Comments ~ 2009: July

The usual post bag - from strange artistic morals to a lost Cavalier...

Artistic morals?

I ask you?
 
"Composition/arranging should only be done fulltime if you either have no artistic morals or if you have a long established career that sends your music into a different world"
 
No, go on, read it again! Have you got it folks? Spooky, in it?
 
I must now admit that I secretly publish music via a branch of the X Files in Utah, to certain ET retailers via encoded midi files sent via Hubble, which is picked up by a little green mate of mine who lives on Vulcan who then delivers to a new chain of supernet ancient music cyber shops called: "Where there's muck there's brass bands on Earth!"

I'm sure that now I've confessed to my full time non-artistic compositional career, that all you other part time artistic composers will start nicking my ET customers to become full-time non-artistic composers, although I fear Mr. McFadyen might only get his music as far as Uranus if using the usual basic channels to sell music! Another black hole to be avoided!
 
You know, that poor Mozart guy, was indeed totally without any artistic ethics, as he composed all the time. Jeeze, what a pain he was writing all that non-artistic crap - no wonder he died at 35, he must have been knackered with that full-time non-artistic composing.

If he had got a part time job down the German sausage mine and even wasted more composing time by chasing women, farting and drinking, he could have lived much longer and probably done much more artistic composing and we would have all been the richer!

Where was his artistic integrity I ask ya? Pah, Wolfgang!
 
Get a grip if Mr McFadyen believes anyone is going to believe statements like this you're bonkers. You can be a carpenter on a building site or a carpenter who builds bespoke furniture, but you still get to work with wood. 

Juggling any kind of music well is an art, I mean, so many do it badly.

If you want artistic, compose for "Pipe cleaner and stylus, two transistor radio's, cement mixer and London Bus with off stage stomach-pump in Db alto & castrati turtle" down the QEH, or ROH, or South Bank in general!

But don't tell me that an audience is going to a brass band concert for artistic input, and live in the heart of your music . 

They want to be entertained first and foremost & lastmost!
 
I'll be off now, to do some full-time non-artistic composition for my next film where I'm being paid a non-artistic fee of £54K. 

God, I wish I could do this part time and then earn less and retain some integrity!
 
Phil Lawrence

Tracking down an old Cavelleria

My father, Edwin Loton, played Euphonium with the Enfield Central Band in the 1930's and 40's.  

He made a recording with them of ‘Cavelleria di Rusticana’ on which he played solo. 

We had a copy of this recording but unfortunately I stood on it and broke it many years ago. 

I would love to be able to track it down but having contacted various organizations including Enfield Central Band and the National Brass Band Archives, I found that there are no records for this band and everything was destroyed in a fire a number of years ago. 

Can you advise me as to where I can look next and is it possible to advertise in a magazine to see if I can get lucky.

Patricia Kawar.
pkawar@talktalk.net 

Whitham tribute
 
The brass band movement is shaped by the people who have been actively involved in its development, and it is a product of their hard work and investment.
 
Geoff Whitham has contributed to this movement for many years as a player, trainer, conductor, teacher and adjudicator and his personality has had a huge influence on hundreds if not thousands of people over the years.
 
On Sunday March 4th 2007, at St George's Hall Bradford, Geoff adjudicated the championship section at the Yorkshire regionals. 

At the conclusion of this contest he was invited to say a few words prior to the result and was introduced to the audience as "Uncle Geoff", which brought rousing applause from the agreeing audience.
 
This one example in particular highlights how he was thought of and loved by many. He has been a great friend to me for a number of years and has actively supported my career as a composer.
 
As I mourn his passing, more importantly, I will celebrate his life.
 
My thoughts are with Joyce, Andy and his family.
 
Paul Lovatt-Cooper

Geoff Whitham remembered

Geoff Whitham was the charismatic Yorkshireman.  A cheeky smile and wonderful anecdotes which all hid a bandsman through and through.  My last memory of Geoff was him attending the Black Dyke Festival where he shared his experiences with everyone from the band, and in particular with the Yorkshire Youth Band, genuinely ‘Rubbing Shoulders’ with a true champion.  

At Black Dyke there is a tradition for people who have been involved with the band, and who carry a special meaning and respect.

Last Thursday there was a moment of silence after we performed Handel Parker's ‘Deep Harmony’ in memory of this great euphonium, conductor and genuine bandsman.

Our thoughts are with Joyce, Andy and the family.

Nicholas Childs
Director of Music
Black Dyke Band 

Inspiration
 
I was saddened and shocked to hear that Geoffrey Whitham has passed away. 

Geoff was something of an inspiration to me as a student and although I rarely saw him since then I always remember fondly some of the stories he had to tell and advice he passed on to me.
 
Geoff was also a keen follower of the Coldstream Guards band and all at the band send their thoughts and sympathy to the whole Whitham family.
 
John Storey
Euphonium
Coldstream Guards Band 

Cobb - one heck of a player

I’ve never heard Philip Cobb play but I am really impressed that someone as young as himself has been appointed as Principal Trumpet with the LSO.

You only have to look at previous occupants of the seat to conclude that only the very best can ever aspire to that position– he must be one heck of a player. I wish him well.
 
Michael Britton 

Road to self destruction via Albert Einstein?

With the current focus being on attracting audiences and each person with their own theory, I feel most are not understanding the value of what we do, and what’s more its not the audiences killing our industry, it’s the bands people within it who are in a mode of self-destruction with endless committees and sub committees, regulation and discussing the rather irrelevant issue of open or closed adjudication. 

It adds no value to the public understanding of our movement.

As I was approaching my 20’s I had a firm belief that positive repertoire that offered something new (but need not be technically difficult) was the way forward. 

I’m now almost 30 and can tell you that my passion for such repertoire has become stronger and I believe the demand for it has risen in recent years.

See, on one hand we are happy to slate certain foreign publishers who release music and CD’s that are artistically challenged but at the same time we are happy to buy their music for our bands. 

I accept that there is far less artistic music than the cheap-shot, thrill-a-minute, I-can-make-money-selling-cheap-music repertoire but it is out there and I tell you what, if you want your audiences to fly in, you need to change the way you look at repertoire.

We need responsible publishers and arrangers who will stand up for what they once believed in. 

If they aren’t making enough money from their music, there are plenty of other great jobs out there. Composition/arranging should only be done fulltime if you either have no artistic morals or if you have a long established career that sends your music into a different world.

There is an awful paradigm in banding that cheesy and easy-on-the-ear music attracts audiences and that is simply not true. 

I am not for a minute saying that we should have hardcore modern music, we are a light music medium but I cannot stress enough how repertoire can be exciting, hip, cool, artistic and dramatic; playable at all skill levels.

So yes, Steve Cheetham, I notice the word “audience”. 

In fact I believe I know the audience exceptionally well. As an artistic composer, the audience is at the heart of my music. Artistically challenged composers heart is in their bank balance standing behind a façade that says “audience pleaser”.

As a final though, I’ll leave you with a positive quote from Albert Einstein: “If you do what you always did, you’ll always get what you always got.”

James McFadyen
Artistic Composer who noticed the word “audience” 

MBE thanks

Please may I be allowed through your comment column to publicly thank the many people (between two and three hundred) who have sent me their good wishes and congratulations on the award of the MBE.I am endeavouring to answer them all personally but if I miss some I hope they will accept this letter as grateful thanks.

I have been overwhelmed by cards, letters, E Mails telephone calls and postings on web sites, they have been from band associations, bands, and individuals from many parts of the world.

I would particularly like to thank Mr W. B.( Bram) Thompson who I now know ,  made the original nomination and who organised the support.

I first met Bram 50 years ago when he was the Solo Horn player of the Scottish CWS Band under Alex Mortimer and whom I competed against at the Edinburgh Invitation Contest many times when I was a member of the Carlton Main Frickley Colliery Band.

I realise that there are many people equally deserving of recognition for  service to banding so I feel  extremely  honoured and fortunate  that my contribution was noticed and that my name came out of the hat on this occasion.

David Read
Huntingdon 

20/20 format

Entirely agree with your piece on "20/20" banding - the future of brass band competitions will depend on finding the right format that offers the audience entertainment, excitement, and a "grand day out". 

That's why the Whit Friday marches work, and why standard-issue contesting is a gigantic yawn.  Notice the word "audience" - unless an event can attract people outside our somewhat nerdy brotherhood who want to listen, it will not work.

The spate of "reality TV" shows with a competitive musical format (even, may God preserve us, "Strictly Come Dancing"), shows that there is popular appetite for such things - the challenge for the brass band movement is to satisfy it by innovating. 

Steve Cheetham
The Cobham Band 

Chatterbox!
 
In relation to your July Editorial on “the box”. Those sat near “the box” at this, or last year’s Grand Shield or this year’s English National may agree with a new name for it - the “chatterbox”.

When there is more than one adjudicator it is healthy to have some discussion over opinions of a particular band. However, whilst very interesting for those sat close by (or within 50 ft! – some bandsmen heard the remarks from the stage at Preston – ask Adrian Nurney from Imps) to be able to see the men (as there has not been a female adjudicator yet) talking – would this not be more off putting?
 
With regard to another editorial feature, I would not like to see the demise of “test match” banding but agree that maybe less is more.

14 was a good number of bands to have at Preston but perhaps having fewer bands negates the need for a break?
 
N. Garman 

Good service

I send this email to thank your company for the rapid and efficient response to my request to purchase 2 C D's from you featuring the Black Dyke Band, which will soon visit Australia.
 
I ordered the C D 's over the Internet on Friday June 26th and was playing them on Monday July 6th.
 
Considering that there were two week ends in that time the service could not be faulted.
 
Once again many thanks for your efficiency.
 
John Trenery
Victoria
Australia

English money savers

I enjoyed your retrospectives from the recent English Nationals, and must agree with your view that the contest appears to unwanted and unloved by the vast majority of bandsmen and women.

Why do we really need this additional method of getting a ‘champion’ band to the Europeans?

YBS got to the contest on the back of being runner up at the Nationals if I remember rightly, and EBBA didn’t seem too bothered about that then, especially as they went on to win the contest a hatful of times thereafter.

The BFBB should ditch the contest immediately, and tell EBBA that they have a perfectly adequate way in which to decide which band should represent England – the best band at the Nationals in London.

The money they save could be used to help the English, Scots and Welsh meet the expenses of getting to the event year on year. 

Peter Hall 

Well said Sandy

Well said Sandy Smith!

The English National is a well meaning contest, but one that nobody wants.

Seeing Sandy and the wonderful Black Dyke band play to a hall that was less than a third full in Preston was depressing for all concerned. Ll that hard work from all those bands for that.

Does anyone really think it is a contest worth holding anymore?

Trevor Davies 

English issues  

It has been interesting to read the correspondence around the European Championships and English Nationals over the past few months.

Re the need for the English Nationals I must agree with those who take the view point that their introduction was not required as there was a perfectly good system in place for identifying the English representatives through the British National finals, one which gave equal opportunity of access to Europe for all Championship grade bands from all the regions in England.

It is intereseting to note that £7000 between prize money and bonus, approximately one third of the expected cost for the English Champions, is close to the prize money available to the Champions of Europe. I am sure however that additional opportunities will be available to the English Champions to help them compete through participation in the gala concert or other such events, something that I believe would not be available to participants from all countries.

I would note at this point that the £6000 available through winning the English title is a decent prize putting to shame both the British National and British Open prize pots, both contests of significantly greater prestige!

I have a couple of questions that I feel would make interesting reading for the banding and contesting public in general:

On the issue of prize money it would be interesting to know how much it cost one of the top bans to take part in the English Nationals to get a clearer view on how much actual help the prize money would have been.

On the issues of the major contests i.e. Open, European, National Finals...how much do they cost to run, how much income do they generate and where does the money go?

Jim Corrigan 

My opinion!

Just where in my letter does Janet Payne of Boarshurst get the impression that my letter was representive of the bands opinion as a whole?  Just because I sign my name at the foot of the letter followed by the name of my band does not mean that I am writing as thier representative!

Over half of ALL writers to 4barsrest sign in a similar way, and nobody of reasonable intelligence would think otherwise.  Now had I written "On behalf of......Band" etc. then there could be no doubt.

Janet must realise that people who write to 4BR wish the reader to know where in the country they are from and in most cases which band they play for, any other kind of conclusion would be simply wrong.

As for the committee accepting the result, well, seeing as the band voted unanimously in favour of the change to TWO in the box at Blackpool, and seeing as every member of the committee plays in the band, it followed on that in discussions with me afterwards that they were most unimpressed by the farce imposed upon us by the NW Regional Committee.  But then again, why would Janet want to distance herself (and the band) from such comments?

As Jim Yelland would testify, not all my comments are universally received, but this does not make them any less valid?

Jim Owen
Old Hall Brass
(and Yes, they ARE my views, not the bands) 

20/20 banding

I completely agree with the idea that we should be looking for ways to make Brass Band music more accessible and listener friendly.

I not only think that we should look to cricket for inspiration on this front. I think if we are going to go down a route of shorter contesting ventures, then more should be done to make brass band contesting a summer event and learn from some of the lessons learned in rugby league.

Granted, sometimes rain will affect play but there are hundreds of bandstands and other open spaces all over the nation crying out for more use. Maybe we should also look at summer Bandstand contests, or some variation on the entertainment contest that are largely played indoors. 

It would raise the profile of bands, draw communities together around the spaces in which the contest is played.

Moreover they may bring in fresh sponsorship, as the open public spaces will allow sponsors to advertise to the passer by and the listener. So in making opportunities for bands to ply their trade more outdoors we could improve contesting attendance and also the sponsorship questions in one go.
 
I must admit there should also be a place for the grand ‘Test Match’ contests as some times you are treated to a real gem of a performance, but as a movement it needs to be looked and they seriously need to consider a vision of where these contests are going in the next 20 years needs to be found.
 
John Shimmon 

A Scottish impression of Preston...

Having read with interest your Editorial article relating to the English National Championships, my wife and I decided to take a run down to Preston for a first hand impression of the proceedings. 

This was our first visit. It certainly won't be our last, as it turned out to be a most enjoyable day!

Notwithstanding the basic argument surrounding whether or not this contest is really necessary, since a perfectly adequate system was already in place to determine England's representative in Europe, there was a good deal of competitive spirit about and, clearly, every band taking the stage wanted to win the contest.

The BFBB is an earnest body who have obviously worked hard to maintain the integrity of this contest since its inception 5 years ago, and their is no doubt that England's representative band at the European contest will always be a contender for the title of European Champions!

The BFBB should feel encouraged in their endeavours! As always, however, there is a Coda to this song sheet!!

The British FBB is essentially English in its sphere of influence. If there is a Scottish dimension, or a Welsh or an Irish one, then this writer sees no evidence of it.

£6000 pounds worth of prize money at the English National Championships, and an additional £1000 to help the winner to go to Linz, is indeed encouraging.
Such generous help for the other UK countries would indeed be most welcome I’m sure!

Perhaps ENGLISH Federation would be a more truthful title.

In addition, the National Championships at the Royal Albert Hall should be re-named the United Kingdom Championships in order to avoid confusion with the 'English National'!!

Archie Hutchison
Kirkoswald 

A different mechanism is needed...

So as to avoid the following being misconstrued as a reaction to the outcome of the English Nationals Contest in Preston I am mailing this to you on the Friday before the competition.
 
You were kind enough to print a letter of mine last July questioning the need for this contest at all. During the run up to the contest this year I have yet to find anyone who can give strong, worthwhile arguments why this contest should continue.
 
It seems to be a contest run because of political necessity rather than for the benefit of the competing bands.

The mechanism is already in place at either the British Open or the National Finals to select a suitable English representative for the European Championships - a competition if truth be told that will never replace either the British Open or the National Championships in the hierarchy of ‘must win’ contests on any British bandsperson’s CV.

I would certainly swap the eight European wins I have taken part in for eight more British Opens or National titles.
 
Regardless of the outcome of the contest this year the Federation owe it to all the competing bands who have taken part this weekend to canvas them on whether the contest is really required, after all it is the bands themselves who have to finance their attendance in the form of coach hire and possible hotel bills.
 
The Federation could then plough the money saved from staging the Preston contest into stimulating banding in other areas in this country, perhaps at youth level.

To continue to make the bands jump through these political hoops any longer is a waste of the time, energy and money of everyone involved.

Sandy Smith
Holmfirth

4BR Reply:
We can confirm this correspondance was received before the English National Contest. 

Wacko Jacko?

I really enjoy the live comments re -contests, they really are very informative and often extremely accurate

But why did you include the very tasteless reference in Leyland’s report concerning Michael Jackson? I enjoy a good laugh and think of myself as very broad minded, but this really was well below the belt.

I was never the greatest fan of Michael Jackson - his life was just too weird -although the music was pretty good, but why did you say what you said-it was really very cheap -and unbecoming of you!

4Barsrest is a really great site-don't spoil it by silly, throw away comments.

Tom Stone 

Deserved reputation

I am mostly known for passing on negative comments. 

However, I can hold my hand on heart and say that after hearing PLCs masterclass on ‘Within Blue Empires’, I can honesty say it is one of the most entertaining masterclasses I have ever experienced.

He is building himself a huge well deserved reputation. Look foward to experiencing more in the future.

Kath Stokes
Netherthong 

Well done David

Congratulations to David Read on the award of an MBE in The Queen's Birthday Honours List, printed in The Times.    

It is great to see that someone in brass banding is recognised in this way and it couldn't happen to a nicer person.  

Well done David.
 
Peter Bates
North West Regional Committee 

Crookhall help

Would any of your experts or readers be able to give me any web links around the old Crookhall Colliery Band from the north of England (Consett).
 
Neal Watson 

Thanks Dyke

Along with Nigel Birch of the Lions Youth Brass Band I would also like to add our thanks to Black Dyke for the concert on 31st May at Leeds Town Hall.

We at the Clifton and Lightcliffe band were also given tickets and transport to take some of our youngsters along to the concert. 

We have three bands now at Clifton and the tickets were given to our learners group where we have 18 youngsters aged between 7 and 9 years old. Some of them also attended the lower brass day, and took part with the Trombone Choir. 

We also have 5 members of our junior band in the Yorkshire Youth band who appeared alongside Dyke at the concert. 

It’s a fantastic experience for these young musicians to see and take part in events like this and I think more of the 'top' bands should do more to encourage and promote the lower section bands who have a wealth of young talent coming through.

Jane Clay
Clifton and Lightcliffe Band 

Shame on you!

Shame on you!
 
Just read the review on 2009 whit Friday………..
 
Being a true Welsh man, thought you might have given a mention to a ‘Welsh’ band claiming a first place ahead of Fodens, Fairey’s etc etc…..
 
Northop Silver Band in case you forgot is from Wales !
 
Through your pages, could you find out how many Welsh (north or south) bands have won a Whit Friday village contest over the years. 

We believe that this could be a first………..I wait in anticipation?
 
Mr Hughes
Northop Band 

A small Whit correction

Just to say that I was impressed with Malcolm Wood's excellent retro on Whit Friday, and delighted to find my scratch band from Enfield was described as 'eye catching' - RW will be delighted to know that!

Just one small correction.

The band was based not on Enfield Citadel Band but on Enfield Brass Band. I would not like my good friend Jon Corry at Enfield SA to get into bother with TSA!!! 

Enfield Brass Band is a high standard non-contesting band who fancied a run out for Whit Friday.

The assistance of so many well-known faces was down to nothing more than long-standing friendships with Enfield's MD, John Morahan.

You might also have spotted the 'noticeably handsome' Paul Robinson, Principal euph from Reg Vardy - another old friend with nothing better to do than getting soaked.

Still, we are looking for a return next year - weather permitting.

John Morahan
MD Enfield Brass Band 

The voting process

I was fascinated by Jim Yelland's comments on the democratic process and wholeheartedly agree with his interpretation of events.

Once a proposal has been put to a secret vote, it is the completed voting forms, which should be considered for the outcome, not a supposition that abstention means an agreement with either point of view.

Therefore, if 100 voting papers are issued and only 35 are returned, then the majority from those returned 35, have the carrying vote.

This has not been a 'democratic' decision and could not be represented as so to any member body.

Mark Smith
Walsall 

Acronyms

May I respond to Peter Bates rebuff at my earlier comments regarding the un-democratic vote recently taken by the organisers of the NW regional's. 

Yes, it is true that I may have innocently used the wrong acronym (NWABBA or NWRBBCC, or whatever) but the point being is that the comments are valid and felt by many in the NW. 

As for writing directly to the organisers, this (at least for my part) is futile.  (a) I have done so in the past and never even had an acknowledgement.  (b) If only I wrote to the organisers then how do I urge others to do the same if not by using the best media around, in this case 4barsrest?

A good example of which is the reply from Jim Yelland who, in my opinion put over his point far more eloquently than me, so to Jim I simply say Yes, I was shocked and please feel free to stand my corner anytime.

So if anyone else feels equally aggrieved by this voting face, then please write to 4barsrest AND the organisers.

Jim Owen
Boarshurst Band 

Not from us

On behalf of the Boarshurst Band, may I take this opportunity to explain that the letter from Jim Owen regarding the NWABBA vote is his own personal opinion and NOT the opinion of the Boarshurst Band.
 
Though the band voted on the proposal, the committee accept the result of the vote as explained by the management committee.
 
Janet Payne,
Boarshurst Band Secretary 

Looking for a band

I am trying to find out if there is a brass band in South West or West London for my 10 year old son to join on our return from Hong Kong.

My son is a keen trumpeter and I would like him to have the opportunity to play in a band.
 
I very much look forward to hearing from you. Thank you in advance for your assistance. 

Mary Drysdale
mary_drysdale@msn.com

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