Editorial ~ 2006: December

This month we give our opinion on whether 2006 was a vintage year; 4BR's List for Santa and remembering real Christmas Cheer.

Was 2006 a vintage brass band year?

In terms of what we heard over the past 12 months then we would have to say no it wasn't, but it was nevertheless, one of the most interesting we have had for quite a long time.

The major championships were evenly split; perhaps suggesting that competition at the very top of the contesting tree was closer than ever before, but in reality that wouldn't really be the case.  There are only a handful of bands that are capable of winning the biggest prizes.

The days when an ‘outside bet' could realistically be in with a chance of claiming a ‘Major' now appear to be long gone (although the Masters tried its best this year) as the gap between the top 5 or so bands and the rest appears to widen by the contest.

Below the top tier of contesting there was the worrying sign that the cold wind of financial reality is catching up with many traditional events. The popular Wychavon contest could be the latest to follow what is becoming a steady trickle of cancellations and abandonment, due to lack of sponsorship and in some cases, more disturbingly, lack of interest from the bands themselves. That though isn't necessarily a bad thing as there has been a need to consolidate the contesting season for some time.

The number of competing bands at the Regionals seems to have plateaud out, but there is a real worry that there will come a time in the very near future when the only way for a number of bands to compete at the Areas, in what is the barometer of health of our movement, is by borrowing players. It is a trend that is starting to feel endemic with in the UK, and it must be addressed, firstly by a national regarding of bands into more sustainable and realistic sections around the country.

In 2006 there were signs that the future is not all doom and gloom however. Many bands reported success in starting youth bands, whilst others encompassed innovation to gain exposure on national television and media outlets. 

People were even coming back to listen to brass band contests too – although the success of the Nationals and Brass in Concert must be offset by the relative disappointments of the first English Nationals, British Open (despite what the organisers say) and Lower Section National Finals.

Around the banding world it appeared to be the same story too, with encouraging signs of long term development being offset with short term decline and continued financial difficulties.

No. 2006 was not a vintage year, even though there were a fair share of vintage performances from many a band both on the contest and concert platform. 

However, it could be that we look back in a decade's time and see 2006 as a turning point year.  A year when the long term health of the brass band movement perhaps started to pick up for the better.

What do you think?
Send an email to: comments@4barsrest.com

Christmas Presents

Now that we have looked back on 2006, what then would we at 4BR like to find in our brass band movement stocking to cheer us up for the coming year ahead. Here's what is on our list to Santa.

1. More open adjudication at contests, especially in the lower sections to start with. Can't see a single argument against it at that level, even if there are more genuine concerns about it higher up.

2. All adjudicators to make informed remarks at the end of every contest. Again, we can appreciate the concerns at the very highest level, but there is no excuse elsewhere, and on the evidence of the past year, the vast majority of judges do it better than they may think.

3. Less borrowing of ‘overseas' players to fill gaps in top section bands at major contests.  We know it is allowed at present but it does tend to make a mockery over any registry rules.

4. The English National to abandon its own ‘borrowed player' rule. It's ludicrous. 

5. Black Dyke and Grimethorpe to get around the table with the English National organisers and sort out their differences. Having no National or British Open winner at the European next year is a tragedy.

6. A debate over the need for the regrading of all bands for the Regional contests. We are ‘top heavy' with bands that think they are of true Championship status when they are anything but.  Its time for a reality check at all levels.

7. A long term policy in regards to test piece selection at our major events to be implemented. Howard Snell had it right all along.

8.  Youth contests to sort out their age rules. Make it simple and effective: If Child Benefit is still being paid in respect to the child at the date of the contest, then allow them to play. If not, then don't.

9. Get conductors to realise that comedy items at entertainment contests invariably do not work unless they are actually funny.

10. 4BR to start getting more of its pre contest predictions right. (That may be asking for a miracle from Santa though)

If we are lucky then Santa will bring us them all – if not then perhaps number 10 may do!

What do you think?
Send an email to: comments@4barsrest.com

Remember the Christmas Cheer

Christmas comes but once a year - although to be perfectly truthful about it, Christmas Day comes but once a year: It's the blatant commercial celebration of abject consumerism that lasts from about October 31st and ends around January 15th the following year.

Still, it would be nice to think that amongst all that wrapping paper, undrunk Advocaat and comedy socks there is still time to remember the true meaning of the time of year.

It's not about absurd Entertainment Licences from the local authority, drunken secretaries trying to blow a note on your freezing cold baritone outside the nearest public house, boozy revelers asking for a verse of the ‘Birdie Song' or even Band Managers staying up half the night to separate out the pound coins from the foreign currency in collection buckets.

It's about bands taking the time to raise some cheer, decent people taking the time to stop and listen and contribute to a worthy community cause and even for some lager lads to stop making fools of themselves and think about those less well off.

Bands all around the banding world will take time to play in churches, hospitals and Nursing Homes to sacrifice their time to give a little something back at a time when the vast majority of people are just thinking about themselves.

Enjoy Christmas for its true meaning, it makes the sacrifice all the more worthwhile.

What do you think?
Send an email to: comments@4barsrest.com

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