Comments ~ 2010: August

The 4BR post bag is starting fill up once again with views and opinions.

York demise

Your article about the demise of York made for interesting reading.

I would agree with the statement from Buffet Crampon. The main reason why York failed was that the instruments never made an impression with customers when they got their hands on them.

Despite the glossy adverts, they just weren’t that good – and a number of people I know who bought them have lived to regret their decision.

Now they have instruments that are worthless and a headache of what to do with them if they need to be replaced.

Paul Sommerville

Gracie Cole

Well done 4BR for reminding us about the great Gracie Cole.

She really was a pioneer for women players, and she hasn’t really had the recognition she deserves.

Wouldn’t it nice to see the British Open provide a permanent reminder of her (and the other women players) who first played at the British Open decades before the likes of Sheona White made their appearances.

Margaret Lenton

Lack of female representation

You're quite right - in common with their scarce appearances at the Proms, there haven't been many female composers who have written for bands.  

All the more reason, then, to make sure we recognise the few who have done so but who fall outside your rather narrow search area of the major contests.  

Let's not forget Phyllis Tate, Thea Musgrave, Barbara Thompson and Judith Bingham, all of who have made original and substantial contributions to the brass band repertoire.
 
There is something beyond contests, you know.  It's called 'music'!
 
Jim Yelland
Hinckley

Idiots

If you have ever wondered why there is a lack of female composers in the brass band world, then cast your minds back to the rubbish spouted about Judith Bingham’s ‘Prague’.

I remember one adjudicator calling it ‘Plague’ and another saying that it wasn’t worth playing at a contest or concert.

Both men and both idiots I recall.

Women are better off out of it.

Lisa Collins
Bedford

Funding cuts

Why does 4BR give so much time and space to the question of funding cuts to Welsh bands?

I know you are Welsh yourselves, but so what?

Bands in Wales have only themselves to blame for not being able to organise themselves in a way that would safeguard what little funding they get.

Three separate Associations plus the Area committee for a country that can only boast just over 40 competing bands.

Get real.  Despite the bias coverage from 4BR, Welsh banding will lose this money because it believes it is entitled to it without doing anything to show that it actually deserves it.

Charles Pask

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