*
banner

Oberoesterreich consider Euro future

Brass Band Oberoesterreich is considering its Euro future in a strongly worded letter to EBBA.

Oberosterrriech
 

4BR can exclusively reveal that Brassband Oberoesterreich from Austria, who has made such a stunning impact on the European Brass Band Championships in the last few years is seriously considering its future participation in the event following their appearance in Stavanger.

Exclusive access

4BR has been given exclusive access to a copy of the statement written by the band, and signed by both Band Manager Thomas Beiganz and conductor Hannes Buchegger to EBBA President Ulf Rosenberg and the EBBA Music Commission.

Mystified and disappointed

In it they state that they remain ‘mystified and disappointed’ about how little their performance in the own choice section of the contest was appreciated by the judges, despite the enthusiastic response of the audience.

In future, we will carefully observe whether this competition is a truly European one where all participants are judged fairly and have equal chancesBrass Band Oberoesterreich

Little response in the box

They also make the much stronger point that they feel that the contest is missing a true European dimension in that they believe that compositions written by European based composers find ‘little response in the box’.

They point to the reception both Hermann Pallhuber’s ‘Titan’s Progress’ and ‘Bertrand Moren’s ‘Beyond the Horizon’ received in Birmingham as well as his composition ‘Dreams’, this year in Stavanger.

Musicians first and foremost

The letter goes onto state that they believe that the jury for the contest should be comprised of ‘musicians who first and foremost listen to the quality of the performance, of people who are open towards new developments and who are not narrow minded brass band traditionalists.’

Injustice

An injustice they point to is in regard to the question of sound, where they state that although they have the greatest respect for the English brass band tradition characterised by the likes of Grimethorpe and Cory, they don’t not want to imitate it, but retain their specific ‘Austrian quality of sound.’

Intonation and light mistakes

They do accept that the jury at Stavanger pinpointed intonation and ‘light mistakes’ in their performance, but not, as was reported in the press, that the jury felt that they had taken too many liberties with the score and had ‘not the right interpretation of the piece’.

Unfair

They also state that members of the Music Commission, ‘showed a very unfair behaviour regarding our choice piece of ‘Dreams’, which was quite an unpleasant experience to our band’.

Equal chance

They conclude their correspondence by stating: “Brassband Oberoesterreich is seriously taking into consideration of not participating in the European Brassband (sic) Championships of 2009 in Ostende.

In future, we will carefully observe whether this competition is a truly European one where all participants are judged fairly and have equal chances.”


Statement of Brassband Oberoesterreich regarding the European Brass Band Championships in Stavanger 2008


Dear Mr. EBBA-President Ulf Rosenberg,
dear Sirs of the EBBA Music Commission!

Being still mystified and disappointed about how little our performance in Stavanger was appreciated by the jury even though we got enthusiastic response from the audience we draw the following conclusions:

This competition seems to be a truly European one only by name. As far as the attitude of those responsible for organizing the competition is concerned, the European dimension is clearly missing.

The music commission of EBBA and the jury appear to generally disapprove of new pieces, particularly if they are not written by an English composer, and consequently, these pieces despite being very well performed find little or even no response in the box.

Brassband Oberoesterreich experienced this in 2007 with “Titan´s Progress” by Hermann Pallhuber, and again in 2008 with “Dreams” by Bertrand Moren. The same actually happened to the Suisse Band with “Beyond the Horizon” in 2007.

Another injustice regards the question of sound. We have the most respect for the English brassband tradition and the wonderful sound that is characteristic of excellent bands like Cory or Grimethorpe. However, we will never try to imitate their sound because we don´t want to give up our specific Austrian quality of sound.

We believe that in a European competition the jury should be composed of musicians who first and foremost listen to the quality of the performance, of people who are open towards new developments and who are not narrow-minded brassband traditionalists.

However, we do have legitimate reasons for reaching the conclusion that being a brassband traditionalist is the main criterion for being selected as a judge by the music commission and that, consequently, the jury has a clear preference for the traditional English brass band sound and pieces written by English composers.

This means that our performance – no matter how brilliant it may be – will never get a real chance to favour with the judges and this not surprisingly leads to frustration and disappointment. It furthermore nips the development of brass bands in Austria in the bud.

In addition to that, before we performed in Stavanger, members of the music commission showed a very unfair behaviour regarding our own choice piece “Dreams” which was quite an unpleasant experience to our band.

We heared from people of the press that the jury said we had too much liberty to the score and we had not the right interpretation of this piece.

So you can ask the composer Bertrand Moren himself for his own opinion. He heard our performance at the live stream and he sent his congratulations to us.

We can accept the jury report concerning problems in intonation, dynamics or light mistakes in solo-parts, however it seems not to be the real reason for the low points of the own choice piece (less points than the test piece!)

So we don’t accept what they had said to people of the press (4barsrest, brassband world).

Therefore, Brassband Oberoesterreich is seriously taking into consideration of not participating in the European Brassband Championships 2009 in Ostende.

In future, we will carefully observe whether this competition is a truly European one where all participants are judged fairly and have equal chances.

Thomas Beiganz: Band Manager
Hannes Buchegger: Conductor

Become a supporter and help make our future secure.

4barsrest continues to be a proudly independent voice. There are no paywalls to overcome to be able to enjoy what we do to keep our journalism at the heart of the brass banding world. Support us with a one-off donation or subscribe from just £2.50 per month.

Support us    


Perth

Three days of competitive music making for Scottish Festival of Brass

November 13 • Two weekends of music making from novices to Championship level will provide three days of action at Perth Concert Hall this month.


Prof Childs

Senzoku Gakuen return for Childs

November 13 • The Black Dyke Band Director of Music returns to Senzoku Gakuen College of Music in Tokyo to round off trip to Japan in memorable fashion.


City of Cradiff

Hamilton lead for City of Cardiff (Melingriffith)

November 13 • The Bandmaster with The Band of the Prince of Wales is the new Musical Director at City of Cardiff (Melingriffith) Band.


Allan Ramsay

Ramsay in Unison with Kinneil for Scottish Open

November 13 • Allan Ramsay will make a welcome return to his homeland to lead UNISON Kinneil at the Scottish Open in Perth with the band boosted by new signings.


Contest: 47th Brass in Concert

Saturday 16 November • The Gladhous International Centre for Music, St Mary's Square, Gateshead NE8 2JR


Regent Hall Concerts - The Band of the Royal Air Force Regiment

Friday 22 November • Regent Hall. (The Salvation Army). 275 Oxford Street. London W1C2DJ


Longridge Band - Christmas Concert

Saturday 7 December • Longridge Civic Hall, 1 Calder Avenue, Longridge, Preston PR3 3HJ


The Hepworth Band - Christmas Brass & Voices

Saturday 7 December • Thornhill Parish Church, Dewsbury WF120JZ


York Railway Institute Band - Voices & Brass Christmas Spectacular

Saturday 14 December • Selby Abbey YO8 4PU


Dobcross Silver Band

November 14 • Dobcross Silver Band are looking for a couple of cornet players. You are rewarded with enjoyable rehearsals, concerts and a progressive contesting band. If you are a team player looking for a change of scenery , get in touch.


Barnsley Brass

November 13 • Barnsley Brass requires an Eb bass player.. We are based in Worsbrough Bridge on the A61 just south of Barnsley.. Rehearsals are Monday and Thursday evenings at 8pm in our purpose built bandroom..


Besses o'th' Barn Band

November 12 • Under the direction of David W Ashworth, we are making every effort to complete the rebuild of this very famous brass band. We require a kit percussionists and one Back Row Cornet to complete our line up for the North West Area Contest.


Gordon Eddison

B Ed (Hons). Member AoBBA.
Conductor and Adjudicator.


               

 © 2024 4barsrest.com Ltd