Editorial ~ 2007 October
3-Oct-2007This month we reflect upon the NZ National Band tour; the Melbourne International Festival of Brass; and brass band recordings.
2007 New Zealand National Band
The NZ National Band has just concluded a week long tour of New Zealand with James Morrison. This band and its associated organisational structure and administration is a role model which Australians have been waiting to see adopted in this country for many years now. However, achieving a National band in Australia still seems no closer.
With the overriding support of the Brass Bands Association of New Zealand, National Band Managers Kevin Dell and Graham Dick have been the driving force behind this years NZ National Band. Faced with the task of finding funding to allow this years tour to go ahead, it would seem that the $'s have been covered. Needing in excess of $200,000 Messrs Dell and Dick secured sponsorships, grants and other donations to come close to covering the costs. Ticket sales for the concerts during the tour should make up the rest.
The excercise of putting together this years tour was in the planning phase for more than 2 years.
Over two thousand people across New Zealand were witness to the high quality performances of this years National Band of NZ and James Morrison.
The pride and history associated with the NZ National Band could be considered as one of its strongest driving forces. Players are busting at the seams to be chosen, the quality of auditions is very high, current players wear their uniforms with extreme pride and the silent high expectations of all standards is inherently very strong.
What also helps the band to continue to exist is the support from past members - one of the best examples of this is current co-Manager Kevin Dell.
The history book pages for the NZ National band get added to each year. The history book for the Australian National Band is yet to reach page 1.
What do you think?
Send an email to du.comments@4barsrest.com
Melbourne International Festival of Brass
There is so much which could be said about MIFB. However, two things stand out most strongly for me.
John Collinson, Geoff Collinson and Michael Bertoncello have incredible staying power, energy and passion for the development and promotion of brass music. Each year MIFB has gained strength in terms of the quality of guest artists and also in terms of the numbers of people attending workshops and concerts. Unfortunately, the support from the brass band fraternity is still very slow to take on board all that this festival has to offer. It was terrific to see many more brass band enthusiasts there this year compared to last but I couldn't help thinking about all the faces I didn't see.
Bruce McComish is also to be congratuled and thanked for his generosity in helping to promote brass bands. Mr McComish is responsible for the $7500 donation towards the National winning brass band's expenses to attend MIFB. He is also closely involved in the financial support of a new initiative announced at this years festival - www.themusicpage.com This is essentially an educational website with three areas - an informal area, an area for lessons/workshops called the Studio, and an area for performances called the Stage. The concerts from this years Festival were streamed live to this website and will be archived soon in the same area.
What do you think?
Send an email to du.comments@4barsrest.com
Recordings
The brass band CD and DVD recordings being generated out of the UK is enormous. Each major competition now boasts both CD and DVD productions.
Sadly, there will be no recording production from the New Zealand National Championships this year.
There is opportunity for media producers to do so much more in both Australia and New Zealand.
Some questions beg though - who can lift the standard of brass band media productions? Would there be a market for a new improved product? Who really owns the recording rights anyway?
What do you think?
Send an email to du.comments@4barsrest.com
