Editorial ~ 2006: July

This month we give our opinions on the success of the English Nationals, whether apathy reigns supreme, and the appointment of Paul Hindmarsh as Editor at BBW.

A very English success

The English National Championships were a long time in coming, but now they are here have they been a success and more importantly, are they relevant?

The answer is yes on both counts, although there are still some problems to be ironed out for the future.

The good news is that the contest is certainly relevant. English banding has needed a means to decide an ‘official' champion band to represent it at the Europeans for some considerable time, and with this event it appears that is now in place. EBBA itself has given its official seal of approval too and it is welcome sign of their confidence in the contest that they came along to Salford to witness it first hand and to reiterate through 4BR that the qualification process for Birmingham and beyond is now completely tied to it.  

The organization of the event was also excellent with the BFBB showing a deftness of touch when it came to overcoming the more obvious problems posed by the football and weather as well as the integration of new ideas and innovations.  The event was also greatly enhanced by a fine choice of test piece.

If there were any downsides then it must be said the The Lowry didn't provide a great stage to play on, although the venue itself was very good indeed. There were some problems with the facilities on offer too, but then again, such modern multi purpose arenas such as these have no real need to place the brass bands top of their wish list of potential money paying users. It is no better or worse than any number of new state of the art halls around the country in that sense.

Finally, the question of borrowed players. For a contest of this stature then this rule should be dropped immediately. Bands know well in advance when this contest is to take place and should be more than capable of fielding a full compliment of players. If they can't, then you do have to question how on earth they think they are to compete at any contest let along here. 

As a contest the English National got off to a very encouraging start indeed. It seems England and the UK banding movement has a contest with a bright and long term future ahead of it.

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Does apathy reign supreme?

Our report and editorial last month on Kapitol Promotions Ltd strengthening their grip on the National Championships of Great Britain National Finals was met, as we rather expected, with a huge wave of apathy.

It perhaps tells us two things about the movement: Firstly, there seems to be no appetite in the UK for a true National Body to control the Nationals as an event. Secondly, it tells us that there appears to be very few people out in the business world who think that any money can be made from running a major contest either.

The first point is the sadder, but is directly linked to the second. Why should a National body be set up to run a contest anyway? Banding has enough problems at present than to add to its list of headaches the need to run two high profile contests – at least one of which has no guarantee of making anywhere near a profit. Leave that risk to people who can possibly afford it.

All told though it isn't a bad way forward. There seems to be a genuine commitment to the banding movement and a sense of long term planning about Kapitol and the Lower Section and National Final events. If they can make a few bob out of it in the process then given that nobody else wants to do it, and they are not patently ripping us off, good luck to them.

At a time when no one else wanted to put their necks on the block they came in and filled the gap.  What would have happened if they didn't, given the type of apathy that their actions provoked doesn't even bear thinking about does it now?

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BBC loss is the Brass Band World's gain

The news that Paul Hindmarsh is to become the new Editor of the monthly Brass Band World magazine should be greeted with a sense of both joy and loss.

The joy of course is that we assorted hacks and scribes who play our trade at contests, concerts and assorted brass related occasions all over the world will now have a very knowledgeable musician to bolster our ranks and report on the great issues that affect us as a movement. What he makes of extended visits to some of our contesting outposts though will make for interesting reading.

He is also a very intelligent and thoughtful man who will enhance not only BBW but also the general approach to reporting of brass banding to a wider media audience. He has connections as they say, in all the right places.

Whether or not those connections will remain at the BBC is another matter, but we hope that he will retain some influence over what ‘Auntie' decides to do with their coverage of brass bands. Paul Hindmarsh has been a bit of a silent champion for our cause for many years and has been instrumental in ensuring a supply of test pieces and original works as well as radio coverage that given the BBC's propensity to spend our licence fee at the rate of 6 million quid a year to employ Jonathan Ross has been worth its weight in gold.

There is also good news that Alan Jenkins will remain as a trenchant voice with the magazine as well, although we understand that the general approach to publication will perhaps now take on a slightly different slant, covering a much broader scope of brass related subjects rather than just concentrating on our enclosed world.

Interesting times ahead then for both the magazine and its new Editor. We wish them both well.

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