Comments ~ 2010: May

It's been a while, but we have the Brits against Brock, Tip top Ton and great useless facts - and even the identity of who cracked the enigma code first..

A composer's valid opinion

I just have to reply to Gordon Brock's unnecessarily rude rant about this year's European Championships.

I was present at the event and can confirm that the hall was close to being full most of the time and at about 120% capacity for the Gala Concert. (I had a ticket but couldn't get a seat!!)
 
It was one of the most scintillating contests I have been to for many years and the atmosphere was exciting and enervating throughout the weekend. A brilliant event.
 
Gordon, I feel you make the same mistake as many people do when judging music.

Just because you don't like a piece of music doesn't mean it's a bad piece (crap, to use your term!) There are no absolutes in music, no rules about good or bad, except those invented by people who confuse their own opinion with fact.
 
By being rude about the repertoire and disrespectful to two of our better composers (there's no reason why you have to like their music, of course) what you are doing is claiming that your knowledge of what makes a 'good' piece of music is better than those who like the pieces - and there are many who do.

Bearing in mind it's all a matter of taste, this is a dreadful arrogance on your part, which is harder to swallow when couched in the terms you chose to use.
 
Just remember, even if you don't like something, someone else just might.

And their opinion is just as valid as yours.
 
Philip Sparke

Brock back 50 years...

It is with some bewilderment, and no little amusement, that I have just read Gordon Brocks’ letter regarding the recent European contest.
 
He is certainly entitled to his opinion however far removed he is, perhaps in more ways than one, from the events he is commenting on.
 
I cannot comment on the camera work of the World of Brass team but the auditorium certainly seemed pretty full during both of my bands performances but perhaps Mr. Brock missed that during one of his frequent vacations of the room to check on the T20 World Cricket Cup.
 
If his half hearted comments on the placing of Black Dyke were designed as a childish dig at the band then he will surely know, as any true musician would, that it is the performance and the feelings in engenders in the performers and their audience that counts and remains in the memory long after any result - favourable or otherwise.
 
I have to agree with him that  “ Black Dyke deserved what they got” in as much that we were afforded the chance to perform a terrific piece of music, full of wit, character, virtuosity and moments of sublime repose in a wonderful hall to an appreciative audience by a composer who - in my opinion - rates in the top handful ever to put pen to paper for the brass band.
 
No one with even a passing acquaintance with the developments of 20th century music would ever class Philip Wilby as a composer of the avant garde.

The recent history of the brass band is littered with examples of composers who have deserted the medium due to banal comments like Mr. Brocks’ although I suspect bands like Black Dyke may cling to this “ageing academic” for some time yet as we are currently putting the finishing touches to a new Wilby CD for Naxos - a follow up to their best-selling disc from last year of some of his “discordant syncopation”.
 
Finally Mr. Brock has a sideswipe at the EYBB - great encouragement for the future players of European banding.
 
I am reminded of an incident a few years ago while on a tour with Grimethorpe.

We had flown to New Zealand having already travelled throughout Australia.

As we boarded the bus to leave the airport the bus driver announced over the tannoy “remember to adjust your watches lads - you’ll have to put them back fifty years”.
 
Sandy Smith
Holmfirth

Kiwi Kanundrum!

Strewth mate, old Gordon Brock seems to be ‘mad as a meat axe’ over the old EBBA contest and is throwing a bit of a ‘wobbly’ about some of the ‘dodgy’ pieces played by the ‘flamin’ euro bands last Friday and Saturday ‘arvo’?

In fact he’s really going at it like a ‘bitser’ especially about his less than favourite band Black Dyke and is even full of ‘chunder’ about the old Red Priest!

In fact, Gordy seemed to find it pretty ‘hard yakka’ watching the old TV screen last weekend and thought the whole thing should have gone down the ‘long drop’ and decided to give us Europeans a bit of an ‘ear bashing’ in the process!

He’s also decided to despatch the old Euro DVD to the ‘dunny’ and never be reminded about it ever again!

Well, Gord, that’s fine, as I think most of us found your ‘rark up’ pretty pathetic and, if we’ve any sense, won’t be asking you to comment further on European issues, Black Dyke or Philip Wilby (aka “ageing academic”) again, so do us a favour and ‘go bush’!

David Hirst
New Zealand slang courtesy of New Zealand Immigration  

Age and the academic

Re: Gordon Brock and the Euro’s
 
An ageing academic?!

I think that if he looks more closely, Gordon will find that in the real world, Mr. Wilby is considered anything but.
 
Nick Garman

Brock?

This guy really got it off his chest didn’t he?  

The only comment I can make is I know the name of the highly respected ageing academic very well without his name being mentioned, but even though Gordon Brock from New Zealand names himself, I`ve never heard of him - ever!!

I wonder why?
 
Kath Stokes
Holmfirth

Thanks for the useless facts

Thanks for your ‘Useless facts about the National Championships’

I’ve been finding out about my family history and your No1 fact mentions J (Jesse) Manley) – my great grandfather, conductor of The Aberdare Band. I believe he invented the ‘Easy Way to Play Brass Instruments.’

I have a photocopy of his son (also Jesse – aged 12) demonstrating how to play the trumpet – taken from 1917 Brass Band News. The trumpet seems to be suspended as his arms are by his side.

So now you have a few more facts (useless?) for your record.
 
I’m really pleased to see J Manley’s name though as will my father be (now 86) but remembers him and his uncle Jesse.
 
Jan Butler

Feeling a right brick

It appears my 'half -brick' managed to hit the hornet’s nest, and furthermore I appear to have upset a few people! - All in the name of lively debate fellow bandspeople!

Let me reply to my new found friends, in the order which they appear:

Neil Johnson (EYMS):

If you perhaps think your band has 'the minerals' to beat off Grimethorpe, Dyke, Brighouse, Rothwell etc. to qualify for the Albert hall, then you are of course entirely welcome to that.

After all, it's your open and honest opinion, and you know the area better than me. Read this paragraph again, and tell me you'd be confident to qualify from Yorkshire.....see, not that flawed in my statement, am I?

'Returning from whence you came' - Not so much of a slide in North East banding; more of a slow-down in progress, which I believe to be partially down to having a situation whereby some North East bands could be adopting a 'what's the point' attitude to the area contest, due to the fact that there's an increasingly high number of bands from outside the area visiting the region for 1 day per year, and taking a high percentage of National places.

If the traditional North East bands had their own area back again, then yes; we'd be rightfully fighting to go to London and Harrogate respectively, which wouldn't just improve standards, it would also give a massive incentive for 'us natives'.

Not so hot with your geography either, are we Neil?

Darlington is in County Durham - however given that you're so far away from the area, I'll forgive your apparent lack of knowledge on the North East.

I'll also point out that you've in a way proved me right! You are indeed closer to the Yorkshire area than ours, so if nobody sees fit to start an East Yorkshire area contest, then maybe if you appealed enough, then you could be reinstated back to the Yorkshire area, that you feel you have every chance of qualifying in. Another plus-point is you'd also be reducing your carbon footprint for the annual trip to the area contest - everyone wins eh?

You still failed to answer my 'biggie'! - What do you actually bring to the table up here?

Reg Vardy are the best band up here, and the vast majority of North East players would love to be at their standard - a role model if you like.

Riverside have not only qualified for the Nationals (and well done to them too), but they also have a thriving youth band which will bring in a new crop of players. Fishburn, Easington and Felling all do their bit locally too with Miners Gala, local concerts etc.

With this in mind, you'll never be counted as 'one of us' - you're just the weird bloke in the corner who gate crashed the party, stole the beer, and went home, only for the same to happen the next few years! (Metaphorically speaking, of course).

We're certainly not scared about a little more competition (as we've proved on the neutral Blackpool soil/sand)

We welcome competition up here - it's what makes the North East great, you only need to look at our top 2 football teams to realise that we actually thrive on local rivalry. (Sunderland and Newcastle, not Hull and Grimsby).

We just tend to stick together a bit, and 'look after our own' - nothing wrong with that either.

Anyway Neil, plenty there for you to digest. See you in 2011 I suppose..........

Jim Owen (Old Hall Brass):

Jim, I'm struggling to decipher what you're on about, but here goes:

I'm going to stick up for Neil Johnson here - he wasn't complaining at a lack of "real bands" in the Northern area, nor is anyone complaining about never winning the nationals - my 'beef' is with the invasion of bands from outside the area, moving in, and slowing the development of the traditional North East scene. -

While we're on, I, like many other bandsmen up here, would love to know what you meant exactly, by no "real bands"?

Jon Evison (Barton Town Band):

Oh dear Jon. It's very easy to attack the first speaker, however you argument is deeply flawed (and I'm not just talking about your spelling and grammar).

Whether it's 43 bands or 28 bands, it's immaterial! - What matters is that it should be only representation from the true 'Northern' Region'!

While some of my comments are indeed 'tongue' in cheek, I do have to point out that I'm really not interested in your results in the Yorkshire area, or any other area you've found yourselves in! (is it true your percussion gear is loaded into a Romany caravan?)

Having said that, due to the amount of travelling you've done, perhaps there's been an issue with inaccurate grading? It would indeed be interesting to see if your statistics continued into the Yorkshire Championship section....actually, no it wouldn't.

As for the Boot & Shoe.....if you spent less on travel costs, maybe your lot could stretch to something a little more extravagant than a £1.45 pint of gravy browning.......

I assume I won't be invited to your next social do, so I think I'll quit while I'm clearly miles ahead.

Keith Irving

Who cracked the enigma code first?
 
I have to feedback some information regarding recent news you have published on 4barsrest regarding the UK Premiere of Paul Lovatt-Coopers new work, ‘The Enigma Machine’.

Your article entitled "Masters Final Touches" dated 14th May 2010 states that Co-operative Funeralcare will be undertaking the UK premiere of this new work by Paul Lovatt-Cooper.
 
In fact the piece was commissioned in 2007 by the then BT Band to celebrate its 40th anniversary. The BT Band premiered the work in a concert the same year on the Isle of Man.
 
It is not a new piece, and it depends where you stand on whether the Isle of Man is part of the UK and therefore whether it is the UK premiere or not. Whatever, the article I feel is misleading and provides no reference to how the work has happened to be in existence.
 
The work was commissioned with a view to the work BT, however it was known in the 1940's, did during the War on cracking the enigma code. With references to morse code and an air raid siren the work captures the spirit of the title superbly.
 
At the Masters the work will be conducted by Michael Fowles. Michael also conducted the BT world premiere back in 2007 and it was his vision that the Masters would be a good vehicle to raise the profile of the work.

Michael discussed with me this performance and as you can imagine I was excited at the prospect and gave the performance my full blessing.
 
I have also since found out that the compere at the Masters on the evening will be John Maines. John was also a respected MD of the BT Band. The performance could not be in better hands than Michael, John, and Co-operative Funeralcare Band.
 
Steve Taylor

Tip top Ton

In reply to Mr Sturgess' comments re: Tongwynlais' rapid rise in the rankings.

Once again at the weekend (Blackpool) Tongwynlais had an excellent result, but Camborne didn't appear to be there, that could affect their rankings.

Also I would imagine being beaten by their 'B' Band didn't help their rankings either.

Please don't knock Tongwynlais as they work very hard for what they achieve.
 
Alan Harvey

Great pictures, pity about the music

After watching the live feed of the European there are two matters I feel I need to express.
 
First, thanks to the innovators who made the live telecast possible. for people like me on the other side of the planet it is the only way I can "enjoy" the contest. I don't mind staying up all night for two days to do so, but -
 
Secondly - what a load of crap music. If banding wants to commit suicide, and apparently there are some who do, then carry on with public performances of this rubbish and brass bands will surely become extinct.

I notice in the background shots of which there were too few that the auditorium was practically empty and clearly this indicates the good people of LINZ were of the same mind as myself.

They turned up in numbers for the own choice expecting that it could not get any worse but it did, apart from Eikanger who were led by a man who knows how to commission good music, the rest of it frequently allowed me to leave the room to check on the T20 World Cricket Cup.

Black Dyke deserved what they got by clinging to an ageing academic whose compositions are getting worse. I met him in 2004 and meant to ask him when composers would give up this obsession with discordant syncopation. Now, I am glad I did not.
 
I notice Torstein-Aargard was one of the judges and he apparently judges music as he writes it (Audabe). The good people of Durham will know what I mean.
 
Every year I purchase the European DVD but not any more. Why would I want a reminder of that crap?.  I notice the number of European bands that drop out of the euro scene and the east euro bands that clamoring to get on board.

Is there something in the european psyche that finds listening to this type of music pleasurable or is it simply that the style of music has become so academic and people do not want to show their ignorance that they encourage it?

If this is a sign that european music is becoming so up itself and does not mind playing to empty halls or audiences of like minded music professionals then so be it but in the future someone might recall that there used to be a brass movement that people enjoyed listening to and they might pause to wonder what happened to it.

Thank god for the Brass In Concert Champs although I despair at what Black Dyke might choose to play in the gala concert.
 
The live streaming was punctuated with occasions when the screen stopped still and lost sound - similarly with the 4barest vimeos. the technology will improve but I do despair that the choice of music and commissioning of avant garde academics will not.
 
The weekend offered so much and I was so looking forward to it. What a disappointment. I hope this will not mean discouragement for the possibility of live streaming other events in the UK particularly the BIC where so much does not make it onto the DVD.  

If World of Brass find that it was all too much to fill up three discs, I guess they will include more of the EYBB and that would merely be more of the same.
 
Gordon Brock
New Zealand

Geographical life

I agree 99% with Neil Johnson (comments-27th April).  

The other 1% is where he made a mistake when he said: "Bands are unable to choose which Area they play in. This is decided only by geographical location"  

The Todmorden Band thought that it stood no chance of success in the Yorkshire area so it "up sticks" and moved to Rochdale with some perverse idea that Lancashire bands were easier! Ha!  

Unfortunately, this proved to be the undoing of the Tod Band and they folded soon afterwards. 

But apart from that Neil, if the North East have too few "real" bands i.e. Dyke, Briggus, Faireys. Fodens etc. then just get used to it, thats life.  

I’m sure you never hear any complaints from bands in Kent or Dorset that "we never win at in the finals" and you never will.
 
Jim Owen
Old Hall Brass

The Boot is on the other foot

In response to Keith Irving; In my banding life with Barton we have competed in three areas; East Midland, Yorkshire and now North East England, were not concerned were we compete and its not our decision either.

I do have to say without us outsiders you wouldn’t have a competition to complain about, as there are 15 out of 43 bands not in your catchment area, could this be the reason were their Keith?

I realise your comments are very tong in cheek but without this competition your local bands would have even less chance for development.

On the point of us not standing a chance of qualifying if we competed in the Yorkshire Area we have only been placed once below a Yorkshire band in the finals ever.

I think Keith its time to look inward at your lack of success and not blame the competition.

On a positive side we like the set up in Darlington especially the Boot & Shoe were we found Bitter at £1.45 a pint.
 
Jon Evison
Barton Town Band        

Imps in the right place

Re: Steve Perrys comments about Imps contests.
 
I played for Imps between 1963 and 1971 and can state categorically that we never competed in what is now known as the Northern Area, or at the CISWO contest in Blackpool which in those days was restricted to bands which had bona fide connections to the mining industry.

The confusion arises because in the 1960's the Yorkshire Area was known as the North Eastern Area.

I have a 1962 programme in front of me as I type and it is titled  "North Eastern Qualifying Finals - St Georges Hall Bradford."

I competed with Imps at all Championship section Area Contests 1963 - 70 and they all took place at either St Georges Hall in Bradford or Leeds Town Hall.

I seem to remember it was at Leeds 1965 and 1970
 
Ian Wilkinson

Morrison and Mead - the outcome

Oh dear, Steven Mead! The first rule of suggesting someone gets their facts right is to make sure your own facts are in tip-top order!

“Just over 3 months” eh? It took me a matter of minutes to turn up a review on 4br no less, about a very enjoyable workshop in Bournemouth by Grimethorpe Colliery Band led by Steven Mead on 13th May 2007 and an equally enjoyable concert the previous evening also conducted by Steven.

That by my reckoning is a total of 7 weeks before the English National Contest. I didn`t bother looking for any more in the intervening time but I would bet there might be more!

Either way very much less than the “over 3 months” Steven so conveniently states, perhaps he had in mind the ABBA directive I referred to of 3-6 months, or perhaps his 2007 diary had been consigned to the waste bin long enough for him to completely forget.

On this, I think we can give him the benefit of the doubt, however facts are facts!

Alan Morrison

Steven Mead's reply:

Alan Morrison is correct, and I should organise my diary back catalogue better, there was indeed 7 weeks between my last Grimey gig and the English National (not 13..or 2 !) a few years ago. However, all the other points I made stand and I believe are valid and correct.

To be clear, I am only arguing for good adjudication (not specifically closed or open, although my preference is for open), using the best qualified musical minds available, giving trust to judges and using criteria based systems for fairness to bands, giving clear feedback to all participating musicians.

I really don't believe the current systems in the UK are the best we can do.

Steven Mead

Accolade deserved

Its good to hear of brass bands being represented at national youth music events, so many congratulations to Chris Wormald and the senior brass band from Smithills school on their qualification to the 'Music for Youth' National Festival at Birmingham in July, but they won't be the only brass bands taking to the stage at this event.
 
Three years ago as part of a Government sponsored 'Wider Opportunities Programme' Chase Lane Primary school from Harwich in Essex under the leadership of Antony Sanders, and Marlene Chant received 32 mixed brass instruments through Essex Music Services and started teaching year four to year six pupils to play.

Within a few months a band consisting of cornets, tenor Horns and baritones was formed.

Such was the success of the band that Essex Music Services increased  the instrument range to include flugel horns, trombones, tubas and tuned percussion, this meant that 50 children could now learn.
 
After winning every  local music competition they entered, Chase Lane Band were advised to apply and were accepted to take part in this years 'Music for Youth' Regional Festival in Upminster.

They must have created quite an impression with the adjudicators because last week notification was received that like the Smithills Brass Band they too had been selected to perform in this years 'Music for Youth' National Festival at the Birmingham Symphony Hall on Monday 5th July, but of course in the junior schools section.
 
This is a real accolade to Chase Lane School, all the children, teaching staff and Essex Music Services who have put so much effort into the project. It also proves that 'Wider Opportunities' can and does work.
 
Antony Sanders

International quality

I just picked up a 1970’s Besson International with very little recent use and in excellent condition, I was a little dismayed to read the review of Bessons at end of production with bits falling off them.

I presume mine predates that time as it seems a wonderful instrument and still of high quality.

I would be interested for any comments on the old International you may have.

 Graham Hutton

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