Comments ~ 2008 January

23-Jan-2008

Exciting Panel of judges at Keller; Oz Nats Entries; One set of rules; Apologies for my Mum!...

Exciting Panel of judges at Keller

Don Rader! Judging Keller! Remarkable. This guy is a living legend who has rubbed musical shoulders with Count Basie.

Congratulations to the organisers of Keller on taking the bold step of engaging the services of this extraordinary musician. Just as exciting is the appointment of Steven Williams on the panel whose expertise as a conductor and music educator will be a breath of fresh air into the brass band world.

Nigel Weeks will have strong musical opinions from these two remarkable men in determining the band of the year. What an event this will be.

Get there if you can!

Bruce Myers

Oz Nats Entries

I have just been looking at the Brass Band entries for the 2008 Australian Nationals and while there are excellent entries for A, B and D grades, I am a bit disappointed about the lack of entries in the C grade, only 3 bands entered. Where are all the bands? Is the test piece too hard or not challeging enough? There could be a lot of reasons for this. In the past, there used to be as many as 15 or 16 bands entered in this grade. What is happening out there?

I know it is difficult for bands especially in the lower grades (usually D grade) to get a full band together at any time but most C grade bands can muster a reasonablly full band with one or two permits to cover certain parts. Maybe some bands have too many players not available because of work etc. or finances are a bit beyond them.

There must be some explanation to this problem.

I do hope that there are more bands entered in the C grade from 2009 onwards..

Yours in the true banding spirit.

Allen Miller
Palmerston North, New Zealand

One set of rules

A couple of points which Colin Clark raised which I believe should be addressed.

Colin said: "Mark Fitzpatrick was named in the 2006 4BRDU BOTY (hi Fitzy!) as 'unattached'. I assume that this is referring to his banding 'status'. So, I guess, my point is - the 4BRDU team didn't see registration as an issue, why do you?"

With all due respect to the people at 4BRDU who cares what they think about registrations when putting together their BOTY? They don't make the rules by which the contests are conducted and the BOTY is not "real", it is hypothetical. The contests on the other hand are real and therefore registration IS an issue!

Colin also said: "...are you really after a level playing field, or, like many aggrieved bandsman, are you trying to right a 'perceived injustice'?" I didn't play with any A Grade band in Melbourne, nor do I play with one the rest of the year so I don't have a "vested interest" in the situation with Colin and Brisbane Excelsior last Easter. I can however see that the irregularities in the rules which allow those situations to occur do create unfair advantages for some and the "injustice" is therefore not just "perceived". It's a bit late to right this one now and I'm wondering whether anyone actually submitted a protest?

It is, however about time we realised that the banding movement in this country isn't big enough to justify the number of different rules etc which apply to National and State contests. I fail to see why ONE set of rules cannot apply to both National and State events right across Australia (and NZ?). Anyone wanting to compete here complies with them. Can anyone provide valid reasons this cannot or should not be the case?!

Stephen Williams

Apologies for my Mum..and more

A couple of quick points for my good mate chris....

1. If Sun Tzu WERE attending the nationals I do believe he would be looking to deceive the adjudicator, as the adjudicator is really the one you are trying to attract the attention of (ie, your adversary!). If you are distracted by the goings on in the other bands you probably won't win much.......

2. Mark Fitzpatrick was named in the 2006 4BRDU BOTY (hi Fitzy!) as 'unattached'. I assume that this is referring to his banding 'status'. So, I guess, my point is - the 4BRDU team didn't see registration as an issue, why do you? Yes I know, not what you meant, but are you really after a level playing field, or, like many aggrieved bandsman, are you trying to right a 'perceived injustice'?

3. I do so terribly apologise for my mother.......

4. Perhaps, to assist all budding 'selectors' out there, 4BRDU should next year put out a list of their '50 top musicians' for the year and let the individual pick the band.

Personally, good on 4BRDU for having the stones to pick a band anyway! I'm proud to be selected in such a group just as I am proud to be associated with both Woolston Brass and Brisbane Excelsior. Unfortunately I won't be at the 2008 Australian Contest, but good luck to ALL bands attending!

Colin Clark

About these comments

We will not print anonymous letters and we will not print your email address 4barsrest has a responsibility to inform our readers of our opinions concerning the many topics of the banding world we cover, and we are proud that we give the opportunity for people to comment with their thoughts about certain topics (including contest results). However, we are very clear that these comments are those of the individual who has written them, and in no way do they indicate that 4br agrees with the sentiments, observations or perceived injustices that are highlighted in them. We will continue to inform and report to our readers, and will give our own opinions and thoughts. We will also continue to give the opportunity to others to do the same, but by allowing people to air their opinions does not, and will not mean that they reflect in any way the responsible and informed opinion that we ourselves hold.