have the imagination to produce a different angle, and not the same ones you have repeated for years. If you really want change, join one of the associations. But you won’t, as it is easier to moan from afar, complain about the test pieces, judges, and venues, than try and bring banding into the 20th century. After that you could then aim for the 21st!
 
John Stirzaker

Poor comments 

Clearly the people responsible for writing the reports from last Saturday have little or no experience of all the hard work and effort put in by players and MD's preparing for a contest or the disappointment felt when something goes wrong (collectively or by an individual) resulting in a poor result! 

This can have dramatic affect on a band's morale going forward, to the point of destroying a band completely.  Comments such as;  "...their triple tonguing at times sounded more like George Chisholm playing an aboriginal didgeridoo"; "...taken at such a slow speed that it sounded like the start of 'Hancock's Half Hour" or, "...their performance couldn't have been any messier if they had tried to eat soup out of a colander in a force eight gale." 

Whilst maybe amusing to the author, these only cause more angst to those players who have worked hard and will hopefully continue to do so for the good of their band and the brass band movement.

My band has been at both ends of the results and we were of course delighted with our placing on Saturday.  This doesn't stop us empathising with many friends in other bands who have received comments that they could have otherwise done without.

Gari Spearpoint
St Albans City Band

Dodgy predictions

Whilst I realise that the predictions are only an “opinion” I wonder what information they are based upon?

The results for our section must have come as a great shock to whoever made your predictions. Your top 3 actually finished 13th, 11th and 12th on the day! 
 
Please keep up the good work in covering the contests and providing quick results service but I suggest you consider your predictions more carefully and research up to date information to support your opinion.
 
Lesley Lewis

4BR Reply:
That is why we do call them 'dodgy' Lesley. Just ask our local bookie how good we are... 

Rankings fun

With reference to Mr. Gardner’s comments on rankings:

The rankings are an excellent measure to see how any band is progressing, for discussion in the pub and for fun.

The Leicester Contest must be a low category contest, but why attack Marsden and Dobcross. Marsden probably used Preston

As a run out for St. Georges were they were excellent, while Dobcross will know doubt gradually drop down the rankings. By the way I thought your band finished 8th and not 6th at Preston, lets get the facts correct.

Hope this helps re your understanding of the rankings, I'm certain your time will come.

Ian Craddock 

As long as we don't go to the video ref!

Jim Owen makes a good argument in his letter regarding the number of adjudicators at the regional contests, particularly for consistency in the regions, but I still believe there is a major flaw to having more than one in the box.

In a contest of 15 bands, with say 3 adjudicators, each will firstly put the bands in the order they personally feel they should be placed 1 to 15.

If there is not unanimous consensus for the top 3 (or 6) places, then they could decide the winners on a points basis i.e. 1 point for the band each placed 1st, 2 points for the band each placed 2nd etc down to 15 points for the band each placed 15th.

If that happens, there is a distinct possibility that the winning band may have been placed first by none or only 1 of the 3 adjudicators e.g. 3 x 2nd places = 6 points, would beat 1 x 1st, 1 x 2nd and 1 x 4th place = 7 points.

Result – a 'winner' that not one of the adjudicators had in first place – surely that can't be right?

If there is an argument that before settling on the 'points' basis it is one or more adjudicators job to persuade the others to their point of view, that can't be right either as that's tantamount to one or more of the adjudicators admitting they may have got it wrong, especially if there is one more 'rogue' placings.

In truth, no two people listen to or hear music in exactly the same way so the more adjudicators there are, the more the probability that there will be disagreement and the more
bands there are in the section, the wider that disagreement is likely to be.

I can't help but liken this to the now infamous '4th referee' in international rugby matches whose presence has resulted in most of the appointed referees abrogating their responsibility to make the decision on the field as referees always had to do being the sole arbiter.

Are we heading for each performance to be recorded and the result decided by video replay long after the contest has finished? I hope not.

Roger Lincoln

When playful means happy...  

Thanks for the great coverage of the 'areas' thus far, but....

...I felt that Iwan Fox's 'retro' of the 1st section at Stevenage was a tad negative, though I liked the inclusion of the Goth reference. And I thank him for praising Peter Bassano's interpretation of the piece.

By the by - I am reliably informed that  ‘Giocoso’ means playful and NOT happy.

I feel I should also point out that by the time my band took to the decks (13th actually) the floor was soaked - rather apt for such a nautical piece wouldn't you say. I don't think it made any difference to our performance but I will wear wellingtons next year.

Julia Crask 

Adjudicator demands

Whilst there is little doubt that adjudicators are in great demand at this time of year, it seems that the demands placed on Mr Morrison at Swansea were too great. 

With a second person 'in the box' at least those bands who played to tempo and dynamic would have had a fair chance of being heard.
 
As was, the zero gravity feel of Dark Side of the Moon seemed to leave the adjudicator wondering which was way up in the placings.
 
Swansea, we have a problem...........................
 
Martin Bellis
Ewloe 

Reporting below the belt...

I’ve enjoyed the retrospectives of this year’s round of Regionals; although with a couple still to come, I’ve found the use of extended seafaring metaphors for performances of “James Cook – Circumnavigator” a little tiresome, but maybe with the accompaniment of repeated malapropisms for embellishment such as Cook circumcising the world with his Clipper … ?

Then again possibly that isn’t the most appropriate approach, such journalistic ornamentation would not have enhanced your Dark Side of the Moon retros …
 
Just a [bad] thought.
 
Thanks!
David Elliot-Smith   

The Borg or what?
 
In response to Kath Burke’s view of “The Borg” – come on Kath, say what you mean!
 
Perhaps Kath is referring to the players that have come from “within the ranks” that she would rather not have heard in contesting bands. I’m thinking of Maurice Murphy, Don Lusher, Philip Cobb, Trevor Groom etc.
 
Or maybe it’s the test pieces she doesn’t like: - The Wayfarer, Isaiah 40, Quintessence, Hymn at Sunrise, Journey Into Freedom etc.
 
At the recent area contest I attended, World of Brass only had the same number of trade stands as Normans, Rosehill, etc.
 
So, Kath, what is it you’re so against? 
 
Nicholas Garman
St Albans Band 

Slipping standards?

I must agree with Vicky Fisher’s February letter. I too have followed 4BR for quite a few years and your editorial standards have slipped quite a bit and as for the live updates throughout the contest day as Vicky asked, “Where have they gone?”

You had a blow by blow, commentary throughout the day for the U.S. Open and recently the same from Norway. I was at the US Open and it was a great day also it was good that I could agree or disagree with your TWO reporters covering the contest.

So why is it when it came to the Butlin's contest a few weeks back, for example, and then the regionals which are both held only a few miles up the road from you, there was nothing, zilch, nada.

Obviously, everyone can’t get to every contest so it’s up to 4BarsRest to keep the brass band world informed as to what is happening as it happens and not keep everyone waiting for up to a week. So please 4BR get things back on track ASAP.

Peter Hayton
Naples
Florida

4BR Reply:
Thanks for keeping us on our toes, but we have never undertaken live coverge of the Regionals or Butlins - although we may be able to do the latter next year.  We'll keep trying our best though.  

More than one man's opinion needed

This year I was not going to get into the same old waffle about why there is only one adjudicator in the North West Regionals and two in every other, I seem to be wasting my time, but this year your writer Rosalie Priscot said it for me, (Thanks Rosalie).

The difference this year is that we actually got a response to the question of why, which goes to show that there are people out there who feel as I do and changes are urgently needed to bring about some uniformity in this respect. 

Like I said, I WAS going to say nowt this year but Mr Jim Yelland of Hinkley seemed to remember my letter from last year and thought to drag up the old war horse using me a whipping boy. 

Well Jim, I can say quite honestly that I stand by every word of last year's letter, and my answer to the supposed "increase" in bands this year is another burr under my saddle that is whilst bands all over the country only have ONE contest to decide their fate for promotion or relegation then like it or not, those bands will just have to grit their teeth and turn up anyway. 

I remember in the old days when the regionals were held in Preston that there were three adjudicators in the box, and the excuse that "the dates clashed" is simply not good enough.  We deserve better than that from our organizers. 

This is THE main contest in the calendar and it deserves more than one man's opinion.

As for my band's efforts, we came 5th which is our best result in recent years, but I heard another band who I thought played better than us and they came nowhere, so whether we get now’t or whether we get in the prizes, you still cannot hide from the fact that two heads are better than one anytime (except if you live in the north west).

And before I get off my soap box, was I the only one who played on that stage to notice that it was just a little bit tight?  I am used to using the old "elbow" to get some feeling into my music, but the only place my elbow would have finished would have been in my 2nd euphonium player’s earhole. 

Our front row cornets also could not get 4 stands across them and had to share, which was contrary to the way they had rehearsed for weeks.

Keep up the good work 4BR

Jim Owen
Farnworth & Walkden 

Party time at Llanrug?

No not as in Pete Tonge to a party at mine so that you can wreck the joint!!

No, a shout of thanks from North Wales to Northern Ireland - especially to Brian Connolly. Brian made the long trek from Belfast to Llanrug to prepare and conducted the Llanrug Silver Band at the regionals.

In four short but very effective sessions he managed to boost the bands confidence and turn what was essentially a Youth Band, into a Brass Band with enough confidence to take to the stage in the second section at the regionals.

Not an easy or enviable task for anyone but Brian thrived on the challenge. He managed to bring out the best in all of the young players and they really appreciated his manner and style of communicating exactly what he expected of us all.

Also a thanks to James Kitchen for his help especially as he and Brian had to endure the tales of hardship and woe and how "brass banding aint wot it used to be in the 1940's" from the indefatigable Barry Thompson all the way down to Swansea and back.

For those that are interested in a little history Brian has been to North Wales before and in the 1960's played with the Royal Oakley band in deepest darkest Blaenau Ffestiniog!!!

Thanks lads it was great.
 
Mike Thomas
Bandmaster
Llanrug Silver Band 

Not quite the youngest

It's good to know that some First Section bands are young like Roberts Bakery Band.

However, I don't know you can claim the youngest 1st section winners title. Way back in 1973 Hampshire Youth won the second section regional in Bristol playing The White Company (Norman Richardson).

In those days, there was no 1st section, so I think it counts.

We went on to fourth at the National Finals that year (as well as appearing in the National Youth Finals on the same day in a different hall in London – cue taxis to ferry players across London!).

I don't think we had many players aged over 24 and the majority were still at school (I was one of them!), but age may have clouded my memory...

Neil Watson 

No connection  

Just thought it worth pointing out that your recent correspondent, Richard Dickins, has no connection with Derwent Brass. 

Suffice to say Derwent Brass enjoyed preparing and performing 'Festival Music', we enjoyed the challenge of the Championship section and were pleased to get a mildly positive comment from your reviewer.
 
I would also add my comments to the many others about the vast improvement in venue this year.

Keith Leonard 
Musical Director  Derwent Brass 

Thanks Chris!

For the attention of Christopher Thomas. 
 
Thank you for your kind and encouraging comments in the retro`s following the Band`s Area performance  at Bedworth
 
We will work on our "lumps and bumps" - and, hopefully, smooth them out in time for next years event. Thank you also for your special mention for our young timpanist! Perhaps I can tell you a little about him?
 
His name is Jack Fisher and he is 10 - yes - 10 years old! He progressed from Training Band into Senior Band a couple of years ago.
 
He is a member of the National Children's Brass Band of Great Britain and, in the last few weeks, achieved a Musical Scholarship into Rugby School! Apart from the Timps., Jack plays every other instrument in the percussion department - some thing that he does with a great deal of proficiency. For one so young his reading and his ability to concentrate throughout our rehearsals is quite remarkable.
 
Apart from percussion, Jack is also accomplished on keyboard and trumpet. He has a excellent singing voice, which, when included in a recent Concert programme - (in duet with his sister) - literally brought the house down! He has an inbuilt and natural stage presence - perfectly at home before an audience.
 
His sister, Jodie, also a member of the NCBBGB, plays Tutti cornet with Bilton (Repiano for the Area Contest); his Mum, Di, plays Repiano ( but did the Glock for the Area); his Dad, Stuart, is our Principle Cornet; his Grandfather, Keith, plays 2nd Trombone. Uncle David, Aunty Pauline and cousins Amy & Robert all play Cornet with the Band.
 
I suppose from this, you can argue that Jack has a good family tradition in Banding behind him.
 
We at Bilton would all agree with your comment that here is a star in the making indeed - something that we shall endeavour to protect, encourage and nurture to the best of our ability - and watch his progress with amazement.
 
Thank you once again for your comments,
 
Brian Clarke
MD Bilton Silver 

Pencils
 
I have just read James McFadyen’s sad tale of woe regarding his sudden ejection from his band. I’m sure every reader feels a degree of sympathy with his situation. However, one comment he made did not ring true:
 
“You know the sort, the people that have pencil strewn all over their part and always make the same mistakes time after time.” That caught my attention.
 
Over 40 years or so of playing I have, on occasion, had the huge honour of playing in the presence of real genuine professional brass players. In most of these cases the pencil was rarely still!

This had nothing to do with poor ability. It was simply to ‘remind’, so that mistakes would not be repeated under pressure.
 
I would have thought that would be a good thing?
 
Roger Pearcey,
Suffolk. (Now retired, both me and my pencil!) 

Rules are rules?

I was interested to read George Fairhurst comments.
 
I wrote a very similar letter to the British Bandsman some 20 years ago even when the rules regarding registration were not so relaxed as they are today about player movement and last minute signings and there were plans afoot to make changes.
 
Indeed in Scotland some 40 years ago, I was unable to play as a 12 year old with the Aberdeen City Band as the secretary was not able to register me because of a 6 week rule!! The test piece was Blackfriars - so a great miss for me.
 
Generally the bands I have played with over the years have not brought in temporary players for contest.  Those available and loyal rewarded have been rewarded with the "pleasure ?" and honour of representing their band and we have taken the rough with the smooth. Victory was sweet as we had achieved it as a team for ourselves. 
 
This is absolutely the ethos of the Hathern Band which I currently have the pleasure of being a member. You may have noted the 4bars rest review that described our delight at qualifying for Harrogate that was obvious for all to see and hear.

This was a fantastic reward for the hard work and dedication of the conductor and all the players in the preparation for the contest. The same players that will turn out for the next engagement and the one after ..........
 
Graham Rix
PS - I take great exception to Kevin Wadsworth’s comments that the Euph sounded nervous in James Cook. Adjudicators never get it right - it was blind terror!!! 

Not me mate!

Mark Gillatt asked if Iwas the same Tony Hodgetts that was at Kneller Hall 2003-2005.
 
Sorry Mark wasn't me Sir.
 
I have never had the pleasure of serving in my countries armed forces. However I am always up for chweing the bandinf fat over a pint if you are ever in the North West of England.
 
Coppull British Legion is next door to our band room.
 
Tony Hodgetts

Young Persons Adjudication Panel

May I congratulate Peggy Tomlinson and the Yorkshire Regional Committee for their forward thinking and innovation in the recent use of the 'Young Persons Adjudication Panel'.

I must admit I was a little sceptical when I first read of the idea but, reading the perceptive and insightful written remarks on each band's performance, I was extremely impressed with each and every one of those young people taking part.

It was obvious that they all enjoyed the experience and let's hope that this is not a 'one off' and that other areas and regions follow Yorkshire's lead.
 
David Hirst 

Patronising little sh*t

I didn't go to the area, in fact it is now a number of years since I have played in a brass band, however I enjoy keeping up with events through your web site!

I was reading your comments about Derwent brass with interest: "…although in the case of Derwent Brass there was at least a creditable attempt to get inside the Mozartian Style of the music."

I was just wondering if the chap or chapess writing that had ever played or performed Mozart, or is it just a case of looking good on paper?

Patronising little sh*t, sprang to mind!

Anyway, keep up the good work,

Richard Dickins
Ex. Bandsman 

Age discrimination

I believe there is a possibility that your scouting report could be open to questioning under recent age discrimination laws.

Given recent articles about the old folks home residents team that is Whitburn Band (150 not out...) and the return of that young whipper snapper James Smith to the Scottish Solo Champions chair...should you not consider doing a golden (not so in some cases) oldies section for each region?

There are lots of players who have hung around in banding and are still filling seats!

I believe for example that my own contributions to banding include, forcing the premature retirement of the wonderful Prof W B Hargreaves (could only have been 80ish at the time...though never admitted it), the emigration of Steve Bastable and causing Frank Renton to focus on his Media Career after finding me back from retirement and attempting Tristan Encounters.

I am also hard at work undoing all the good things Ms Marzalla is trying to do for the baritone!

Anyway something to think about!

J. J. Corrigan

Resistance is futile

Lets face it folks! The Salvationist involvement in traditional brass bands is in my opinion like "The Borg" taking over - world domination is in my opinion the object of their game - and resistance is futile!!
 
Kath Stokes

Well done Midlands

Congratulations to the organisers of this year's competition in the Midlands - what a difference between Burton and Bedworth. 

There was a lovely atmosphere at both venues (Nicholas Chamberlaine School and Bedworth Civic Hall) with plenty of space for everyone. 

Of course the sunshine helped, especially for those needing a nicotine fix. Here's hoping we'll be back at Bedworth next year and wishing City of Coventry Brass all good sounds for Harrogate.

Lesley Howarth 

Nearly perfect in Bedworth...

We are pleased that the excellent facilities of the Bedworth Civic Hall and Nicholas Chaimberlain Technology College proved an ideal venue for the Midland Area contests on the 8th & 9th of March.

I myself being a local resident took full advantage of listening to as many bands as possible, I did however come across one problem that it would be helpful to solve before next year.

For the First Section, I arrived with a copy of the score for ‘James Cook-Circumnavigator’ ready to follow the performance of the band on stage.

Sorry you cannot do that in the Civic because they turn the auditorium light off while the bands play. When I complained to the Civic Hall staff, they replied that nobody from the contest organisers had informed them that the lights should be left on!

Can someone please inform them next year.

Maurice Greaves
MD Exhall Church Band 

Some encouragement please in Torquay
 
It was with great anticipation that I went to listen to the adjudicator's remarks at the end of the Third Section at Torquay.

I don't usually bother, but I was expecting a little more than the usual "right notes at the right time"  type of remarks that we usually have to sit through.
 
There were a lot of young players (and not so young) players in the Third Section. What they needed were constructive remarks and not mildly sarcastic comments that the players needed another fortnight or so to practise the piece - even if it were true! 

And maybe a word of encouragement or advice for young sop players from one of the finest perhaps? No - just more negative stuff re crescendos and decrescendos etc.
 
Mr Roberts - all your comments were 100% on the button, but it would have been brilliant if those remarks could have been tempered with some words of encouragement.

I'm sure there was more than one young sop player in our audience waiting for a bit of inspiration or advice from your good self. What a wasted opportunity!
 
Mike Ward
Swindon 

Why just the two...?

I notice that all regional contests had two adjudicators in the box with the exception of Wales and North West where there was only one.

Why should this be?

The old saying "two heads are better than one" could have made a difference to the end results in Wales and North West! In fact, the results may have been different if all the regionals had one adjudicator!

Any idea why this was so?  Surely there should be some consistency in this matter!

Rosalie Priscott
South Molton

4BR Reply:
We understand that it is now up to the regional committees themselves on how many judges they employ. However, given the date clashes this year we doubt if there would have been enough to go around if there was two in every box at each region! 

Welcome back in Wales

Could I through your site say a big thank you to all of those friends old and new who welcomed Llanrug Band back to the competition at Swansea this year. 

It has been a while and it has taken a lot of hard work from both the young members, committee and parents to get the band to Swansea this year.

The result matters not a jot since the main objective in making the very long and tiring 6 hour journey down South and then back up in the same day was to give the 17 young band members who had never previously competed at the senior level a taste of things to come.

A shame really that the adjudicator could not see the fresh young faces brimming with excitement and nerves at their first competition.

The youngsters are now chomping at the bit and can't wait to get back on the stage.
 
Mike Thomas
Bandmaster Llanrug Silver Band 

Some sort of Bakery record?
 
I was wondering if Roberts Bakery Band has broken the record for youngest band to win the First Section? 

Averages can be misleading so if I tell you the mean age is 24.75, it's not a true picture as it's skewed by the few of us that are over 40.

The median age is 19 (the mid-point, and the average that the government uses when reporting, for example, average earnings). The mode (most common) age is 17, and the modal class going in 5-year steps is 15-19, with 12 players in this age group.
 
Or maybe it's more straightforward just to say that 19 of the players on stage on Sunday were aged from 14-24?
 
Hope all this stats isn't too much for a Monday morning after a big weekend! 

Andrea Boardman
(An OAP at Roberts Bakery Band, age 43)

4BR Reply:
We hope it is Andrea. And someone told 4BR once that brass banding attracted strange people... 

Tempos - from Swansea to Torquay

It was so interesting to read your retrospective of the Championship Section of the Welsh area where the adjudicator was quoted as saying: "…my concern was whether or not those interpretations affected the overall performance; some tempos for example lost the flow of the music.”.

Obviously that did not concern the adjudicators in the West of England where the winning band played the second movement of Eric Ball's wonderful "Festival Music" at a funereal crotchet = 48-52 per minute rather circa 72 as printed!

David Williams
Brackley 

The brass band ethos

I agree entirely with the comments of Andrew Platts re - the ethos of brass banding as it should be!

Being a member of a village band like Stannington (Strata Brass in Hoyland) success is measured by survival, playing for enjoyment, supporting the local community (who then supports us) and performing to the general public a variety of different styles of music.

Yes contesting is a necessity to maintain a standard but if we played in a brass band purely for contest success the movement would have disappeared long ago!

Well done Stannington, good luck at the nationals.

Paul Wilkinson 

Salvation issue
 
I have to take issue with a recent review by Railton Hirst of the Enfield Citadel Band concert at Warrington.
 
"It really was a superb performance and one that depicted the commitment that can only be found within the bands of The Salvation Army."
 
Perhaps Mr Hirst can clarify exactly what he means by this statement? Is he really suggesting that commitment by SA bands is more than that given by their contesting 'cousins'? If so, what evidence does he base this ludicrous generalisation on?

Might I suggest he looks at the average number of miles travelled, extra babysitters booked, extra hours practice at home, unpaid leave etc. by players up and down the country for this month of March alone, for the Regional Championships, let alone the rest of the year.
 
There are some extremely committed SA bands around whose players sacrifice much but to suggest that this commitment can 'only' be found in the SA is narrow-minded at best.

This letter is not to spark SA v Contesting debate, far from it, as I know both 'camps' very well and know that they both offer much when done properly. It would be great however, if some of these Internet critiques, would think or research a little more before they type and press 'Send'!. 

Simon Preshom 

Thanks - and goodbye!

Just a brief note to thank all at 4BR for the compliments you’ve paid to me over the years and also to the wider banding community and audiences as a whole for the support and appreciation of my playing (when it’s been good).

I’m sorry to have to stand down from playing but you’ve go to stop at some stage and I have family that needs me far more than bands do.

32 years of banding with Woodfalls Junior Band, Woodfalls Band, Woodfalls Concert Brass, NYBBGB, Ratby, Nottingham City Tansport, Yeovil Town and Bournemouth Concert Brass have been wonderful with so many amazing experiences and great fun -  I’ve made so many good friends. But now enough is enough.
 
Goodbye all!
 
James Cooper, 
Soprano, Retired, Thank God.

ps: Before I sign off completely from the Brass Band community…. My leaving Bournemouth Band has nothing to do with the result at the West of England Area. Bournemouth Concert Brass is the friendliest and most supportive band I have ever been associated with. The potential within the band, now under the direction of Jonathan Camps is great…and they are a lovely bunch of people.  

Thankless, thoughtless and useless

I write to you all in a state of solace. I am not sad for myself but for what my situation represents and what seem to be a common-place occurrence. Tonight I received a phone call to tell me my services were no longer required. “The Committee” had decided that my commitment level to the band was unsatisfactory for my seat. Well, that’s a joke and a half.

Anyhow, it struck me that the people who I would term as a friends and acquaintances suddenly turned on me in such a calice and unprofessional manner.  Here’s me, an enthusiastic musician who practices the Arban every other day being sacked for my apparent commitment issues by people who hardly ever practice at home. You know the sort, the people that have pencil strewn all over their part and always make the same mistakes time after time.

Sorry if I’m being unreasonable but I take music seriously, I take my playing seriously and I use band as a tool of education as well as a hobby. But with that said if the band suddenly change rehearsals the week leading up to a contest without checking if I was available was a bit more than careless and it just so happened that the nights they choose were impossible for me to attend.

Trust me when I say that my part was neither here nor there, I can name and shame every member of the band for their under-performance but I wouldn’t do that because it’s a team effort – win together; loose together.

When I think back to the times I was there for the band I really wish I hadn’t bothered. In that single short phone call, my respect for the band and it’s members diminished significantly. Anyone who knows me should know I am exceptionally committed to the band I play in and I always do my best as all anyone can do.

The band were thankless for my efforts and commitment throughout the past few years, they were thoughtless to my family, and work commitments. It seems that amidst all the mediocrity of the band, I am the useless one. The spare wheel, if you will.

Thanks for listening, just needed to get it off my chest. It’s at times like these why we wish we even bother. I have spent my life on my music, both performing and composition but I’m still holding onto the old “When one door closes, a window of opportunity opens”

Once again, thanks for listening.

James McFadyen 

The right and wrong way
 
Last March you published an indignant letter from a bandsman who complained about the use of only one adjudicator per section at the 2007 North West regional finals. 

He kindly offered his services as a spokesman for the ‘masses’ who, he said, shared his view that the situation represented an "uneven national playing field", and suggested that "one or two of us will be taking our ball home and not bothering" if the matter was not addressed.
 
More than one person replied, pointing out that the proper course of action would be to take the matter up with the regional secretary (although someone else subsequently reported that the secretary had received only one representation and urged concerned parties to make their feelings known).
 
Now that the dust has settled on the 2008 contest we can see that, despite all sections again having only one adjudicator, the number of bands competing was actually up on last year. 

The largest increase (from 19 to 23) was in the Fourth section, in which I understand the original complainant’s band plays (although I have no way of knowing whether he himself took part).  Overall, the number of bands taking part rose by 7%.  The threat to "take our ball home" was, then, a largely empty one.
 
There are three possible conclusions: bands prefer being judged by a solitary adjudicator; the perceived importance of the contest overrides any concerns about the matter; or bandsmen simply don’t care how many are in the box.
 
This year I have noticed a developing campaign on another website against the use of Blackpool as the venue for next year’s competition. 

The above should be a lesson to all that if you want change there are right and wrong ways of achieving it.
 
 
Jim Yelland
Hinckley 

Co2 emissions

I’m glad to see that band people are taking an interest in the important subject of Co2 emissions. 

Surely the brass band fraternity could do more to help in this respect, especially now that the contesting season is in full swing. Just think of all the unnecessary hot air that will be spouted in rehearsals up and down the country over the next few weeks.

There ought to be a limit on this. (Put it in the rules).That’s only for starters. What about the adjudicators’ remarks before the draw and after the contest. These must be amongst the greatest known contributions to global warming.
 
Incidentally, which section are Chelsea Tractors in nowadays, anyhow?........... Ah remember when they played at T’Crystal palace…….
 
Hugh Brennan
Kilbirnie 

The season of goodwill?

So here we are again, the season of goodwill to all bandspeople and adjudicators!

After some 47 years in the banding movement i am very pleased that we can all "log on" to our technology and access opinions, facts and figures, reviews, podcasts, predictions, and a comprehensive service via our Brass Band journalists.

It continues to sadden me however, when, individuals write with undiluted vitriol regarding regarding the open and honest comments made by the banding journalists, who after all, are doing their job, and providing a service for all.

Likewise the adjudicator bashing that we witness contest after contest. I have enough experience of the movement to know that all of these people are honest and genuine individuals who give their time in order to help others "improve" their competence levels, and to give a totally honest adjudication, albeit a subjective one, based on a set of acknowledged and understood objective criteria.

One of my old MDs once told me, "ya enter a contest hoping to win, but prepared to come last, if ya not ready to take that on the chin, then dont bother". It takes a somewhat different character to sit in an enclosed box for 6,7, 8 hours, particularly when the standards vary so much, surely they must lose the will to live at times?

However, they do a job that WE ask them to do, sort out the best band on the day. Ladies and gentleman that undertake such work have my unreserved admiration and respect. I do wish that everybody else would afford them the same courtesy.

As for the Banding press!! excellent stuff, as always, keep up the good work.

"Let man not be judged when surrounded by friends, but when surrounded by hostility and controversy" -  Martin Luther King Jnr

Alan Needham
MD Market Rasen 

Is that you?

Is that the same Tony Hodgetts who was at Kneller Hall around 2003 -2005?

If it is, it's nice to see you are still blowing sir.
 
Next time we are both at St Georges, we'll crack open some cans and chew the fat over banding, in and out of green.

Mark Gillatt (Ex RE and AGC Band)
INet Field Ops  

Rankings

Could you please explain how the rankings work.

I am a member of Hebden Bridge who won the First Section at Leicester and came 6th in the Championship Section at Preston (despite being a First Section band) beating the likes of Marsden, Fishburn and other high ranked Championship bands, but still we don't even appear in the top 200.

Are the points accumulative over several years or do they "fall off" after a while?

I note that Dobcross are still ranked high despite their near collapse and re-ranking to Third Section.
 
Steve Gardner

4BR Reply: 
If we had a pound... Go to the rankings page and there is a comprehensive guide to how the rankings are worked out. They do make it clear we promise you... 

Paid to play... the question of ringers
 
I have been involved in brass bands for over 40 years, most of that time as a player but most recently on the admin side.
 
It saddens me to read and hear comments about bands attending the area contests, not with their own players, but may I say ‘mercenaries’.

I will not use the word ‘ringer’ as this tends to elude to some underhanded practice of a person pertaining to be something or someone who he or she is not. I watch the bands in the lower sections of the contests, and see them turn up year in and year out with players who are dedicated to improving the band that they are with.

Bands going on stage with three cornets on the front row, three, sometimes two basses, youngsters who may only have been playing a couple of years and in some cases don’t even know that they are playing in or what a contest is.

These bands however do enter the contest with the players they have and with the attitude of  ‘This is our band and we are proud of it.’
 
Move up the ladder and get to the bands that we look up to and admire and we then see a different story. We see bands that suddenly look totally different, players wise, to the very same band we saw a month previously at a concert and who, dare I say, didn’t make much of an impression in what was expected of them and their reputation.
 
Ask the question as to why such a change in personnel and you are told: ‘If we hadn’t signed 5 players this week we would not have been able to attend the contest and have a chance of winning.’
 
‘So the players have signed up for you permanently?’ ‘No only for the contest. Everybody does it.’
 
Well NO, everybody does not do it. Most bands go with what they have and show a true reflection of their ability and integrity. It would appear that some bands are hoodwinking the public that they are more stable than they really are and in some cases retaining their stature under false pretences.

Isn’t it time that we, as an organisation, amended the rules in order that this sham be stopped.  At this time it is accepted that it is fine to register ‘unregistered’ players up to the day before the areas.

A bit of a con in my mind but we all have to accept it.
 
How about a change to the rules in as much as, under national rules players would have to be signed with a band by November prior to the qualifiers in March and by July prior to the Finals. Sounds simple I know but this would at least stop the mercenaries and pot seekers from causing so much upset and bad feeling within our movement.

And we would all be playing on a level field with genuine bands with genuine players giving a genuine rendition of how good the band really is and not how good it appears to be for one day. Maybe the word ‘ringer’ was correct.
 
These are my views only and do not represent any band that I am associated with. I trust that there will be replies for and against my thoughts and look forward to reading them.
 
Keep up the good work 4barsrest.    
 
George Fairhurst 

Contact

If Alan Marsden of the USA would like to contact me, my E-mail address is ehgstuckfuhrer@supanet.com .

I remember your father and the people you mention

Ted Griffiths 

Getting married - Can anyone help?

I'm getting married in Henley-on-Thames in July and I'm wondering if there's a resource for finding a decent brass band in Oxfordshire, Berkshire or Buckinghamshire.

Your advice would be much appreciated.

Dan Outram
 director@danoutram.com

4BR Reply:
If anyone can help then pleae contact Dan direct 

Replacements

Could you tell me how to go about replacing missing sheet music, eg conductor's score, solo cornet etc.? 

Is there a web site I could go to? There must be a way of doing this without buying a whole new set. I would be very grateful if you could point me in the right direction.

Margaret Colver

4BR Reply:
We think the right direction is to get in touch with the publishers, or ask a friendly band to borrow (not copy)  

The link between time and the poor 

Doesn’t the comment on Times and Dates, and Entry Fees link back to the comment in the section entitled ‘Deserving Poor’?

Surely a single national body that represented and was supported by the entire Brass Band community would be able to co-ordinate the timing of events, and control entry fees (or at least standardise them) and at the same time provide the Government and its various Quangos with a united front to promote and use to secure funding across the board.
 
Re: my comment about entry fees…

To use another example of a national body controlling entry fees – British Eventing (formerly British Horse Trials Assoc.) is the representative body for Eventing in the UK. They have various committees who represent riders, owners, organisers, international competitors and the rules and regulations bunch.

They manage to co-operate to produce in December a complete calendar for the coming 15 months of competitions, ensuring that where events are in the same area they are not on the same day, and where possible there is a 2 week gap between them.

They also produce a fee structure so that the riders/owners with horses at the lowest levels of competition pay around  £60 per entry, whilst those competing in the highest echelons pay around £150 for most events, and £300 for the big ones such as Burghley, Badminton etc.

They provide every competitor with an updated rule book at the start of every year, and a quarterly magazine with news, results and entry information for all the upcoming events.
 
On the day of an event there is an army of volunteers who set out the parking, the warm up area, the arenas, marshal the jumping courses, cater for the volunteers, pick the pieces when someone falls off, write the safety briefings, write up the accident reports, take care of complaints, comments, allegations of misconduct etc…. the list truly is endless.
 
The Result? A smoothly run, professional organisation that commands the respect of the World’s eventing community. Plus, an organisation that has the funds to pour into training the next generation, ensuring the safety of the sport for generations to come.
 
I feel there is something for Brass Bands to learn here…
 
Jen Cash
 

The difference between poor and poor

I would like to make a comment regarding your Previews for the North West Area, and in particular your references to the recent results at the Preston Contest.

There can be a world of difference between a 'poor performance' and a 'poor result' - perhaps your words could have been chosen a tad more carefully? 

Bit sweeping to say 'Poor Result = Poor Performance'. It’s not unheard of to have 'Poor Adjudication' is it?

I think I've made the point.

The Championship Section at Preston was a mix of 1st and Championship Section Bands, so in your Previews for 1st Section it's hardly fair to keep referring back to the Preston result - give the guys a break.

M. Walsh 

Keeping the Chelsea tractor

I read with much amusement Stephen Didcott’s letter regarding his worries about the banding world’s potential contribution to Global Warming. I’m assuming his tongue was firmly in his cheek as he wrote?
 
Stephen, when you live in a country where the government is paying lip service to reducing carbon emissions whilst at the same time commissioning new solid fuel power stations, I think you could safely assume that nothing you, or the banding movement as a whole, could do would make the slightest difference at the end of the day. 

Those that could make a real difference are not interested because it would cost them too much money, and as we all know that’s far more important than the future of the planet!
 
So I think we should concentrate on keeping the brass band movement healthy and wait until our leaders show us some real leadership before we sell the Chelsea Tractor!
 
 
Roger Pearcey
Suffolk. 

Grass roots banding

I'd like to congratulate Alex and Tingley Band for their performance on Saturday. There was a great atmosphere and camaraderie between the Fourth Section bands at St. George's Hall. Alex shouldn't be too despondent. It's taken us a few attempts, with quite a few ups and downs.

But this time we got control over our nerves, with a great team effort and encouragement amongst ourselves. We were very proud of our performance and winning was just the icing on the cake. Now we have to start all over again to try and keep up next year.

Good luck to all the Fourth Section bands during the coming year. We are the grass roots of the brass band movement! A bit of encouragement and support from the bands in the higher sections with the odd visit to our bandrooms with a few tips would do our confidence and the movement in general the world of good!
 
Jane Klejnow
Lofthouse 2000 

Bravo!

I have only one thing to say to Andrew Platts comments ...  BRAVO !

And:

Congratulations to Stannington and Derek Renshaw based on Andrews comments.

Banding as it should be  ... Well done !!

Tony Hodgetts 

Great service

Just wanted to say thanks again for my latest CD order from you, even though I mucked up putting in my card details to pay for it!!

I returned your phonecall on Monday lunchtime to correct the details and the 2 CDs and DVD arrived through the door Tuesday lunchtime, and that’s to the remotest West of Scotland!!
 
Hats off to you for a great service guys!
 
Willie Ralston
BBb Bass
Campbeltown Brass

Carbon footprints 

What is the carbon footprint of your band?
 
I was recently watching the BBC programme “Brass Factory”.  Interesting as it was, the most memorable fact was delivered by Nick Childs who said that, on average, each member of the Black Dyke Band will travel 250 miles for every band practice. Although this dedication to duty is impressive, I couldn’t help pondering over the broader environmental issues?      
 
I have plied my trade within the office design industry for approaching 30 years and fads and fashions have come and gone. However, issues related to the preservation of our planet and the reduction of carbon emissions is neither fad nor fashion.  

Major corporations, who for many years have barely paid ‘lip-service’ to these issues, are now seriously embracing the challenges of global warming and need to be seen to be doing so for reasons of good PR.
 
These same corporations and institutions are approached every year by our brass bands with a view to sponsorship opportunities. This throws up a daunting question.  How long will it be before potential sponsors (and local authorities and Arts Councils for that matter) start asking the question, “What is the carbon footprint of your band?”
 
In the same way that we feel a social responsibility to recycle, drive cars with lower Co2 emissions and drink tap rather than bottled water, might there come a time when brass bands will be forced to adopt (and will wish to be seen to adopt) prudent environmental measures in band management?
 
Stephen Didcott
Verwood 

Well done Yorkshire - but not myself...

I would like to wish a huge congratulations to everyone who competed at the Yorkshire Regionals. I managed to listen to most of the bands in the fourth section amongst all the final preparations for our own rendition of the Four Cities.
 
The lesson I will personally be taking home today is that I did not represent on the stage what I'm capable of; being relatively inexperienced with contests jangled nerves took away more of my control with quiet dynamics than I would have liked and I overcompensated with more volume, as the adjudicators' comments noted. 

This probably affected most of us to some degree, and how I wish I could have played up there exactly as I have done for weeks. I think we really have been coming together and could have attained a top-six position today. Oh well, at least we didn't do any worse, and I'm sure there's plenty more of these to come for us..... pah, we'll have you all next time!
 
Aleks Lukic
Eb Bass, Tingley Brass 

Thanks Stannington

Just a note of congratulations to Stannington band and Derek Renshaw.

I never expected to be a 'full time' bandsman again however it's a great band to be with and they are a wonderful bunch. They are also the most organised of bands and exist by subscription, patronage and the generation of income through concerts.

They have full and enjoyable rehearsals and they work hard. How many bands these days fill every chair and have 2 excellent percussionists that attend every rehearsal? There has been a noticeable improvement in the band over the last year and they thoroughly deserve their recent success and the result at the Yorkshire area is simply the icing on the cake.

I understand that they are now Sheffields' premier band and the only representative in the Championship section. I'm sure that everyone is delighted for them.

Stannington band is truly part of the local village community and it could be said that this is banding as it used to be and as it should be. No sponsorship, no 'ringers' and attracting local players who simply want to make music to the best of their ability and enjoy the friendship and support of their colleagues.

Stannington also have a junior band fully paid for and supported by the activities of the senior band.

As a model it goes to prove that bands shouldn't simply exist to seek contest success as it inevitably has a corrosive effect and it certainly does not enhance stability and cohesion. It also tends to attract the 'wrong kind' of player as they do not have a genuine long term interests of the band at heart.

Stability, hard work and a determination to make good music to the best of their ability are the foundations that can be built upon to keep a band healthy and happy in the long term and the pursuit of contest success, just for the sake of it, cannot be a sensible model. The rise and fall of many bands over last 40 years proves this to be true.

It's taken 40 years for Stannington to reach the championship section in Yorkshire and nobody would be naive enough to suggest it's going to be easy to stay there.

I am, however, confident that the band will continue to progress and prosper and while others look to different methods of achieving what they perceive to be as a measure of success, winning contests, Stannington will be a band that will continue to enjoy making music for many, many years to come.
 
Andrew Platts 

Salvation demise?

George Whittingham's letter about what he refers to as the demise of Salvation Army bands started a train of thought when I read it a few days ago, and I find I largely agree with his sentiments.
 
However, as a commissioned "Musician" Correspondent in an earlier life (with scrapbook cuttings to convince me I didn't dream it), I'm particularly interested in his comments on the lack of band-based reporting in its successor, "Salvationist", but I'm not as surprised as he seems to be.
 
Times change. For instance, CDs and DVDs (made by even musically mediocre bands due to the technological ability of producers to tweak the original recordings until they sound like Black Dyke) marketed directly into thousands of shops and homes seem to have taken over from the street corners of my youth as a means of proselytising.

Again, the Army is busy enough organising and sponsoring major national entertainment events without worrying about publicising, other than locally, corps festivals (church concerts).
 
But, more pertinent to Mr. Whittingham's direct complaint, why would the Army occupy valuable "Salvationist" space with band news, when it actually owns "British Bandsman" and is well represented in "Brass Band World" and "4BarsRest"?
 
From a Salvationist's viewpoint, these modern developments must be commended for carrying forward the Army's avowed purpose of the redmption of sinners by what is, after all, the extended practise of innovation which gave rise to its bands in the first place!
 
Conversely, of course, at least some secular supporters of what insular Salvationists term "outside bands" (though I've never heard that condescending term applied to S.A. bands in contesting/concert band circles) see the Army's takeover of the whole U.K. banding scene as unhelpful.
 
You need an example of such negative effect? Well. not a week passes without I hear or read of someone, usually in authority, bemoaning the decline of brass bands and particularly their inability to retain the involvement of brass-playing pupils beyond their student days.

Do they really expect the large number of ethnic faith or atheist youngsters to transfer to senior bands which play so much repertoire specifically composed and published to celebrate Christianity? ALL BRASS BANDING IS VERY VISIBLY A WHITE CHRISTIAN ACTIVITY.
 
I don't think I'm a pessimist by nature but, although I still enjoy band music, be it "inside" or "outside", we traditionalists (the greyheads that we keep hearing now account for most audiences) are diminishing and lately I am sadly reminded of the second line of the old TW3 signature song and tell myself - "It's over, let it go".
 
Two consolations, George (as I don't think you can be too many years behind me), at least (a) we were lucky enough to experience the last of banding's heyday, and (b) it makes growing old much easier, complacent in the knowledge that forty years from now old men will be reminiscing about the good old days when worship bands were flourishing!
 
Len Atter
Eastbourne 

Percussionist help

I am a registered player with the St. Pinnock Band who are competing in the South Western Regional finals at the Torquay Riviera Centre on Saturday March 8th 2008 in the Second Section.

We are playing the music of Kenneth Downie entitled "Three Part Invention", all of which I am sure you are already aware. It contains a part for the xylophone which we are told we are not require to play (again, you may already be aware of this).

What I would like you to find out, if you are able is WHY this part is being left out? We (our band members and musical director) have never been able to find out any reason(s) for its omission which only leaves us with the opportunity to speculate. Is it, perhaps because, having selected this piece, undue pressure from some individual bands has been 'brought to bear'?  

Is it because 'influential' representation has  been made to the detriment of some of the bands entered who would have been quite happy with its inclusion?

Why choose this piece at all if it requires a part to be omitted? Why couldn't this omission  have been  notified  when the piece was first selected?

Any information you can provide would be very welcome.

Mr. Michael Bunt
St. Pinnock Band

4BR Reply:
We understand this has been covered before by both the Music Panel and ABBA. 

Unfair Point

I feel I must comment on the tone of Mr Glynn Davies' letter on your comments page. He is quite rightly concerned that banding in North Wales is going through a rough patch, but I feel that his accusation of the Point of Ayr band is unfair.

Every brass band has at some point, invited a player from another band to join them. If players wish to play at a higher level than their present band, they leave on good terms and go to chase their dream. If this was not the case, we would not have the likes of Black Dyke, Brighouse, Cory, etc. to look up to.
 
So many times people in lower section bands complain of 'poaching' but I strongly believe that no player moves band unless they wish to, and have a good reason to. It is obvious that from the few good bands in North Wales, some players have gravitated towards Point of Ayr as they wish to play in a better band, not because Point of Ayr are trying to destroy North Wales banding, as Mr Davies implies.
 
It is sad to read of bands falling by the wayside. In the past few months we have seen the end of Sellers Band and now Alliance Brass. I think the few players who have tirelessly worked to save Point of Ayr should be applauded and Mr Davies' comments appear to have the whiff of sour grapes!
 
Duncan Wilson
Houghton, Cambs 

Point return

It is many years since I used the rehearsal facilities of Point of Ayr in cold November air, whilst preparing for the Pontins Finals down the road. 

The band always made us very welcome and I am sure their hospitality helped Bedford (Leigh) perform to their best on the contest stage.
 
I can understand the bitterness that is being displayed from surrounding bands as players migrate to the resurrected Point of Ayr band. However, I am sure that many of these same bands benefited when players migrated in the opposite direction upon their demise. It is indeed sad when bands become extinct but it is equally opposite when new bands form or old bands get resurrected.
 
Don't take the shine off what Point of Ayr have achieved. All things being equal they should never have dissappeared in the first place.
 
Tony Hodgetts 

Different views on a similar point 

Having just read Billy Rushworths letter that answers my previous remit, it made me think that perhaps he has a very good point indeed, for that matter, so does Peter Andrews, and if I may be permitted to "blow my own trumpet" (pardon the pun) so do I.

So what we actually have now, are three different varying views all of which show great merit, which when you REALLY think about it strengthens the view that (a) Some conductors will stick to the score blindly, (b) Some conductors will "do their own thing", or (c) Adjudicators will be villified no matter which way they decide!

So roll on Blackpool and "VIVE la Diffrence"!

Jim Owen
Farnworth and Walkden Area. 

Llanrug returns!

I'm writing this message on behalf of the members at Llanrug.

Although I'm longer a member of the band, my old colleague Alan Owen requested that I e-mail you (his PC powered by dynamo) to notify that Llanrug will be appearing at Brangwyn on March 8th (2nd section) their first appearance since 2005.

The band has been preparing under the baton of the Belfast horn player Brian Connelly with no less than 17 members making their contest debut on Saturday all having progressed from the junior band. All the young members are very excited about appearing on stage at Brangwyn and will be keen to put on a good show.

Further good news arrived last week with the announcement that the Welsh Assembly Government will provide the band with a substantial grant to build a new bandroom to replace the wooden shed that was condemned last year. Llanrug are entering a new era and the whole community wish all the members an enjoyable day at Swansea.

Berwyn Owen

4BR Reply:
It is great to see the band back at Swansea

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