Editorial ~ 2005: October

1-Oct-2005

This month we give our opinions on YBS and the European - again; The Queen and Swiss Roles.


YBS and the Europeans - again

We make no apologies for regularly having to comment on the European Championships – for EBBA, seem to have found the knack of being able to make the front pages of the media in a way the model Jordan and her trampoline would be proud.

This time it is their decision to vote against a request made by the YBS Band for a return to the 2006 European Championships in Belfast, and the addition to their rules to allow a band that wins the contest three times in a row, a year off.

On the face of it, this would seem to be a sensible approach to a rather prosaic problem. YBS had taken a decision not to compete at the 2005 event due mainly to financial considerations following the announcement of the termination of their main sponsorship, and as there was no written rule, or precedent set for the holders of the title to request to miss a year from the contest and to return, a formal decision had to be made.

Democratically, EBBA has made their decision, and whether YBS, their supporters or anyone else for that matter agrees or disagrees about it – it was undertaken in a democratic way by the Executive Committee. 

The problem though lies with the timing. Why now?

Given that EBBA knew about this before the event in Groningen, and was asked at the press conference there by both 4BR and the British Bandsman concerning it; why on earth did they think it would be the right thing to do, to release the details of the decision just a couple of weeks before the National Finals where YBS could very well qualify for the contest itself?

It is a no brainer.

Given the association the YBS Band and David King has had with the contest over the years, it would have made more sense to wait and see if the band qualified for Belfast (they could come as low as 7th place and still do so).  EBBA has taken so long in making their minds up about this, surely a couple of more weeks wouldn't have made any difference and would have given them the perfect opportunity not to have had to make any decision at all if YBS had been successful. If that did occur, all they had to do was to issue details of the decision to amend the rule concerning future triple winners and not even mention the band.

The decision now appears to be a ‘snub' to YBS – a thank you, but no thanks for their efforts and support. Don't call us – wait for the outcome of the Nationals, and we may call you. 

The nonsensical amendment in the EBBA statement to suggest that YBS could still make it to the event on the basis that there are not enough entries for the contest and they could come on ‘an experts report' will not sugar the pill in any way shape or form.


It is true the initial request was made by the band. However the ill timed decision was made by EBBA.

At a time when EBBA seemed to have overcome its problems, it has shown that just like Jordan and her trampoline, it can bounce its way into discomfort with ease.

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The Queen

Whatever your political allegiances, you do have to ask yourself why it is that in the first decade of the 21st Century, the brass band movement still regards the patronage of Her Majesty the Queen for our major brass band contests with such importance.

Given that as Queen she has never attended a brass band contest (by all accounts she did present the prizes when she was a Princess in 1950) why is it that we still play the National Anthem, still print a picture in the programme (a picture some 25 years out of date) and have to endure (as we did at the Open this year) the toe curling pronouncement from the Palace of her best wishes.

There doesn't seem to be any persuasive argument to retain her patronage of these contests. It adds nothing and is dealt in a way that makes us look like characters from a American Disneyland picture book of ‘Merry England.' The deference has become all so dated and ever so slightly pathetic.

It is time to thank the Queen for her patronage and look elsewhere for someone who has a genuine interest in the brass band movement, and who could possibly open the doors to greater coverage of our premier events and greater awareness of our musical excellence to the general public. 

It would make for an interesting debate to who that should be. And you never know  - they may even take the opportunity to come and actually hear a few bands.

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Swiss Roles

The rather uplifting news from Switzerland that Russell Gray and his scratch outfit, the Wallberg Band had won the Swiss Open should put a smile on the face of everyone who believes that contesting in the brass band movement is taken far too seriously at times.

Even at Harrogate at the weekend there were tears of disappointment mingled in with the usual grumbles about the judges (and there were a few this year to be sure), the conductors, fellow players, the stage acoustic and even the ham sandwiches. Contesting brings the best, and the worse out of us as players, supporters and even the neutrals.

That is why Wallberg's success should be greeted with such delight – and not, as was the case in the hall at the announcement of the results, by boos from fellow competitors. 

The idea to get a bunch of players from the UK and Europe to pay their own way to stay in a hotel in a lovely part of the country, enjoy the hospitality and sight seeing and then pass on their experience to the majority of local players from lower section bands by playing with them on stage was simply brilliant.

The local euphonium player had never played at the famous KKL Concert Hall and wanted to say at the end of his career that he had done so, whilst many of the other players who came together to form the one off band had never played at anything above the equivalent of the second division in Swiss banding. 

Russell looked to make sure no rules were being broken and the idea came to life – it must be said, way above any expectations the band had after enjoying themselves for a week in the hotel.  It was done for enjoyment first, contesting a long way back in second. 

The response from many Swiss people was to question the validity and the fairness of what had been done. What they should have been doing is making sure their bands had been practicing more to beat Wallberg in the first place.

The Swiss are a very precise and regulated people, and the umbrage was perhaps caused by the fact that they had allowed such a one off idea to slip through their net. They are not particularly noted for their sense of ironic humour and we wonder if such a great idea will be allowed to be repeated in twelve months time.

If it is not then it would be a great pity, as it was a piece of inspired genius and showed that we take competition and its importance far too seriously wherever we are in the banding world. Russell Gray deserves a medal.

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