Editorial ~ 2007: August

This month we give our opinion on the support at the Proms; Paying deps and echoes of Belle Vue.

Proms promotion

The 20th Promenade Concert of the 113th Proms Season was the most important brass band event of the year.

We may like to think that the British Open or National Finals are the undisputed showcases of excellence for the movement, but nothing could be further from the truth.  The Proms Concert on 28th July knocked then both into a musical top hat.

Unfortunately, but perhaps somewhat predictably however, was the fact that there appeared to be not too many dyed in the wool brass band supporters there to witness it. In the hour or so before such an event you would expect to bump into at least a few dozen like minded people from around the country, but not here.  Over 4,000 people in the hall, and the vast majority were either regular Prom goers or occasional listeners to the brass band genre.

Where were all the regular brass band supporters, the great and the good, the movement’s organisers?  Some were there, but so many were not. They missed a treat.

The occasion was a triumph musically for Black Dyke and Grimethorpe, both of who were superb ambassadors, but their efforts were not it appeared overtly supported by a show of brotherly solidarity from those they were so brilliantly representing. Perhaps they were all listening to it at home on Radio 3?

Perhaps we were wrong, and we missed everyone as we walked around the concourses and foyers of the great hall before, during and after the event. Perhaps not.

It did make you think though. After complaining about the great musical institutions not appreciating us enough over the last couple of decades or so, our future involvement in the Proms could come down to the support shown by the very people we think don’t take us seriously at all in the first place.

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

The question of paying deps

In the last few weeks bands all over the country have been wading through fields and parks, fetes and carnivals, outdoor and indoor concerts trying to raise hard earned funds to help them survive the rest of the year.

It’s a thankless task at the best of times trying to raise a full line up of players for jobs beset with holiday and work problems, baby sitting needs, hen and stag nights.  It is a time when deps – good deps – are worth their weight in gold.

It comes as rather sad news then that it appears that there is a growing trend for some players to charge over the odds for their services, knowing full well that they can up their ‘ante’ due to player shortages.

By all accounts the price of helping a band out in some cases (although thankfully it is still a small minority) is becoming something that players with no real affiliation to any band seem to think is theirs to demand by right.

Perhaps they should be reminded of the story of the great Willie Lang.

When he once did a one off job for Brighouse & Rastrick whilst a professional musician, the band secretary asked him after the concert how much he expected to be paid. “As I’m a professional musician now,” he said, “£5.00”. The secretary blanched, as just after the War this was a great deal of cash.  As he handed over the money, the great cornet player then said: “Now I need to see your Treasurer.” “Why?” asked the secretary, perhaps fearful that the great man was going to demand further expenses. “I need to make a donation of a fiver to the band roof fund,” Lang replied.

No one has a problem paying what is right and proper for someone to help out, whilst genuine players invariably give most of it back by buying raffle tickets, cups of tea or a few pints after the gig.

It’s the ones who know the price of everything and the value of nothing that should be reminded of the story and sent packing with a quick kick up the backside. Then again, none of them would even know who the great Willie Lang was anyway – so save yourself telling the tale and polish your toecaps instead.

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

Echoes of Belle Vue

The recent Proms concert at the Royal Albert Hall inadvertently brought back memories of the halcyon days of the British Open at the King’s Hall, Belle Vue, Manchester.

The erection of what looked like a boxing ring in the middle of the arena made not only for a great spectacle but also brought the thought to mind that it may also provide an ideal way of staging the contest in the future – even as a one off experiment.

By just moving the bands back towards the elevated stage a little the vast majority of the hall could be brought closer to the action without spoiling the spectacle of the whole event. Seating could be arranged in the arena on all three sides with the adjudicators box just a few yards further back than it now is.

There may be some concerns over the acoustic – but then again this is the Albert Hall, so the difference will be fairly negligible.  The stalls and boxes would be able to look down on the bands whilst those in the arena would be close enough to see the sweat dripping off the noses of the players.  Media coverage, may also be made easier too, whilst the bands may well be inspired by the more intimate atmosphere in the hall – just like the great days of the King’s Hall.

It would certainly be a bit different, so why not give it a try?

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

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